An Introduction to the Interface Multisim Tutorial An Introduction to the Interface

Multisim Interface Tutorial This tutorial will introduce the Multisim interface. Assumptions: You have Multisim version 10 installed on your computer. You can start the program successfully. An instruction to click means to left click with the mouse or other pointing device. If you are to right-click or double-click, you will be instructed to do so. If you start Multisim and nothing happens for a minute or two, just wait. On some computers, it may take a while to start. If we mean to left click once with the mouse, we will just say click. If we mean double-click or right click, we will spell it out This tutorial is specific to version 10, but recent versions are very similar at the introductory level

Multisim Interface Toolbars Circuit Window Design Toolbox There are many options on how to set up the windows. This just shows one that will work. Make sure the Circuit Window is fairly large, since that's where you draw your circuit.

Toolbars Multisim has movable toolbars located at the top and side of the screen. The following slides identify the most commonly used toolbars. If you are missing a toolbar, go to the menu (at the top) and select View, then Toolbars, and a dialog box will pop up so you can choose the one to show.

(new, open file, save file, print, etc.) View Toolbar (zoom in, zoom out, etc.) Locate the standard toolbar and the view toolbar. Standard Toolbar (new, open file, save file, print, etc.)

(place components, such as sources, basic elements, etc.) Component Toolbar (place components, such as sources, basic elements, etc.) The Component Toolbar is what you use to place components or circuit elements.

Main Toolbar Run Simulation Stop Simulation On the Main toolbar, notice that the Play button is active but the Stop and Pause buttons are not. When the simulation is running, the Stop and Pause will become active.

Multimeter Function Generator Oscilloscope Instrument Toolbar The instrument toolbar is usually on the right. The toolbars can be undocked and moved around anywhere that you like, but for now, leave them where they are.

Draw a Simple Circuit To place components on the window, you can: Click on the component toolbar, then browse for the part. Click Place on the menu bar, select Component, then browse for the part. It is usually better to place most of the components on the Circuit Window, then wire the terminals up later. Components can be selected from the toolbar (as shown) or from the Place Menu from the menu bar at the top.

Place Power and Ground Now choose DC Power and click OK. Click the Place Source button on the Components toolbar. First we need a source. Click the Place Source button on the Components toolbar. A window appears. Choose DC Power then click OK to place the component. Now choose DC Power and click OK.

Click GROUND, then click OK. Next, we need to add a Ground. The Select Component window automatically opens after the first component is placed, so all you need to do is click Ground then click OK. If your component window did not automatically open, click the Place Source button to reopen it.

Next, we will place a Virtual Lamp from the Indicators menu. Under Group, click the drop-down arrow and click Indicators. To add a lamp, you will need to change to the Indicators group. Because the component window is open, just click Indicators in the Group window.

Choose VIRTUAL_LAMP under Family. The choices change. You want the Virtual Lamp group and component Lamp Virtual.

Click OK and place the part on the Circuit Window Remember to click on the Circuit Window to actually place the part. Click OK and place the part on the Circuit Window

Change the Group to Basic. Now we can repeat the part placement to place a switch. See if you can find the switches in the Basic Group.

Follow the same procedure to place each part. Place a switch. Choose the switch labeled SPST for single pole, single throw.

We have placed all of the components that we need for now. Click Close. The component window automatically opens after each component is placed. Close or cancel out of this window when you have placed all the needed components. If you forgot a component, you can always pull this window open again by clicking on any of the Place buttons in the component toolbar.

Now that all the components are in place, we will connect the circuit by “wiring” it. Parts can be moved. Make sure that the component has a blue box around it. Arrange the components to match the above configuration.

Wiring To begin wiring, hover the cursor over a part terminal (end pin). Notice that the cursor changes shape to indicate that you are starting a wire. When the cursor changes shape, it is information about what is happening. To “hover” the cursor, move the mouse so that the cursor is pointing at the terminal, but do not click right away. When you notice that the cursor has changed, click if you want to start a wire there. Cursor shape changes, showing that a wire is beginning on the ground symbol.

Click once. Now you can start the wire Click once. Now you can start the wire. To end the wire, click on another terminal. Circuit window after clicking on the source terminal This shows what the cursor looks like as the wire is begun (by clicking on the ground symbol) and what the completed wire looks like after clicking on the source terminal.

Continue Wiring Click on the top of the source. Move the cursor to the left switch terminal and click again. This should draw a wire connecting the parts. Continue wiring the circuit until you have a complete circuit. Continue wiring until your circuit looks like the one on the next slide.

This shows the completed circuit This shows the completed circuit. Notice the wire is shown in red by default, and the components are blue or black. Now the circuit is complete. We will start the simulation by using the Play button.

Click here to start the simulation. If the simulation is idle, click the Play button to start the simulation. If the simulation is running, click the Stop button to stop the simulation.

Running the Simulation Once your simulation is running, click on the Circuit Window, then press the Space bar on the keyboard. This will operate the switch. The switch is animated; pressing the space bar on the keyboard opens or closes the switch. To activate this, you must start the simulation, click on the Circuit Window, then press the space bar.

Press the space bar on the keyboard again. What happens? Simulation Not Running Simulation Running Experiment with the space bar, start button, and stop button. Be sure to stop the simulation before you try to make changes; otherwise, you may find that you cannot make changes, or you may find that you change some parameter, but it does not affect the circuit. The program will let you set up any number of circuits, in different windows, but if any of them are running, you may find that you cannot make changes on the others. To avoid this, only simulate one circuit at a time.

Options You have great flexibility in setting up the view that you want. For example, if you are not using the Design Toolbox, you can close it by clicking on the X at the top left of the toolbar. You will want to make the circuit window as large as possible. Remember, you can always re-open toolbars by clicking View, the Toolbar, and choosing the one you want to show.

Virtual vs. Real Components Real components have a specific value that cannot be changed and a footprint used for circuit board layout. Virtual components are for simulation only. For our purposes, there is almost no difference between the component types. The issue of virtual versus real components sometimes causes confusion – but to the beginner, it makes no difference which you use. Since the virtual components are simpler, they are generally preferable for most of our simulations

Virtual Multimeter (Instruments toolbar) Notice the “real” resistor appears as an actual resistor while the virtual resistor is a schematic symbol. Virtual Resistor: value can be changed (double click the 1kW label) Real Resistor: value cannot be changed

Wiring Hints To start a wire with no component terminal nearby: Double-click anywhere in the Circuit window to start the wiring action. Double-click anywhere to end the wiring action. From the menu bar, choose Place, then Junction, to place a junction. Start the wire at this point. Both wires and junctions can be placed in the circuit if there is not a convenient component terminal nearby.

Wiring Hints Single-click while wiring to place a corner. Right-click while wiring to delete the wire. Multisim uses an automatic wire router. This can cause trouble if two terminals are very close to each other. These hints may be helpful for making your circuit look neat and easy to understand. Ctrl R rotates a component clockwise. You can also right-click and choose a rotation method.

Resistor R2 and R3 terminals are too close. Circuit layout is easier to follow with components separated. Notice at the top, the autorouting of wires is not foolproof, particularly if the terminals are very close together. If possible, space the components out to make the wiring easier.

References Herniter, M.E. (2004). Schematic capture with electronics workbench multisim. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. Shields, T. (2005). Practical teaching ideas with multisim. Electronics Workbench. Retrieved from http://www.electronicsworkbench.com/ academic/ The references give you places to look if you run into a problem after the summer training, and to learn some of the more advanced features of Multisim

Credits: Writer: Charles W. Brice Lesson Editor: Narration: PLTW Editor: Production: Video Production: Audio: Project Manager: