Circuit Edge Technologies
Circuit Edge Engineering Lab

Trace Voltage Drop & Power Loss

Estimate DC resistance, voltage drop and dissipation for a routed copper trace.

Inputs

Live results

MeasurementResult

Formula and worked example

Method. R = ρ20[1 + α(T − 20)]L/(W × t), using ρ20 = 1.724 × 10⁻⁸ Ω·m and α = 0.00393/°C. Drop = IR; loss = I²R.

Assumptions. Uniform copper cross section and constant temperature. The DC model covers one trace and omits vias, contacts, return path and self-heating.

Example. 100 mm × 1 mm × 35 µm at 20 °C and 1 A gives about 0.04926 Ω, 49.26 mV and 0.04926 W.

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