LTspice
LTspice
Free – Fast – Unlimited
analog.com
analog.com
Demo
• BMS Demo
• Silent Switcher
• Trinamics Motor Control
• GMSL
• Smart Helmet
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New LTspice Platform
LTspiceXVII LTspice 24.1 latest
To check Version
Improved Simulation speed
(ADI-standard Dell i7 Precision 5550 laptop)
New Feature in LTspice 24.x.x
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New LTspice Platform
Improved UI scaling on Large Monitors ► Improved component selection dialog
• DPI awareness ▪ Cleaner, more efficient layout
• New Icons scale cleanly ▪ Better in-dialog component search
• Clearer Icon functionality ▪ Quick links to analog.com
► New default background
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Getting Started with
LTspice
LTspice
Free – Fast – Unlimited
analog.com
analog.com
Topics
• What is LTspice?
• Basic RC Circuit Analysis
• DC-DC Converter - Analyzing Circuit Performance
• DC-DC Converter - Simulating a Transient Response
• AC Analysis
• Defining Parameters
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What is LTspice?
LTspice
Free – Fast – Unlimited
8 ©2025 Analog Devices, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
What is LTspice?
ADI’s analog electronic circuit simulator Even though LTspice is freeware, it
• Free outperforms many pay-for options
• No cost simulation platform designed for our customers and the engineering community
• *Not* licensed for use by semiconductor manufacturers
• Unlimited
• Draft and simulate circuits of unlimited size and content
• Unlimited hierarchy are supported
• Fast
• Optimized macro-models for many ADI devices
• E.g. switch mode power supplies simulate rapidly
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How Do I Get LTspice?
Go to www.analog.com/LTspice
Site also contains useful links to:
• Demo Circuits (reference designs)
• Documentation LTspice is a standalone application
that runs on your computer
• Handout of shortcut keys
• Video Tutorials
• Technical Articles
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How Do I Get Started Using LTspice?
Use one of the 1000’s of Demo Circuits available at analog.com
• Reviewed by product application engineers
Use a test fixture
• Provides a good starting point
Create your own using the schematic editor
• With Basic RC Circuit
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Demo Circuits Are Available on Product and Eval Board
Pages
Click on tool and
Simulation
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How Do I Get Started Using LTspice?
Use one of the 1000’s of Demo Circuits available at analog.com
• Reviewed by product application engineers
Use existing Examples in LTspice
• Provides a good starting point
Create your own using the schematic editor
• With Basic RC Circuit
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Use Existing Examples in LTspice
OR
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How Do I Get Started Using LTspice?
Use one of the 1000’s of Demo Circuits available at analog.com
• Reviewed by product application engineers
Use a test fixture
• Provides a good starting point
Create your own using the schematic editor
• With Basic RC Circuit
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Basics RC Circuit Analysis
LTspice
Free – Fast – Unlimited
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LTspice : Basic RC Circuit
A picture containing icon
Description automatically generated
Click CTRL+N or Click File Tab and &
New Schematic Icon Select New Schematic
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Adding Passives and Grounds
For Symbols use
R for Resistor
C for Capacitor,
L for Inductor,
D for Diode,
V for Voltage source,
G for Ground
Ctrl+R to rotate
before placement
To exit a symbol, select
Ctrl+E (echo) to
Esc or right click
mirror before
placement
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©2025
Wire Up the Circuit
N to Label the wire/net
W to draw a wire/net
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©2025
Wire Up the Circuit
Left-Click ground
“Pull” wire up through the source “Pull” wire through the resistor
Left-Click here to anchor Left-Click here to anchor
Press the ESC key or
right click to stop
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©2025
Add Net Labels
N to“Label Net”
Place on wire
Enter net name
Specify the name so an arbitrary
one isn't generated for the node
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Component Values
Right-click on
symbol
Or Right-click on
value
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©2025
Units for Component Parameters
M = m = milli = 10-3 K = k = kilo = 103
U = u = micro = 10-6 MEG = meg = 106
