When trying out a new circuit concept, it can be time-consuming to breadboard and troubleshoot the design.  SPICE-based simulation tools can help reduce the time it takes to tweak a design idea, reducing the time spent doing physical debugging.

Many companies offer SPICE packages with various features, ranging in price from free to thousands of dollars.  Linear Technology offers a powerful free SPICE package called LTSpice.  Since it is free, it can be taken with you wherever you work without worrying about licensing costs.  Linear has continued supporting it for quite a while, making it my preferred simulation tool.

In this series of articles, I will give some getting started tips I learned from my experiences with LTSpice.  I will also link to articles I found helpful for advanced topics.  Get started by visiting Linear’s website and downloading LTSpice.