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Can you use AC in PCB? PCB circuit boards can be used for AC circuits and DC circuits. Typically, circuit boards can be used with either DC or AC power. DC power is supplied in a circuit board through a power adapter or a battery. And AC power is provided through an outlet or AC power supply. Many electronic devices also use special converters and voltage regulators to ensure stable current and voltage on the circuit board.
The AC circuit is one of the most important markers that differentiate the types of circuits. It makes connections between electronic components and enables the transmission of signals through the use of an AC power supply on a circuit board. In AC circuits, the direction of the current changes repeatedly and its frequency is usually 50 Hz or 60 Hz. Circuit boards are essential to the operation of AC circuits because they maintain a steady current transfer between electronic components.
DC circuits can also be transmitted through circuit boards. In a DC circuit, the direction of the current remains constant and is transmitted through the wires on the pcb circuit board. DC circuit circuits can use different voltages and currents to suit different electronic components.
AC power can be used as the power source when connecting the circuit board, but it needs to be processed and converted accordingly to ensure that the voltage and current are stable and meet the requirements of the circuit board.
In the production and use of electronic equipment, the choice of power supply and access is a crucial part. For the circuit board, the choice of power supply is directly related to the normal operation of the circuit board and the stability of the equipment.
How to Calculate AC Bandwidth in PCB Circuits
AC PCB alignment width can be calculated using the formula: W = (I / J) × K, where W represents the alignment width, I is the current, J is the current density, and K is a constant related to material and process. The formula shows that the alignment width is affected by factors such as current size, current density and material properties.
The current-carrying capacity of the PCB is usually calculated based on the following factors:
1. Wire width: The width of the wire on the PCB will directly affect its current-carrying capacity. Wider wires can usually withstand greater current.
2. Wire thickness: The thickness of the wire is also one of the important factors in calculating the current-carrying capacity. Usually, thicker wires can carry more current.
3. Weight of copper foil: The weight of the copper foil used on the PCB circuit board(weight of copper foil per unit area) will also have an impact on the current carrying capacity.
4. Ambient temperature: Ambient temperature is another factor to consider. A high temperature environment may reduce the current-carrying capacity of the PCB.
5. Thermal resistance: PCB thermal resistance for the internal temperature distribution and heat dissipation effect has a certain impact, but also affect the current-carrying capacity of the calculation.
6. Plate material: PCB substrate materials used will also have an impact on the current-carrying capacity, such as FR-4, metal substrate.
Designers need to consider a number of key factors when selecting the AC/DC power supply that best suits the project's needs, including:
Type (custom power supply or integrated power supply): whether to use a design consisting only of discrete components or to use an integrated regulator or converter (IC);
Technology category: linear power supply or switching power supply (i.e., switched-mode power supply, or SMPS);
Electrical characteristics: input voltage range, output voltage type (fixed or adjustable, single or multiple outputs), output power, and efficiency;
Mechanical characteristics: open or closed structure, size, weight and cooling method.
Regarding the choice of type, in many cases, integrated power supplies are the ideal solution due to their ability to simplify the design, reduce the bill of materials (BOM) and shorten the time-to-market, while integrating protection and diagnostic functions. However, for certain high-power, RF or special field applications, a purely discrete device design may be more suitable.
On the technical side, the choice between linear and switching power supplies depends largely on the specific application requirements. Although linear AC/DC power supplies are an older technology, they are not obsolete. They are less efficient and have higher thermal losses, but are still suitable for certain applications with high performance requirements due to their high reliability, low noise, fast response recovery and very low radiated interference.
An important class of linear power supply is the LDO (Low Dropout Regulator). In order to maximise the efficiency of LDOs, it is important to minimise the difference between the input voltage and the regulated output voltage, and to select devices with low thermal resistance so as to avoid overheating and stay within an optimised operating temperature range.
In contrast, switching power supplies have become the industry standard for converting AC to DC. The conversion process is non-linear and is usually achieved through closed-loop feedback regulation. Although more complex to design, requiring multiple components, especially large passive devices such as inductors and capacitors, and with noise issues associated with improper placement, switching power supplies are the preferred solution due to their higher efficiency and better regulation.
The high efficiency of switching power supplies not only improves thermal management results, but also supports more compact layouts. However, the electromagnetic interference (EMI) generated by their high-frequency switching can affect signal quality and even cause some components to fail or be damaged. As a result, linear AC/DC power supplies are still preferred for electronic medical devices and laboratory instruments where linear technology offers the advantage of lower noise.
PCB circuit boards play a central role in both AC and DC circuits, and the reasonable selection and design of different forms of power supply is the basis for ensuring the stable operation of electronic equipment. In the future, with the continuous progress of electronic technology, power supply solutions and PCB design for different application scenarios will be more diversified and intelligent.