Autocad Electrical Mep 2008

AutoCAD Electrical 2009

Getting Started

January 2008Part No. 225A1-050000-PM01A

© 2008 Autodesk, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Except as otherwise permitted by Autodesk, Inc., this publication, or parts thereof, may not bereproduced in any form, by any method, for any purpose. Certain materials included in this publication are reprinted with the permission of the copyright holder. TrademarksThe following are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and other countries: 3DEC (design/logo), 3December,3December.com, 3ds Max, ActiveShapes, Actrix, ADI, Alias, Alias (swirl design/logo), AliasStudio, Alias|Wavefront (design/logo), ATC, AUGI,AutoCAD, AutoCAD Learning Assistance, AutoCAD LT, AutoCAD Simulator, AutoCAD SQL Extension, AutoCAD SQL Interface, Autodesk, AutodeskEnvision, Autodesk Insight, Autodesk Intent, Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk Map, Autodesk MapGuide, Autodesk Streamline, AutoLISP, AutoSnap,AutoSketch, AutoTrack, Backdraft, Built with ObjectARX (logo), Burn, Buzzsaw, CAiCE, Can You Imagine, Character Studio, Cinestream, Civil3D, Cleaner, Cleaner Central, ClearScale, Colour Warper, Combustion, Communication Specification, Constructware, Content Explorer,Create>what's>Next> (design/logo), Dancing Baby (image), DesignCenter, Design Doctor, Designer's Toolkit, DesignKids, DesignProf, DesignServer,DesignStudio, Design|Studio (design/logo), Design Your World, Design Your World (design/logo), DWF, DWG, DWG (logo), DWG TrueConvert,DWG TrueView, DXF, EditDV, Education by Design, Exposure, Extending the Design Team, FBX, Filmbox, FMDesktop, Freewheel, GDX Driver,Gmax, Heads-up Design, Heidi, HOOPS, HumanIK, i-drop, iMOUT, Incinerator, IntroDV, Inventor, Inventor LT, Kaydara, Kaydara (design/logo),LocationLogic, Lustre, Maya, Mechanical Desktop, MotionBuilder, Mudbox, NavisWorks, ObjectARX, ObjectDBX, Open Reality, Opticore,Opticore Opus, PolarSnap, PortfolioWall, Powered with Autodesk Technology, Productstream, ProjectPoint, ProMaterials, Reactor, RealDWG,Real-time Roto, Recognize, Render Queue, Reveal, Revit, Showcase, ShowMotion, SketchBook, SteeringWheels, StudioTools, Topobase, Toxik,ViewCube, Visual, Visual Bridge, Visual Construction, Visual Drainage, Visual Hydro, Visual Landscape, Visual Roads, Visual Survey, Visual Syllabus,Visual Toolbox, Visual Tugboat, Visual LISP, Voice Reality, Volo, Wiretap, and WiretapCentral The following are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk Canada Co. in the USA and/or Canada and other countries: Backburner,Discreet, Fire, Flame, Flint, Frost, Inferno, Multi-Master Editing, River, Smoke, Sparks, Stone, and Wire All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders. DisclaimerTHIS PUBLICATION AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS MADE AVAILABLE BY AUTODESK, INC. "AS IS." AUTODESK, INC. DISCLAIMSALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY ORFITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE REGARDING THESE MATERIALS. Published by:Autodesk, Inc.111 Mclnnis ParkwaySan Rafael, CA 94903, USA

Contents

AutoCAD Electrical Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Chapter 1 Toolbar Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Command Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Main Electrical toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Main Electrical 2 toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Panel Layout toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30Conversion toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36Conduit Marker toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46Power Check toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47Panel Level/Sequencing toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48Extra Libraries toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Chapter 2 Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53About Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53Performing Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Prerequisites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Working with Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55Working with Drawings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Ladder Style Diagrams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

iii

Chapter 3 Wires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67About Wires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67Inserting Wires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68Trimming Wires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Chapter 4 Schematic Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71About Schematic Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71Inserting Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Relocating Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76Aligning Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80Inserting Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Editing Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84Linking Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88Editing Catalog Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90Moving Between Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94Swapping Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96Creating Custom Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

