Using the Simulation Tree

If you do not want to use the Circuit Editor to create circuit elements and connections, you can set up your circuits directly in the simulation tree.

The steps in this procedure are intended to follow on from Step 4 in Creating Electric Circuits.

Ensure that the Circuit Editor is closed before you start adding circuit elements and connections in the simulation tree. The changes that you make are not reflected in the Circuit Editor while it is open, even when you save the simulation. Furthermore, if you confirm any changes in the Circuit Editor, any changes that you made in the simulation tree are lost.

To create an electric circuit using the simulation tree:

  1. Add the required source elements to the circuits.

    • To derive a circuit element from a battery module or program file, right-click the Battery Modules > Battery Module node or the Program File > [program_file.prg] node and select Create Circuit Element.

      If two or more circuits exist, select the circuit in which to create the circuit element.

    • To create a circuit element directly, right-click the Circuits > [circuit name] > Circuit Elements node, select New Circuit Element and then select the appropriate option:

      • Battery Circuit Element

        (available only when the Battery model is activated in the physics continuum) See Battery.

      • Multicontact Circuit Element

        Select this option to define a group of connected contacts with known resistance and inductance. See Multicontact.

      • Diode Circuit Element

        See Diode.

      • Program Circuit Element

        (available only when the Battery model is activated in the physics continuum) See Program.

      • Scalar Circuit Element

        Defines a circuit load using a scalar value or expression. Depending on the selected element type, the scalar quantity specifies either the voltage, current, or a quantity that defines the voltage-current characteristic for the element, that is, the relationship between the voltage drop across the element and the current flowing through the element.

        Select this option if you want to create a Resistance, Inductance, Capacitance, Current, Voltage, or Power element. Set the Load Type property accordingly.

      • Table Circuit Element

        Select this option to define a circuit load as a function of time using tabular data. See Table.

      • Excitation Coil Circuit Element

        (available only when the Excitation Coil model is active in the physics continuum) See Excitation Coil.

    The new circuit element is added under the Circuits > [circuit name] > Circuit Elements node.

    The corresponding field function Current [circuit name] [circuit element] is made available under the Automation > Field Functions node. This field function represents the electric current through the circuit element.

    When you create a circuit element directly from a battery module or a program file, the corresponding Battery Assembly or Program Data property is set automatically. When you create a circuit element directly in the simulation tree or in the Circuit Editor, you specify the appropriate properties in the [circuit element] node.

  2. Create the appropriate connections between the circuit elements. For each connection, do one of the following:
    • Select the appropriate terminal nodes and then create the connection to link them.
      1. Under the Circuit Elements node, multi-select the circuit element terminal nodes that you want to connect.
      2. Right-click any selected terminal and then click Create Connection.

        The new connection is added under the Circuit Connections node.

    • Create an empty connection and then specify the terminals that it links.
      1. Right-click the Circuit Connections node and then click New.

        The new connection is added under the Circuit Connections node.

      2. Select the new circuit connection and edit the Terminals property.
      3. In the Connection - Terminals dialog, select the terminals to connect and then click OK.

    If you want to change the terminals that are linked by a particular connection, you can select the connection and edit the Terminals property.

    See Circuit Connections Reference.

You set the element properties manually in the simulation tree.

Return to Creating Electric Circuits and continue with Step 5.