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Re: Stepping MOSFETs

 

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On 03/03/2025 17:12, Andy I via groups.io wrote:
Can LTspice24 (vers. 24.1.4) .STEP through non-numeric parameter values?
?
If it can .STEP only through numeric parameter values, then how does it eliminate the need to rename the models?
I think you missed the context of earlier messages. The numeric .STEP'ed parameter is silently converted to a string as a "workaround". To use this directly, still requires the AKO: syntax.

The new method of avoiding AKO: is:

M1 D G 0 0 {Model}
.step param M list 0 1
.param Model select(M,"BSP89","BSS145")


The problem with this is that the new select syntax is implicitly a zero-based array, so the .STEP'ed parameter list must start at 0 and increment by 1. If you tried to make this capable of also supporting the old AKO method with pre-24.1.4, you'd have to change it to:

M1 D G 0 0 {M}
.step param M list 1 2
.model 1 AKO: BSP89
.model 2 AKO: BSS145

It turns out that numeric models of "0" are rejected as invalid in all versions of LTspice, including 24.1.4, even though it is ultimately converted to a string. So the .STEP'ed parameter list can't start at 0.

However, a workaround for this is:

M1 D G 0 0 {M+1}
.step param M list 0 1
.model 1 AKO: BSP89
.model 2 AKO: BSS145

Are you keeping up?? :-)

--
Regards,
Tony


Re: LTspice vs ngspice 12AU7 tube amplifier transient analysis

 

ngspice has its own mailing list.? It is still current as of 2025.? It is hosted on sourceforge.net.
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There is one list for Users, one for Developers, and one for reporting Bugs.
?
Andy
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Re: Transferring opamps and other libraries

 

On Mon, Mar 3, 2025 at 07:36 AM, Carlos E. Mart¨ªnez wrote:
Of course I installed version 24.0, and I was talking indeed about the problems I was having when trying to run my sims with parts this version did not have in its library.
Carlos,
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Yes I understand that.? But are they parts that CAME with the older version, or are they parts that YOU added to the previous version?
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People often forget that they added models to their copy of LTspice, and later assume that everyone else has the same models as they do, and that LTspice "came that way", when it did not.? This is one of the reasons why adding your new parts to LTspice's own library is not a good idea.? By keeping added models physically separated from LTspice's own built-in library, it helps to enforce the fact that the model in question did not come with LTspice.? The simulation runs just fine either way, whether an added model is kept separate from LTspice's own library, or added to it.? But it helps YOU see and understand that it was something you added.
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Is it too long ago for you to remember if you added those models, or if they came with LTspice?
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Speaking about op-amps, I think LTspice only ever had op-amp models made by Linear Technology or Analog Devices (including companies it acquired).? Models for op-amps that were not made by either company, would not have come with any version of LTspice and must have been added by you.? Note that LTC/ADI second-sourced a few op-amps too.
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Also, I can't say this with 100% certainty, but I am not aware of any op-amp models made by LTC/ADI and included with LTspice, which were later dropped.? If it was there years ago, I think it is still there.
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Transistor models are different.? LTC and ADI did not make them.? (Matched pairs being an exception.? But they did not make the transistors that come in LTspice's transistor libraries.)
?
Andy
?
?


Re: Stepping MOSFETs

 

On Mon, Mar 3, 2025 at 02:59 AM, Mathias Born wrote:
In LTspice 24.1.4, numeric parameters implicitely convert to strings. As a result, the old way of using numeric parameters as model names works again.
However, the new string type is better, because it eliminates the need to rename any models.
Can LTspice24 (vers. 24.1.4) .STEP through non-numeric parameter values?
?
If it can .STEP only through numeric parameter values, then how does it eliminate the need to rename the models?
?
Andy
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Re: LTspice vs ngspice 12AU7 tube amplifier transient analysis

 

On Mon, Mar 3, 2025 at 04:52 AM, Dave Daniel wrote:
There is, however, a group named "Allspice", which is a group for users of all SPICE simulators.
Ah, seen it now, however there are no messages yet !
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Re: LTspice vs ngspice 12AU7 tube amplifier transient analysis

 

There is, however, a group named "Allspice", which is a group for users of all SPICE simulators.