Adding Attribute Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99Adding Wire Connection Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101Saving Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

Chapter 5 Circuitry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107Moving an Existing Circuit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107Creating a New Motor Circuit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112Saving and Inserting Standard Circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127Inserting Saved Circuits Using WBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138

Chapter 6 PLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141Inserting Ladders into Drawings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141Inserting PLC Modules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142Using Multiple Insert Component . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147Annotating PLC I/O Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152Inserting I/O Based Wire Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154Resequencing Ladders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157

Chapter 7 Wire Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159About Wire Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159Attaching Source Signal Arrows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159Attaching Destination Signal Arrows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161Inserting Wire Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167Working with Wire Layers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170

iv | Contents

Chapter 8 Panel Layouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173About Panel Layouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173Inserting Panel Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173Modifying Attributes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185Adding Nameplate Footprints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189Editing Terminal Strips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192

Point-to-Point Diagramming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201

Chapter 9 Connector Diagrams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203About Connector Diagrams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203Inserting Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203Wiring Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207

Grouping Wires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212Modifying Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216

Adding Wire Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221Adding Connector Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222

Chapter 10 Pneumatic, Hydraulic, and P&ID Diagrams . . . . . . . . . . . 225Setting Up Hydraulic Drawings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225Inserting Hydraulic Schematic Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227Creating Pipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230Completing the Hydraulic Drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235Setting Up P&ID Drawings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242Inserting P&ID Schematic Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246Creating Pipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249

Generating Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253

Chapter 11 Report Generation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255Generating Bill of Material Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255Inserting BOM Tables into Drawings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256Editing BOM Tables on Drawings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257Changing Formats of BOMs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260Exporting BOMs to Spreadsheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261

Migrating AutoCAD Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263

Chapter 12 Migration of AutoCAD Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265About Tagging and Linking Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265Exploding Block and Attributes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265

Contents | v

Tagging Schematic Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267Linking Schematic Attributes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268Adding Wire Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271Adding Geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274Tagging and Linking Panel Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275Updating Panel or Schematic Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281

vi | Contents

AutoCAD ElectricalEnvironment

Part 1 of this manual provides information on AutoCAD® Electrical toolbars as well asinformation on how to set up a project.

1

2

Toolbar Commands

This chapter provides a list of the commands available on AutoCAD® Electrical toolbars, alongwith a brief description of the function of each command and the associated toolbutton.

NOTE This list does not contain AutoCAD® commands.

Command Summary

You can turn on the visibility of the toolbars from the Projects ➤ Toolbarsmenu or by right-clicking a toolbar and selecting from the Electrical list.

Main Electrical toolbar

DescriptionTooltipCommand

Inserts selected components from the iconmenu onto the drawing.

Insert ComponentAECOMPONENT

Inserts schematic symbols by choosing a cata-log number or a component description from

Insert Component (Cata-log List)

a user-defined pick list. The data displayed inAECOMPONENTCATthis pick list is stored in a database in genericAccess format. The file name is wd_pick-

list.mdb and can be edited with Microsoft®

Access or from Add/Edit/Delete along thebottom of the pick list's dialog box. The Auto-

1

3


CAD Electrical normal search path sequenceis used to locate this file.

This spreadsheet organizes the selected user-created equipment list and presents the list in

Insert Component(Equipment List)

a pick list. As you pick an item from the pickAECOMPONENTEQlist, the appropriate schematic symbol is foundand inserted in the drawing at your pick point.You can open a comma-delimited file, Mi-

crosoft® Excel® spreadsheet, or Microsoft Ac-cess database file for input.

Lists panel components extracted from yourpanel drawing, finds the appropriate

Insert Component (PanelList)

schematic symbol, and inserts the schematiccomponents at your pick point.

AECOMPONENTPNL

Lists panel terminals extracted from yourpanel drawing, finds the appropriate

Insert Terminal (PanelList)

schematic symbol, and inserts the schematicterminals at your pick point.

