Do You Really Need Ground for Differential Pairs?

Multidisciplinary product creation powered by your unconstrained network. Work concurrently across design, sourcing, and manufacturing with real-time insight. 35+ Years of Excellence: https://www.altium.com/develop?utm_so... Do you really need ground for differential pairs in PCB design? In this video, Tech Consultant Zach Peterson dives into the science of differential impedance, the role of ground planes, and how trace spacing impacts high-speed designs. Learn why differential pairs are self-referencing and how they help reduce EMI in your circuits. This guide will simplify complex PCB concepts and boost your design skills, so be sure to check it out! *Topics Covered:* Differential impedance explained Impact of ground plane proximity How substrate thickness affects PCB design Real-world examples in Altium Designer (free trial link below) 👉 Resources from this Episode: Differential Pairs Without a Ground Plane: Is it a Problem?: https://resources.altium.com/p/differ... Ultra-Fine Line Differential Pair Design with No Return Plane: https://www.signalintegrityjournal.co... #PCBDesign #AltiumDesigner #SignalIntegrity 💡 Stay Connected: Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more in-depth tutorials and tips from ‪@AltiumAcademy‬ Share your thoughts and questions in the comments below! 👉 Subscribe for more:    / @altiumacademy   Don't forget to follow us on social to stay up-to-date on the latest Altium Academy content. 👉 Follow Altium on TikTok:   / ucqp3thnpsaqhyccjpdwrt8w   👉 Follow Altium on Twitter:   / altium   👉 Follow Altium on Linkedin:   / altium   👉 Follow Altium on Facebook:   / altiumofficial   The Altium Academy is an online experience created to bring modern education to PCB Designers and Engineers all across the world. Here you can access a vast library of free training and educational content covering everything from basic design to advanced principles and step-by-step walkthroughs. Join industry legends as they share their career knowledge, review real-life design projects, or learn how to leverage one of Altium's leading design tools. No matter your level of experience, the Altium Academy can help you become a better Designer and Engineer! About Altium LLC Altium LLC (ASX:ALU), a global software company based in San Diego, California, is accelerating the pace of innovation through electronics. From individual inventors to multinational corporations, more PCB designers and engineers choose Altium software to design and realize electronics-based products. 0:00 Intro 0:48 Defining Differential Impedance 8:55 Differential Pair Spacing in Altium Designer 12:35 Eric Bogatin’s Signal Integrity Article