Simulate circuits: The 3 best programs
In this praise tip we present three free programs with which you can simulate electronic circuits.
LTSpice - The classic in circuit simulation
The semiconductor manufacturer Linear Technologies has been offering LTspice free of charge for 20 years. The program includes the following functions:
- You can enter circuit diagrams and parameterize the circuit.
- With this simulator you can analyze circuits in the time and frequency domain. Operating point, parameterized, noise and Monte Carlo simulations are also possible.
- They work in a graphic environment to evaluate the simulation results and signals of the circuit.
- LTSpice is characterized by a particularly high speed and convergence.
- The program is free and available for Windows and MacOS.
QUCS - Opensource circuit simulation
QUCS is the "Quite Universal Circuit Simulator", an open source freeware program that, thanks to its implementation in Java, works platform-independently.
- QUCS offers you a circuit diagram input and the evaluation of the simulation data in an integrated GUI.
- QUCS is based on a Spice-compatible simulator with all the features described above. VHDL and Verilog simulators are also included. This allows complete mixed signal systems to be simulated.
- QUCS is constantly being developed. However, bug fixes can be a long time coming.
- The program enjoys some popularity in academic circles and is mentioned regularly, for example, in the publications of the MOS working group.
- You can download QUCS for free.
Fritzing - Web-based circuit simulation
Fritzing wants to make electronics particularly easy to access. Accordingly, the completely free environment is suitable for less complex projects and for the school sector.
- Fritzing works online, server-based and can be operated entirely from the web browser.
- Fritzing is particularly suitable for microcontroller-based projects and supports the popular Arduino microcontroller among others.
- The environment is geared towards collaboration and learning. It is very easy to further develop the circuits of other users or to use them for your own projects.
- As a special service, Fritzing offers the creation of printed circuit boards on which the online simulated projects are realized.
In the next article, we explain what you should consider when soldering electronic components.