AETERMINALPNL

Use to update or change blocks in place. At-tribute values are retained during the swap-

Swap/Update BlockAESWAPBLOCK

ping process. Wire connections are alsomaintained even if the new symbol is slightlywider or narrower than the original.

Inserts a copy of an existing component intothe drawing and updates the component tags.

Copy ComponentAECOPYCOMP

Inserts a series of similar components at fencecrossing points with underlying wires.

Multiple Insert (IconMenu)AEMULTI

4 | Chapter 1 Toolbar Commands


Inserts a copy of the selected componentmultiple times at each wire crossing and fenceline intersection point.

Multiple Insert (PickMaster)AEMULTIPICK

Draws a smart dashed line between stackedcontacts of a multicontact component. When

Link Components withDashed Line

the dashed link line inserts, certain attributesAELINKautomatically flip to invisible. Use the AttributeHide command to turn the visibility of the se-lected attributes back on.

Draws a dashed line from a component to a“To” arrow symbol.

Insert Reference Arrow -ToAEREFARROWTO

Draws a dashed line from a component to a“From” arrow symbol.

Insert Reference Arrow -FromAEREFARROWFROM

Generates PLC I/O modules on demand, in avariety of different graphical styles via a para-

Insert PLC (Parametric)AEPLCP

metric generation technique. It is driven by adatabase file (ace_plc.mdb) and a handful oflibrary symbol blocks.

Inserts PLC I/O modules that are fixed librarysymbol blocks.

Insert PLC (Full Units)AEPLC

Imports Unity Pro hardware (.xsy) and I/Ovariable (.xsy) files into AutoCAD Electrical to

Unity Pro Export toSpreadsheet

reformat the data into a PLC import spread-AEUNITYPROSSsheet. After the spreadsheet file is created usethe Spreadsheet to PLC I/O Utility tool to au-tomatically create PLC style drawing files.

Main Electrical toolbar | 5


Prepares RSLogix 500 exported data to beprocessed by the Spreadsheet to PLC I/OUtility.

RSLogix 500 Export toSpreadsheetAERSLOGIX

Creates a set of PLC I/O drawings fromspreadsheet data. A project's PLC I/O require-

Spreadsheet to PLC I/OUtility

ments, in spreadsheet or database format, canAESS2PLCdrive automatic generation of the I/Oschematic drawings. Your information can beread directly in Excel format (“.XLS”), as a ta-ble in an Access Database file (.MDB), or youcan save your information out to a comma-delimited format (“CSV”) and then let Auto-CAD Electrical construct a set of PLC I/Owiring diagrams directly from your data. Lad-ders and modules insert automatically, break-ing at the bottom of one ladder and continu-ing on the next (or on to the next drawing).

Creates and modifies PLC I/O module defini-tions. All editing and creation of PLC data is

PLC Database File EditorAEPLCDB

stored within the PLC database file(ACE_PLC.MDB).

Generates a connector symbol from user-de-fined parameters. The symbol is created on

Insert ConnectorAECONNECTOR

the fly, and inserted as a block insert into youractive drawing file. Since these are created onan as-needed based, it eliminates the need foryou to create and maintain a library of connec-tor symbols.

Imports a connector wire list from another

application, such as Autodesk® Inventor™

Professional Cable & Harness.

Insert Connector fromListAECONNECTORLIST



NOTE If the AutoCAD Electrical drawing ismissing one end of the connector or if a con-nection was not found, wiring information isdisplayed next to the pin and the informationis written into a log file so you know AutoCADElectrical was unable to resolve the wire con-nections in the drawing. The log file name is{drawing filename.LOG} and is found in thesame folder as the drawing file.

Reverses the orientation of the connectorabout its horizontal or vertical axis. None of

Reverse ConnectorAEREVERSE

the existing wire connections automaticallyreroute to the reverse side of the connectorand you will have to resolve wiring using thewire editing tools.

