Can somebody please tell me what track sizes I should use for my pcb design.

My circuit is a micocontroller circuit that detects light and runs on 5V dc. So it uses a few resistors,phototransistor and a optocoupler. Hope this helps but if its too general let me know.

Many Thanks.........JDR04

 

if there are no current hungry devices on the board then almost snything is OK

 

There are many factors that will determine track widths:

1. Are you etching the board yourself or will a PCB shop do it for you?
2. Thru-hole components or SMD
3. Fine lead spacing ICs or 0.1" DIP ICs
4. Any traces in between IC pins
5. Current carrying requirements
6. Signal frequency and noise considerations

Some PCB shops can do 0.005" (0.13mm) - 0.007" (0.18mm). You do not want to get that narrow.
Your minimum may be 0.010" (0.25mm) or 0.015" (0.38mm)

If you are using 0.1" DIP ICs with no traces between pins 0.025" (0.635mm) to 0.035" (0.89mm) is good to work with DIY etching.
For power traces, I like to go up to 0.050" (1.27mm) and beyond depending on the current requirement.

Finally for GND you want to flood as much of the area as possible to provide a ground plane and to make etching easier on your chemicals.

 

There are many factors that will determine track widths:

1. Are you etching the board yourself or will a PCB shop do it for you?
2. Thru-hole components or SMD
3. Fine lead spacing ICs or 0.1" DIP ICs
4. Any traces in between IC pins
5. Current carrying requirements
6. Signal frequency and noise considerations

Some PCB shops can do 0.005" (0.13mm) - 0.007" (0.18mm). You do not want to get that narrow.
Your minimum may be 0.010" (0.25mm) or 0.015" (0.38mm)

If you are using 0.1" DIP ICs with no traces between pins 0.025" (0.635mm) to 0.035" (0.89mm) is good to work with DIY etching.
For power traces, I like to go up to 0.050" (1.27mm) and beyond depending on the current requirement.

Finally for GND you want to flood as much of the area as possible to provide a ground plane and to make etching easier on your chemicals.

Thanks to eveyone. Information has helped me greatly.