Hi samlo,
LTspice is really excellent and the one most used by everyone here. It is one of the very best simulators and it is free.
In my book "Designing Audio Power Amplifiers" I have two full chapters devoted to the use of SPICE for amplifier design. The first chapter is an audio-centric tutorial on the use of LTspice, the second is on how to generate and tweak spice models for transistors.
On my web site, at CordellAudio.com - Home, you will find ready-to-run SPICE simulation files of circuits from my book. There are also easy instructions for downloading and installing LTspice on your computer. Finally, I have quite a few good transistor and other semiconductor models on my site and more are coming.
Cheers,
Bob
To underscore what "sawreyrw" and "Bob Cordell" just said . . . "SPICE" (in all of its manifestations) is fundamentally a program for formulating and solving the partial differential equations that arise in electronic circuits. The integrity of the solution will never exceed the accuracy of the original formulas (device models) from which it was derived. As many of us have observed over the years, there are some very incomplete, inaccurate, and just plain wrong SPICE models floating around. In my role as an instructor, every couple of months you will hear me say something like, "No, it doesn't matter how much you paid for that simulation software, or the personal confuser it runs on . . . in spite of what the program says, a uA741 opamp can NOT put out enough current to jump-start a locomotive.".
Having said that . . . the no-charge LTSpice program beats the pants off commercial circuit simulation software selling for thousands of dollars per copy. Download it at < http://ltspice.linear.com/software/LTspiceIV.exe >. Keep in mind that LTSpice doesn't claim to be anything more than a circuit simulator. It will not teach you circuit design or network analysis. The schematic diagrams it produces are straightforward and readable, but not up to the standards of many corporate Configuration Management systems. LTSpice will not help you keep track of parts lists, drawing changes, or lay out your printed wiring boards.
The major shortcoming of LTSpice is a lack of comprehensive documentation and user support documents - so your next step is to join the LTSpice users' Yahoo group at < LTspice : LTspice/SwitcherCAD III >. In the "Files" and "Links" sections you will find numerous tutorials and examples.
Dale
Having said that . . . the no-charge LTSpice program beats the pants off commercial circuit simulation software selling for thousands of dollars per copy. Download it at < http://ltspice.linear.com/software/LTspiceIV.exe >. Keep in mind that LTSpice doesn't claim to be anything more than a circuit simulator. It will not teach you circuit design or network analysis. The schematic diagrams it produces are straightforward and readable, but not up to the standards of many corporate Configuration Management systems. LTSpice will not help you keep track of parts lists, drawing changes, or lay out your printed wiring boards.
The major shortcoming of LTSpice is a lack of comprehensive documentation and user support documents - so your next step is to join the LTSpice users' Yahoo group at < LTspice : LTspice/SwitcherCAD III >. In the "Files" and "Links" sections you will find numerous tutorials and examples.
Dale
Hi sawreyrw, thanks. i am using LTspice from last week but i want
detailed tutorial because i am a newbee. do u know any link on net ?
also, i didnt understand ur last bracketed sentence
Hi Samlo,
Bob Cordell's book is highly recommended even if You are a beginner in Lt Spice's world. English is not my native language, but this book was easy to read and understand for me.
If You have mor questions you can ask at LTspice : LTspice/SwitcherCAD III
very helpful community.
Best Regards,
zsaudio
Bob Cordell's book is highly recommended even if You are a beginner in Lt Spice's world. English is not my native language, but this book was easy to read and understand for me.
If You have mor questions you can ask at LTspice : LTspice/SwitcherCAD III
very helpful community.
Best Regards,
zsaudio
I also use TINA Version 9, and find it to be the easiest to use of the various SPICE simulation programs I have tried. It does not give you the fine control of the simulation that LT spice does, and of course, you have to pay for it, (the free version available from TI semiconductors is almost useless) but is is very easy to use for someone who has not used SPICE before.
It is possible to do everything with TINA that you can do with LT spice, but the user interface shields you from most of the spice syntax, so you don't have to worry about things like the proper syntax for the .TRAN command (and others).
The TINA web site has a lot of tutorial information, but of course you need to get a feel for what is and is not possible. (This is true for whatever flavour of spice you use). Don't try to connect two voltage sources in parallel for example!
Nearly all the current SPICE simulators use the same basic SPICE computation engine (although I think LT spice is the odd one out here). The big differences between all the programs is the friendliness of the user interface. For all its power, LT spice falls down in a BIG way on the UI!
It is possible to do everything with TINA that you can do with LT spice, but the user interface shields you from most of the spice syntax, so you don't have to worry about things like the proper syntax for the .TRAN command (and others).
The TINA web site has a lot of tutorial information, but of course you need to get a feel for what is and is not possible. (This is true for whatever flavour of spice you use). Don't try to connect two voltage sources in parallel for example!
Nearly all the current SPICE simulators use the same basic SPICE computation engine (although I think LT spice is the odd one out here). The big differences between all the programs is the friendliness of the user interface. For all its power, LT spice falls down in a BIG way on the UI!
HI Bob Cordell, thanks for ur reply. Sir, i visited ur site and downloaded model file.
actually, i am using LTspice and Tina8 (Texas instruments) but bjt models are not sufficient
for audio projects. mostly, i need 2SA, 2SC series like A970,922, c2240 and other
driver trans. where can i get these models files? kindly reply.
actually, i am using LTspice and Tina8 (Texas instruments) but bjt models are not sufficient
for audio projects. mostly, i need 2SA, 2SC series like A970,922, c2240 and other
driver trans. where can i get these models files? kindly reply.
samlo,
There is an LTspice user group here:
LTspice : LTspice/SwitcherCAD III
You need to join this group to use it. In the Links section of the group there is lots of information and tutorials on SPICE.
One of the biggest issues new SPICE users seem to have is finding models of the parts they are using. There are lots of sources for them: vendors, Cordell, asking for a specific part in this or similar groups, google, etc. Now, be aware that there are lots of poor models floating around, so if you don't know if it's good you should test it.
Regarding my comment about parasitic components, sometimes at high frequencies thing like wiring inductance or capacitive coupling between components may become important. The reason I mentioned it is that they can effect 'accuracy' - so to speak.
There is an LTspice user group here:
LTspice : LTspice/SwitcherCAD III
You need to join this group to use it. In the Links section of the group there is lots of information and tutorials on SPICE.
One of the biggest issues new SPICE users seem to have is finding models of the parts they are using. There are lots of sources for them: vendors, Cordell, asking for a specific part in this or similar groups, google, etc. Now, be aware that there are lots of poor models floating around, so if you don't know if it's good you should test it.
Regarding my comment about parasitic components, sometimes at high frequencies thing like wiring inductance or capacitive coupling between components may become important. The reason I mentioned it is that they can effect 'accuracy' - so to speak.
the Ltspice user group has good resources in the example files and searching messsages can be valuable but do both 1st before posting a question - preferably one specific to Ltspice - the forum is not a basic Spice teaching resouce
buy an introductory book - Spice basics are pretty universal
seach for other Spice tutorials - I recall seeing OrCad manual/tutorials online, Intusoft also has online "news letters" with hints, examples
play with the example files you find - starting with a working sim lets you jump past some syntax issues
buy an introductory book - Spice basics are pretty universal
seach for other Spice tutorials - I recall seeing OrCad manual/tutorials online, Intusoft also has online "news letters" with hints, examples
play with the example files you find - starting with a working sim lets you jump past some syntax issues
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