Rotates the connector about its insertion pointin 90 degree increments. The wire connections

Rotate ConnectorAEROTATE

do not reroute with each rotation of the con-nector. You must resolve wiring using the wireediting tools.

Increases or decreases the connector's overallshell length. You might do this to make room

Stretch ConnectorAESTRETCH

for new pins or to capture previously addedpins that fell beyond the connector shell. Youidentify which end of the connector is to bealtered and the measurement of displacement.

Splits the parametric connector into two sep-arate block definitions (i.e. parent and a childor a child and another child).

Split ConnectorAESPLIT

Adds pins to an existing connector.Add Connector PinsAECONNECTORPIN



Removes a pin from an existing connectorand, if the connector has a defined pin list,

Delete Connector PinsAEERASEPIN

frees this deleted pin to be re-inserted lateron this connector or on a related child of thisconnector.

Moves connector pin associated to selectedconnector.

Move Connector PinAEMOVEPIN

Exchanges one set of connector pin numbersfor another on an existing connector or be-tween connectors on the drawing.

Swap Connector PinsAESWAPPINS

NOTE You cannot swap a combination con-nector with a single plug or receptacle connec-tor. Additionally, you cannot use this tool toswap pins from one side of a connector to theother.

Inserts a splice symbol selected from the on-screen icon menu.

Insert SpliceAESPLICE

Build a motor control circuit dynamically.Circuit BuilderAECIRCBUILDER

Inserts WBlocked circuitry (external drawingfile) with automatic component tag update.

Insert WBlocked CircuitAEWBCIRCUIT

Inserts a user circuit selected from on-screenicon menu.

Insert Saved CircuitAESAVEDCIRCUIT

Copies existing circuits and pastes the copiedcircuit to a specified location. The components

Copy CircuitAECOPYCIRCUIT

are automatically retagged based on their newline reference locations.



Moves the selected circuit to a specified loca-tion. The components are automatically re-

Move CircuitAEMOVECIRCUIT

tagged based on their new line reference loca-tions and cross-references are updated.

Saves windowed portions of circuitry for laterreuse. Up to 24 circuits can be saved at anyone time in this scratch menu.

Save Circuit to IconMenuAESAVECIRCUIT

Edits components, PLC modules, terminal,wire numbers and signal arrows.

Edit ComponentAEEDITCOMPONENT

Adds, changes, or deletes internal jumpers ona selected component. When wire numbers

Add/Edit Internal JumperAEINTERNALJUMPER

are inserted, these internal jumpers are readand wire numbers are assigned accordingly.

Toggles selected component tag betweenfixed and normal.

Fix/UnFix ComponentTagAEFIXTAG

Inserts or edits catalog part numbers onto thecurrently selected component or footprint.

Copy Catalog Assign-mentAECOPYCAT

Edits user-defined Xdata on component orwire numbers and populates the User table in

Edit User Table DataAEUSERTABLE

project database file. You can add, edit, or re-move free-form user data records attached tothe selected block insert.

Retags components with contact updates. Runthis when something changes on your draw-

Retag ComponentsAERETAG

ing or project that affects the component tags.This can include revising the ladder line refer-ence numbers or changing the tag format.Retag redoes each selected primary compo-



nent tag, and then updates the related sec-ondary components. You can select to updatea single component, a group of components,a drawing, drawings within your project, orthe entire project.

Finds and replaces component and terminaltext values or find and replace substrings

Find/Edit/Replace Com-ponent Text

within those values. You can do this on theAEFINDCOMPTEXTactive drawing or across the project drawingset.

Finds and replaces terminal number text valuesor find and replace sub-strings within those

Find/Replace TerminalText

values. You can do this on a selection fromAEFINDTERMTEXTthe active drawing, the entire active drawing,or across the project drawing set.

Updates component tags, wire numbers, lad-der references, and select drawing settings.

Project-Wide Update/Re-tagAEPROJUPDATE

Scoots selected components along their con-nected wires or scoots entire wires, including

ScootAESCOOT

components, along the bus. A rectangle indi-cates the selected items.

