Wich SPICE do you use?

[Bricolo]

I use Orcad's PSPICE student version, but I'm not so satisfied with if

It misses many mosfets, and voltage regulators like the 317, in its database

And I haven't found how to add libraries or parts. I even think it's impossible in the student version




wich one are you all using? I'm looking for a free one, with many parts and/or with the ability to add new parts

 

[Christer]

I use Switchercad III (aka LTSpice) or Winspice, depending on
what I want to do. The first one is free, Winspice is actually
shareware, but there are no restrictions in it and can be used
for free.

www.linear.com/software
www.winspice.com

 

[jackinnj]

I use Multisim and Ultiboard

there was an investment, however.

Multisim allows you to create new parts -- either for simulation or board design or both. This I have done for MOSFET's bipolars, diodes, opto-couplers, vacuum tubes etc. The process isn't exactly intuitive, however, and you will need a couple tries to get it right, the program allows you to draw the device, place nodes, connect the nodes to the model and insert the model as a text file. I believe that there is a student version available.

btw, YES, there is an opto-coupler SPICE model, something long sought after -- it's on the PDF for the Agilent HCNR-200 device. Why's an optocoupler spice model important? -- if you amplify the output (since photodiodes have large capacitance) you will almost certainly put the device into oscillation if not properly compensated. The HCNR-200 is an analog opto-coupler. Very helpful in noisy environments.

 

[crown300]

I have used the following:
Winspice3 - a command line front end for spice, works good you have to add models in the .cir file
Nutmeg - I did a lot of work using this for one project, works ok.
Both the above are not the click to add part types, you must create your own .cir fies first using a text editor.

I have the Orcad student version - this program is not user friendly, very difficult to drw skiz and then run simulations.
I have used another one of the big spices at work - my mind can't remember which one but it also is NOT user frendly.

For ease of use and a progrem that works great try the free Demo TINA Spice at:
http://www.designsoftware.com/TINA.HTM

 

[mbroker]

I use Circuitmaker 2000 Professional. Not flawless, but nothing that I haven't been able to overcome. The student version has a 60 part limit. The fully functional demo copy runs out after 30 days, and can't be reinstalled, or so they say. The professional copy is US$1000, but I think is available to students for much less. CM2k has multi=pane simulator, and doesn't require preset points to view waveforms. TraxMaker comes with it, for PCB layout. There's also a TraxCAM for creating a 3D model of the board. I've been too busy to test that, tho.

Mark Broker

 

[Bricolo]

does anybody know how I can add parts to my oracad pspice student?

 

[Werner]

I use SIMextrix from Newbury,
http://www.newburytech.co.uk/

Has an integrated schematic editor that is easy to use. The demo version is limited in circuit size, but depending on model you can get away with two full-blown opamps in one circuit. Accuracy seems good enough, though I have questions with the behaviour of opamp models near open-loop operation.

I think ALW uses the same.

 

[raul_77]

Hi all,

My preferred Spice Simulator is SIMetrix, my second is Tina, but all the two very expensive for a ocassional use.

I finally have buy SuperSpice, in:

www.anasoft.co.uk

The demo version allow a reasonable size circuits, but also have a student/beginner version for a low cost that allow big size circuits.

The software is in constant development and the support is good. Well, download the demo version and decide yourself. I think that is the more cheap altenative availlable.

Happy days,

Raúl Couto

 

[BrianL]

As a guy at work says,

"If you don't want wrong answers, don't simulate" ...

 

[Jeff R]

Spectrum Software's Microcap is easy to use and learn and they have an evaluation version that is free.

 

[awhiteguy]

Orcad and SwitcherCAD III, the latter is much easier to use.

Does anyone that uses SwitcherCAD know how to add parts like MOSFETS?

 

[Bricolo]

thanks all

but since I've made several shematics with my orcad pspice demo, and they won't certainly work on another spice based simulator, I'll stay with pspice

I've read (on this board) someone's post, in wich he said he managed to add models to pspice student

Now, I "only" need to know how he did this

 

[raul_77]

Hi all,

I have forget, some of yours visited the web page of pcb-pool:

www.pcb-pool.com

In the section 'Downloads' yours can see that have a 'pcb-pool version' of Target 3001!.

