02-12-2026, 09:27 AM
The full current does not travel through a cap. Unless charging upon power-on (slow, tube rectifier) the current mostly comes from the rectifier and the cap conducts the ripple component current. Which could be, in it's peak value during charge, higher than the load current, but is pretty short, and the RMS of it is smaller than the load. So it is not 320mA.
This said, it is a good idea to beef up traces.
I would make them even wider, plus I would increase the pads' sizes: the caps a fairly large and larger pads provide more stability for tall parts.
I assume the 2x2 strip header in the middle is 100 mil type?
So your distance will be 100 mil then to the nearest Plus, and the creepage is that minus one pad size (let's say 80 mils made by 40 mil hole and 40 mil ann. ring) so you have just 20 mils left. If your pad is 60 mils, then you have 40 mils left.
The recommended creepage on FR-4 for 250V is 100 mils (2.5mm) for pollution type 2 (normal indoor), and desired for UL standard is 128 mils (3.2 mm).
For 450V it is 5mm. Nowhere close.
of course if my assumption for 100 mils header is correct.
BTW, who makes your PCB? And what did you pay for it?
This said, it is a good idea to beef up traces.
I would make them even wider, plus I would increase the pads' sizes: the caps a fairly large and larger pads provide more stability for tall parts.
I assume the 2x2 strip header in the middle is 100 mil type?
So your distance will be 100 mil then to the nearest Plus, and the creepage is that minus one pad size (let's say 80 mils made by 40 mil hole and 40 mil ann. ring) so you have just 20 mils left. If your pad is 60 mils, then you have 40 mils left.
The recommended creepage on FR-4 for 250V is 100 mils (2.5mm) for pollution type 2 (normal indoor), and desired for UL standard is 128 mils (3.2 mm).
For 450V it is 5mm. Nowhere close.
of course if my assumption for 100 mils header is correct.
BTW, who makes your PCB? And what did you pay for it?
People who do not drink, do not smoke, do not eat red meat will one day feel really stupid lying there and dying from nothing.