Aligns selected components with a mastercomponent. All connected wires are adjusted,

AlignAEALIGN

and wire numbers recentered if necessary. Youcan align vertically or horizontally by flippingthe command by typing V or H at the com-mand line.

Automatically moves the selected componentto a new position.

Move ComponentAEMOVE



Reverses or flips selected component graphicsand its associated attributes

Reverse/Flip ComponentAEFLIP

NOTE This tool only operates on a compo-nent with 2-wire connections (ex: limit switchcontact symbol).

Stretches or compresses the windowed portionof PLC modules (or any block insert) while

Stretch PLC ModuleAESTRETCHPLC

maintaining all of the original block informa-tion, including attributes.

Splits selected PLC module into two separateblock definitions (i.e. parent and a child or achild and another child).

Split PLC ModuleAESPLITPLC

Moves the selected attributes to a pickedpoint. The attributes remain tied to the blockinserts

Move/Show AttributeAEATTSHOW

Edits an attribute's text by picking right on theattribute. A dialog box displays and you type

Edit Selected AttributeAEEDITATT

in a new attribute value. This utility also workson invisible attributes. It finds and displays theclosest attribute to your pick point on a blockinsert.

Hides selected attribute; to unhide pick onblock graphics and un-toggle attribute name

Hide Attribute (SinglePicks)

in the list. Select the graphic of a target blockAEHIDEATTinsert to display a listing of all attribute namesand values. You can switch attributes betweenhidden and visible or you can edit individualattribute values.

Adds a new attribute to an existing instanceof a block insert.

Add AttributeAEATTRIBUTE



Compresses an attribute to make it fit into atight spot (such as between closely spaced

Squeeze Attribute/TextAEATTSQUEEZE

components). Each click on the attribute dy-namically changes the attribute's width factorby 5%.

Expands an attribute. Each click on the at-tribute dynamically changes the attribute'swidth factor by 5%.

Stretch Attribute/TextAEATTSTRETCH

Changes attribute text size when componentsor wire numbers have already been insertedonto your drawings.

Change Attribute SizeAEATTSIZE

Rotates the selected attribute text or MTEXTstring 90 degrees from its current orientation.

Rotate AttributeAEATTROTATE

After rotation, press M and [space] to flip intothe Move Attribute mode.

Changes the justification of wire number text,component description text, or attributes.

Change Attribute Justifi-cationAEATTJUSTIFY

Forces attribute text entities to a given layer.Select the target layer (type it in or select from

Change Attribute LayerAEATTLAYER

the list), press OK and then select the at-tributes to change to the target layer.

Flips a contact from one state (open or closed)to the other. It looks at the picked contact,

Toggle NO/NCAETOGGLENONC

reads its block name, and checks the 5thcharacter position for either 1 or 2. It thensubstitutes 1 or 2 for the found character.

Removes the selected component from thedrawing. If you erase a parent schematic

Delete ComponentAEERASECOMP

component, you have the option to search for



related child components, surf to them, anddelete them.

Inserts single line wire segments on a wirelayer (the wire layer does not have to be thecurrent layer).

Insert WireAEWIRE

Inserts vertical or horizontal bus wiring. Busspacing defaults to the default ladder rung

Multiple Wire BusAEMULTIBUS

spacing for horizontal bus. Multiple bus wiringautomatically breaks and reconnects to anyunderlying components that it finds in itspath. If it crosses any existing wiring, wire-crossing gaps automatically insert (if thedrawing is so configured).

Inserts an angled (22.5 degree) line wire seg-ment on a wire layer (the wire layer does nothave to be the current layer).

Insert 22.5 Degree WireAE225WIRE

Inserts an angled (45 degree) line wire seg-ments on a wire layer (the wire layer does nothave to be the current layer).

Insert 45 Degree WireAE45WIRE

Inserts an angled (67.5 degree) line wire seg-ments on a wire layer (the wire layer does nothave to be the current layer).

Insert 67.5 Degree WireAE675WIRE

Bends a wire in a right angle and makes 3right angle turns to avoid or add geometry.

