Author Topic: What's the current go-to calculator for electrical engineers?  (Read 22725 times)

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Offline SteveyG

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Re: What's the current go-to calculator for electrical engineers?
« Reply #100 on: December 01, 2021, 08:56:31 am »
casio fx991ex

I use a fx991es mostly because it's quicker to switch between decimal, hex and binary answers.

But I also use OpenCalc on the PC. And Electrodroid on my phone. And Omni Calculator: https://www.omnicalculator.com/

I use the FX-991MS. You can use engineering notation directly which can be handy.
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Offline PlainName

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Re: What's the current go-to calculator for electrical engineers?
« Reply #101 on: December 01, 2021, 11:47:52 am »
Gosh, how many versions do they have? There's apparently an RS as well. Couldn't find anything that spelled out the differences, though.
 

Offline tooki

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Re: What's the current go-to calculator for electrical engineers?
« Reply #102 on: December 01, 2021, 12:29:09 pm »
casio fx991ex

I use a fx991es mostly because it's quicker to switch between decimal, hex and binary answers.

But I also use OpenCalc on the PC. And Electrodroid on my phone. And Omni Calculator: https://www.omnicalculator.com/

I use the FX-991MS. You can use engineering notation directly which can be handy.
You mean metric SI prefixes, not engineering notation.
Engineering notation means things like 270ᴇ3 (meaning 270×103) for 270000, whereas with metric SI prefixes that’s 270k.

Practically any scientific calculator can do scientific notation (exponent notation like 2.7ᴇ5) and engineering notation (same as scientific, but with the exponent always in multiples of 3, like 270ᴇ3). It’s metric SI prefixes that are rare as hen’s teeth.

Edited per my reply to rsjsouza.
« Last Edit: December 01, 2021, 06:49:36 pm by tooki »
 

Offline rsjsouza

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Re: What's the current go-to calculator for electrical engineers?
« Reply #103 on: December 01, 2021, 06:29:00 pm »
Interesting; I haven't seen it called "metric" before.

I learned to call them SI prefixes or SI multipliers, since in my home country we were already immersed in the metric system and the word "metric" would be redundant anyways.

Perhaps my google-fu skills are lacking, but the several references on the internet that mention "metric prefixes" seem to be originated in the U.S.
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Offline tooki

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Re: What's the current go-to calculator for electrical engineers?
« Reply #104 on: December 01, 2021, 06:47:50 pm »
Interesting; I haven't seen it called "metric" before.

I learned to call them SI prefixes or SI multipliers, since in my home country we were already immersed in the metric system and the word "metric" would be redundant anyways.

Perhaps my google-fu skills are lacking, but the several references on the internet that mention "metric prefixes" seem to be originated in the U.S.
No, you’re entirely correct, calling them “metric” prefixes instead of SI prefixes is nothing but a brain fart on my part. I’ll chalk that up to the neck spasm I’ve been dealing with for the past 3 days… :/
 
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Offline rsjsouza

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Re: What's the current go-to calculator for electrical engineers?
« Reply #105 on: December 01, 2021, 10:14:54 pm »
Interesting; I haven't seen it called "metric" before.

I learned to call them SI prefixes or SI multipliers, since in my home country we were already immersed in the metric system and the word "metric" would be redundant anyways.

Perhaps my google-fu skills are lacking, but the several references on the internet that mention "metric prefixes" seem to be originated in the U.S.
No, you’re entirely correct, calling them “metric” prefixes instead of SI prefixes is nothing but a brain fart on my part. I’ll chalk that up to the neck spasm I’ve been dealing with for the past 3 days… :/
Hope you feel better soon!
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Oh, the "whys" of the datasheets... The information is there not to be an axiomatic truth, but instead each speck of data must be slowly inhaled while carefully performing a deep search inside oneself to find the true metaphysical sense...
 

Offline eti

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Re: What's the current go-to calculator for electrical engineers?
« Reply #106 on: December 02, 2021, 02:15:06 am »
To those who don’t use physical calculators:

~ A physical one sits there for years, rarely if ever needs a new battery. It doesn’t distract, it doesn’t chirp and beep, nor cause you to check your antisocial media nonsense.

~ A physical one just… IS. It exists, it’s buttons are there for you without a second thought - within reach - within your muscle memory.

