DC Transient Analysis using Simulation

Aim:
To simulate the DC transients in RL and RC circuit with LTspice software and plot
a) RL circuit: i(t) versus t , VR (t), VL(t) versus t
b) RC circuit: VC (t) versus t , iR (t), iC (t) versus t for different time constants.

Theory:
Introduction to LTspice:
LTspice is a high performance SPICE simulation software, schematic capture and
waveform viewer with enhancements and models for easing the simulation of analog circuits.
SPICE is a powerful general purpose analog and mixed -mode circuit simulator that is used to
verify circuit designs and to predict the circuit behavior. This is of particular importance for
integrated circuits. Simulation Program With Integrated Circuits Emphasis (SPICE) can do
several types of circuit analyses. Here are the most important ones:
• Non-linear DC analysis: calculates the DC transfer curve.
• Non -linear transient and Fourier analysis: calculates the voltage and current as a function of
time when a large signal is applied; Fourier analysis gives the frequency spectrum.
• Linear AC Analysis: calculates the output as a function of frequency. A bode plot is generated.
• Noise analysis
• Parametric analysis

Algorithm to simulate a circuit:

Step 1:
1. Open LTspice and Left click on the New Schematic symbol in the Schematic Editor Toolbar
as shown in Fig.1
 Fig.1

2. Add the necessary circuit elements. Left click on the desired component (Resistor, Capacitor,
Inductor or Diode) in the Schematic Editor Toolbar. Left click on Rotate or Mirror to adjust
orientation as shown in Fig.2. Alternately, you can also use Ctrl–R and Ctrl–M key shortcuts.

Fig.2

3. Left click on the Component symbol in the Schematic Editor Toolbar for adding Sources,
Loads and additional circuit elements. Search directory structure for desired circuit element (e.g.
load and voltage) as shown in the figure 3.

Fig.3
4. Left click on the Draw Wire as in figure 4 to make the circuit connections. After the
completion of the circuit connections, place a Ground node. This is mandatory for the
simulation.

Fig. 4
5. The attributes of circuit elements have to be edited as in figure 5. Right click on each of the
circuit element and enter its respective values.

Fig. 5
6. Left click on Simulation menu and then click Edit Simulation Cmd. Select Transient tab as
in figure 6. Enter stop time and check the label, Start External DC Supply Voltage at 0 V.
Run the simulation.

Fig. 6
7. Observe the voltage, current and power waveforms. Left click on any wire to plot the voltage
on the waveform viewer. Left click on the body of the component to plot the current on the
waveform viewer. Left click and hold on one node and drag the mouse to another node. Red
voltage probe at the first node and Black probe on the second to display the Differential voltages
as in figure 7.
Hold down the ALT key and left click on the symbol of the component (Note that the Pointer
will change to a thermometer) to display the Instantaneous Power Dissipation.

Fig. 7
8. The values of circuit elements could be changed in run-time using Spice directives. The figure
8 below is an example where the resistor values for R1 and R2 were set by variables named R1
and R2 respectively. In order to use a variable value you must set the component values between
{curlybrackets} or the simulation will not run. For example, the command .param R1 = 10k
will set the parameter R1 to 10k. The command .step param R2 = 1k 10k 2.25k says that R2
should vary from 1k to 10k with a step size of 2.25k, creating 5 simulations with the separate
values (1k, 3.25k, 5.5k, 7.75k, 10k).

Fig. 8
 Fig. 12

Procedure:
1. Draw the RL in LTspice software.
2. For RL circuit V = 10 V, R = 5 Ω, L = 5 mH with initial condition iL(0) zero. Plot the source
voltage, voltage across L and the current through the circuit.
3. Repeat the same for different time constants and initial conditions.
4. Draw the RC in LTspice software.
5. For RC circuit V = 10 V, R = 10 Ω, C= 2 μF with initial condition vc(0) zero. Plot the source
voltage, voltage across C and the current through the circuit6. Repeat the same for initial
condition vc(0)=2V.
6. Repeat the same for different time constants and initial conditions.

Result: