Most frequently asked questions for beginners
Contents
- 1 What are the different LTspice file types?
- 2 How do you copy and paste between schematics?
- 3 How do I copy and paste between symbols in the symbol editor?
- 4 How can I add intrinsic device models (BJTs, FETs, etc.) to LTspice?
- 5 How can I add subcircuits to LTspice?
- 6 I have a pulse source in my schematic with zero transition times. LTspice only shows slow transition times of 2ns. What's going on here?
- 7 I have used a pure sine source in my schematic, but the output signal of my circuit looks slightly different from cycle to cycle.
- 8 How does one set the threshold and high/low voltages for LTspice's digital devices?
What are the different LTspice file types?
Schematic: name.asc the drawing with your circuit (a text file) Symbol: name.asy symbols for the schematic (a text file) Netlist: name.net unprocessed netlist (text file viewable from within LTspice & usable by other SPICE engines) Logfile: name.log info and results from .four, .measure, .op (text file viewable from within LTspice); may also contain the fully processed and expanded netlist (a Control Panel setting) Result: name.raw binary output data file (text format may be optionally specified) Result: name.fft binary result of an FFT Plot settings: name.plt text file used to save and restore Waveform Viewer plot settings Model file: abc.xyz text file containing model(s) - may be any valid file name Circuit file: name.cir frequently used extension for an external netlist input file (text)
How do you copy and paste between schematics?
Click the Copy Icon in the tool bar or select Copy from the Edit drop down menu (or type ctrl-C). Select (with the mouse) what you want to copy. Make the target schematic active (click on it or its tab or type ctrl-Tab) and then click the Paste Icon in the tool bar or select Paste from the Edit drop down menu (or type ctrl-V).
How do I copy and paste between symbols in the symbol editor?
It is not possible to use copy and paste in the symbol editor. Symbol files are ascii text. Merge the text as described in message 7201 in the LTspice Yahoo Group.
How can I add intrinsic device models (BJTs, FETs, etc.) to LTspice?
Please take a look to the many examples in the files section of the LTspice Yahoo Group (Files => Lib).
How can I add subcircuits to LTspice?
You will find many answers when you search the LTspice Yahoo Group messages for words like "library", "symbol" or "FAQ".
Please read first the programs help: Help -> Schematic Capture -> Editing Components -> Creating New Symbols Help -> Help Topics ->FAQs -> Third party models Help -> Help Topics ->FAQs -> Mosfet You will find also help in the linked documents from our LTspice Yahoo Group. Links Links -> Spice Courseware And Tutorials There is another document about symbols and models in our Files section. Files -> Tut -> Symbol Types For Subcircuits
Example: Using the SPICE model LMH6642 from National Semiconductor and the opamp2 symbol
This example will aid the new user in familiarization with the .asy (symbol) and its use in using a subcircuit. The issue that prevents easy utilization of the SPICE model from National Semiconductor is that the pin order list of the SPICE model does not match the pin order list expected by the opamp2 symbol.
You can open the opamp2.asy either in LTspice or in a text editor (such as Notepad) to determine the assumed pin order of opamp2. Right clicking each pin (the blue square) in LTspice provides information about each pin including the label and netlist order. As a summary you can select 'View', 'Pin Table'. Opamp2.asy has a netlist order of In+, In-, V+, V- and OUT. Looking at the opamp2.asy in Notepad you see the following:
PIN -32 80 NONE 0 PINATTR PinName In+ PINATTR SpiceOrder 1 PIN -32 48 NONE 0 PINATTR PinName In- PINATTR SpiceOrder 2 PIN 0 32 NONE 0 PINATTR PinName V+ PINATTR SpiceOrder 3 PIN 0 96 NONE 0 PINATTR PinName V- PINATTR SpiceOrder 4 PIN 32 64 NONE 0 PINATTR PinName OUT PINATTR SpiceOrder 5
This section of the asy file gives the location and the same information as opening the .asy file in LTspice. So it's your preference which approach you take.
An excerpt from the subcircuit we want to use is listed below in its original form: Source of the SPICE model from National Semiconductor
* PINOUT ORDER -IN +IN VCC VEE OUT * PINOUT ORDER 2 3 7 4 6 .SUBCKT LMH6642 2 3 7 4 6
So, we either have to modify the symbol or the subcircuit. Given the provisions of the model, that it cannot be modified (see Copyright) AND there would be other subcircuits that have the same netlist order, i.e. IN+ and IN- reversed, the choice is to make a new symbol and save it under 'Opamps', the same folder as opamp2.
Saving the opamp2.asy file in LTspice as Opamp2(In+ In- reversed).asy, right-clicking the pins as indicated above, then reversing the pin orders on the input produces this file File:Opamp2(In+ In- reversed).asy Note: You have to close and reopen LTspice so that this symbol is available.
Finally, we can add our new opamp2 to a test circuit and try it. We have to save the model Source of the SPICE model to the same directory as our test file. Next, we can place the component in our circuit, the new Opamp2(In+ In- reversed). Right clicking on the modified opamp2 component, we put LMH6642 as the Value. This name must exactly match the subcircuit name in LMH6642.MOD. Then we add an include statement on the test file, .include LMH6642.mod.
The test circuit is here: File:LMH6642 test opamp2(+-).asc
You can also make this op-amp a permanent addition to your component selections. See Components_Library#Opamps
I have a pulse source in my schematic with zero transition times. LTspice only shows slow transition times of 2ns. What's going on here?
PULSE(0 5 0 0 0 20n 100n)
LTspice automatically will use a default value for <trise> and <tfall> if these parameters are set to zero. Default value: 10% of Ton or 10% of Tperiod-Ton whatever is smaller. You must specify Trise and Tfall if you want a certain value.
PULSE(0 5 0 100p 100p 20n 100n)
Don't use steeper transitions than required by your application.
I have used a pure sine source in my schematic, but the output signal of my circuit looks slightly different from cycle to cycle.
LTspice has waveform compression enabled as the default setting. This compression reduces the amount of saved data during the simulation. It's a lossy compression and thus it can distort the saved signals. You can switch it off with the following command line in your schematic.
.options plotwinsize=0
It could be switched off in the "Control Panel -> Compression" pane as well, but this setting will be lost upon closing the current session of LTspice.
How does one set the threshold and high/low voltages for LTspice's digital devices?
The default threshold is always (Vhigh+Vlow)/2 . Flipflops require either a Td or a Trise for correct operation under every condition.
Right-mouse-click on the device (instance) in the schematic.
- SpiceLine: Vhigh=3V Ref=1.5
- SpiceLine2: Td=5n Trise=3n
Schmitt devices have the threshold and hysteresis parameters Vt and Vh instead of Ref. Vup=Vt+Vh Vdn=Vt-Vh.