Can't get Simulation to Work

Schematic Simulation (Ngspice)
1

I am have a KiCad schematic for some analog components (a MOSFET, some resistors and two voltage sources - see attached). If I set up V1 in the Simulation Parameters -> DC Transfer -> Source 1, and set the values to 0, 5, 1 (ramping the voltage from 0 to 5 volts in 1 volt steps), the simulation produces believable output.

If I then change V1 to be a voltage pulse source - pulse (0, 5, 0, 2u, 2u, 100m, 200m) - in the properties tab of V1 (Spice model -> Source), I can’t seem to get rid of the DC transfer values and the V1 pulses are all 0 V (ie no pulses?). If I restart KiCad, the DC Transfer values are wiped out, but the simulation is not enabled (simulation button grayed out), until I fill in the DC Transfer values, and then again, no pulses.

My KiCad versions:
Version: 5.99.0-unknown-4fe025909d~114~ubuntu18.04.1, release build
Libraries:
wxWidgets 3.0.4
libcurl/7.58.0 OpenSSL/1.1.1 zlib/1.2.11 libidn2/2.0.4 libpsl/0.19.1 (+libidn2/2.0.4) nghttp2/1.30.0 librtmp/2.3
Platform: Linux 5.3.0-7648-generic x86_64, 64 bit, Little endian, wxGTK, ubuntu, x11
Build Info:
Date: Oct 27 2021 15:31:47
wxWidgets: 3.0.4 (wchar_t,wx containers,compatible with 2.8) GTK+ 3.22
Boost: 1.65.1
OCC: 7.5.2
Curl: 7.58.0
ngspice: unknown
Compiler: GCC 7.5.0 with C++ ABI 1011
Build settings:
KICAD_USE_OCC=ON
KICAD_SPICE=ON

Any suggestions on how to get the pulses to work?

Thanks!

Mark

PS Would have liked to upload the schematic, but new users can’t do that… The MOSFET is an IRLZ34N, Drain to 3 series resistors to 12V DC. Gate to V1 through resistor. Source to resistor to ground.

The exported spice netlist from the grayed out Simulation button
.title KiCad schematic
.include “/home/mark/python-projects/rocket_launcher_web/Designs/libraries/irlz34n.spi”
Rwire1 Net-Rwire1-Pad1 Net-Rclips1-Pad2 50m
Rclips1 Vigniter Net-Rclips1-Pad2 150m
V2 Net-Rwire1-Pad1 0 dc 12
R1 Vsource 0 1
XQ1 Vdrain Vgate Vsource irlz34n
R2 Net-R2-Pad1 Vgate 1K
V1 Net-R2-Pad1 0 pulse(0 5 0 2u 2u 100m 200m)
Rigniter1 Vigniter Vdrain 0.655
.end

