Compass. This element responds to currents carried by wires placed over it. Only one compass can be placed, and only in Schematic View. The compass button is not available in Realistic View.

Double-clicking on the compass with Select depressed opens up a window titled Compasses Deflection rather than a Properties Box. The window shows the face of the compass, with a blue & red compass needle.

This window shows the angular deflection of the compass needle due to current running through wires placed over the compass. By default, a standard current (equal to a current number of 1.0) produces a 15#&186 deflection of the needle. This angular deflection can be changed in the background properties.

To place a wire on a compass, click on a wire (Figure 1) and drag it over toward the compass until a yellow square starts flashing on one end of the compass (Figure 2). Release the wire. It will position itself on the compass automatically (Figure 3).

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

The direction of the compass deflection depends upon the current. If the electron current in entering the north, far end of the compass (as it does in Figure 3), the compass deflection is to the right and down. If the electron current enters the south end of the compass, the deflection is to the left and up.