Schematic Entry and Transient Analysis for LTSPICE

In Experiment 3 (Electrical/ Electronics Measurement Lab), the method used to enter

schematic design into LTSPICE is by writing the Netlist. Another method that will be
shown in this manual is the Schematic Entry. Schematic entry is very much similar to
drawing the circuit using schematic symbol. Do read the author’s note at the end.

Steps to construct and simulate circuit in LTPSICE

20kΩ

10kΩ
Sinewave
2Vp-p
1kHz

Figure 1: Inverting amplifier Circuit

For this manual, the circuit in Figure 1 will be used as an example. First of all,

start the LTPSICE program ( ) and click at the ‘New schematic’ command
button (Figure 2). This will create the schematic area (Figure 3).

‘New Schematic’
command button

Figure 2: ‘New Schematic’ command button

 Schematic area

Figure 3: Schematic area

There are few most common command button used as shown in Figure 4. The
function/name of each command button can be identified by placing the mouse cursor
on top of each command button.

Figure 4: Common command button

Component can be chose by clicking one of these buttons. For example, to place a
resistor, click at the ‘Resistor’ command button and left click at the schematic area to
place it. If the same component needs to be place again, just left click again at the
schematic area. Right click to cancel component placement. To place a component other
than resistor, capacitor, inductor and diode (e.g. Opamp), click ‘Component’ command
button. In the dialog box appeared (Figure 5), double click ‘[Opamps]. Another dialog
box will appear as shown in figure 6. Select an opamp (for example LT1001) by double
click at the Opamp model. Place the component at the schematic area.

Figure 5: Select Component Symbol dialog box

 Back function

Figure 6: [Opamps] dialog box

To place a voltage source, click ‘Component’ command button again. Notice that the
dialog box will remain at Opamps selection. Double click at the back function, ‘[…]’, as
shown in Figure 6 to return to the earlier component selection as shown in Figure 5.
Double click ‘voltage’ and place it at the schematic area. To rotate the component, click
the ‘Move’ command button (refer Figure 4), then click the component that need to be
rotate. After that, press [Ctrl + R]1. Another method to do rotation is by pressing [Ctrl +
R] after selecting the component and before placing it on the schematic area. Using the
technique learned, place all components needed on the schematic area at proper location
as shown in Figure 7.

Figure 7: All components placed

1
[Ctrl+R] refer to keyboard. Press ‘Ctrl’ key followed by ‘R’ key.
To set the components value, right click at the component and then change the value and
click ‘OK’ (Refer Figure 8). Repeat the same process for the rest of the component.

Figure 8: Changing component value

For the sine wave source, right click the voltage source and click ‘Advance’. In the dialog
box appeared, select SINE function and fill up the value accordingly. DC offset is usually
set to zero. Amplitude is half of Vp-p value. Refer to Figure 9. After all components have
been placed and the values have been set, click ‘Wire’ command button (refer to Figure
4) and connect all component accordingly as shown in Figure 10.

Figure 9: Advance option of voltage source

 Figure 10: Components are given values and connected using ‘wire’

Now, the circuit is complete. The next step is to simulate the circuit. To do the transient
analysis, go to menu ‘Edit’ and select ‘SPICE Analysis’ (refer Figure 11). A dialog box
should appear as shown in Figure 12.

Figure 11: ‘SPICE Analysis’ selection from ‘Edit’ menu

‘Transient’ Tab

Figure 12: Simulation editor

By default, the ‘Transient’ tab should be selected. If not, click on the ‘Transient’ tab. Set
the ‘Stop Time’ as per required. The value for ‘Stop Time’ is usually twice the value of
the period. For example if the frequency of the signal 1 kHz, then the period is 1ms and
the ‘Stop Time’ required is 2ms. Then, click ‘OK’. After that, place the box which
appears in the schematic area. Now the circuit is ready to be simulated. However, it will
be quite tedious to identify which node is output or input because the nodes are specified
automatically. In order to make it easy for identification, label the input or output node
using ‘Label net’ command button (refer to Figure 4). Click the ‘Label net’ command
button and in the dialog appeared, specify suitable name for node (refer Figure 13). Click
‘OK’ and a box will appear. Place the box at the output node and make sure the box
touches the node wire and the colour of the wire should change to yellow (refer to Figure
14). Left click to place the node label.

Figure 13: Node label

The box touches the

node wire

Figure 14: Placing node label.

Using the same technique label the input node. Now, click the ‘Run’ command button. A
dialog box will appear for selection of waveform as shown in Figure 15. To select a
waveform double click at it. If the selection requires two or more waveform, press the
‘Ctrl’ key and click at the waveforms required. Then, click ‘OK’. The waveform will be
displayed immediately as shown in Figure 16. If the dialog box as shown in Figure 15
does not appear, a graph window will appear as shown in Figure 17
 Figure 15: Waveform selection

Figure 16: Displayed waveform

Figure 17: Graph window

Right click at the graph window and the dialog box as shown in Figure 18 will appear.
 Figure 18: Graph window options

Select ‘Add Trace’ and a dialog box as shown in Figure 15 will appear. Follow the step
explained previously to select and display the waveforms.

To get the netlist, click ‘View’ and select ‘SPICE Netlist’ as shown in Figure 19.

Figure 19: SPICE netlist

Author’s note

This manual is prepared to help students to do the simulation assignment of Experiment 6

of Electrical/Electronics Measurement Labs. Any comment to further improve the
manual is much appreciated and can be forwarded to ssulaiman@uniten.edu.my. Your
comment and suggestion may help other student to better utilize the manual. Thank you!