The only limit is that, the output files are only valid for pcb-pool so, if yours like made your own pcb's, this program don't are usefull.

But the other parts of the program are fully functional: schematic capture and simulation and, as say the web page: totally free, no limits.

If someone need a Spice Simulator, and don't like the limits of the Students versions, of use a illegal copy of a commercial software, this have a professional Spice for Free.

Happy days

Raúl Couto

 

[Edmond Stuart]

HCNR-200 model

[snip]
btw, YES, there is an opto-coupler SPICE model, something long sought after -- it's on the PDF for the Agilent HCNR-200 device. Why's an optocoupler spice model important? -- if you amplify the output (since photodiodes have large capacitance) you will almost certainly put the device into oscillation if not properly compensated. The HCNR-200 is an analog opto-coupler. Very helpful in noisy environments.

Hi jackinnj,

Did you ever use the HCNR-200 model? I'm asking this because (in my hands) it doesn't work. The X-fer ratio (K1) is way too low.
What make me suspicious is a beta of only 10m in the transistor model:

* LED/Optical-coupling transistor model
.model QCPL NPN(IS=2.214E-19 BF=10m NF=1.010 IKF=11.00m ISE=1.167P
+ NE=1.737 RB=3.469 VAF=100 TF=1.77U CJE=80P)

When I set BF to 100, the thing does work, but I wonder if it is correct.
Maybe something else is wrong with the model and I should keep BF=10m.
What's your opinion on this?

Cheers,
E.

 

[jackinnj]

Hi jackinnj,
Did you ever use the HCNR-200 model?

From figure 16 in the datasheet:

An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.

The datasheet for the Siemens IL-300 has a number of good examples.

 

[Edmond Stuart]

The model is indeed OK. It was me who made a stupid error.
Thanks for reply.

Cheers,
E.

 

[jackinnj]

The Vishay IL-300 has a higher coupling factor.

 

[gootee]

Orcad and SwitcherCAD III, the latter is much easier to use.

Does anyone that uses SwitcherCAD know how to add parts like MOSFETS?

If you have the model in a text file, you just .include that file with a spice directive somewhere on your schematic.

If you already have an appropriate symbol for the model, then you just plop it onto the schematic, right-click on it, enter X (I think) in the Prefix field and the model's part name in the Value field. (I forget what's necessary and/or allowable etc for the prefix field.)

If in doubt about the pin assignments, right-click on it in the schematic and then click on Open Symbol. Right-clicking on each pin/port will show the "netlist order" number, which must correspond correctly to the numbering in the model file.

If you DON'T already have an appropriate symbol for something, just select Hierarchy and then Create New Symbol. Select Edit then select Add Pin/Port, to add the pins (and number them correctly). Then draw the shapes/lines, etc.

To get the hang of creating and using symbols and hierarchies, you could draw a simple circuit schematic, label the inputs and outputs, and then make a symbol for it (pin LABELS matter more than netlist order, for symbols that represent your own .ASC circuit schematics). Name the symbol with the same base filename as the .asc file. Then you could place that symbol on a schematic, right click and enter X in the Prefix field (pretty sure), and then add other components or symbols around it (if necessary) and run it. If you make a bunch of building-block circuits and make block-like symbols for them, you can draw a circuit that looks more like a block diagram than a schematic and run the thing. It's pretty powerful. And sometimes it's the only way to get everything on the screen in a readable format. Also, it's very quick and easy to burrow down into the hierachy and look at the schematics and plot things from them, etc.

I hope I remembered everything correctly. It's been a while.

Cheers,

Tom

 

[jackinnj]

Does anyone that uses SwitcherCAD know how to add parts like MOSFETS?

To what has already been written, I would suggest that reading the SPICE section of Bob Cordell's book "Designing Audio Power Amplifiers" will help quite a bit. He describes many of the spice parameters and how you can make better models from the datasheets, or from your own observations.