Group's favourite SPICE software

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Francis Elers - 07 Apr 2008 16:34 GMT

Hello group,

I'm looking for SPICE software recommendations, both freeware and for
purchase. Whose programs do you use, and why?

Thanks,

Francis.

Reply to this Message

Chuck Harris - 07 Apr 2008 17:05 GMT

> Hello group,
>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> Francis.

That's easy: LTSpice, also known as LTSwitcherCAD, from Linear Technologies.

It is free, and is probably the fastest, most likely to converge, and all around
best spice package available.

-Chuck

Reply to this Message

Joel Koltner - 07 Apr 2008 17:40 GMT

> It is free, and is probably the fastest, most likely to converge, and all
> around
> best spice package available.

It seems to be one of the few free SPICE packages out there that's "actively"
maintained and improved upon these days... Linear Tech made one smart choice
in having Mike Engelhardt write them LTspice from scratch -- his skills
definitely seem to be on the level of the folks who once worked on PSpice, and
if it were a team of people rather than just Mike himself, I have no doubt
that LTspice would rapidly start having the much fancier graphing and
scripting abilities that, e.g., PSpice does.

For commercial packages John Warner's SI-Metrix is pretty nice. Last I heard
he was maintaining SI-Metrix with just a couple of other people, and was
looking to hire more if he could find appropriately talented individuals.

---Joel

Reply to this Message

Leon - 14 Apr 2008 12:23 GMT

> > It is free, and is probably the fastest, most likely to converge, and all
> > around
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
> ---Joel

Altium has just started supplying it with their PCB software. Pulsonix
has been supplying it for years.

Leon

Reply to this Message

qrk - 07 Apr 2008 20:56 GMT

>Hello group,
>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
>Francis.

I'll put my vote in for LTspice. Free, works well, PSpice compatible
syntax, and if there's a bug, Mike E. fixes it pronto. I've seen him
fix bugs in a matter of hours! Mike will also add user recommended
features when he sees fit. I find myself using LTspice over PSpice for
most small tasks since it is easy to use.

I like PSpice for the graphing capabilities, the one thing where
LTspice doesn't shine.

---
Mark

Reply to this Message

Jim Thompson - 07 Apr 2008 22:08 GMT

>>Hello group,
>>
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>I like PSpice for the graphing capabilities, the one thing where
>LTspice doesn't shine.

The only thing keeping me from switching.

>---
>Mark

...Jim Thompson

America: Land of the Free, Because of the Brave

Reply to this Message

Joerg - 09 Apr 2008 00:51 GMT

>>> Hello group,
>>>
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
> The only thing keeping me from switching.

What don't you like about LTSpice's graphing?

You should see the graphing of my DSO when you use its math functions.
Nice Taiwanese bonbon colors. But luckily it has an Excel interface and
there you can customize everything.

Signature

Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

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qrk - 09 Apr 2008 19:56 GMT

>>>> Hello group,
>>>>
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
>Nice Taiwanese bonbon colors. But luckily it has an Excel interface and
>there you can customize everything.

LTspice graphing dislikes:
1. Can't lock the scaling. This is my number one gripe about LTspice
graphing. The workaround is a few button clicks to recall saved graph
setup parameters.

2. Can't separate the graphing window from the main app window (nice
for dual monitor setup, schematic on one monitor, graph on second
monitor).

3. Doesn't have the equivalent of PSpice's Performance Analysis which
is handy for parametric runs.

4. A few years ago, didn't support cartesian coordinate display in AC
analysis. However, Mike added that feature which sidelined PSpice.

---
Mark

Reply to this Message

Joerg - 09 Apr 2008 20:40 GMT

>>>>> Hello group,
>>>>>
[quoted text clipped - 35 lines]
> 4. A few years ago, didn't support cartesian coordinate display in AC
> analysis. However, Mike added that feature which sidelined PSpice.