~ Single purpose objects are still as valuable as they always were. You don’t need to unlock a screen, swipe, tap, fanny about etc.
 

Offline David Hess

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Re: What's the current go-to calculator for electrical engineers?
« Reply #107 on: December 02, 2021, 05:07:41 am »
- The batteries last from months to years, are inexpensive, commonly available, and user replaceable.

- The display does not occupy screen space, or require an additional monitor.

- Requires only a minimum of space on the desk, or possibly none at all. (1)

- If RPN, will discourage others from borrowing it. (2)

- Pocket portable.

(1) I particularly despise test instruments which require a mouse and keyboard taking up even more of the limited space on my workbench.  One keyboard and mouse is enough.

(2) Vernier instruments share this advantage.
 

Offline PlainName

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Re: What's the current go-to calculator for electrical engineers?
« Reply #108 on: December 02, 2021, 09:00:13 am »
Quote
(1) I particularly despise test instruments which require a mouse and keyboard taking up even more of the limited space on my workbench.  One keyboard and mouse is enough.

Going to disagree here, at least partly.

I have an EEZ BB3 PSU on my desk (not bench, so it's competing with the usual office detritus) and the thing I lurve about it is the mouse. I can control the PSU even though I can't reach it without stretching, and despite being wired the mouse doesn't take up much space and is easy to stow when not in use. A wireless jobby might be even easier.

OTOH, on the bench there is a mouse for the microscope and another for the PC, and there is often not room to move them. Not helped by both being wireless and of similar design so I tend to start waving the wrong one.

Gotta be swings and roundabouts on this one, I think.

(My Logitech mouse will connect to three devices just by pressing a button, but that seems like a) too much work, b) losing track of what's being controlled, and c) reducing everything to single-tasking.)
 

Offline SteveyG

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Re: What's the current go-to calculator for electrical engineers?
« Reply #109 on: December 03, 2021, 10:43:49 pm »
casio fx991ex

I use a fx991es mostly because it's quicker to switch between decimal, hex and binary answers.

But I also use OpenCalc on the PC. And Electrodroid on my phone. And Omni Calculator: https://www.omnicalculator.com/

I use the FX-991MS. You can use engineering notation directly which can be handy.
You mean metric SI prefixes, not engineering notation.
Engineering notation means things like 270ᴇ3 (meaning 270×103) for 270000, whereas with metric SI prefixes that’s 270k.

Practically any scientific calculator can do scientific notation (exponent notation like 2.7ᴇ5) and engineering notation (same as scientific, but with the exponent always in multiples of 3, like 270ᴇ3). It’s metric SI prefixes that are rare as hen’s teeth.

Edited per my reply to rsjsouza.

I did mean engineering notation, in that it will automatically keep all output in that format. It does SI prefixes in and out too with only the shift keystroke. I've not found a calculator that will remain in either mode without needing to press a key every time to convert.
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Offline tooki

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Re: What's the current go-to calculator for electrical engineers?
« Reply #110 on: December 04, 2021, 06:24:57 pm »
I use the FX-991MS. You can use engineering notation directly which can be handy.
You mean metric SI prefixes, not engineering notation.
Engineering notation means things like 270ᴇ3 (meaning 270×103) for 270000, whereas with metric SI prefixes that’s 270k.

Practically any scientific calculator can do scientific notation (exponent notation like 2.7ᴇ5) and engineering notation (same as scientific, but with the exponent always in multiples of 3, like 270ᴇ3). It’s metric SI prefixes that are rare as hen’s teeth.

Edited per my reply to rsjsouza.

I did mean engineering notation, in that it will automatically keep all output in that format. It does SI prefixes in and out too with only the shift keystroke. I've not found a calculator that will remain in either mode without needing to press a key every time to convert.
LOL what? I have multiple scientific calculators in arm’s reach and they all stay in engineering notation. Very basic ones (like my mid-90s solar-only TI-36X) will revert if you do a full “all clear”, more advanced ones do not. My HP Prime lives permanently in engineering notation.

It’s certainly not a conversion applied to a number after the fact!!
 

Offline David Hess

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Re: What's the current go-to calculator for electrical engineers?
« Reply #111 on: December 04, 2021, 10:52:05 pm »
I did mean engineering notation, in that it will automatically keep all output in that format. It does SI prefixes in and out too with only the shift keystroke. I've not found a calculator that will remain in either mode without needing to press a key every time to convert.

LOL what? I have multiple scientific calculators in arm’s reach and they all stay in engineering notation. Very basic ones (like my mid-90s solar-only TI-36X) will revert if you do a full “all clear”, more advanced ones do not. My HP Prime lives permanently in engineering notation.

It’s certainly not a conversion applied to a number after the fact!!

I took that to mean a calculator which supports engineering and SI prefixes, and continues to use whichever one is selected without additional keystrokes.  I think the HP48/HP50 only supports SI prefixes for conversions but I remember a friend with a Casio that did conversions and might have done SI prefixes.
 

Offline tooki

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Re: What's the current go-to calculator for electrical engineers?
« Reply #112 on: December 05, 2021, 12:04:56 am »
Yes, that’s what I assumed he meant, but since he insists it’s not…
 

Offline jonpaul

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Re: What's the current go-to calculator for electrical engineers?
« Reply #113 on: December 10, 2021, 07:02:47 pm »
 My favorite is still the Tektronix Circuit Computer circular slide rule circa 1961, were given by Tek reps, very rare. I use it often.

Super useful and practical for all RLC circuit computations /Zo/ with ranges to 100 M Ohm, 1 GHz, 1 femtoF etc.

https://vintagetek.org/tektronix-circuit-computer/

I still have two, the cursor plastic is easily damaged.

Bon Chance,

Jon
An Internet Dinosaur...
 

Offline PlainName

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Re: What's the current go-to calculator for electrical engineers?
« Reply #114 on: December 10, 2021, 09:36:48 pm »
I'm surprised no-one has made copies of these and others.
 
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Offline SiliconWizard

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Re: What's the current go-to calculator for electrical engineers?
« Reply #115 on: December 16, 2021, 08:35:16 pm »
As I mentioned before, I mostly use computer tools these days rather than a physical calculator (unless of course I don't have a computer around.)

For symbolic calculation, mainly Maxima (wxMaxima) and for numeric stuff, I was mainly using "calc" ( https://github.com/lcn2/calc ). Lightweight, arbitrary precision, interpreted language close to C, easy to use.

I tried again Qalculate (last time I had tried it was years ago, and I was not hugely impressed) lately, and it has become very good. It almost instantly became my go-to calculator. I highly suggest to at least have a try! It does pretty much everything people have talked about here, and more.
https://qalculate.github.io/index.html
 
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Offline PlainName

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Re: What's the current go-to calculator for electrical engineers?
« Reply #116 on: December 16, 2021, 11:03:56 pm »
I am trying it out and keep getting stuff I'm not expecting. It is presumably the way I expect it to work is not the way it actually works, and I'm not sure I want to have two different realities to choose from depending on which app I am using.

As a trivial example, I type '12' in decimal mode and '=', click the HEX button. I expect to see 0x0C (or similar) but instead I see 0x12. My FX-991 in BASE-N mode acts in the following way: when entering the number in decimal mode, pressing HEX before hitting return will simply change the entry mode to hex (so 0x12). After hitting return, pressing HEX converts decimal to hex (so 0x0C).

OK, I want to convert 12 ft to something. So, back to decimal then select the conversion pane, select Length... Foot. The answer is "~39 ft + 4.440 944 882 in".

It's probably very cool if you operate it how it expects to be operated but, personally, if I'm not 100% sure it's showing what I think it should then I can't trust it.
 

Offline SiliconWizard

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Re: What's the current go-to calculator for electrical engineers?
« Reply #117 on: December 17, 2021, 12:41:47 am »
A few hints:
- Don't use the virtual keyboard - I think those are useless and a waste of time on desktop calculator applications. But if you still want to use it rather than use menus or read the manual, use pop-up hints on buttons. Here you'll see that the 'base' buttons select the base for *entries* on a single click, but a right click or long click will make them act as switches for the base of the result instead. But I personally have the virtual keyboard hidden, it's just an annoyance IMHO.
- Read the manual. You'll discover a lot of stuff.
- Conversions are one of Qalculate's strong points. You can convert any expression using the "to" keyword. Much more productive than trying to find the right button or the right menu item. It's a computer tool, use it a such, not as a poor substitute for a physical calculator.

As for trusting the base of the result, it will always be shown (in subscript) unless it's decimal (which is default). So you can't go wrong. Again, read the manual, and after a couple minutes only I can guarantee you that you'll be up to speed.
 

