- #1
Gideon Y
- 23
- 6
I’m facing strange phenomenon in voltage multiplier operation – PCB traces are overheating.
Multiplier runs at 50KHz, consumes 40V / 26A and delivers 500V / 2A.
The prototype is continuously monitored by IR camera due to overheating concern. None of electronic components is heating significantly. But very specific regions on PCB traces are overheating. It is not resistance problem - trace width and thickness is far above the requirement. In many places traces are very wide and still overheating.
I suspect that it is due to eddy currents running in circles on lateral plane of the trace.
Questions:
Is my assumption correct ?
Is there any other explanation ?
What can be done to minimize the phenomenon ?
To replace wide traces by bunch of narrow traces running in parallel ?
What about ground plane of PCB – is it beneficial or harmful in this context ?
Multiplier runs at 50KHz, consumes 40V / 26A and delivers 500V / 2A.
The prototype is continuously monitored by IR camera due to overheating concern. None of electronic components is heating significantly. But very specific regions on PCB traces are overheating. It is not resistance problem - trace width and thickness is far above the requirement. In many places traces are very wide and still overheating.
I suspect that it is due to eddy currents running in circles on lateral plane of the trace.
Questions:
Is my assumption correct ?
Is there any other explanation ?
What can be done to minimize the phenomenon ?
To replace wide traces by bunch of narrow traces running in parallel ?
What about ground plane of PCB – is it beneficial or harmful in this context ?
Last edited by a moderator: