Posted by Damir [ 213.202.68.171 ] on April 24, 2005 at 13:43:18:

In Reply to: This is extraordinarily cool posted by wunhuanglo on April 24, 2005 at 09:53:14:

Although PSpice ("OrCad"-for example) is almost "standard", I like "Circuit Maker" (3f4/3f5 "spice engine") better and used it every day in the last few years. Although not without its imperfections (transformer models, some "too simple" models, etc.) it`s easy to use and understand. It has some tube models, and other can be found on the net ("Duncan amp pages" - models, links, explanations, list of other free "Spice" programs...).
Great tool for learning - you have virtual multimeter, oscilloscope, bode plot (frequency AC analysis), Fourier-analysis, etc., and you can see "what`s goin` on" in every part of the circuit. Of course, your analysis is that good like the models, but I found that even the simplest triode models, based on the expression:
Ia=K(µ*Ugk+Uak)^1,5 are "good enough" for DC and some AC "results". Of course, you can`t expect accurate results for distortion analysis ("optimistic" results, because of "more ideal" Ua/Ia/Ug "lines").
All in all, great - and free program...

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