ac_setup_help.html

<!doctype html><html><head><meta charset="utf-8"><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width,initial-scale=1"><title>Quick PI AC setup</title><style>body{font:16px Arial;max-width:1000px;margin:24px;line-height:1.5}table{border-collapse:collapse}th,td{border:1px solid #bbb;padding:8px;text-align:left}</style></head><body><h1>WayriCAD Quick PI AC / SMPS setup</h1><ol><li>Start in <strong>Quick loop</strong>. Enter conductor length, DC rail voltage, DC current and fixed copper temperature.</li><li>Choose stacked, side-by-side or split return. Enter copper width/thickness, surface gap, ripple frequency in kHz and ripple RMS current in A. The preview shows explicit geometry and current direction, before any solve.</li><li>Click <strong>Run AC / ripple losses</strong>. Run applies the visible quick recipe. There is no separate Apply step to remember.</li><li>For imported models, multiple conductors or an SMPS spectrum, choose <strong>Custom loop</strong>. The conductor/harmonic tables and solver settings expand. Custom Run preserves those tables. Load study and Save inputs are available at the top.</li><li>Review <strong>Heating &amp; drop</strong>: total copper heat, ripple heat, AC loop RMS voltage drop and DC-plus-ripple RMS current. Select a large plot with Inspect. A single frequency produces a discrete comparison, not a sweep. Tables use kHz, mΩ and mW.</li><li>Select a harmonic/conductor row to highlight it in the plot. Drag the divider to resize plots and tables. The <strong>Solver checks</strong> page explains refinement and applicability; incomplete checks remain explicit. Export HTML/JSON for all three report plots and full SI-unit evidence.</li></ol>
<h2>Reading the numbers</h2><table><tr><th>Quantity</th><th>Meaning</th></tr><tr><td>Total copper heat</td><td>DC copper Joule loss plus the supplied ripple harmonics, in watts. This is heating power, not temperature.</td></tr><tr><td>Ripple heating</td><td>The AC contribution only; it is already included in total heat.</td></tr><tr><td>AC loop drop</td><td>RMS copper-loop voltage from the supplied harmonics, including resistive and reactive effects.</td></tr><tr><td>DC + ripple RMS</td><td>The reference-loop current with its mean and supplied distinct-frequency RMS components combined. Per-conductor current multipliers still apply.</td></tr></table><p>Quick setup takes RMS ripple. For measured peak-to-peak triangular ripple or pulsed SMPS current, use the custom waveform builder with its explicitly labelled inputs. A finite harmonic band does not include omitted edges or simulate the converter.</p>
<h2>Model</h2><p>The AC solver is a current-driven magnetoquasistatic long-straight cross-section model with an explicit balanced return. It resolves skin/proximity redistribution and Joule copper loss. Signed conductor-current multipliers must sum to zero. Zero-current conductors can represent unpowered shields.</p><p>For each harmonic, copper loss is the volume integral of |J_RMS|²/σ using RMS quantities; loop impedance and conductor losses follow the existing field solution. DC and distinct harmonic losses add at the declared fixed copper temperature. A quick single-harmonic recipe is not a complete switching waveform.</p>
<h2>Limits</h2><p>Quick layouts replace the conductor/harmonic tables when applied. They do not infer board routes, via transitions, component behavior or return paths. The split-return current fractions are assumptions, not predicted current sharing. No regulator dynamics, converter-device loss, 3D routing field, high-voltage insulation or thermal equilibrium is established. Increase bandwidth and refine mesh/boundary settings as needed; unresolved checks stay explicit.</p><h2>Recall this study</h2><p><b>Save setup…</b> and <b>Load setup…</b> retain this dialog’s editable inputs separately from computed results. The chooser starts in the PCB project folder and proposes a filename specific to this study mode. Loading clears prior results; run a fresh analysis after reviewing inputs. Use <b>Load simulation…</b> to inspect a completed result without solving. Raw model JSON actions remain separate CLI exchanges. <a href="STUDY_SETUP_FILES.md">Setup file guide</a>.</p></body></html>