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PoE PD Trace Width Calculator (802.3af/at/bt)

Trace sizing for PoE powered devices — per-class currents, 4-pair splitting and the isolation rules that matter more than width.

Minimum trace width
In mils
Cross-section
I = k·ΔT^0.44·A^0.725 (k = 0.048 ext, 0.024 int; A in mil²)
References: IEEE 802.3af/at/bt (PD power classes) · IPC-2221B §6.2 · TI/onsemi PD controller datasheets (layout sections)

Preset for this niche — adjust to your stack-up. IPC-2221 assumes still air; verify hot paths with a thermal camera.

PoE PD Trace Width Calculator computes trace sizing and isolation rules for PoE powered devices — free, instant and private in your browser. Designers of cameras, access points and IoT gear fed over Ethernet use it to skip the datasheet algebra: type your numbers, read the answer with the substituted formula shown step by step, and share an exact permalink of the calculation.

About PoE PD Trace Width Calculator (802.3af/at/bt)

PoE PD Trace Width Calculator computes trace sizing and isolation rules for PoE powered devices using the standard engineering relation: IPC-2221 with PD presets: 1.2 A at 48 V (802.3bt) — currents are modest, clearances are the design. Worked live: even 71 W class-8 PoE is only ~1.7 A at the PD input — a 0.8 mm trace carries it; your DC-DC's 12 V side needs far more. The result recalculates on every keystroke, the worked-example panel shows your numbers substituted into the formula, and the Copy permalink button encodes the inputs in the URL so a colleague opens exactly your calculation. Everything runs client-side — nothing you type leaves your device.

How to use PoE PD Trace Width Calculator (802.3af/at/bt)

  1. 1Enter your values — the tool starts with realistic defaults for this exact use case, so the worked example is meaningful immediately.
  2. 2Read the live result and the worked-example panel, which substitutes your numbers into the formula step by step.
  3. 3Adjust any input to compare scenarios, then use Copy result or Copy permalink to share the calculation.

Why use PoE PD Trace Width Calculator (802.3af/at/bt)?

  • Implements the real formula — IPC-2221 with PD presets: 1.2 A at 48 V (802.3bt) — currents are modest, clearances are the design — with the substitution shown, not a black box
  • Built for designers of cameras, access points and IoT gear fed over Ethernet
  • Copy result and permalink buttons — share the exact calculation in a README, forum answer or design review
  • 100% free, no sign-up, runs entirely in your browser (works offline once loaded)

Frequently asked questions

How do you calculate poe pd trace width?+

Trace sizing and isolation rules for PoE powered devices follows IPC-2221 with PD presets: 1.2 A at 48 V (802.3bt) — currents are modest, clearances are the design. For example, even 71 W class-8 PoE is only ~1.7 A at the PD input — a 0.8 mm trace carries it; your DC-DC's 12 V side needs far more. The calculator applies the same relation and shows the substituted arithmetic so you can verify every step.

Why does the LOW-voltage side need fatter traces than the 48 V side?+

Watts are conserved through your converter: 25 W arriving at 0.6 A leaves a 5 V rail at 5 A. The 48 V input romance distracts from the secondary, which carries 8× the current — size the output stage like any 5 A supply.

What isolation must a PD design maintain?+

1.5 kV between the cable side and any user-accessible circuit — provided by the Ethernet magnetics plus your isolated DC-DC. On the PCB that's an unbroken creepage moat: no pours, traces or silkscreen bridging the boundary, slots where spacing is tight. The transformer is the only legal crossing.

Is the PoE PD Trace Width Calculator free and private?+

Yes — completely free with no sign-up or usage limits, and it runs entirely in your browser: the values you enter are never uploaded or stored on a server.

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