The schematic netlist
(export (version “E”)
(design
(source “/home/mark/python-projects/rocket_launcher_web/Expansion Board/rocket_launcher_expansion_board/MOSFET-test1/MOSFET-test1.kicad_sch”)
(date “Wed 27 Oct 2021 03:49:23 PM MST”)
(tool “Eeschema 5.99.0-unknown-4fe025909d~114~ubuntu18.04.1”)
(sheet (number “1”) (name “/”) (tstamps “/”)
(title_block
(title “MOSFET Tests”)
(company)
(rev “0.1”)
(date “2021-10-26”)
(source “MOSFET-test1.kicad_sch”)
(comment (number “1”) (value “Estes Igniter”))
(comment (number “2”) (value “”))
(comment (number “3”) (value “”))
(comment (number “4”) (value “”))
(comment (number “5”) (value “”))
(comment (number “6”) (value “”))
(comment (number “7”) (value “”))
(comment (number “8”) (value “”))
(comment (number “9”) (value “”)))))
(components
(comp (ref “Q1”)
(value “IRLZ34N”)
(footprint “Package_TO_SOT_THT:TO-220-3_Vertical”)
(datasheet “http://www.infineon.com/dgdl/irlz34npbf.pdf?fileId=5546d462533600a40153567206892720”)
(fields
(field (name “Spice_Lib_File”) “/home/mark/python-projects/rocket_launcher_web/Designs/libraries/irlz34n.spi”)
(field (name “Spice_Model”) “irlz34n”)
(field (name “Spice_Netlist_Enabled”) “Y”)
(field (name “Spice_Primitive”) “X”))
(libsource (lib “Transistor_FET”) (part “IRLZ34N”) (description “30A Id, 55V Vds, 35mOhm Rds, N-Channel HEXFET Power MOSFET, TO-220AB”))
(property (name “Spice_Primitive”) (value “X”))
(property (name “Spice_Model”) (value “irlz34n”))
(property (name “Spice_Netlist_Enabled”) (value “Y”))
(property (name “Spice_Lib_File”) (value “/home/mark/python-projects/rocket_launcher_web/Designs/libraries/irlz34n.spi”))
(property (name “Sheetname”) (value “”))
(property (name “Sheetfile”) (value “MOSFET-test1.kicad_sch”))
(sheetpath (names “/”) (tstamps “/”))
(tstamps “db9bcbba-4314-4dc2-9ff3-9bad8cf36f3f”))
(comp (ref “R1”)
(value “1”)
(datasheet “~”)
(libsource (lib “Device”) (part “R”) (description “Resistor”))
(property (name “Sheetname”) (value “”))
(property (name “Sheetfile”) (value “MOSFET-test1.kicad_sch”))
(sheetpath (names “/”) (tstamps “/”))
(tstamps “69be1810-9cb0-4613-85dd-ea45ee36540c”))
(comp (ref “R2”)
(value “1K”)
(datasheet “~”)
(libsource (lib “Device”) (part “R”) (description “Resistor”))
(property (name “Sheetname”) (value “”))
(property (name “Sheetfile”) (value “MOSFET-test1.kicad_sch”))
(sheetpath (names “/”) (tstamps “/”))
(tstamps “d1f93155-9008-4f33-a5c1-9c014236feee”))
(comp (ref “Rclips1”)
(value “150m”)
(datasheet “~”)
(libsource (lib “Device”) (part “R”) (description “Resistor”))
(property (name “Sheetname”) (value “”))
(property (name “Sheetfile”) (value “MOSFET-test1.kicad_sch”))
(sheetpath (names “/”) (tstamps “/”))
(tstamps “f8a81f6c-4cb0-42e1-bd78-04d1a03993fe”))
(comp (ref “Rigniter1”)
(value “0.655”)
(datasheet “~”)
(libsource (lib “Device”) (part “R”) (description “Resistor”))
(property (name “Sheetname”) (value “”))
(property (name “Sheetfile”) (value “MOSFET-test1.kicad_sch”))
(sheetpath (names “/”) (tstamps “/”))
(tstamps “f41d63c4-dc48-4957-b2d5-844ec6035623”))
(comp (ref “Rwire1”)
(value “50m”)
(datasheet “~”)
(libsource (lib “Device”) (part “R”) (description “Resistor”))
(property (name “Sheetname”) (value “”))
(property (name “Sheetfile”) (value “MOSFET-test1.kicad_sch”))
(sheetpath (names “/”) (tstamps “/”))
(tstamps “3e0cb95c-dc40-46e7-a236-7f1b951ab601”))
(comp (ref “V1”)
(value “pulse(0,5,0,2u,2u,100m,200m)”)
(datasheet “~”)
(fields
(field (name “Spice_Model”) “pulse(0 5 0 2u 2u 100m 200m)”)
(field (name “Spice_Netlist_Enabled”) “Y”)
(field (name “Spice_Primitive”) “V”))
(libsource (lib “pspice”) (part “VSOURCE”) (description “Voltage source symbol for simulation only”))
(property (name “Spice_Primitive”) (value “V”))
(property (name “Spice_Model”) (value “pulse(0 5 0 2u 2u 100m 200m)”))
(property (name “Spice_Netlist_Enabled”) (value “Y”))
(property (name “Sheetname”) (value “”))
(property (name “Sheetfile”) (value “MOSFET-test1.kicad_sch”))
(sheetpath (names “/”) (tstamps “/”))
(tstamps “ca766d7b-b857-4c46-8961-3c2d3aafe7b5”))
(comp (ref “V2”)
(value “12”)
(datasheet “~”)
(fields
(field (name “Spice_Model”) “dc 12”)
(field (name “Spice_Netlist_Enabled”) “Y”)
(field (name “Spice_Primitive”) “V”))
(libsource (lib “Simulation_SPICE”) (part “VDC”) (description “Voltage source, DC”))
(property (name “Spice_Netlist_Enabled”) (value “Y”))
(property (name “Spice_Primitive”) (value “V”))
(property (name “Spice_Model”) (value “dc 12”))
(property (name “Sheetname”) (value “”))
(property (name “Sheetfile”) (value “MOSFET-test1.kicad_sch”))
(sheetpath (names “/”) (tstamps “/”))
(tstamps “fbdf0418-19b5-4efb-bae0-88d5974d9f1b”)))
(libparts
(libpart (lib “Device”) (part “R”)
(description “Resistor”)
(docs “~”)
(footprints
(fp “R_"))
(fields
(field (name “Reference”) “R”)
(field (name “Value”) “R”)
(field (name “Datasheet”) “~”))
(pins
(pin (num “1”) (name “”) (type “passive”))
(pin (num “2”) (name “”) (type “passive”))))
(libpart (lib “Simulation_SPICE”) (part “VDC”)
(description “Voltage source, DC”)
(docs “~”)
(fields
(field (name “Reference”) “V”)
(field (name “Value”) “VDC”)
(field (name “Datasheet”) “~”)
(field (name “Spice_Netlist_Enabled”) “Y”)
(field (name “Spice_Primitive”) “V”)
(field (name “Spice_Model”) “dc(1)”))
(pins
(pin (num “1”) (name “”) (type “passive”))
(pin (num “2”) (name “”) (type “passive”))))
(libpart (lib “Transistor_FET”) (part “IRLZ34N”)
(description “30A Id, 55V Vds, 35mOhm Rds, N-Channel HEXFET Power MOSFET, TO-220AB”)
(docs “http://www.infineon.com/dgdl/irlz34npbf.pdf?fileId=5546d462533600a40153567206892720”)
(footprints
(fp "TO?220”))
(fields
(field (name “Reference”) “Q?”)
(field (name “Value”) “IRLZ34N”)
(field (name “Footprint”) “Package_TO_SOT_THT:TO-220-3_Vertical”)
(field (name “Datasheet”) “http://www.infineon.com/dgdl/irlz34npbf.pdf?fileId=5546d462533600a40153567206892720”))
(pins
(pin (num “1”) (name “D”) (type “passive”))
(pin (num “2”) (name “G”) (type “input”))
(pin (num “3”) (name “S”) (type “passive”))))
(libpart (lib “pspice”) (part “VSOURCE”)
(description “Voltage source symbol for simulation only”)
(docs “~”)
(fields
(field (name “Reference”) “V”)
(field (name “Value”) “VSOURCE”)
(field (name “Datasheet”) “~”))
(pins
(pin (num “1”) (name “E1”) (type “input”))
(pin (num “2”) (name “E2”) (type “input”)))))
(libraries
(library (logical “Device”)
(uri “/usr/share/kicad/library/Device.lib”))
(library (logical “Simulation_SPICE”)
(uri “/usr/share/kicad/library/Simulation_SPICE.lib”))
(library (logical “Transistor_FET”)
(uri “/usr/share/kicad/library/Transistor_FET.lib”))
(library (logical “pspice”)
(uri “/usr/share/kicad/library/pspice.lib”)))
(nets
(net (code “1”) (name “0”)
(node (ref “R1”) (pin “2”) (pintype “passive”))
(node (ref “V1”) (pin “2”) (pinfunction “E2”) (pintype “input”))
(node (ref “V2”) (pin “2”) (pintype “passive”)))
(net (code “2”) (name “Net-(R2-Pad1)”)
(node (ref “R2”) (pin “1”) (pintype “passive”))
(node (ref “V1”) (pin “1”) (pinfunction “E1”) (pintype “input”)))
(net (code “3”) (name “Net-(Rclips1-Pad2)”)
(node (ref “Rclips1”) (pin “2”) (pintype “passive”))
(node (ref “Rwire1”) (pin “2”) (pintype “passive”)))
(net (code “4”) (name “Net-(Rwire1-Pad1)”)
(node (ref “Rwire1”) (pin “1”) (pintype “passive”))
(node (ref “V2”) (pin “1”) (pintype “passive”)))
(net (code “5”) (name “Vdrain”)
(node (ref “Q1”) (pin “1”) (pinfunction “D”) (pintype “passive”))
(node (ref “Rigniter1”) (pin “2”) (pintype “passive”)))
(net (code “6”) (name “Vgate”)
(node (ref “Q1”) (pin “2”) (pinfunction “G”) (pintype “input”))
(node (ref “R2”) (pin “2”) (pintype “passive”)))
(net (code “7”) (name “Vigniter”)
(node (ref “Rclips1”) (pin “1”) (pintype “passive”))
(node (ref “Rigniter1”) (pin “1”) (pintype “passive”)))
(net (code “8”) (name “Vsource”)
(node (ref “Q1”) (pin “3”) (pinfunction “S”) (pintype “passive”))
(node (ref “R1”) (pin “1”) (pintype “passive”)))))