N = n = nano = 10-9 G = g = giga = 109
P = p = pico = 10-12 T = t = tera = 1012
F = f = femto = 10-15
Hints
Use MEG (or meg) to specify 106, not M
Enter 1 for 1 Farad, not 1F
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©2025
Editing Components
Right-Click on the component to edit attributes
You can also edit the visible attribute and label by pointing at the text with the mouse (cursor will change
to a text icon) and right-clicking
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©2025
Component Database
Available for resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, bipolar transistors, MOSFET transistors, and JFET
transistors
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Voltage Source Parameters
Click
“Advanced”
Right-click source
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Voltage Source PULSE Parameters
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Zooming In and Out, Fit
Zoom to Rectangle
or Z
Zoom to Fit(space)
Zoom Out or Shift+Z
Zoom In or Out -> Scroll Wheel
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Drag & Move
Duplicate or
Ctrl + C
Stretch Mode
Move or M
or S
Right click and Draw
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Edit Simulation Command – Transient Analysis
Enter in
0.01
Click to place
on schematic
Select “Configure
Analysis” in
Simulate menu
Click OK
Performs the DC analysis to establish a DC operating point, then increments the time step and calculates
the voltage and current values of the respective nodes
Useful for start up, stability, and transient analysis
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Completed Schematic
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©2025
Summary of Shortcuts (Toolbar is Available in Windows Version)
Auto Range[Ctrl + Y]
Stretch Mode [S] Toolbar is handy but
Move [M]
Zoom to Fit [Space] Duplicate [Ctrl+C]
keyboard shortcuts are
Zoom Back [Shift + Z] Delete [Del or Backspace] more efficient
Zoom In [Z] Place Spice Directive [.]
Place Text [T]
Label Net [N]
Draw Wire [W] Rotate [Ctrl+R]
Place Ground[G] Mirror [Ctrl+E]
Place Voltage Source[V]
Undo [Ctrl+Z]
Place Resistor[R]
Place Capacitor[C] Redo [Ctrl+Shift+Z]
Place Inductor[L] Serach [Ctrl+F]
Place Diode[D]
Place Library Part[P]
32 ©2025
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Summary of Shortcuts (Toolbar is Available in Windows Version)
Toolbar is handy but
keyboard shortcuts are
more efficient
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©2025
LTSpice : Basic RC Circuit
LTspice_RC_Filter_
LTSpice_RC_Filt
Example.asc
Click Wire or Net er_Example.asc
Click for Capacitor
Click GND
Click for Resistor
Click Voltage source
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LTSpice : Basic RC Circuit
Right click on the component to assign the values and other
parameters
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LTSpice : Basic RC Circuit
Click to configure
Simulation settings
Configuration
Options & Settings
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LTSpice : Basic RC Circuit
Click to Run or Click Tab Simulate
Pause simulations And select Run/Pause
OR Alt + R to start the
simulations
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LTSpice : Basic RC Circuit
Voltage(V1) plot
(GREEN)
Voltage(V_RC) plot
(BLUE)
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LTSpice : Basic RC Circuit
Current Plot
(GREEN & RED)
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LTSpice : Basic RC Circuit
Right Click on Plot Window to chose options When Cursor clicked on any plot window,
Change color or There is Plot Setting Tab appears in the
Add plot Pane or Menu for additional Plot options
Add new traces or
cursors
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LTSpice : Basic RC Circuit
Place cursors to get the values
and timing for the respective
plot from the simulations
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DC-DC Converter -
Analyzing Circuit Performance
LTspice
Free – Fast – Unlimited
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Running a DC/DC Converter Simulation
A picture containing icon
Description automatically generated
LTC3412A_DC
_Load.asc
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©2025
Viewing Voltage Waveforms
Plot the voltage on any wire by Left-Clicking it
• Tip: All Demo Circuits have INs and OUTs clearly labeled to help you quickly select them
Click here for
output Voltage
waveform
48 48 ©2025
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Labeling - Trick
Highlight net from waveform viewer
• Alt-Left-Click on the label in the waveform viewer (i.e. V(n006)) and it will now highlight that particular net on the schematic.
You can also use the search function ( )
Alt-Left-
Click
Net
Highlighted
49 49 ©2025
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Viewing Differential Voltage Waveforms
To create a measurement reference node, Right-Click on the desired node and select “Mark Reference”
• A black voltage probe is anchored to the selected node
All measurements in the circuit are now referenced to the node with the black probe
Hit the ESC key to remove the reference mark
50 50 ©2025
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Viewing Differential Voltage Waveforms
Left-Click on one node and drag the mouse to another node
• Red voltage probe at the first node
• Black probe on the second
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Viewing Current Waveforms
Plot the current through any component by Left-Clicking on the body of the component
• Current flowing into a node is defined as being positive
Click here for
inductor current
waveform
52 52 ©2025
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Deleting Waveforms
Method #1: Right-Click on a trace label to be deleted
• Select “Delete this Trace”
• Deletes only the selected trace
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Deleting Waveforms
Method #2: If the plot window is active hotkey F5 is equivalent
• Cursor turns into scissors
• Left-Click on one or more trace labels to delete. ESC to quit Left click
wavefor
m to
delete it
54 54 ©2025
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Deleting Waveforms
Method #3: Plot the same waveform twice in succession
• Deletes all but that waveform
Click,
click
55 55 ©2025
©2024 Analog
Analog Devices,
Devices, Inc.
Inc. All
All Rights
Rights Reserved.
Reserved.
Zooming In and Out on a Waveform
In the waveform window, use the mouse to zoom in and out. Click and drag a box about the region you wish to see drawn larger
Using the toolbar, click on “Zoom full extents”, to zoom back out
Zoom Full Extents
56 56 ©2025
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Measuring V, I and Time in the Waveform (Measure
using cursors)
Right-Click on the waveform name in the waveform window
For “Attached Cursor”, select “1st & 2nd” 2.
Position cursors to make desired
measurements
1. 3.
57 57 ©2025
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Measuring V, I and Time in the Waveform (Measure
using cursors)
Drag a box about the region you wish to measure
• Left-Click, drag, and hold
View the lower left corner of the window for the status bar. The dx and dy measurement data is displayed here.
Use Undo from the File menu or press “F9”
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Viewing Wire Current Waveforms
Plot the current through any wire by Alt+Left-Clicking on the wire
• An ammeter will appear to indicate that the wire current will be displayed
59 59 ©2025
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Average & RMS Calculations
Average & RMS Current, Voltage, or Power Dissipation
• Calculated only for the visible area of the plot window
Click on inductor L1 to display the inductor current waveform
• Ctrl+Left-Click the I(L1) trace label in the waveform view
Example:
Measure average and RMS current for
inductor in LTC3412A circuit. Zoom in as
shown for this waveform.
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Instantaneous & Average Power Dissipation
Instantaneous Power Dissipation
• Alt+Left-Click on the symbol of the LTC3412A
• Waveform is displayed in units of Watts
Average Power Dissipation and Energy
• Click, hold, and drag in the waveform window to display waveform at
steady state
• Ctrl+Left-Click on the Power Dissipation Trace Label in the
waveform view
• Waveform summary window will appear which shows power
dissipation in the IC
Example:
Measure the power dissipation in the LTC3412A IC
61 61 ©2025
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DC-DC Converter -
Simulating a Transient Response
LTspice
Free – Fast – Unlimited
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Current Load and Pulse Function
► You can simulate a load with a Resistor or Current (active) load
A picture containing icon
Description automatically generated
► In particular, the Pulse function with a current load is helpful for transient response analysis
▪ Steps a current load from one load value to another load value LTC3412A_DC
_Load.asc
63 63 ©2025
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Edit the Current Load to a Pulse Function
► Edit the .tran directive in the LTC3412A simulation to disable steady state detection
► Right-Click on the current load
▪ Select “Pulse”
▪ Modify the attributes (see below). Click “OK”
Forces current
to be zero when
voltage is zero
64 64 ©2025
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Run the Simulation for Transient Response
► Run the simulation
► Click on the OUT node to display Vout
► Click on the output current load to display Iout
► Notice the presence of the pulse load
► Use the application of the pulse load /
transient response to verify stability and
modify the compensation components, as
necessary.
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Thank You
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