Why does a voltage doubler work hard wired, but not on a circuit simulator?

I successfully built a voltage doubler circuit to fire a Xenon flash tube from 120 volt AC power, but when I set up the same circuit in my Protolab 4.0 circuit simulation software the output is less than the input voltage. Does anyone know why?

Comments

[11010010110]

software can sometimes be wrong to see what really happens connect a scope channel to each of the 2 capacitors and set the ac source to 0.2 HZ

[Phil B]

I do not have access to a real oscilloscope, only a virtual scope that is part of the simulation software, and I know very little about how to use it or understand what it is telling me. I did take virtual voltage readings across various components in the circuit. I could take like readings on the actual circuit and compare them. Thanks.

[11010010110]

you have access to kind of real scope for small signals (about 1 V i think) download audacity plug your signal to line in record zoom just be carefull to not give it too high voltages (you can damage your mainboard) and check if it has dc filtering or something (that makes the displayed wave wrong)

[frollard]

Are you certain it's outputting a higher voltage? or does it simply function (outside of the normal specs for the xenon bulb)?

[Phil B]

The output voltage (90.7 volts DC--91.2 volts on AC setting) shown in the simulation is actually lower than the input voltage (120 volts AC). I have tried a simulation on several different voltage doubler circuits. I also set up a multiplier circuit in simulation with quite a number of stages. The output voltage was much higher than the input voltage, but not as much as expected. Thanks for your response.