2

Wow…now when I run the electrical rules check (no changes to the schematic or simulation parameters), all of the components on the schematic have the error “Symbol not found”. But, if I add the DC transfer values (0, 5, 1) for V1 in the simulation parameters, the circuit simulates as it should - as voltage on the gate rises, current through source resistor rises per the spec sheet for the MOSFET.

I then closed all KiCad windows, and restarted my computer, and opened KiCad, and tried the electrical rules check…same result…same for the simulation.

Not convinced that KiCad is really ready for prime time…

Mark

3

What specifically are you trying to do? Everything you explained sounds like the software is working as expected.

PULSE only works during a transient analysis. Are you trying to compare a ramp/sawtooth waveform to a square wave?

4

Just trying to drive the gate of my mosfet with a square wave.

How can the software be working correctly if none of the parts that I place on the schematic from the library are now no longer in the library (e.g a resistor), but yet the simulation produces output?

5

Spice knows what a resistor is, even if kicad’s schematic editor has forgotten what the schematic symbol looks like. The two concepts are orthogonal.

The library symbol issue is likely something in your path settings where Kicad is looking for your libraries in the wrong place.

If you post some screenshots, or better yet the whole project, someone can provide useful help. If you read around the forum for a bit you should get bumped up to the next level where you can post attachments. Alternatively, maybe an admin will see this and do it manually.

What version of kicad are you using? I missed it in your first post.

6

Can you post all of your spice libraries?

Also, please put code blocks (three backticks) around your schematic contents so the forum software doesn’t mangle them. It has replaced all the quotation marks with smartquotes which prevents kicad from reading the schematic when I copy and paste it into a file.

7

I don’t understand what you mean by “post all your spice libraries”.

Sorry about the mangling of the schematic text. When I made the original post (my first), I selected all the text for the schematic netlist, then clicked on what I thought was the symbol for code block </>. Since there isn’t a preview option for posts, I wasn’t sure how this interface formatted the text. Thanks for the hint for using three backticks.

Here are the schematic again:

(export (version "E")
  (design
    (source "/home/mark/python-projects/rocket_launcher_web/Expansion Board/rocket_launcher_expansion_board/MOSFET-test1/MOSFET-test1.kicad_sch")
    (date "Wed 27 Oct 2021 03:49:23 PM MST")
    (tool "Eeschema 5.99.0-unknown-4fe025909d~114~ubuntu18.04.1")
    (sheet (number "1") (name "/") (tstamps "/")
      (title_block
        (title "MOSFET Tests")
        (company)
        (rev "0.1")
        (date "2021-10-26")
        (source "MOSFET-test1.kicad_sch")
        (comment (number "1") (value "Estes Igniter"))
        (comment (number "2") (value ""))
        (comment (number "3") (value ""))
        (comment (number "4") (value ""))
        (comment (number "5") (value ""))
        (comment (number "6") (value ""))
        (comment (number "7") (value ""))
        (comment (number "8") (value ""))
        (comment (number "9") (value "")))))
  (components
    (comp (ref "Q1")
      (value "IRLZ34N")
      (footprint "Package_TO_SOT_THT:TO-220-3_Vertical")
      (datasheet "http://www.infineon.com/dgdl/irlz34npbf.pdf?fileId=5546d462533600a40153567206892720")
      (fields
        (field (name "Spice_Lib_File") "/home/mark/python-projects/rocket_launcher_web/Designs/libraries/irlz34n.spi")
        (field (name "Spice_Model") "irlz34n")
        (field (name "Spice_Netlist_Enabled") "Y")
        (field (name "Spice_Primitive") "X"))
      (libsource (lib "Transistor_FET") (part "IRLZ34N") (description "30A Id, 55V Vds, 35mOhm Rds, N-Channel HEXFET Power MOSFET, TO-220AB"))
      (property (name "Spice_Primitive") (value "X"))
      (property (name "Spice_Model") (value "irlz34n"))
      (property (name "Spice_Netlist_Enabled") (value "Y"))
      (property (name "Spice_Lib_File") (value "/home/mark/python-projects/rocket_launcher_web/Designs/libraries/irlz34n.spi"))
      (property (name "Sheetname") (value ""))
      (property (name "Sheetfile") (value "MOSFET-test1.kicad_sch"))
      (sheetpath (names "/") (tstamps "/"))
      (tstamps "db9bcbba-4314-4dc2-9ff3-9bad8cf36f3f"))
    (comp (ref "R1")
      (value "1")
      (datasheet "~")
      (libsource (lib "Device") (part "R") (description "Resistor"))
      (property (name "Sheetname") (value ""))
      (property (name "Sheetfile") (value "MOSFET-test1.kicad_sch"))
      (sheetpath (names "/") (tstamps "/"))
      (tstamps "69be1810-9cb0-4613-85dd-ea45ee36540c"))
    (comp (ref "R2")
      (value "1K")
      (datasheet "~")
      (libsource (lib "Device") (part "R") (description "Resistor"))
      (property (name "Sheetname") (value ""))
      (property (name "Sheetfile") (value "MOSFET-test1.kicad_sch"))
      (sheetpath (names "/") (tstamps "/"))
      (tstamps "d1f93155-9008-4f33-a5c1-9c014236feee"))
    (comp (ref "Rclips1")
      (value "150m")
      (datasheet "~")
      (libsource (lib "Device") (part "R") (description "Resistor"))
      (property (name "Sheetname") (value ""))
      (property (name "Sheetfile") (value "MOSFET-test1.kicad_sch"))
      (sheetpath (names "/") (tstamps "/"))
      (tstamps "f8a81f6c-4cb0-42e1-bd78-04d1a03993fe"))
    (comp (ref "Rigniter1")
      (value "0.655")
      (datasheet "~")
      (libsource (lib "Device") (part "R") (description "Resistor"))
      (property (name "Sheetname") (value ""))
      (property (name "Sheetfile") (value "MOSFET-test1.kicad_sch"))
      (sheetpath (names "/") (tstamps "/"))
      (tstamps "f41d63c4-dc48-4957-b2d5-844ec6035623"))
    (comp (ref "Rwire1")
      (value "50m")
      (datasheet "~")
      (libsource (lib "Device") (part "R") (description "Resistor"))
      (property (name "Sheetname") (value ""))
      (property (name "Sheetfile") (value "MOSFET-test1.kicad_sch"))
      (sheetpath (names "/") (tstamps "/"))
      (tstamps "3e0cb95c-dc40-46e7-a236-7f1b951ab601"))
    (comp (ref "V1")
      (value "pulse(0,5,0,2u,2u,100m,200m)")
      (datasheet "~")
      (fields
        (field (name "Spice_Model") "pulse(0 5 0 2u 2u 100m 200m)")
        (field (name "Spice_Netlist_Enabled") "Y")
        (field (name "Spice_Primitive") "V"))
      (libsource (lib "pspice") (part "VSOURCE") (description "Voltage source symbol for simulation only"))
      (property (name "Spice_Primitive") (value "V"))
      (property (name "Spice_Model") (value "pulse(0 5 0 2u 2u 100m 200m)"))
      (property (name "Spice_Netlist_Enabled") (value "Y"))
      (property (name "Sheetname") (value ""))
      (property (name "Sheetfile") (value "MOSFET-test1.kicad_sch"))
      (sheetpath (names "/") (tstamps "/"))
