I'm a newcomer learning about amplifier circuits. I'm mainly interested in putting together simple valve amplifiers to begin with.
I am getting my head around it slowly, watching a lot of videos on YouTube, uncledoug's being the most useful. I've got a good understanding of the basics. I'm looking for some software that would help me not only build schematics, but also show the voltages and resistance in the various parts of the circuit. I think this would be a useful tool for learning. To be able to see how things work and tweak and play around with a circuit would be great. I know there are plenty of products which do this, I'm looking for recommendations for a beginner.
I've got some combined triode/pentode valves and pretty much everything else I need to make a start with a simple, single ended amp. I've had these bits for a while but a lack of time has stopped me getting on with it. I'm really looking forward to getting started.
There are plenty of circuits I can follow online but I think building a circuit in software first would help reinforce my understanding.
I am getting my head around it slowly, watching a lot of videos on YouTube, uncledoug's being the most useful. I've got a good understanding of the basics. I'm looking for some software that would help me not only build schematics, but also show the voltages and resistance in the various parts of the circuit. I think this would be a useful tool for learning. To be able to see how things work and tweak and play around with a circuit would be great. I know there are plenty of products which do this, I'm looking for recommendations for a beginner.
I've got some combined triode/pentode valves and pretty much everything else I need to make a start with a simple, single ended amp. I've had these bits for a while but a lack of time has stopped me getting on with it. I'm really looking forward to getting started.
There are plenty of circuits I can follow online but I think building a circuit in software first would help reinforce my understanding.
KiCad is useful for drawing schematics, simulation, and PCB layout.
I recommend reading books on electronic design. You need to know how to do DC and AC circuit analysis. The calculations required can be done in any kind of math software.
Ed
I recommend reading books on electronic design. You need to know how to do DC and AC circuit analysis. The calculations required can be done in any kind of math software.
Ed
Tube amps. Possibly ltspice but if you're then using transformers they get harder to model in ltspice.
You could simply start with low voltage, a NPN and a small power supply with a solderless prototyping board. It would give you real world examples of issues. LTspice is a good sanity check but a protoboard will be better.
You sound like me - started with the tube amps.. then ended up owning a scope, two power supplies, a sign gen, a set of multimeters, building an analyser, learning about clocks, building a DAC, PCB layouts and a myriad of cables (most big because 1000Vdc rating due to tube amps).
You'll learn more about amps by starting with a piece of paper and a pencil/pen. Work out what is going out, what is coming in and then work out what you need to get from one to the other. If you learn about the different forms of designs within amps and pros/cons (ie a common grid, or a cascode, an LTP, pre, power etc) you'll learn why..
Tubes are simple but 200Vdc isn't something to be taken lightly. More less the 400+Vdc with power output stages.
So LTspice will allow you to experiment but I found real life is quite a different beast.
Circuitmaker 2000 and Traxmaker, I still use it to this day..................
Once you learn it you will yearn for higher accuracy so then you switch to LTspice, and, Kicad or Diptrace to use the newest up to date parts available.
FWIW
jer 🙂
Once you learn it you will yearn for higher accuracy so then you switch to LTspice, and, Kicad or Diptrace to use the newest up to date parts available.
FWIW
jer 🙂
I'm surprised nobody has pointed to Morgan Jones yet: Morgan Jones, "Valve Amplifiers", ISBN: 978-0080966403. Circuit simulators are great but won't be of much help unless you tell it which circuit you want to simulate. Doing the math either on paper or with a calculator is also helpful to get started.
KiCAD is excellent. The new version seems to include a SPICE simulator as well, though I have yet to use it. LTspice, TINA-TI, and PSpice-for-TI are all free circuit simulators. As with any engineering software they're not the easiest to approach, but they do work well once you know how to use them.
Tom
KiCAD is excellent. The new version seems to include a SPICE simulator as well, though I have yet to use it. LTspice, TINA-TI, and PSpice-for-TI are all free circuit simulators. As with any engineering software they're not the easiest to approach, but they do work well once you know how to use them.
Tom
There's a button for it... I haven't used it. Usual disclaimers apply... 😉
Tom
Tom
Hmmmmm, Been hearing about it, I will have to see if I have it in my version and give it a try, Thanks for the Heads up, I had been looking for it but never took the time yet to start a project in it and Re-learn Kicad.
Cheers !! 😀
jer 🙂
Cheers !! 😀
jer 🙂
Another is Merlin's pages/books. The beginner's sticky thread in the tube section is a good read. There's a second Morgan book on building valve amps but the one on design is better supposedly (I don't have either).