Circuit Display

Display voltage and current sensor measurements integrated with a circuit simulation.

Overview

1. Circuit Toolbar

   • Current direction

     Display the current direction as electron flow or conventional current. Moving electrons are shown for electron flow, and moving arrows are shown for conventional current.

   • Hide components palette

     Toggle to show or hide the components palette.

   • Zoom in and out

     Click to zoom in or out of the workspace.

   • Start and stop the simulation

     Toggle to run or pause the simulation.

   • Pin toolbar

     Click to pin the toolbar to the display.

   • Properties

     Click to access the display properties, including changing the symbol style from American to IEC symbols.

   • Show or Hide Tools

     Click to show or hide specific tools from the toolbar.

2. Components Palette

   The palette contains various circuit components for building a circuit. Drag a component to the workspace to use it in a circuit.

3. Workspace

   Build a circuit in the workspace by dragging circuit components from the components palette to the workspace.

Draw a circuit

1. Drag components from the components palette onto the workspace.

   Note

   Each component displays a boundary when dragged. It is not possible to overlap the component boundaries.

2. If you need to rotate a component, click the component, then click Rotate Component .

3. Connect components by clicking the end of a component and drawing wires. The simulation starts automatically when a complete circuit is created.

If you want to delete a component, click the component, then click Delete Component .

Change the value of a component

You can specify the value of the following components:

• Battery voltage
• Resistor resistance
• Bulb resistance
• LED turn-on voltage
• Capacitor capacitance

To change the value:

1. Click the component, then click Edit Component Parameter .
2. Enter a new value in the window, then click OK.

Display a measurement

You can display a voltage or current measurement by adding a voltmeter or ammeter from the components palette. By default, the meter displays a simulated measurement above the circuit symbol. You can also display sensor data when a voltage or current sensor is connected to Capstone. Sensor data can be displayed as digits or in a graph.

1. Drag a voltmeter or ammeter from the components palette to the workspace.
2. Click the meter, then click Display Graph or Display Digits .
3. Click the meter, then click Select Measurement to choose the sensor measurement to display.
4. Click Record to view the sensor measurements.

Open and close a switch

You can manually open and close switches in your circuit. If a switch is open, click the switch, then click Close Switch . If a switch is closed, click the switch, then click Open Switch .

Discharge a capacitor

Electrons appear on the capacitor when it is charged. To discharge the capacitor manually, click Discharge Circuit .