Calculators & spreadsheets

[angelodp]

Not sure if this has been explored. I am sure that the seasoned builders here use various spreadsheets and calculators in their design work. I know that I = E/R is all and everything, but I can imagine that many such tools must exist.

Here is a useful calc. sheet I found to start this off.

[martin manning]

I tried to get Allyn to start a sub-forum for this some time ago, but it never got off the ground. It's a good idea and a learning oportunity, but needs some thought. In particular it would need some organization to be useful, and there is the question of validating the calculations- I've seen some that are way out in left field, and spreadsheets that aren't easily understood by anyone but the author. Links to web calculators like Merlin's and Kuehnel's would be a good topic too.

[ToneMerc]

I started a voltage documentation excel spreadsheet a couple of years ago. It eventually morphed into an "as built" document with dropdowns for different tube types etc. In the power amp section, plate dissipation was one of the calculated displayed fields, maybe i'll dig it up again.

TM

[surfsup]

Yea, i agree. I have created a huge xls with many tabs but sometimes i dont even follow it if i open it without looking at it in a while.

[angelodp]

Martin, good to have your input. So for starters, does this little Excel seem to be 'kosher'.

TM, yes please do bring it out.

Surf - happy to see what you have.

A

[Tonegeek]

I use this a lot: http://www.electronics2000.co.uk/
Help for setting bias: http://www.webervst.com/tubes1/calcbias.htm

The attachment is for setting bias too

[David Root]

For dual triodes, I have been using TubeCad for years. Fast, accurate, shows DC loadlines, AC and DC results. 13 basic circuits with four variations of each. Designed for hi fi nuts by a VERY knowledgeable and experienced hi fi nut, John Broskie, but I find it indispensable.

Professional grade software for the hoi polloi. $40.00 and worth every penny. Covers all the usual preamp tubes we would use. You can even plug in your own tube type if it's not in the library that comes with it (no load line graphs in that case).

I wish he had one for P-P power tubes that would work for us. He has one but it is set up for operation in triode mode which we generally don't use, but is used in hi fi of course.

[davent]

I seem to be always needing to reverse calculate parallel resistances, with these, plug in the desired resistance and they spit out all the pairs that will give you your desired value to within a set percentage.

http://www.computertorture.com/noncompliant/parallel/
http://www.sengpielaudio.com/calculator-parallel.htm

dave