Downloads and Resources > Simulation Features

Troubleshooting Skills Software
Simulation Features

Simulations are one of the best methods to learn a skill, especially one that can be hazardous.

Airlines use flight simulators to train pilots, and nuclear power plants use simulations to train their operators. In both of these scenarios mistakes can be catastrophic. When troubleshooting electrical circuits the results of mistakes can also be disastrous. Injury, loss of life and major plant shutdowns are just not acceptable!

About Our Simulations

The purpose of all our Troubleshooting Skills software is to help you develop and master the skill of troubleshooting electrical faults, on various types of equipment.
The simulations in each program are highly realistic representations of electrical systems and behave like real circuits. They allow you to operate the system, troubleshoot faults, and repair a variety of faulty components and wiring. Each component in the simulations is designed to work just like the real one. This allows the simulation to behave properly under all conditions, including fault conditions. If you make any changes to the circuit, such as disconnecting a wire or removing a fuse, the circuit will function	A Realistic Motor Lab Simulation
accordingly. Even the meter readings will display accurate readings for all circuit conditions.

Simulation Environments

The visual interface of each simulation is clear, easy to use, and visually represents real equipment, circuits and systems in great detail. The environments are designed so that anyone using the simulation feels like they are actually working on real equipment.

Main Simulation Environment from Troubleshooting Motor Circuits

The simulation environments use an artist's representation of the equipment and system. These graphics, which give the simulations a game-like feel, represent the equipment and components in clear detail, making them clear and understandable. The simulation environments make your troubleshooting training realistic because you troubleshoot on the equipment teminals and connections, as opposed to schematic diagrams.

Simulator Functions and Features

While training in the simulations you can do the following:

Operate the equipment or system through the use of pushbuttons, switches, and other controls. Use all of your senses to check for clues as to the cause of the fault, using the powerful Observe tool. Analyze circuit behavior, using a variety of troubleshooting tools, to identify problem components and repair the circuit. View electrical drawings of the simulated system such as schematics and connection wiring diagrams. Assess and improve your troubleshooting skills using the feedback and evaluation system.

Realistic Troubleshooting Tools

The simulation environments allow you to perform virtually every operation that can be done on real equipment, such as:
Taking voltage, resistance and current readings with the realistic multimeter. Removing, tracing and replacing wires. Removing, inspecting and replacing faulty components. Operating components, such as pushbuttons, selector switches, limit switches, and safety switches manually. Locking out the circuit in order to comply with safety regulations while troubleshooting.	Taking Meter Readings in a Circuit

Realistic Component Operation

Great detail went into designing the components so that the simulations behave accurately under all conditions. Here are a few examples:

• Motors operate correctly with actual behavior such as start up currents, and running currents based on actual loads. They even behave properly under fault conditions such as overloads and single phasing.
• Overloads trip at the proper time, depending on the current.
• Pushbuttons operate accurately. Pressing a normally open pushbutton with your mouse causes the contacts to close while lifting your finger from the mouse causes the contacts to open.

Fault Finding

While they can be operated under normal conditions, the real value of the simulations is that faults can be applied to the circuits for you to diagnose and repair.
There are various types of faults such as shorts, opens, and defective components. Each fault is designed to present a particular type of problem which will allow you to get practice solving a broad range of problems. Faults are ranked into Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, and Genius difficulty levels.	Fault Selection Screen

Monitoring and Feedback

One of the unique features of these simulations is that they continually monitor every step you make while troubleshooting. This includes taking meter readings, operating the system, getting tips, making observations, etc. Each of these activities is monitored and used to provide timely feedback while troubleshooting. They are also recorded to be used in the evaluation of the fault attempt and the overall assessment. Some of the areas where the programs provide feedback are:

• Safety
  Your troubleshooting process is monitored for adherence to safety rules. Lockout/tagout processes apply as well as other safety rules. When a safety error is made the user will receive an error message. The type of message and severity of the message varies depending of the severity of the error.
• Troubleshooting Techniques
  The simulations monitor activities while troubleshooting to determine if your testing techniques are following the suggestions set out in earlier sections of these programs. When the program sees that there could be a better approach it will provide you with a "TIP".
• Replaced Components
  The simulations keep track of which circuit components have been replaced. Each component has a cost associated with it in terms of both money and time. The money is for the cost of the component and the time is for the time it would actually take to replace this component. The total amount of time and dollars spent fault finding is always displayed on the simulation screen. This feedback is provided once you have completed the fault
• Time Taken
  As you troubleshoot the system, the time you spend solving the fault is measured and displayed. This time consists of actual time you spend, plus the additional time spent for performing other activities such as replacing components.

Evaluation

Once you have completed a fault your results are evaluated. It evaluates your fault attempt against the following criteria. If the criteria is met the fault is deemed to be successful and is marked complete.

• Has the fault been repaired and is the circuit operating properly?
• Safety - Did any safety errors occur?
• Components - Were any components unnecessarily replaced?
• Cost - Were the costs within allotted amount?
• Time - Did the time exceed the allowed time for completion?

The programs provide an overall assessment and score for your troubleshooting results on a per fault basis, per level basis, and for the overall program. It even creates a log of every step you make while troubleshooting. This information can be viewed using the reports feature. To find out more on how the evaluation and scoring works see Why these programs are such an effective learning tool.

To see for yourself why not check out the Troubleshooting Skill Series.