      (tstamps "ca766d7b-b857-4c46-8961-3c2d3aafe7b5"))
    (comp (ref "V2")
      (value "12")
      (datasheet "~")
      (fields
        (field (name "Spice_Model") "dc 12")
        (field (name "Spice_Netlist_Enabled") "Y")
        (field (name "Spice_Primitive") "V"))
      (libsource (lib "Simulation_SPICE") (part "VDC") (description "Voltage source, DC"))
      (property (name "Spice_Netlist_Enabled") (value "Y"))
      (property (name "Spice_Primitive") (value "V"))
      (property (name "Spice_Model") (value "dc 12"))
      (property (name "Sheetname") (value ""))
      (property (name "Sheetfile") (value "MOSFET-test1.kicad_sch"))
      (sheetpath (names "/") (tstamps "/"))
      (tstamps "fbdf0418-19b5-4efb-bae0-88d5974d9f1b")))
  (libparts
    (libpart (lib "Device") (part "R")
      (description "Resistor")
      (docs "~")
      (footprints
        (fp "R_*"))
      (fields
        (field (name "Reference") "R")
        (field (name "Value") "R")
        (field (name "Datasheet") "~"))
      (pins
        (pin (num "1") (name "") (type "passive"))
        (pin (num "2") (name "") (type "passive"))))
    (libpart (lib "Simulation_SPICE") (part "VDC")
      (description "Voltage source, DC")
      (docs "~")
      (fields
        (field (name "Reference") "V")
        (field (name "Value") "VDC")
        (field (name "Datasheet") "~")
        (field (name "Spice_Netlist_Enabled") "Y")
        (field (name "Spice_Primitive") "V")
        (field (name "Spice_Model") "dc(1)"))
      (pins
        (pin (num "1") (name "") (type "passive"))
        (pin (num "2") (name "") (type "passive"))))
    (libpart (lib "Transistor_FET") (part "IRLZ34N")
      (description "30A Id, 55V Vds, 35mOhm Rds, N-Channel HEXFET Power MOSFET, TO-220AB")
      (docs "http://www.infineon.com/dgdl/irlz34npbf.pdf?fileId=5546d462533600a40153567206892720")
      (footprints
        (fp "TO?220*"))
      (fields
        (field (name "Reference") "Q?")
        (field (name "Value") "IRLZ34N")
        (field (name "Footprint") "Package_TO_SOT_THT:TO-220-3_Vertical")
        (field (name "Datasheet") "http://www.infineon.com/dgdl/irlz34npbf.pdf?fileId=5546d462533600a40153567206892720"))
      (pins
        (pin (num "1") (name "D") (type "passive"))
        (pin (num "2") (name "G") (type "input"))
        (pin (num "3") (name "S") (type "passive"))))
    (libpart (lib "pspice") (part "VSOURCE")
      (description "Voltage source symbol for simulation only")
      (docs "~")
      (fields
        (field (name "Reference") "V")
        (field (name "Value") "VSOURCE")
        (field (name "Datasheet") "~"))
      (pins
        (pin (num "1") (name "E1") (type "input"))
        (pin (num "2") (name "E2") (type "input")))))
  (libraries
    (library (logical "Device")
      (uri "/usr/share/kicad/library/Device.lib"))
    (library (logical "Simulation_SPICE")
      (uri "/usr/share/kicad/library/Simulation_SPICE.lib"))
    (library (logical "Transistor_FET")
      (uri "/usr/share/kicad/library/Transistor_FET.lib"))
    (library (logical "pspice")
      (uri "/usr/share/kicad/library/pspice.lib")))
  (nets
    (net (code "1") (name "0")
      (node (ref "R1") (pin "2") (pintype "passive"))
      (node (ref "V1") (pin "2") (pinfunction "E2") (pintype "input"))
      (node (ref "V2") (pin "2") (pintype "passive")))
    (net (code "2") (name "Net-(R2-Pad1)")
      (node (ref "R2") (pin "1") (pintype "passive"))
      (node (ref "V1") (pin "1") (pinfunction "E1") (pintype "input")))
    (net (code "3") (name "Net-(Rclips1-Pad2)")
      (node (ref "Rclips1") (pin "2") (pintype "passive"))
      (node (ref "Rwire1") (pin "2") (pintype "passive")))
    (net (code "4") (name "Net-(Rwire1-Pad1)")
      (node (ref "Rwire1") (pin "1") (pintype "passive"))
      (node (ref "V2") (pin "1") (pintype "passive")))
    (net (code "5") (name "Vdrain")
      (node (ref "Q1") (pin "1") (pinfunction "D") (pintype "passive"))
      (node (ref "Rigniter1") (pin "2") (pintype "passive")))
    (net (code "6") (name "Vgate")
      (node (ref "Q1") (pin "2") (pinfunction "G") (pintype "input"))
      (node (ref "R2") (pin "2") (pintype "passive")))
    (net (code "7") (name "Vigniter")
      (node (ref "Rclips1") (pin "1") (pintype "passive"))
      (node (ref "Rigniter1") (pin "1") (pintype "passive")))
    (net (code "8") (name "Vsource")
      (node (ref "Q1") (pin "3") (pinfunction "S") (pintype "passive"))
      (node (ref "R1") (pin "1") (pintype "passive")))))```
8