Bend WireAEBENDWIRE

When a wire is defined at a right angle youcan modify the wire and create a new rightangle bend while maintaining the original wireconnections to the components.



NOTE This tool terminates if the bend at-tempts to connect two different wire networksor if the bend bypasses more than a singleright angle turn.

Inserts wires between aligned connectionpoints on a pair of selected components.

Interconnect Compo-nentsAECONNECTCOMP

Inserts a gap/loop at the point of two crossinglines. Gaps are automatically inserted when anew wire crosses another.

Insert Wire GapAEWIREGAP

Flips the gap to the other wire. AutoCADElectrical makes the gapped wire solid andflips the gap/loop to the crossing wire(s).

Flip Wire GapAEFLIPWIREGAP

Removes a gap/loop that is no longer neededin an existing wire.

Delete Wire GapAEERASEWIREGAP

Verifies that the invisible Xdata pointers onboth sides of a wire gap/loop are valid. If not,appropriate pointers are established.

Check/Repair Gap Point-ersAEGAPPOINTER

Changes between wire types and convertslines to wires. Use the grid control to sort andselect the wire types for easy modification.

Change/Convert WireTypeAECONVERTWIRETYPE

Creates and edits wire types. Use the gridcontrol to sort and select the wire types foreasy modification.

Create/Edit Wire TypeAEWIRETYPE

Lengthens a wire until it meets another wireor an AutoCAD Electrical component.

Stretch WireAESTRETCTWIRE



Highlights all wires and displays wire numberto wire segment relationships.

Show WiresAESHOWWIRE

Helps troubleshoot problems with unconnect-ed or shorted wires and invalid wire crossing

Check/Trace WireAETRACEWIRE

gap pointers by single stepping through andhighlighting each connected wire of the select-ed wire network.

Predefines a wire network's connection se-quence, either in a single drawing or acrossmultiple drawing files.

Edit Wire SequenceAEEDITWIRESEQUENCE

Shows the wire sequence defined using theDefine Wire Sequence tool. If the wire se-

Show Wire SequenceAESHOWWIRESEQ

quence crosses multiple drawings and you tryto view the sequence as an animation, a dialogbox listing the off-drawing wire connectioninformation displays so that you can indicateto go to the other drawings to continueviewing the sequence.

Shows the state of the invisible attribute valuesfor selected objects. The values are shown withred and green arrows.

Terminal: Show Inter-nal/External ConnectionsAESHOWTERMCONN

Marks attributes with an 'I' for internal wiring.Terminal: Mark InternalConnectionsAEMARKTERMINT

Marks attributes with an 'E' for external wiring.Terminal: Mark ExternalConnectionsAEMARKTEMEXT

Erases a terminal's internal (I) or external (E)connection code. Select near a terminal's wire

Terminal: Erase Inter-nal/External Connections



connection point to erase the connectioncode.

AEERASETEMCONN

Inserts cable markers onto the drawing. Cablemarkers carry a cable TAG value, just like any

Cable MarkersAECABLEMARKER

parent/child device combination. They canalso carry a conductor color value (carried asa RATING1 attribute value on the marker blocksymbol).

Inserts all the markers for a particular cable.In addition, you can edit existing cable marker

Multiple Cable MarkersAEMULTICABLE

sets, or even delete cable markers from thisdialog box.

Inserts a dot tee connection symbol at amanually drawn wire intersection. If present,

Insert Dot Tee MarkersAEDOTTEE

this replaces an existing angled wire connec-tion symbol with a dot connection symbol.You cannot insert a tee connection symbolinto empty space. A valid line wire ending (notcrossing) at a tee intersection somewherealong the length of another line wire is need-ed. This means that it will not insert a teeconnection symbol at a 90-degree wire turn.

Inserts an angled tee connection symbol at amanually drawn wire intersection. You can't

Insert Angled Tee Mark-ers

insert a tee connection symbol into emptyAEANGLETEEspace. If present, this replaces an existing wireconnection dot with a tee connection symbol.

Toggles an existing angled tee connectionsymbol (or windowed symbols) through a to-

Toggle Angled TeeMarkers

tal of 4 possible orientations. Right-click toAETOGGLETEEtoggle through the various tee connectionorientations, and press ESC when the appro-priate one displays. This replaces any dot tee



symbols with angled tee symbols, and thentoggles through the 4 possible orientationsfor each.

Inserts ladders of a set width and length ontothe drawing. There is no limit to the number

Insert LadderAELADDER

of ladders that can be inserted into a drawing,but ladders may not overlap each other. Mul-tiple ladder fragments in the same verticalcolumn need to be vertically aligned alongtheir left-hand side.

NOTE These limitations do not apply whenX-Y Grid or X-Zone referencing is selected.

Adjusts the line reference numbering alongthe side of the ladders; however it doesn'tchange existing ladder rung spacing.

Revise LadderAEREVISELADDER

Renumbers the ladder for the selected draw-ings from the active project.

Renumber Ladder Refer-enceAERENUMBERLADDER

Inserts the X-Y grid labels for drawings thatuse X-Y Grid for the Format Referencing. You

XY GridAEXYGRID

can also change other settings from here (suchas origin) instead of going back into theDrawing Properties dialog box. Your drawingmust be configured for X-Y Grids. Set theFormat Referencing in the Drawing Propertiesdialog box to X-Y Grid.

Inserts the X grid labels for drawings that useX Zones for the Format Referencing. You can

X ZoneAEXZONE

also change other settings from here (such asorigin) instead of going back into the DrawingProperties dialog box. Your drawing must beconfigured for X Zones. Set the Format Refer-



encing in the Drawing Properties dialog boxto X Zones.

Finds the nearest line reference location andplaces a ladder rung at that reference position

Add RungAERUNG

(both bus wires must be visible on the screenfor this to work. If the new rung encounters aschematic device floating in space, it tries tobreak the wire across the device.

Removes a wire segment and dots as required.You can select a single wire or draw a fencethrough multiple wires to trim.

Trim WireAETRIM

Main Electrical 2 toolbar


Inserts or updates wire numbers associatedwith wire line entities.

Insert Wire NumbersAEWIRENO

Inserts special wire numbering generally asso-ciated with 3-phase bus and motor circuits.

3 Phase Wire NumbersAE3PHASEWIRENO

Inserts wire numbers based on the I/O addressthat each PLC connected wire touches. Wire

PLC I/O Wire NumbersAEPLCWIRENO

numbers go in as FIXED which means thatthey will not change if a wire number re-tagis run later on.

Repositions the wire number text with an at-tached leader.

Wire Number LeaderAEWIRENOLEADER



Inserts wire color gauge labels with a leaderon your drawing's wiring.

Wire Color/Gauge LabelsAEWIRECOLORLABEL

Inserts a reference-only in-line wire label.In-Line Wire LabelsAEINLINEWIRE

Inserts extra wire numbers anywhere on a wirenetwork. These copies follow the network's

Copy Wire NumberAECOPYWIRENO

main wire number attribute. If AutoCAD Elec-trical modifies it, then any wire number copieson the network also update. Extra wire num-bers go on their own layer that is defined inthe Define Layers dialog box. If you assign acolor to this layer that is different than thenormal wire number and fixed wire numberlayers, then it is easy to tell them apart fromthe network's main wire number.

Inserts extra wire numbers such that they ap-pear in-line with the wire rather than above

Copy Wire Number (In-Line)

or below the wire. These copies follow theAECOPYWIRENOILnetwork's main wire number attribute; if Auto-CAD Electrical modifies it then any wire num-ber copies on the network also update. Extrawire numbers go on their own layer that isdefined in the Define Layers dialog box. If youassign a color to this layer that is different thanthe normal wire number and fixed wire num-ber layers, then it is easy to tell them apartfrom the network's main wire number.

Adjusts the gap between the wire and the wirenumber text of wire numbers that are in-linewith the wire.

