A Practical Copper Weight Guide
Heavier copper carries current and sheds heat, at the price of harder etching and wider spaces. The right weight is a balance, not a max.
Current carrying
Use IPC-2152 rather than the old 1 oz = 1 A rule for real designs.
Thermal path
Heavy copper spreads heat from power devices into the plane.
Etch limits
Thick copper needs wider traces and larger annuli.
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
- Apply IPC-2152 for current.
- Heavy copper aids thermal spread.
- Widen traces as copper thickens.
