Hardware Podcasts

IPC 2221 vs. 2152: The Truth About PCB Trace Current Ratings

OnTrack · 24 Mar 2026 · 59m · Episode 337

What this episode covers

Mike Jouppi, formerly of the IPC 2152 Task Force, joins host Zach Peterson to explain why the IPC 2221 standard’s internal trace charts are misleading because they were derived from traces removed from the board and tested in free air, not in-board. Jouppi argues that designers should focus on power loss budgets rather than a static 10°C temperature rise, as adding copper planes allows for higher current but significantly increases total power dissipation. He highlights that modern simulation tools often lack the necessary baselines to validate complex current flows, such as those around high-current connectors, and calls for more industry involvement in updating standards like IPC 2152 to address parallel conductors and transient currents.

Most relevant to

established companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Keysight, CST, Ansys
Also
IPC 2221, IPC 2152, Saturn, Solaria PCB

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