Ok, I can see that. Mostly I use SPICE just for "what-if" quick checks
where most of this didn't matter and I don't have a dual monitor setup
at the big PC (yet).

Signature

Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

Reply to this Message

Jim Thompson - 09 Apr 2008 21:17 GMT

>>>>>> Hello group,
>>>>>>
[quoted text clipped - 39 lines]
>where most of this didn't matter and I don't have a dual monitor setup
>at the big PC (yet).

Here's my set-up...

Newsgroups: alt.binaries.schematics.electronic
Subject: From S.E.Cad: Group's favourite SPICE software -
DualMonitors.jpg
Message-ID: <ra8qv39mkuca6tei3c68o4r1jofaqv1j2b@4ax.com>

I couldn't live now without dual monitors... makes probing _so_ nice!!

...Jim Thompson

America: Land of the Free, Because of the Brave

Reply to this Message

Joerg - 09 Apr 2008 21:35 GMT

>>>>>>> Hello group,
>>>>>>>
[quoted text clipped - 45 lines]
> DualMonitors.jpg
> Message-ID: <ra8qv39mkuca6tei3c68o4r1jofaqv1j2b@4ax.com>

Those links don't work for me, no idea why.

> I couldn't live now without dual monitors... makes probing _so_ nice!!

I'd do that as well but it would become quite cramped in here. The
office desk is huge but the corner location is occupied by a laptop and
the other desk space is needed for paper.

An office laptop is essential. Like this morning when the electricity
was gone. The utility was amazing, 1/2h later jack hammers were heard
and another hour later power was back on.

BTW, did your nfilter catch any gmail junk in the last couple of hours?
I just wedged a blanket-filter for gmail into Thunderbird and it's
awfully quiet now.

Signature

Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

Reply to this Message

Jim Thompson - 09 Apr 2008 21:52 GMT

>>>>>>>> Hello group,
>>>>>>>>
[quoted text clipped - 47 lines]
>
>Those links don't work for me, no idea why.

It links to a post.message on alt.binaries.schematics.electronic. In
Agent, double-clicking on the Message-ID takes you there.

>> I couldn't live now without dual monitors... makes probing _so_ nice!!
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>I just wedged a blanket-filter for gmail into Thunderbird and it's
>awfully quiet now.

I no longer specifically filter on gmail. Since I added
"googlegroups", "aioe", "uar" and "remailer" to nfilter I'm seeing(*)
NO spam.

(*) Actually I'm still watching the filter action to separate out the
"good guys", but that test seems about over... very few "good guys"
use googlegroups.

...Jim Thompson

America: Land of the Free, Because of the Brave

Reply to this Message

Joel Koltner - 09 Apr 2008 23:01 GMT

> An office laptop is essential.

I'm just about to switch at home to using a 17" LCD (1920x1200) laptop as the
"main" computer (with a second monitor, though :-) ) -- I'd rather haul a
large laptop around every now and again than always having to be vigilant
about taking every last file I worked on at home back to the office or out of
town.

Reply to this Message

Joerg - 10 Apr 2008 00:10 GMT

>> An office laptop is essential.
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> about taking every last file I worked on at home back to the office or out of
> town.

17" is ok but does get old when you have to do 10-12 hour CAD marathons.
At least once you've passed the black balloon festival and the eyes
aren't as good anymore as they used to be.

Since I run the biz from here the files are in a central repository and
always backed up. So which PC I use doesn't really matter. When I go to
clients I spool their files onto a color-coded USB stick and hop in the
car or on a plane.

Signature

Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

"gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam.
Use another domain or send PM.

Reply to this Message

James Beck - 09 Apr 2008 22:04 GMT

> >>>>>> Hello group,
> >>>>>>
[quoted text clipped - 50 lines]
>
> ...Jim Thompson

Me either.
Once I went to duals it was like a whole new world.