Offline PlainName

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Re: What's the current go-to calculator for electrical engineers?
« Reply #118 on: December 17, 2021, 01:13:06 am »
I did read some of the manual, specifically the bit relating to conversions.

Call me simple, but there comes a time when there are some many magic key presses and mouse gestures that one just can't remember them all. Or even a fraction. So while it might make sense to the developer that doing x then y with a superposition of z will obviously lead to something,  as a multi-application user I am thinking "is that u or v, and is it this app or some other one". Just give me a clear button to press, a menu to select from, etc. If I get to use the thing enough I'll drift into using the magic shortcuts, but as a new user life is too short.

I like the way that this app pops us choices as you type, and the base subscript. There were many other things I wrote in response to your comment but I decided they were probably best not posted :)

 
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Offline Berni

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Re: What's the current go-to calculator for electrical engineers?
« Reply #119 on: December 17, 2021, 07:26:01 am »
You are not supposed to remember all the magic key combination shortcuts. You can typically do it with a menu, but you usually get to remember the ones you use the most often.

But i do agree that on screen keypads on calculators are the wrong way to do it. The windows calculator is the most popular example of it. A lot of people don't even know they can type in numbers using a keyboard and instead click numbers with a mouse (slow and clumsy). All the buttons in Windows Calc actually are mapped to a keyboard key, however good luck remembering what key does Sine, 1/x or Pi, there are no hints in the UI for it.

This is the main reason why i go for a text based calculator like SpeedCrunch. It's just a text box for me to type the expression into. I might not know the shortcut for Sine in Windows Calc, but here i can just type out "sin" and it works, everyone knows computers call the sine function sin. If i want a hex number input i just do "0x12" and it knows to treat it as hex.

For symbolic calculation, mainly Maxima (wxMaxima) and for numeric stuff, I was mainly using "calc" ( https://github.com/lcn2/calc ). Lightweight, arbitrary precision, interpreted language close to C, easy to use.
Feeding C-like code into a calculator is a pretty neat feature i never saw before. Don't think i would find a actual use for it very often, but i can see some rare cases where this might be really useful.
 

Offline PlainName

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Re: What's the current go-to calculator for electrical engineers?
« Reply #120 on: December 17, 2021, 09:45:03 am »
Quote
however good luck remembering what key does Sine, 1/x or Pi

Well, presactly. It's pointless (ho ho) typing numbers if you then have to pop up menus or hover-hints and stuff. Just quicker and simpler to do the whole thing with the GUI.
 

Offline EEVblog

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Re: What's the current go-to calculator for electrical engineers?
« Reply #121 on: December 17, 2021, 11:06:17 am »
Gosh, how many versions do they have? There's apparently an RS as well. Couldn't find anything that spelled out the differences, though.

Yeah, crazy that they use the same primary model number for vastly different calcs. For basic daily use the MS would be more suitable, and it has the engineering exponent keys.
You have to take your hat off to the EX though for removing the primary HYP key.
« Last Edit: December 17, 2021, 11:11:07 am by EEVblog »
 

Offline snarkysparky

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Re: What's the current go-to calculator for electrical engineers?
« Reply #122 on: December 17, 2021, 03:32:47 pm »
 

Online ledtester

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Re: What's the current go-to calculator for electrical engineers?
« Reply #123 on: December 17, 2021, 07:19:29 pm »
My favorite is still the Tektronix Circuit Computer circular slide rule circa 1961, were given by Tek reps, very rare. I use it often.

Super useful and practical for all RLC circuit computations /Zo/ with ranges to 100 M Ohm, 1 GHz, 1 femtoF etc.

https://vintagetek.org/tektronix-circuit-computer/

I still have two, the cursor plastic is easily damaged.

Bon Chance,

Jon

That's a nice blast from the past... "cycles" instead of Hertz, "millimicro", "micromicro" and "millimicromicro" instead of nano, pico and femto.
 

Offline PlainName

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Re: What's the current go-to calculator for electrical engineers?
« Reply #124 on: December 17, 2021, 09:37:22 pm »
Quote
If I get to use the thing enough I'll drift into using the magic shortcuts....

Well not yet using shortcuts but I might be less ambivalent about this one that my earlier posts suggest. I might go as far as to say it is kind of OK.


 


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