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LScamper's avatar
LScamper
Explorer
Nov 20, 2015

Circuit simulation software

Spice circuit simulation software has been mentioned here several times. When I was in the business I used a circuit simulation program to test designs before they were prototyped. The versions of Spice that I used cost $5,000.00 > $10,000.00 plus about $1000.00 per year maintenance. Today you can download a free version that does the same thing and is free. It is called LTspice. The main difference is that the expensive ones come with more components in the package but you can add them to the free one with a little work.

The video in the link below is a little old but should show you how to get the program and start using it.

LTspice download

6 Replies

  • Alan_Hepburn's avatar
    Alan_Hepburn
    Explorer
    Nov 22, 2015
    Man is this bringing back memories! I worked for National Semi for almost 34 years until retirement back in 2008. Started as a tech in the Digital Design Group, which morphed into the Mass Storage Design Group, where I was a CAD Support engineer. Finished my career as a CAD support engineer in the CAD Support Group, working with the Cadence design tools.

    National was 9 years old when I joined, and they were bought by TI 2 years after I left - I guess they couldn't survive without me! :B
  • MEXICOWANDERER's avatar
    MEXICOWANDERER
    Explorer
    Nov 21, 2015
    My first automated battery cycle tester was a product of National. A sixteen thousand dollar A to D 48 channel board. Connected to a spanking new 486 DX Compaq. We won't talk about how nuch 8MB of RAM cost me.
  • GordonThree's avatar
    GordonThree
    Explorer
    Nov 20, 2015
    Texas instruments has a nice online tool called WebBench, they acquired from National ... it's not a download, but it offers a lot of parts maintained in libraries, not just TI stuff.
  • LScamper's avatar
    LScamper
    Explorer
    Nov 20, 2015
    "pspice is another good alternative. interfaces nicely to orcad and cadence design layout tools."

    The free version has limitations but I don't know what they are. Do you?

    LTspice is the full unlimited version.
  • ktmrfs's avatar
    ktmrfs
    Explorer III
    Nov 20, 2015
    pspice is another good alternative. interfaces nicely to orcad and cadence design layout tools.
  • westend's avatar
    westend
    Explorer
    Nov 20, 2015
    Thanks for the post.

    I really don't know if I have enough cells left to learn another piece of software but Spice might be just the thing for a project I have in mind.

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