Reply to this Message

Damir - 07 Apr 2008 21:07 GMT

>Hello group,
>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
>Francis.

http://www.linear.com/designtools/software/switchercad.jsp
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/LTspice/

Damir

Reply to this Message

Leon - 07 Apr 2008 21:26 GMT

> Hello group,
>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> Francis.

SIMetrix SPICE is very good:

http://www.catena.uk.com/

Leon

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Robert Lacoste - 08 Apr 2008 07:27 GMT

> Hello group,
>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> Francis.

It is not free, but I'll definively vote for Labcenter's VSM
(http://www.labcenter.co.uk/index.cfm), as we are using it nearly daily with
pleasure : very good spice frontend with full graphics capabilities (if you
buy the advanced simulation option), real time simulation (turn a
potentiometer and see the effects), usable also as mixed signal simulator
(your prefered microcontroller simulated with the analog parts...) and PCB
design too.

Friendly,
Robert
www.alciom.com

Reply to this Message

Kevin Aylward - 12 Apr 2008 11:25 GMT

> Hello group,
>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> Francis.

Well...you could have a go at my SuperSpice. Its a tad cheaper than Simetix.

I use it because, as I wrote it, it costs me nothing, and er..
additionally...has all the features I need that ain't in LTSpice.

Signature

Kevin Aylward
ka@anasoft.co.uk
www.anasoft.co.uk
SuperSpice

Reply to this Message

Joel Koltner - 14 Apr 2008 00:47 GMT

> I use it because, as I wrote it, it costs me nothing, and er..
> additionally...has all the features I need that ain't in LTSpice.

SuperSpice also seems to have been one of the first (and still one of the few)
SPICE front ends where you could drop graphs onto the schematic itself rather
than always having them in a separate window.

Reply to this Message

Fred Bartoli - 14 Apr 2008 10:06 GMT

Joel Koltner a écrit :

>> I use it because, as I wrote it, it costs me nothing, and er..
>> additionally...has all the features I need that ain't in LTSpice.
>
> SuperSpice also seems to have been one of the first (and still one of the few)
> SPICE front ends where you could drop graphs onto the schematic itself rather
> than always having them in a separate window.

And Kevin is smart enough to not buy it from himself for $20 on ebay :-)

Signature

Thanks,
Fred.

Reply to this Message

Kevin Aylward - 25 Apr 2008 19:24 GMT

> Joel Koltner a écrit :
>>> I use it because, as I wrote it, it costs me nothing, and er..
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> And Kevin is smart enough to not buy it from himself for $20 on ebay
> :-)

I don't know.. you might be surprised how daft I can be sometime.

I once was cutting a bread roll, knife towards roll, towards fingers.
dah...slipped.. tip of finger got a neat cut...tried again..dah.. slipped
again.. tip of the next finger sliced as well...was a bit of a bastard to
play my guitar for while.

Signature

Kevin Aylward
kaEXTRACTthis@kevinaylward.co.uk
www.kevinaylward.co.uk

Reply to this Message

JeffM - 25 Apr 2008 20:10 GMT

>>Kevin Aylward wrote:
>>>SuperSpice[...]where you could drop graphs onto the schematic itself
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>>
>I don't know.. you might be surprised how daft I can be sometime.

The reference was to the resident astroturfing spammer.
http://groups.google.com/groups/search?&q=author:Marra+on-ebay+OR+off-ebay+ingro
up:sci.electronics.cad

Reply to this Message

JeffM - 25 Apr 2008 20:12 GMT

>>Kevin Aylward wrote:
>>>SuperSpice[...]where you could drop graphs onto the schematic itself
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>>
>I don't know.. you might be surprised how daft I can be sometime.

The reference was to the resident astroturfing spammer.
http://groups.google.com/groups/search?&q=author:Marra+on-ebay+OR+off-ebay+ingro
up:sci.electronics.cad

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Electronics Forum / CAD / April 2008

Group's favourite SPICE software