Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
Off topic, but electronic design — Parallax Forums

Off topic, but electronic design

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2000-04-01 21:23 in General Discussion
Dear List,
I used to use a circuit analysis program (S.P.I.C.E) long ago. I lost
touch with such analysis but now I have some requirement.
Could someone advice me on where I can find either SPICE or similar circuit
analysis package please?
Thanks in advance
Vetrivel
Postdoctoral Fellow
UCSF
SF, CA

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-04-01 19:33
    Below is a message I posted to another list concerning using EagleCad with
    several "free" Spice packages. Also you might want to check out SuperSpice
    at http://www.anasoft.co.uk/

    Of course, there are plenty of commercial Spice programs running around.
    Many of them have demos that might be OK for you. Otherwise, expect to pay a
    good price.

    A few other assorted links: http://sss-mag.com/spice.html
    http://www2.eng.cam.ac.uk/~dmh/e1/spice.htm
    http://www.engr.unl.edu/ee/eeshop/cad.html#PSPICE

    If you have any questions about the EagleCad/Spice combo under windows,
    contact me OFF LIST and I'll try to answer it.


    Good luck,

    Al Williams
    AWC
    * Prototype your Stamp project on a solderless breadboard:
    www.al-williams.com/awce/asp2.htm




    =====
    Well, I have run out of time to finish this to the point that I wanted to.

    Here is the dope so far:

    Get Eagle Cad: www.cadsoft.de
    Get WinSpice3 or WinSpice:
    http://www.willingham2.freeserve.co.uk/winspice.html or
    http://158.132.148.166/index.html
    Get eaglesp3 (also at www.cadsoft.de)

    I suggest you get Eagle and WinSpice running separately so you know
    everything is OK.

    When you upack the eaglesp3 files (use WinZip) you'll find an install
    directory under your unpacking directory.

    >From install:

    copy spice3.lbr to your EAGLE/lbr directory
    copy digital.lbr to your EAGLE/lbr directory
    copy spice3lib\*.* to where you put your Spice models
    edit spice3.ulp
    - change Spice3Command and Spice3LibPath to reflect your setup. Use \\ for
    each backslash
    - On line 239 there is a "/" that you need to change to "\\"
    copy spice3.ulp to your EAGLE/ulp directory
    edit spice3.scr
    - Change the USE line to reflect your setup -- only need 1 \ here.
    copy spice3.scr to EAGLE/scr directory

    Make a batch file to start the whole mess up like this:
    SET EAGLEPATH=d:\progra~1\eagle
    start %EAGLEPATH%/eagle -S %EAGLEPATH%/scr/spice3.scr


    Set your EAGLEPATH to the right place.



    The problem is you have to manually start SPICE. When you press F12 or run
    the spice3.ulp it generates your .CIR file and you have to load it yourself.
    WinSpice at least detects when it changes, so if you make later changes, you
    don't have to reload.

    The original Linux stuff runs a "server" that automatically runs SPICE. I
    was wanting to do this in JScript or VBScript for WSH, but I just don't have
    time right now. Maybe soon. If someone else does this, let me know (see
    starteagle in the install directory).

    Another limitation is that the help files are not able to integrate with
    Eagle's under Windows. Just point your browser at
    install\help\eaglesp3\index.htm and you can read the tutorial, etc.



    >
    Original Message
    > From: Lvetri@a... [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=KCFzpnr6kseQbyrwfQ9tiK0OCKvEiIrMPVR8ErOQQcMco5kx6BByTQcwQHXr540BXhYSbKWO]Lvetri@a...[/url
    > Sent: Saturday, April 01, 2000 12:06 PM
    > To: basicstamps@egroups.com
    > Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Off topic, but electronic design
    >
    >
    > Dear List,
    > I used to use a circuit analysis program (S.P.I.C.E) long ago. I lost
    > touch with such analysis but now I have some requirement.
    > Could someone advice me on where I can find either SPICE or
    > similar circuit
    > analysis package please?
    > Thanks in advance
    > Vetrivel
    > Postdoctoral Fellow
    > UCSF
    > SF, CA
    >
    >
    > -- Easily schedule meetings and events using the group calendar!
    > -- http://www.egroups.com/cal?listname=basicstamps&m=1
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-04-01 20:48
    I used to use PSPICE by Microsim. A few years ago they sold out to ORCAD.
    It wasn't a bad simulator, but was overpriced, in my opinion, (~4-7K$
    depending on options). I would check out Intusoft's Icap program. I never
    used it, but the demos looked good. It was about half the $ of PSPICE for
    similar options. An old piece of Intusoft literature here lists a phone
    number of (310) 833-0710. I believe they will you send a free "wimpy"
    evaluation version if you contact them.

    Ray McArthur

    Original Message
    From: <Lvetri@a...>
    To: <basicstamps@egroups.com>
    Sent: Saturday, April 01, 2000 1:06 PM
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Off topic, but electronic design


    > Dear List,
    > I used to use a circuit analysis program (S.P.I.C.E) long ago. I lost
    > touch with such analysis but now I have some requirement.
    > Could someone advice me on where I can find either SPICE or similar
    circuit
    > analysis package please?
    > Thanks in advance
    > Vetrivel
    > Postdoctoral Fellow
    > UCSF
    > SF, CA
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-04-01 20:55
    I use CircuitMaker Pro and am very happy with it. It is a medium priced
    package costing around $700.00+ or if you want PCB design capabilities you
    can get the suite with both CircuitMaker Pro and TraxMaker Pro for around
    $1,400.00+.

    If you are looking for something inexpensive I understand that EagleCad is
    quite good and the Lite version, I think, is still free for the downloading.

    Good Luck,
    Randy A.
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-04-01 21:23
    Circuitmaker V6 is only $299, and its SPICE engine is the same as Pro. Some
    of the more advanced analysis options and component models are missing. A
    full description is at http://www.microcode.com/CMLIT.HTM. Protel thought
    enough of MicroCode Engineering to buy the company, but I've never
    personally used CircuitMaker...

    >I use CircuitMaker Pro and am very happy with it. It is a medium priced
    >package costing around $700.00+ or if you want PCB design capabilities you
    >can get the suite with both CircuitMaker Pro and TraxMaker Pro for around
    >$1,400.00+.

    Mike Hardwick, for Decade Engineering -- <http://www.decadenet.com>
    Manufacturer of the famous BOB-II Serial Video Text Display Module!
Sign In or Register to comment.