Micro-Cap: A Classic Circuit Simulator Now Free

Before building, it's advisable to simulate, and if there's an error in the design, it's better for it to appear during that phase. Those who work with circuits know this well, and over the years they've gained access to very robust tools, even without paying a cent (LTspice, Ngspice, etc.). Among the commercial options, one of the most interesting is Micro-Cap, but its price was always an intimidating factor. Now, with the definitive closure of its company Spectrum Software, the last three versions of Micro-Cap are freeware, without restrictions.

Whether it's a simple power supply or an advanced audio amplifier, we need to evaluate designs before working on the PCB. It seems absurd to have to remember this, but there are also bold ones who throw themselves into their soldering station, only to discover that half of the circuit is wrong. Unless the initial plan is to experiment (and blow something up in the process), it's not a bad idea to add a circuit simulator to our toolkit.

The top recommendations are LTspice, Ngspice, Gnucap, and Oregano due to their extensive documentation and the fact that they are free (and most are open source). However, now Micro-Cap joins the list. Originally, it was software with a $4,500 license, but its company Spectrum Software decided to close its doors after 39 years (apparently, its founder retired), and Micro-Cap became free.

Naturally, Micro-Cap has a steep learning curve, but if you're reading this, it's because you consider taking it on, and any previous experience with other circuit simulators will be welcome. Its list of devices is remarkable (and there are still updates available, so you should take advantage), it can open Spice or IBIS models, and even export to Spice so your friends and colleagues can see the designs in other software.

Not sure where to start exactly? In the help section you'll find a submenu called Sample Circuits, which is full of sample circuits. Amplifiers, oscillators, valve designs... let's say you have your hands full. Add to this the real-time adjustments (modify a component and you'll see results immediately), value calculation from a predetermined range, and voltage analysis (personally, I prefer 'smoke analysis') to detect how close we are to the circuit blowing up in our face.

Micro-Cap is available in 32 and 64-bit builds. We recommend getting the versions marked 'CD' directly and extracting the content into a temporary folder. The builds are Windows only, but if you're a Wine rider, you should know that many users have had success with the 32-bit executable. Download a copy! Opportunities like this don't come around every day.

(Editor's note: Special thanks to the friend and reader 'demente' who shared the tip)

Official site: Click here

Source: Hackaday