DaveD
KC0WJN


On Mon, Mar 3, 2025 at 06:41 Carlo via <carlo.cianfarani=[email protected]> wrote:
On Mon, Mar 3, 2025 at 03:32 AM, John Woodgate wrote:
It isn't, really, but someone familiar with both apps might advise you.
I'm aware of there is a for KiCad, however I can't see a specific group for ngspice (which is the Kicad's simulator under the hood).
?
Carlo.
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Re: Transferring opamps and other libraries

 

Andy,
?
Of course I installed version 24.0, and I was talking indeed about the problems I was having when trying to run my sims with parts this version did not have in its library.
?
Carlos


Re: LTspice 24.1.4 - Limit function

 

Yes this is really a exciting feature for transient analysis of examples with behavioral sources. :-)
But there is? a problem if i made only a .op simulation of a circuit with a huge amount of behavioral sources.
The optimization overhead is here in the relation to the simulation time much to long.?
Therefore i suggest to let the user set or unset this feature by a .options parameter in the simulation file

Best regards?
Friedrich?





Am Mo., M?rz 3, 2025 at 8:44 schrieb Mathias Born via groups.io
<mathias.born@...>:
One of the exciting new features of LTspice 24.1 (which is the best thing since the invention of sliced bread :-) is that it compiles the math expressions of behavioral sources into highly optimized machine code matching the host machine. In this process, the limit() function is decomposed into more primitive operations to allow the optimizer to "see through it". It's the result of this decomposition that you see in the expanded netlist.
Performance measurements have shown that this new approach consistently cuts the time spent for behavioral source down to 50% (!)
?
Best Regards,
Mathias
?
On Sun, Mar 2, 2025 at 06:27 PM, eetech00 wrote:
If I run a schematic with limit function in 24.0.12:
?
b:u1:g_abmii22 u1:32b 0 i=v(u1:32)*(limit(((v(u1:31vdd1)-v(u1:vde))/(v(u1:31vdd1)-v(u1:31vdd2))), 0, 1))
?
If I run the same schematic with limit function in 24.1.4:
?
u1:BG_ABMII22 u1:32B 0 I=v(u1:32)*if(((v(u1:31vdd1)-v(u1:vde))/(v(u1:31vdd1)-v(u1:31vdd2)))<0,0,if(((v(u1:31vdd1)-v(u1:vde))/(v(u1:31vdd1)-v(u1:31vdd2)))>1,1,(v(u1:31vdd1)-v(u1:vde))/(v(u1:31vdd1)-v(u1:31vdd2))))
?
Both simulations were run with expanded netlist turned on.
?
I guess the expanded netlist format changed.
But did the "Limit" function change too?
?


Re: LTspice vs ngspice 12AU7 tube amplifier transient analysis

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

I believe the latest KiCad works with LTspice, but the problems with version 24.1 might compromise that.

On 2025-03-03 11:41, Carlo wrote:
On Mon, Mar 3, 2025 at 03:32 AM, John Woodgate wrote:
It isn't, really, but someone familiar with both apps might advise you.
I'm aware of there is a groups.io for KiCad, however I can't see a specific group for ngspice (which is the Kicad's simulator under the hood).
?
Carlo.
?
--
OOO - Own Opinions only If something is true: * as far as we know - it's science *for certain - it's mathematics *unquestionably - it's religion

Virus-free.


Re: LTspice vs ngspice 12AU7 tube amplifier transient analysis

 

On Mon, Mar 3, 2025 at 03:32 AM, John Woodgate wrote:
It isn't, really, but someone familiar with both apps might advise you.
I'm aware of there is a groups.io for KiCad, however I can't see a specific group for ngspice (which is the Kicad's simulator under the hood).
?
Carlo.
?


