spice-sim

Spice Simulation

Use a focused testbench such as <package>/testbench/test_<scenario>.zen for one behavior: startup, enable, a protection threshold, or current limit. Reuse an existing bench when it covers the request. Run it with pcb sim -v <file>.zen; a separate dummy simulation is only useful when diagnosing setup problems.

pcb sim runs the ngspice executable in batch mode in the testbench's directory and stops it after 5 seconds. Without -v, a successful run prints only that it passed.

Model and testbench

Every component that is not DNP needs a SPICE model. The stdlib generics, such as resistors, capacitors, inductors, ferrite beads, crystals, diodes, LEDs, and TVS diodes, have their own. A leaf component needs spice_model=SpiceModel(...). Obtain a vendor model or, when appropriate, use a behavioral model with explicit limitations. Match nets to the subcircuit's declared terminal order, and pass every PARAMS: entry in args, because defaults are not applied:

Component(
    name="MyPart",
    symbol=Symbol(library="MyPart.kicad_sym"),
    footprint=File("MyPart.kicad_mod"),
    part=Part(mpn="MYPART-1", manufacturer="Vendor"),
    pins={"VIN": VIN, "VOUT": VOUT, "GND": GND},
    spice_model=SpiceModel(
        "MyPart.lib",
        "MyPart_SUBCKT",
        nets=[VIN, VOUT, GND],
        args={},
    ),
)

The model text goes into the netlist, so a .include in the model file resolves from the testbench's directory. The .subckt line must list all its terminals on one line; terminals on + continuation lines are not counted. For a PSpice model, put set ngbehavior=psa in a .spiceinit file beside the testbench; for an LTspice model, set ngbehavior=ltpsa. Without it, PSpice expressions such as VALUE={LIMIT(...)} give wrong results without an error. Verilog-A and encrypted models do not run.

Instantiate the module under test and needed loads/passives in Zener. Put sources, waveforms, analysis, and plot commands in the raw ngspice setup string of a top-level Simulation:

load("@stdlib/properties.zen", "Simulation")

Simulation(
    name="SIM",
    setup="""
V_IN VIN GND DC 12
.control
  tran 10u 10m
  meas tran vout_final FIND v(VOUT) AT=10m
  set hcopydevtype = svg
  hardcopy output/startup.svg v(VIN) v(VOUT)
.endc
""",
)

Adapt the source and analysis to the behavior; for example, PULSE(...) for enable timing or PWL(...) for a changing input. Operating point, DC sweep, AC, transient, and noise analyses all run.

Results

pcb sim reports success whenever ngspice exits normally, including when a meas fails, a plot is not written, or an expression divides by zero. Read the -v output: take values from meas or echo lines, because print tables lose their column separators. hardcopy and wrdata write only into an existing directory, so create testbench/output/ first. Convert an SVG plot to PNG with rsvg-convert before viewing it, and inspect only the signals needed to establish the result.

A switching converter at nanosecond steps simulates only about 1 to 3 ms within the 5-second limit. For a longer run, write the netlist with pcb sim <file>.zen -o <file>.cir, then run ngspice -b <file>.cir in the testbench's directory with a longer timeout.

Distinguish a model or simulator failure from an electrical finding, and state what the model and analysis actually verify.