I’m looking for this file:

P.S. there is a preview if you click this button:

image
image808×309 15.6 KB

9

Thanks for your reply. The point of my post was more along the line that while doing nothing to my schematic, and just posting to this forum, the KiCad schematic editor somehow forgot how to find all the libraries that I have been using for the past two weeks when I started using KiCad. Coupled with the fact that the spice module can find the component libraries seems to point to a certain brittleness of the KiCad software.

I didn’t change the location of the libraries, just posted to this forum, and went back the schematic editor. I am not implying that posting to this forum made KiCad forget the location of the libraries. That comment is just pointing out that I did nothing to the KiCad software to help if forget the location of the librairies.

Where are the libraries and how do I fix the path setting in KiCad so it can find them again?

I wanted to post the whole project, screen shots, etc., but alas, as a newbie, I can’t. Maybe someday…

Mark

10

@gkeeth Thanks for the info on the preview button. Up to this point, the preview pane has been showing all sorts of forum hints and text, so it didn’t appear as a preview pane. Very annoying. They have stopped popping up now, so I can see the preview pane.

Here is the file irlz34n.spi

.SUBCKT irlz34n 1 2 3
**************************************
*      Model Generated by MODPEX     *
*Copyright(c) Symmetry Design Systems*
*         All Rights Reserved        *
*    UNPUBLISHED LICENSED SOFTWARE   *
*   Contains Proprietary Information *
*      Which is The Property of      *
*     SYMMETRY OR ITS LICENSORS      *
*Commercial Use or Resale Restricted *
*   by Symmetry License Agreement    *
**************************************
* Model generated on Apr 24, 96
* Model format: SPICE3
* Symmetry POWER MOS Model (Version 1.0)
* External Node Designations
* Node 1 -> Drain
* Node 2 -> Gate
* Node 3 -> Source
M1 9 7 8 8 MM L=100u W=100u
* Default values used in MM:
* The voltage-dependent capacitances are
* not included. Other default values are:
*   RS=0 RD=0 LD=0 CBD=0 CBS=0 CGBO=0
.MODEL MM NMOS LEVEL=1 IS=1e-32
+VTO=2.09128 LAMBDA=0.00659881 KP=14.4595
+CGSO=8.22043e-06 CGDO=2.94451e-07
RS 8 3 0.0236528
D1 3 1 MD
.MODEL MD D IS=5.31057e-13 RS=0.00899451 N=1.01104 BV=55
+IBV=0.00025 EG=1 XTI=1 TT=5.00772e-08
+CJO=5.88011e-10 VJ=1.06884 M=0.467851 FC=0.5
RDS 3 1 2.2e+06
RD 9 1 0.0001
RG 2 7 7.24763
D2 4 5 MD1
* Default values used in MD1:
*   RS=0 EG=1.11 XTI=3.0 TT=0
*   BV=infinite IBV=1mA
.MODEL MD1 D IS=1e-32 N=50
+CJO=7.15463e-10 VJ=0.5 M=0.630172 FC=1e-08
D3 0 5 MD2
* Default values used in MD2:
*   EG=1.11 XTI=3.0 TT=0 CJO=0
*   BV=infinite IBV=1mA
.MODEL MD2 D IS=1e-10 N=0.411212 RS=3e-06
RL 5 10 1
FI2 7 9 VFI2 -1
VFI2 4 0 0
EV16 10 0 9 7 1
CAP 11 10 1.74606e-09
FI1 7 9 VFI1 -1
VFI1 11 6 0
RCAP 6 10 1
D4 0 6 MD3
* Default values used in MD3:
*   EG=1.11 XTI=3.0 TT=0 CJO=0
*   RS=0 BV=infinite IBV=1mA
.MODEL MD3 D IS=1e-10 N=0.411212
.ENDS
11

Given the timing of the error appearing, I suspect you were bitten by this: https://lists.launchpad.net/kicad-developers/msg45357.html

The default installation location for the symbol & footprint libraries changed to somewhere slightly more sensible. Your installed version is from after that change, so your libraries will be in the new location, but if you had it installed before the change as well than your paths might still be configured to point to the old location. Alternatively, your libraries might still be in the old location but your paths were updated to point to the new location. This is packaging-defined and I’m not sure how ubuntu is packaged. Seth’s message indicates that this should be handled automatically but it seems something went wrong in your case.

