simulation software -- power supplies - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Al (astral highway) · 7th Jan 2008, 9:50 pm

The other day I was reading a thread here about a half-wave rectified power supply.

One contributor, I think an Andy, helfpully posted a gif from what looked like simulation software, showing peak and average voltage and so on. I was interested in asking where to get such simulation software, especially for where there are more components and variables involved. I left the page overnight, thinking to post a question the next morning, but a cat, mouse or perhaps an extremely heavy beetle accidentally walked over the keyboard and left the forum on my behalf.

Does anyone recall this post, or is that very Andy, or otherwise knows what I'm talking about?

I should stress that I can do the basic calcs (Vpeak, Vrms, Vave) myself, but I'm still at a stage where a little visualisation is rather nice, especially when it comes to quickly analysing things like ripple voltage.

sortedradio · 7th Jan 2008, 10:06 pm

Hello Astral,
There is some nice simulation software on the Linear Technology website to download for free. Its called LT Spice and there was another called Switcher CAD. Definitely worth a look. It has a very active forum for help, like this one which I have just joined.
Good luck!

Herald1360 · 7th Jan 2008, 10:49 pm

Er, it wouldn't be the one in the never ending Murphy replacement parts thread in vintage audio would it?

If it is, it's from a package called "Simetrix" originally developed by a guy who used to work at the same company as myself, but left to start his own business. The software is now owned by Catena http://www.catena.uk.com/
There is a free demo version which I think could handle simple circuits like the half wave rectifier but it is limited in size of circuit and other ways....

(It's also probably many versions later now than the copy I have, which calls for a 486..... seems happy enough under XP, though)

Added a print of circuit i simulated...

Chris (who's Andy?)

Al (astral highway) · 7th Jan 2008, 11:02 pm

Quote:

Er, it wouldn't be the one in the never ending Murphy replacement parts thread in vintage audio would it?

Yes, bravo!

Quote:

If it is, it's from a package called "Simetrix"

Thanks Chris -- I'll take a look

Sorry about the name confusion!!

Ed_Dinning · 7th Jan 2008, 11:58 pm

Hi Al, another good package is Electronics Workbench, some free trial down loads are availabe and should be OK for the work you are doing.
To use them professionally there are all sorts of problems as the basic programmes take no account of parasitics etc. The result is the sim works, the real circuit goes Phutt!!

Ed

XTC · 8th Jan 2008, 12:13 am

Try the PSUD2 power supply simulator from the Duncan's Amps site. You can set up all sorts of filters and there are a lot of valve and semiconductor rectifiers set up to play with. It lets you graph pretty much everything you need.

http://www.duncanamps.com/psud2/index.html

Pete.

sortedradio · 8th Jan 2008, 2:14 pm

Hi there,
This is the link for Linear Tech's free software:-

http://www.linear.com/designtools/so...witchercad.jsp

All the best Sortedradio

7th Jan 2008, 9:50 pm	#1
Al (astral highway) Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: London, UK. Posts: 3,496	simulation software -- power supplies The other day I was reading a thread here about a half-wave rectified power supply. One contributor, I think an Andy, helfpully posted a gif from what looked like simulation software, showing peak and average voltage and so on. I was interested in asking where to get such simulation software, especially for where there are more components and variables involved. I left the page overnight, thinking to post a question the next morning, but a cat, mouse or perhaps an extremely heavy beetle accidentally walked over the keyboard and left the forum on my behalf. Does anyone recall this post, or is that very Andy, or otherwise knows what I'm talking about? I should stress that I can do the basic calcs (Vpeak, Vrms, Vave) myself, but I'm still at a stage where a little visualisation is rather nice, especially when it comes to quickly analysing things like ripple voltage. __________________ Al

7th Jan 2008, 10:06 pm	#2
sortedradio Heptode Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 654	Re: simulation software -- power supplies Hello Astral, There is some nice simulation software on the Linear Technology website to download for free. Its called LT Spice and there was another called Switcher CAD. Definitely worth a look. It has a very active forum for help, like this one which I have just joined. Good luck!

7th Jan 2008, 10:49 pm	#3
Herald1360 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 16,535	Re: simulation software -- power supplies Er, it wouldn't be the one in the never ending Murphy replacement parts thread in vintage audio would it? If it is, it's from a package called "Simetrix" originally developed by a guy who used to work at the same company as myself, but left to start his own business. The software is now owned by Catena http://www.catena.uk.com/ There is a free demo version which I think could handle simple circuits like the half wave rectifier but it is limited in size of circuit and other ways.... (It's also probably many versions later now than the copy I have, which calls for a 486..... seems happy enough under XP, though) Added a print of circuit i simulated... Chris (who's Andy?) Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Herald1360; 7th Jan 2008 at 11:09 pm.

7th Jan 2008, 11:58 pm	#5
Ed_Dinning Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, UK. Posts: 8,194	Re: simulation software -- power supplies Hi Al, another good package is Electronics Workbench, some free trial down loads are availabe and should be OK for the work you are doing. To use them professionally there are all sorts of problems as the basic programmes take no account of parasitics etc. The result is the sim works, the real circuit goes Phutt!! Ed

8th Jan 2008, 12:13 am	#6
XTC Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 837	Re: simulation software -- power supplies Try the PSUD2 power supply simulator from the Duncan's Amps site. You can set up all sorts of filters and there are a lot of valve and semiconductor rectifiers set up to play with. It lets you graph pretty much everything you need. http://www.duncanamps.com/psud2/index.html Pete.

8th Jan 2008, 2:14 pm	#7
sortedradio Heptode Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 654	Re: simulation software -- power supplies Hi there, This is the link for Linear Tech's free software:- http://www.linear.com/designtools/so...witchercad.jsp All the best Sortedradio