Proteus 8 won't simulate lamp? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Chriss
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2022, 12:39:37 am
content: Hi!I using Proteus 8 for simulation and pcb making.My major problem is does Proteus won't simulate a simple AC lamp circuit with a switch.I mean, i put in my circuit a lamp 12V, switch, an alternator with a 12V/50Hz setup for AC power source.When I connect everything and try to simulate the circuit, the simulator is running but the light bulb wont lit up.I also tried to smash up a bit the voltage on the alternator from 12V to 15V but no success.Is this a bug or ?It is a so simple circuit but still not working.I use much more complicated circuits and they are working like a charm, but a vircuit to control an AC light bulb will not work.The main purpose for this is to control a light bulb with a triac and optocoupler.But suddenly I figured out the problem is somewhere else.Any suggestions pls I would appreciate.Thanks.Update:I attached my two project's which are not working and I cant figure out why. :-(

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2022, 02:02:54 pm
content: At the bottom left of the window there are player controls. Click the one that says "Run the simulation" when you hover over it (it's the left-most showing green in the screenie).

author: Chriss
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2022, 02:41:13 pm
content: Yea, I did it of course, the simulation is running but the lamp wont turn on...

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2022, 07:17:13 pm
content: Strange. It worked for me, but only after I'd messed around a lot and then remembered to get the simulation running.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 22, 2022, 07:32:23 pm
content: Works for me just fine too.

author: Chriss
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2022, 07:39:04 pm
content: Hmmmm...What could be the problem?I use win10 x64.Many other my project are working, but this and a triac project where I wanna power on/off a lamp is not woking.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 22, 2022, 07:47:27 pm
content: There are two issues with second circuit. The first issue is that R1 is excluded from simulation. The second issue is that right side is completely floating. If resistor is enabled and GND is added, it starts to work.

author: Chriss
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2022, 09:52:05 pm
content: What do you mean by "R1 is excluded from simulation" ?How can I include it?Sorry, I'm not really understand what you mean. :-(I tried before to set a GND to the right circuit too, not to let the floating, but I hade the same problem.Then I made the most simple cicuit with the switch + lamp + AC power source, which is still not working by me.Thanks for any help and advice.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2022, 10:17:24 pm
content: QuoteIt's marked as excluded. Untick the box.

author: Chriss
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2022, 10:41:19 pm
content: So, I don't know how it was excluded, I also rechecked all other elements, in case if some other are also excloded.I also added a GND to the right side of the circuit, not to be floating but my lamp is still not lighting.Here is how my schematic looks like now.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2022, 10:57:32 pm
content: QuoteI found that wasn't needed. Don't know why it doesn't work for you - I even went to check that the cheapest version included this kind of simulation, just in case

author: Chriss
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2022, 11:09:52 pm
content: I will try to install it on another PC.Maybe something is wrong with my OS.But how is that, that I can simulate uC's with codeetc. but a simple circuit with a light bulb is messing up...

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 23, 2022, 08:41:47 am
content: Quote from: dunkemhigh on August 22, 2022, 10:57:32 pmI re-checked and it does not work if left floating. It needs a reference point for calculations after all.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 23, 2022, 08:45:53 am
content: Also I noticed that files are in 8.0 format. So you should be using one of the first releases of proteus 8.x which were quite buggy.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2022, 11:32:08 am
content: Ah, this is 8.6 which obviously had some bug fixes.BTW, well done for spotting the excluded resistor - it would have taken me forever to find that without your clue

author: Chriss
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2022, 07:48:37 pm
content: Ok guys here are the solution.After several days of investigating and involve friends and you here too, I found the solution and the cos why this is not working on my version of proteus.I don't really know what this setup means avtually but changing this from 50m to 1m is working.Here are the pictures where I found it.It is in the "System" menu.Under " Set Animation Options "There is an option called:" Timestep per Frame "The value of this was 50m. I don't know what is the " m " unit for. maybe minute, maybe meter.When I changed this to 1 the simulation of the light bulb started to blinking.If I put the frequency of the AC power source from 50Hz to 1KHz the same problem is like before.The lamp is not shining/blinking.If somebody have any explanation or suggestion what that setup is meaning pls let me know.Thank you.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2022, 10:01:47 pm
content: I would assume 50m means 50ms, and that might be too slow to properly capture 50Hz AC. But that's what my setup is set to and it still worked.On the other hand, leaving it at 50m, I changed the AC to 1kHz and got a simulation fault to the effect that it was using too much CPU...It seems logical to me that if the step is set to 1ms and the AC frequency is 1kHz, sampling it is always going to see 0V so the lamp wouldn't light up (in the simulation).

author: Chriss
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2022, 05:53:55 am
content: So, maybe this is a bit buggy in Proteus 8.My friend from a electronic lab laser science are also tried my "project" and he run into the same problem like I am.We never faced with a "simulation error" cos of high cpu load, but yes, when we go up with the frequency the cpu load also bumps up.I also figured out, if I set that "Timestamp per frame" from 50m to 1m and I use an oscilloscope, the plotting on the scope screen will not show up.When I revert back my setup to 50m the scope is working but I have no blinking lamp and also no voltage output on the lamp terminal when I measure the voltage with scope or an AC voltmeter. And also no current is flowing.So, in conclusion all this is not usable or bugging or there must be an explanation how to make a correct setup, what I can't find nowhere in any writing like help section, some documents on the net etc.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2022, 12:14:24 pm
content: Does sound like it's a bit buggy, yes. Other than here I can't recall every using the realtime animation stuff so don't know how good it is (or isn't). I would ask Labcenter support if this is a known issue and, if so, whether later versions fix it.