You can look at these paths by opening the schematic editor’s Preferences -> Manage Symbol Libraries. Mine looks like this (Windows):

image
image590×664 11.5 KB

My library setup on this machine is screwy so your paths will be different (plus windows versus linux). But taking the 4xxx lib as an example: mine is at ${KICAD_SYMBOL_DIR}/4xxx.lib (my library is in the old format .lib but yours should be .kicad_sym). You can see in the Path Substitutions frame at the bottom what the env var is set to.

Go check if your libraries are actually at the location Kicad is expecting them to be at. If not, you’ll either have to update where your libraries are (probably this is just updating your library package, but again I’m not sure exactly how ubuntu is packaged), or update your paths.

Coupled with the fact that the spice module can find the component libraries seems to point to a certain brittleness of the KiCad software.

Again, the spice module (an external shared library) has no connection to the component libraries. It has not found the component libraries, nor is it looking for them. Everything in your schematic is either a passive component with an intrinsic spice model (i.e. spice has a builtin model for resistors, capacitors, inductors), or it’s an external model that you’ve directly specified the path to (the IRLZ34n model you posted above).

With respect, you’re running an unstable development version of kicad. Some issues are to be expected. Where they are reproducible and actionable, they should be reported on the bug tracker so they can be fixed. You say “Not convinced that KiCad is really ready for prime time…” – that’s why kicad version 6 hasn’t been released yet.

12

This is an exported netlist, but can you post just the contents of the schematic file (open up the .kicad_sch file with a text editor and copy & paste).

Alternatively, I think you’ve been bumped up to full user so you should be able to add attachments now.

In any case, I need to look at the schematic file and not the netlist.

13

Here is the file:

(kicad_sch (version 20210621) (generator eeschema)

  (uuid 3962c29e-3a1f-404f-8689-949fc598d1da)

  (paper "USLetter")

  (title_block
    (title "MOSFET Tests")
    (date "2021-10-26")
    (rev "0.1")
    (comment 1 "Estes Igniter")
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      (property "Value" "R" (id 1) (at 0 0 90)
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      (property "ki_keywords" "R res resistor" (id 4) (at 0 0 0)
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      (property "ki_description" "Resistor" (id 5) (at 0 0 0)
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      (property "Spice_Netlist_Enabled" "Y" (id 4) (at 0 0 0)
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      (property "Spice_Model" "dc(1)" (id 6) (at 2.54 -2.54 0)
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      )
    )
    (symbol "Transistor_FET:IRLZ34N" (pin_names hide) (in_bom yes) (on_board yes)
      (property "Reference" "Q?" (id 0) (at 5.207 0.9085 0)
        (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27)) (justify left))
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      (property "Value" "IRLZ34N" (id 1) (at 5.207 -1.8666 0)
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      (property "Footprint" "Package_TO_SOT_THT:TO-220-3_Vertical" (id 2) (at 6.35 -1.905 0)
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        (effects (font (size 1.27 1.27)) (justify left) hide)
      )
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14

@gkeeth I looked into my software sources list, and I had two version of KiCad installed. My bad. No wonder I had a screwy installation.

I removed the nightly builds ppa and reverted back to the 5.1 version ppa, and tried to install that using the installation instructions on
https://www.kicad.org/download/ubuntu/. That works, but for the life of me I cannot get Ubuntu to install the libraries. I have tried

sudo apt install --install-recommends kicad and
sudo apt install kicad-libraries

but there are no

/usr/share/kicad/library or
/usr/share/kicad/modules or 
/usr/share/kicad/symbols or
/usr/share/kicad/footprints

directories on my machine after the installation completes, and KiCad cannot find any libraries. Not sure if the official Ubuntu installation script is broken, or what is going on. I have plenty of disk space, and receive no error messages from the installer.

At this point I have version 5.1.11-e4df9d881f~92~ubuntu18.04.1, release build installed, but cannot find nor install any libraries. I have spent 2 weeks hitting my head on the wall with KiCad trying to build and simulate a circuit with 1 MOSFET and several resistors, I give up. There has to be an easier application to use.

Thanks for your help, and all the best to you and the KiCad community, but I need to move on to something else before my blood pressure explodes! :wink:

Mark

15

Sorry for the delay here. Since your reply was not directed at me it did not notify me. Anyway, I think one of the main problems you were having is you were incorrectly using DC Transfer instead of Transient. PULSE() only works with Transient simulations. I am not able to get your SCH code block to work, but regardless I attached below an example project of what I believe you were trying to do. Even if you use another SPICE-based simulation software, the same principle with DC Transfer vs Transient will apply.

mosfet_test.zip (4.8 KB)

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