LTSpice circuit with dependent sources not working

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I am simply attempting to design a circuit in LTSpice. We just started on dependent sources.

I am having trouble designing this guy here:
Circuit schematic labelled (c) with a 1.5V source VS, resistors R1 1.5k, R3 1.5k, R2 3k and R4 1.5k, a voltage-sensing source VM 0, and a dependent voltage source H1 with value 2e3 between nodes Vh and ground, output node Vout.
Here's what I've got:
LTspice schematic with source VS (1.5V) feeding R1 (1.5k) into VM (0V) and R3 (1.5k) to ground; H1 (2e3) with R2 (3k) to Vout across R4 (1.5k), plus an error dialog reading 'H1: Unknown controlling source 2e3'.
What does this error mean?
What do I need to change to make this circuit work?
 
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  • Circuit schematic labelled (c) with a 1.5V source VS, resistors R1 1.5k, R3 1.5k, R2 3k and R4 1.5k, a voltage-sensing source VM 0, and a dependent voltage source H1 with value 2e3 between nodes Vh and ground, output node Vout.
    upload_2018-9-28_9-47-22.png
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  • LTspice schematic with source VS (1.5V) feeding R1 (1.5k) into VM (0V) and R3 (1.5k) to ground; H1 (2e3) with R2 (3k) to Vout across R4 (1.5k), plus an error dialog reading 'H1: Unknown controlling source 2e3'.
    upload_2018-9-28_9-49-4.png
    11.7 KB · Views: 1,420
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Is H1 a voltage controlled or current controlled voltage source? What current or voltage do you want to be controlling H1's output? It looks like you have a constant 2e3 multiplier, but no quantity to multiply it by. When you double-click on H1, what-all can you fill in? Can you show us that screenshot?
 
In LTSpice, ##H## is a current-controlled voltage source. You need to specify a (separate) voltage source and transresistance value. The simulator will take the current flowing through that separate voltage source and multiply it by the transresistance value yielding the voltage of the ##H## source. Looks like you'll want to choose VM as your separate source.
 
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berkeman said:
Is H1 a voltage controlled or current controlled voltage source? What current or voltage do you want to be controlling H1's output? It looks like you have a constant 2e3 multiplier, but no quantity to multiply it by. When you double-click on H1, what-all can you fill in? Can you show us that screenshot?

Well, I know "H" is supposed to represent a current controlled voltage source, but the first picture of a circuit I posted was what the professor gave us in our HW. So I am unsure as to what he was expecting by giving a voltage source for a current dependent source.

I'm unsure how to answer the rest. Double-clicking H1 doesn't bring up any pop-ups. I figured that the professor's circuit made sense and I just didn't know how to read it. Now I see that it is just confusing for everyone.
 
Lapse said:
Double-clicking H1 doesn't bring up any pop-ups.
There has to be some way to edit its properties (I'm more familiar with MicroCAP than LTSpice). If you right-click H1, can you get to its properties?
 
berkeman said:
There has to be some way to edit its properties (I'm more familiar with MicroCAP than LTSpice). If you right-click H1, can you get to its properties?
The photo below is from right-clicking:

Software dialog titled 'Enter new reference designator for H1' with Justification set to Left, Font Size 1.5(default), a Vertical Text checkbox, and the text field containing H1; beside it a circle symbol labelled H1 and H.
 
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  • Software dialog titled 'Enter new reference designator for H1' with Justification set to Left, Font Size 1.5(default), a Vertical Text checkbox, and the text field containing H1; beside it a circle symbol labelled H1 and H.
    upload_2018-9-30_13-23-39.png
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Wow, sorry. I right clicked the symbol before and nothing happened. I closed LTSpice and re-opened it and now right-clicking the symbol works.
Here you are:

Screenshot of the LTspice Component Attribute Editor for a circuit symbol with a circle and plus and minus marks, labelled H1 and H; the Value row is highlighted and shows H.
 
Attachments
  • Screenshot of the LTspice Component Attribute Editor for a circuit symbol with a circle and plus and minus marks, labelled H1 and H; the Value row is highlighted and shows H.
    upload_2018-9-30_13-33-13.png
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Great, much better! :smile:

Now you just need to know what to put into those fields to give you the current-controlled voltage source characteristics that are needed. If you look in the Help menu for LTSpice, or search online at the LTSpice website, what do they say about how to fill out those fields?
 
So I wasn't able to find anything online, but I did figure it out:

LTspice schematic with source VS 1.5V feeding R1 1.5k to voltage source VM 0, then R3 1.5k to ground; H1 is a dependent source VM 2e3 driving R2 3k and R4 1.5k, with a text window of operating-point voltages and currents below.


When you right click on the symbol you have the ability to add a second value. Then, there is a checkbox next to that 2nd value that enable's it's visibility and utility. If I am understanding correctly, I essentially assigned the dependent source the "VM" source by naming one of it's values "VM" also.

Anyways, thanks for the help. I appreciate the time you've given me. ☕
 
Attachments
  • LTspice schematic with source VS 1.5V feeding R1 1.5k to voltage source VM 0, then R3 1.5k to ground; H1 is a dependent source VM 2e3 driving R2 3k and R4 1.5k, with a text window of operating-point voltages and currents below.
    s9Z7tKlK4e6q0Uz2RPA-pKgyJtzO07W6pYIERQaanyRrIMFuRjMWHTDoG6NIj3hWuVLLTAZZpbKhfYt8oG5St4zhAjbu30bI.png
    36.3 KB · Views: 781
Glad you got things basically working. I'm still puzzled by a few things in your circuit, though. It looks like you are using a voltage source VM with 0V output to sense the current that you use in the CCVS H1? Is that a normal practice? Having "VM" be the current that gets multiplied by 2000 to make Vh is a bit confusing for me.
 
berkeman said:
Glad you got things basically working. I'm still puzzled by a few things in your circuit, though. It looks like you are using a voltage source VM with 0V output to sense the current that you use in the CCVS H1? Is that a normal practice? Having "VM" be the current that gets multiplied by 2000 to make Vh is a bit confusing for me.
It's true. The ##H## device requires that you specify the name of a voltage source and it takes the value of the current passing through it. It's a bit frustrating at times since it tends to clutter up the circuit with these "null" voltage sources.

It would be nice if you could specify any two-terminal device as the target for ##H##. However, there's also the ##bi## and ##bi2## arbitrary behavioral current source devices for which you can specify an arbitrary function using any voltages or currents in the circuit.
 
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gneill said:
It would be nice if you could specify any two-terminal device as the target for HH.
Yeah, like I(R3)... :smile:
 
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