So it seems that you're saying they are now, what I knew them to be in =20 the past. Bummer. I am looking through some parts currently, and they have some much =20 smaller-footprint and lower-part-count buck devices now. But price is =20 still very high. I'm currently downloading/installing their LTSPICE =20 tool, so I'll see how that goes. But what about other companies? I remember Semtech had some really =20 small devices some years back, but things didn't exactly work as =20 advertised, and their support was really poor. I'm finding several =20 other companies' products on Digikey, so hoping to find some opinions =20 on those. Cheers, -Neil. Quoting RussellMc : > This is more loud cheering than substantive advice re LT. > They do seem to be worth cheering. > LT know how to charge - both $ & capacitors. > I have used very few LT parts ever (as much of what I do aims at lowest > cost implementations), but I LOVE their products and enjoy reading their > quarterly "LT Journal" - with a copy still sent by snail mail years after > most have reverted to electronic-only material. (Not quite up to the utte= r > awesomeness of the legendary HP Journal, but close). (Available online he= re > with most back copies to 1991 > http://www.linear.com/designtools/lt_journal.php ) > > Their components are well spoken of, almost invariably competent and they > often offer innovative solutions. (eg Very low I1 switchers, energy > harvesters, high efficiency synschronous switchers, ultra small packaged > magic, ...). With fancy leading edge solutions comes single source of > supply and dependence on their ongoing support for legacy products. I do > not know how they fare in this area but if it matters to you then others > here can probably comment and a look tyherough eg Digikey's catalog or > Findchips.com will give an indication of how available selected custom LT > parts are. > > They accompany this 'flair' with higher than run-of-the-mill prices, and = a > free simulator which happens to also be one of the best SPICE packages > available. > AFAIR they started off with a separate switcher simulator (Switcher-CAD) > which was rolled into LTSPICE. I do not knoiw anything about their phone > support but, 'as they are still themselves' and have created an image and > reality of technical excellence and superb support tools, I'd guess it wa= s > good. > > Here is a page listing their current simulation offerings > > http://www.linear.com/designtools/software/ > > You'll see that LTSPICE has just been upgraded to their new version IV. > > > Russell McMahon > > > > > > On 30 August 2013 10:07, veegee wrote: > >> On 2013-08-29 4:53 PM, Neil wrote: >> > Power circuits are a side peripheral for what I do, so I really >> > appreciate the online tools that save me time searching through >> > datasheets to chase down component values. Are there any other >> > manufacturers that make simple switching regulators with online design >> > tools that specify component model numbers etc? >> >> I have always used Linear Tech's switchers. I think there may be some >> sort of design tool available, but I've never really looked into it. >> LTSPICE has all of their parts, of course. I've never even had to look >> past their datasheets for tips. They're well written, give example part >> numbers where important (for example, tantalum capacitors, inductors, >> etc.), and lots of example circuits as well as well as board layout >> recommendations. Built a few buck, boost, and buck-boost power supplies >> on my own single sided PCBs using their high-frequency switchers. I'm >> surprised nothing has yet to go wrong with those, even after abuse. So >> all in all, pretty brainless as long as you read the datasheet. >> >> Only reason I'm not hesitant to recommend them is that they're not >> stingy with their free samples, have PLENTY of DIP/TO-220 style >> packages, and so many different types to choose from. >> -- >> http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive >> View/change your membership options at >> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist >> > -- > http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > View/change your membership options at > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > --=20 http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .