Odd AC generator characteristics

154

03:51:00

In EveryCircuit, the DC offset built into the AC doesn't work the way I thought it would.

Take a look at what I've done here.  I created two AC 1K generators, each with +5V offset.  Then, by flipping one part over, then reconnecting it, the offset is now -5V DC, so this part acts like a "polarized" AC generator. I  guess it makes sense they did it this way, but the icon doesn't indicate which way the offset goes--so you have to be careful. I got sloppy with the way this part was polarized while trying to simulate an AC mixer and I got really confused for a bit.

published 7 years ago

Robert_Kidd

7 years ago

I don’t find this odd but i do see how one might. Each time you select the component it is how you expect with respect to the ground which by default would be the lower end of the source. The moment you decide to ground the ‘wrong’ end you get the opposite offset, since for the +5V to be ground, the other side must be 5V less which is -5V.

Robert_Kidd

7 years ago

It’s good you have highlighted this as I’m sure others will have the same problem.

giomix

7 years ago

If you press the arrow like an "U", you may see change the alternate symbol too.

jpoulin0901

7 years ago

Yes, I've noticed this ambiguity before too. Usually when I want to distinguish the polarity of one sinusoidal source from another I make it a point to flip it as Gio mix suggests. The trouble is that a single period of a sine wave is chiral, so even though rotating the source 180 degrees and flipping it has the same FUNCTIONAL effect, the former results in an identical symbol while the latter gives the mirror image. If you ever forget whether you have rotated an AC source by 180 or not, you can just convert it to a a DC source, note its polarity, and then undo it back to an AC source once again.

kiani

7 years ago

I hsve had a lot of bother with this too,, it is not one thing or another,,, everytime you pick a voltage source it,s polsrity is different,,, in yiur circuit i just changed the source, ( eithiut gliping it) and it was ok... It is unreliable,,,, sometimes things flip even during running,,, but one thing alesys arrows flip in pairs..... . IT JUST IS UNRELIABLE... There is no other explanation.

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