Please enter all required values.
RESULTS
Input Parameters Specification
Trace WidthInternal stripline conductor width. Wider buried copper supports more current because cross-sectional area increases.
Trace ThicknessCopper thickness used to calculate cross-sectional area. Thicker internal copper improves current capacity and lowers resistance.
Temperature RiseAllowed rise above ambient temperature. Lower temperature rise normally requires more copper area.
Ambient TemperatureBoard operating environment temperature. This combines with selected temperature rise for trace temperature.
Trace LengthUsed for resistance, voltage drop and power dissipation. Longer traces create more copper loss.
OutputsMaximum current, trace temperature, resistance, voltage drop and power dissipation are calculated after input entry.
Practical Operational Examples
Internal Power Trace
Estimate current capacity for buried stripline copper layers inside multilayer PCBs used in power distribution and compact electronics.
Thermal Reliability
Check trace temperature, voltage drop and power dissipation before final PCB routing.
Multilayer PCB Design
Use this when a current path is routed on an inner layer instead of a top or bottom copper layer.
Voltage Loss Check
Compare resistance and voltage drop to decide whether trace width, copper thickness or routing length needs improvement.
Diagrams & Theory
A stripline trace is embedded between top and bottom reference planes. Its current capacity depends on trace cross-sectional area and allowed temperature rise.
Formulas & Mathematical Logic
Step 1: Convert trace width and trace thickness using selected unit multipliers.
Step 2: Cross-sectional area = width × thickness.
Step 3: Maximum current is found by looping current from 0.01 A to 35 A and matching the closest cross-section value using the original stripline polynomial formulas.
Step 4: Trace temperature = ambient temperature + selected temperature rise.
Step 5: Resistance = abs(17e-7 × length_cm / cross_section_cm² × (1 + 0.0039 × (trace_temperature - 25))).
Step 6: Voltage drop = resistance × current.
Step 7: Power dissipation = voltage drop × current.
Practical meaning: internal traces can be harder to cool, so width, thickness and temperature rise margin matter more in compact multilayer boards.
Step-by-Step Example
Example: trace width = 80 mil, trace thickness = 1 mil, temperature rise = 10 °C, ambient temperature = 25 °C, trace length = 2 inch.
The calculator converts width and thickness using the selected multipliers.
Cross-sectional area is calculated from width × thickness.
The original stripline polynomial logic searches for the closest matching current value.
Trace temperature is calculated from ambient temperature plus selected rise.
Resistance, voltage drop and power dissipation are calculated from trace length, cross-section and estimated current.
How to Use This Calculator
Enter internal stripline trace width and select the correct unit.
Enter copper thickness used on the inner PCB layer.
Select allowable temperature rise.
Enter ambient temperature and trace length.
Click Calculate to get maximum current, trace temperature, resistance, voltage drop and power dissipation.
Use the result to improve internal power routing and thermal margin.
About This Calculator
Estimate current capacity for buried PCB stripline conductors.
The CalcBoy Stripline Max Current Calculator estimates maximum current, trace temperature, resistance, voltage drop and power dissipation for internal PCB traces.
Stripline traces are routed inside a multilayer PCB between dielectric layers and reference planes. This makes them useful for dense boards and protected routing, but it also means heat may not escape as easily as it does from external copper. When an internal trace carries too much current, the result can be voltage loss, copper heating, reliability problems and long-term board stress.
This calculator helps PCB designers, repair engineers and hardware developers estimate current capacity for buried copper routes. It is useful for internal power distribution, compact embedded devices, industrial control boards, battery electronics, power modules and multilayer boards where top-layer copper space is limited.
Use the result as a design estimate, not as the final safety limit. Real PCB temperature depends on copper pours, nearby planes, airflow, resin system, board thickness, via stitching, enclosure temperature and manufacturer process. For production designs, add margin and confirm important current paths with thermal testing or manufacturer guidance.
Best UseInternal PCB stripline current capacity checks.
Supported OutputsMaximum current, temperature, resistance, voltage drop and power loss.
Helpful ForMultilayer PCBs, internal power routing, embedded boards and compact electronics.
Design ReminderBuried copper often needs extra thermal safety margin.
Tip: For current-heavy internal layers, also check plane spreading, via current, connector rating and thermal path to outside copper.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is stripline maximum current?
It is the estimated current an internal PCB stripline trace can carry for a selected temperature rise.
Is stripline current capacity different from microstrip?
Yes. Stripline traces are buried inside the PCB, so thermal behavior can differ from outer-layer microstrip traces.
Does wider stripline trace increase current capacity?
Yes. Wider trace increases copper cross-sectional area and usually supports more current.
Why does trace thickness matter?
Thicker copper lowers resistance and increases the copper area available for current flow.
Why does trace length affect voltage drop?
Longer traces have more resistance, causing higher voltage drop and more power dissipation.
Can this be used for final PCB safety approval?
No. Use it as an estimate and apply extra margin, especially for internal PCB layers that are harder to cool.
Related Calculators
Microstrip Max Current CalculatorCalculate current capacity for top-layer PCB traces.
Stripline Trace Width CalculatorCalculate embedded trace width, resistance, voltage drop and power dissipation.
Trace Resistance CalculatorEstimate PCB copper trace resistance from geometry and temperature.
Voltage Drop CalculatorCalculate voltage loss across wire, cable and copper conductors.