Electronics > Beginners
Good electronics simulator for beginner?
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Wimberleytech:

--- Quote from: TheUnnamedNewbie on January 06, 2019, 08:20:51 am ---
Sure, the online ones are not professional, but they work and are fast to learn! (oh and LTSpice is not really a 'professional' tool either)

--- End quote ---
Analog Devices might beg to differ with you.
https://www.analog.com/en/design-center/design-tools-and-calculators/ltspice-simulator.html

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SPICE is a bit clumsy - it can take a lot of 'setup' to do simple simulations. They are engineering tools after all. I use SPICE very often in my work, but it requires you to set up rigorous 'experiments' and spend time creating output graphs of stuff - all of which is fine if you are going to spend many $ on CMOS tapeouts and it has to be perfect.

--- End quote ---
But if you are not at work, you can gen up a simulation very quickly with LTSpice...once you learn the basics of the tool.


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It's undeniable that LTSpice and compatible simulators are well supported by various manufacturers with all kinds of components being available, which is part of their value and why they endure.

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Indeed!


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LTSpice is not the best example of an actual SPICE engine though. I always thought of it as a simple almost 'toy'-like simulator.

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Whoa!!  Really?  I encourage you to read up on the history of SPICE.   
TheUnnamedNewbie:

--- Quote from: Wimberleytech on January 06, 2019, 02:39:49 pm ---I would like to preface this with the fact that everything I say is my opinion, and based on my experience - I never meant to claim what I say is universally valid.


--- Quote from: TheUnnamedNewbie on January 06, 2019, 08:20:51 am ---
Sure, the online ones are not professional, but they work and are fast to learn! (oh and LTSpice is not really a 'professional' tool either)

--- End quote ---
Analog Devices might beg to differ with you.
https://www.analog.com/en/design-center/design-tools-and-calculators/ltspice-simulator.html

--- End quote ---


Just because Analog Devices advertises it, and people use it in a professional context, does not make it a professional tool. It is a very good tool for people who don't


--- Quote from: Wimberleytech on January 06, 2019, 02:39:49 pm ---
--- Quote from: TheUnnamedNewbie on January 06, 2019, 08:20:51 am ---

SPICE is a bit clumsy - it can take a lot of 'setup' to do simple simulations. They are engineering tools after all. I use SPICE very often in my work, but it requires you to set up rigorous 'experiments' and spend time creating output graphs of stuff - all of which is fine if you are going to spend many $ on CMOS tapeouts and it has to be perfect.

--- End quote ---
But if you are not at work, you can gen up a simulation very quickly with LTSpice...once you learn the basics of the tool.

--- End quote ---

I dissagree. Setting stuff up with LTSpice is still a lot more work than using one of the simple online tools, which is why I don't suggest LTSpice to a beginner. This is my oppinion and I never said it was fact. You can do more with LTSpice than said online tools, but if you are a beginner (as is the context here) you are probably better of with the online tools.




--- Quote from: Wimberleytech on January 06, 2019, 02:39:49 pm ---
--- Quote from: TheUnnamedNewbie on January 06, 2019, 08:20:51 am ---It's undeniable that LTSpice and compatible simulators are well supported by various manufacturers with all kinds of components being available, which is part of their value and why they endure.

LTSpice is not the best example of an actual SPICE engine though. I always thought of it as a simple almost 'toy'-like simulator.

--- End quote ---

Whoa!!  Really?  I encourage you to read up on the history of SPICE.

--- End quote ---

I'm not sure what you are trying to say here.

When I made this statement, I mean that when I compare what I consider a modern, professional SPICE engine - ELDO, hspice, SPECTRE - to LTSpice, there is a huge difference in functionality. I often see people outside of the field point at LTSpice as some high-end 'professional' tool, but, in my opinion, it isn't. The first bit of evidence of this is in the license, where they explicitly state they do not provide support for people using LTSpice for any other reason than to evaluate their (=LT, now Analog) products. But it might just be a perspective thing. 
Wolfgang:

--- Quote from: hamiltont on January 02, 2019, 05:40:02 pm ---Hi folks,

Curious what others are using to simulate small example/learning circuits. I currently use http://everycircuit.com (both the webapp and the mobile) which is fantastic for me - love the ease of graphing any of the circuit points so I can instantly see relationships e.g. watching inductors resist current changes in real time. Love that I can dilate time easily - this is a big deal as a lot of what I am playing with I just don't have oscilloscope bandwidth to catch in real life.

My only big complaint is that the app kills my CPU, even on simple circuits, and can crash (so I'm now used to saving my work frequently).

Does anyone have recommendations on beginner-friendly simulators?

--- End quote ---

After starting off with 5Spice (shareware) about ten years ago which is either free (limited) or cheap (full version) I am now switching to LTSpice. The reason is that LTSpice is free, faster and has much more models that work there. The LTSpice GUI is awkward, though, and there *is* a learning curve to get used to it. For the german users there is an excellent tutorial by Gunthard Kraus (just google).
Wimberleytech:

--- Quote ---
When I made this statement, I mean that when I compare what I consider a modern, professional SPICE engine - ELDO, hspice, SPECTRE - to LTSpice, there is a huge difference in functionality. I often see people outside of the field point at LTSpice as some high-end 'professional' tool, but, in my opinion, it isn't. The first bit of evidence of this is in the license, where they explicitly state they do not provide support for people using LTSpice for any other reason than to evaluate their (=LT, now Analog) products. But it might just be a perspective thing.

--- End quote ---

LOL...quoting the license.  YOU WIN!
Wolfgang:

--- Quote from: TheUnnamedNewbie on January 06, 2019, 03:17:03 pm ---When I made this statement, I mean that when I compare what I consider a modern, professional SPICE engine - ELDO, hspice, SPECTRE - to LTSpice, there is a huge difference in functionality. I often see people outside of the field point at LTSpice as some high-end 'professional' tool, but, in my opinion, it isn't. The first bit of evidence of this is in the license, where they explicitly state they do not provide support for people using LTSpice for any other reason than to evaluate their (=LT, now Analog) products. But it might just be a perspective thing.

--- End quote ---

IIRC, the OM was asking for a beginners tool, not for a multi-K€ professional simulator. IMHO, the support for LTSpice on the web is not too bad. It is supported by LT (now Analog Devices) and user groups are very active.
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