Re: LTspice vs ngspice 12AU7 tube amplifier transient analysis

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

It isn't, really, but someone familiar with both apps might advise you.

On 2025-03-03 10:32, Carlo wrote:
Hello,
I'm not sure whether this is the right place to ask about the difference seen in tube amplifier's transient analysis between LTspice and ngspice.
?
The tube amplifier was the topic of this thread a few weeks ago.
?
Let me know whether I can ask here....
?
Thanks, Carlo.
?
?
--
OOO - Own Opinions only If something is true: * as far as we know - it's science *for certain - it's mathematics *unquestionably - it's religion

Virus-free.


LTspice vs ngspice 12AU7 tube amplifier transient analysis

 

Hello,
I'm not sure whether this is the right place to ask about the difference seen in tube amplifier's transient analysis between LTspice and ngspice.
?
The tube amplifier was the topic of this thread a few weeks ago.
?
Let me know whether I can ask here....
?
Thanks, Carlo.
?
?


Re: Stepping MOSFETs

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

On 03/03/2025 08:59, Mathias Born via groups.io wrote:
This is a good example for how ADI is indeed paying attention to the valuable feedback from this group.
In LTspice 24.1.4, numeric parameters implicitely convert to strings. As a result, the old way of using numeric parameters as model names works again.
However, the new string type is better, because it eliminates the need to rename any models.
?
Best Regards,
Mathias
Yes, I can confirm this does now work in 24.1.4, provided "0" isn't one of the model names, which I had inadvertently done in the example I uploaded. But when revisiting this, I note that it also fails in earlier versions, seemingly because a model name of "0" is not interpreted as numeric.

17.1.15 or 24.0.12
Error on line 4 : m1 d g 0 0? 0
??? Error:? No unlabeled parameter permitted for MOSFET's
24.1.4
C:\users\tony\Desktop\LTspice\Stepping_to_the_max\Stepping_Models_post-V24.1.net(5): Unknown parameter
M1 D G 0 0 {M}
????????? ^^^^
It's hard to believe I had not noticed this before. Lesson learnt: don't use "0" as a numeric model name!

--
Regards,
Tony


Re: Stepping MOSFETs

 

This is a good example for how ADI is indeed paying attention to the valuable feedback from this group.
In LTspice 24.1.4, numeric parameters implicitely convert to strings. As a result, the old way of using numeric parameters as model names works again.
However, the new string type is better, because it eliminates the need to rename any models.
?
Best Regards,
Mathias
?
On Thu, Feb 27, 2025 at 09:25 AM, Tony Casey wrote:

On 27/02/2025 04:45, Andy I via groups.io wrote:
But it was temporarily broken when V24.1 was first introduced.
Is it still broken?
As of 24.1.4, it is still broken. I tried the original method, which failed, before adding the modification suggested by Matthias.

An equally serious issue, IMHO, is that the new method is not supported by older versions of LTspice. Obviously, there is a workaround by including both options on a new schematic, with a note to enable only one of them, but that is no help for people with old schematics wanting to use the new LTspice version.

--
Regards,
Tony


Re: LTspice 24.1.4 - Limit function

 

One of the exciting new features of LTspice 24.1 (which is the best thing since the invention of sliced bread :-) is that it compiles the math expressions of behavioral sources into highly optimized machine code matching the host machine. In this process, the limit() function is decomposed into more primitive operations to allow the optimizer to "see through it". It's the result of this decomposition that you see in the expanded netlist.
Performance measurements have shown that this new approach consistently cuts the time spent for behavioral source down to 50% (!)
?
Best Regards,
Mathias
?
On Sun, Mar 2, 2025 at 06:27 PM, eetech00 wrote:

If I run a schematic with limit function in 24.0.12:
?
b:u1:g_abmii22 u1:32b 0 i=v(u1:32)*(limit(((v(u1:31vdd1)-v(u1:vde))/(v(u1:31vdd1)-v(u1:31vdd2))), 0, 1))
?
If I run the same schematic with limit function in 24.1.4:
?
u1:BG_ABMII22 u1:32B 0 I=v(u1:32)*if(((v(u1:31vdd1)-v(u1:vde))/(v(u1:31vdd1)-v(u1:31vdd2)))<0,0,if(((v(u1:31vdd1)-v(u1:vde))/(v(u1:31vdd1)-v(u1:31vdd2)))>1,1,(v(u1:31vdd1)-v(u1:vde))/(v(u1:31vdd1)-v(u1:31vdd2))))
?
Both simulations were run with expanded netlist turned on.
?
I guess the expanded netlist format changed.
But did the "Limit" function change too?
?


Re: Transferring opamps and other libraries

 

Carlos,
Andy I is correct when he mentions locations for different versions of LTspice.
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I still have both LTspiceIV and LTspiceXVII on my computer system.
Both versions are in their factory default locations.
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C:\Program Files (x86)\LTC\LTspiceIV\scad3.exe

C:\Program Files (x86)\LTC\LTspiceIV\examples

C:\Program Files (x86)\LTC\LTspiceIV\lib

?

C:\Program Files\LTC\LTspiceXVII\XVIIx64.exe

C:\Users\(user name)\Documents\LTspiceXVII\examples

C:\Users\(user name)\Documents\LTspiceXVII\lib

?

Mike


Re: Transferring opamps and other libraries

 

Adding one more thought -
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On Sun, Mar 2, 2025 at 04:46 PM, Carlos E. Mart¨ªnez wrote:
For instance, opamps and discrete active parts models, like transistors, that are available in version 4.23 is not available in version 24.0.12.
Would I be correct to say that the "missing" parts models were devices that you had previously added to LTspice?
?
LTspice should not have removed any models that had previously come with any older version of LTspice.? That being said, there are some device models that Analog Devices did remove from LTspice.? The JFET models were one example.? They should never have done that.? Other than that, all transistors and op-amps should still be there if they came with an older version of LTspice.
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Most people inquire about the models they added to LTspice.
?
But it's also true that some LTspice users forget that they added a model, and then incorrectly assume that it came with LTspice.
?
Andy
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Re: Creating My Own Library

 

Hi Andy,
Re: .... /g/LTspice/message/157845 .....? Great Post ... thanks.
Ian
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Re: Transferring opamps and other libraries

 

Carlos,
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Since version 24.0.xx is not the newest version, did you try just installing it, effectively as an upgrade to your previous version?? It might leave everything in place including your user-provided models.? That is how LTspice upgrades used to work.
?
Today, with the latest versions (24.1.x), it probably won't be that simple.? But with 24.0.xx it might be, if you are lucky.? Maybe it's a bit of a stretch since your LTspice IV was quite old and I think the system library area did move when going from that to LTspice XVII.
?
Andy
?


Re: Transferring opamps and other libraries

 

Thanks John and Andy.

I thought there might be an easier way that I was missing. But from my
Google research and the tutorials I saw I started to guess my desire
was hopeless.

Carlos

On Sun, Mar 2, 2025 at 7:16?PM Andy I via groups.io
<AI.egrps+io@...> wrote:

On Sun, Mar 2, 2025 at 05:09 PM, John Woodgate wrote:

Probably you can, but it would make your version of LTspice unique and might compromise updates. ...

What John is talking about, is moving your models into LTspice's own symbol and model directories. Doing that is frowned upon and generally should not be used anymore. Maybe that is what you did previously. Newer versions of Windows and/or LTspice will try to stop you from doing that.

But it is easy to put your models where LTspice will find them but where they are not in LTspice's own directories.

Keep in mind that many devices in LTspice need two parts: a symbol, and a model. The symbol is not the model, and vice-versa. The symbol file MIGHT be one that comes with LTspice, or it might be one that you created.

Andy