Adjust In-Line Wire/LabelGapAEWIRELABELGAP

Moves an existing wire number from onesegment of the network to another.

Move Wire NumberAEMOVEWIRENO

Main Electrical 2 toolbar | 19


Allows manual edit of an existing wire numberor insert of a new one if none exists.

Edit Wire NumberAEEDITWIRENO

Fixes all or many wire numbers on a drawingat their current values. Fixing a wire number

Fix Wire NumbersAEFIXWIRENO

means that the wire number tag is left un-changed if later processed or reprocessed bythe automatic wire numbering utility.

Swaps wire numbers between two wire net-works.

Swap Wire NumbersAESWAPWIRENO

Finds and replaces wire number text values orsubstrings within those values. You can do this

Find/Replace Wire Num-bers

on the active drawing or across the projectdrawing set.

AEFINDWIRENO

Moves the wire number to a special hide layerso that the number is no longer visible on the

Hide Wire NumbersAEHIDEWIRENO

screen. The new hide layer is created from thewire number layer name with a “_HIDE” suffix.For example, if the wire number text layer iscalled WIRENO then the hide layer name iscalled “WIRENO_HIDE.” The layer is createdautomatically when needed and you are askedif you want to freeze this layer.

Moves the wire number out of the hide layerso that the number is visible on the screen.

Unhide Wire NumbersAESHOWWIRENO

Flips the wire number across its associatedwire.

Flip Wire NumberAEFLIPWIRENO

Switches the wire number between above orbelow and in-line. If the selected wire number

Toggle Wire Number In-line



is in-line, it toggles to above or below basedon the default Wire Number Placement setting

AETOGGLEWIRENO

in the Drawing Properties dialog box. If itstarts as above or below, the selected wirenumber toggles to in-line.

NOTE If there isn't room for a wire numberto become an in-line wire number, it remainsan above or below line wire number.

Copies wire number from a source-arrowedwire network to any/all associated destination-arrowed wire network.

Source Signal ArrowAESOURCE

Retrieves the wire number for a destination-arrowed wire network from its associatedsource-arrowed wire network.

NOTE A Destination signal arrow cannot betied to a wire network that carries a pre-as-signed fixed wire number.

Destination Signal ArrowAEDESTINATION

Updates cross-reference information for twotypes of cross-reference symbols. Wire number

Update Signal Refer-ences

signal arrow symbols and standalone cross-reference symbols.

AEUPDATESIGREF

Inserts in-line source marker symbols andchanges the connected wire on the fan-in sideto be on a non-wire layer.

Fan In/Out SourceAEFANINSRC

Changes the connected common wires on thefan-out side to non-wire layer but leaves the

Fan In/Out DestinationAEFANINDEST

individual segments on the opposite side ofmarker on the original wire layer.

Defines a special layer or set of layers for thewires going out of a Fan In/Out source marker

Fan In/Out - Single LineLayerAEFANIN



and the wires coming into a destinationmarker.

Follows a signal from a specific source or des-tination symbol and lists the signal code refer-ences.

List Signal CodeAELISTSIG

Displays signal source and destination pathson the active drawing.

Show Signal PathsAESHOWSIG

Displays sequence of the selected wire signal.Signal Error/List ReportAESIGNALERRORREPORT

Inserts non intelligent, reference-only arrows.Wire Arrows for Refer-ence OnlyAEREFWIREARROWS

Deletes selected wire numbers.Delete Wire NumbersAEERASEWIRENUM

NOTE If you erase a wire number and selectright on an extra wire number copy, AutoCADElectrical erases just that copy but leaves thenetwork’s main wire number and any othercopies in place.

Converts existing symbols or creates new,custom components on the fly. It works nicely

Symbol BuilderAESYMBUILDER

for quickly building power supplies, filters,drives, controllers, and other custom devicesor for converting existing non-AutoCAD Elec-trical symbols to make them “AutoCAD Elec-trical smart.” Schematic symbols created orconverted using the Symbol Builder are fullycompatible with AutoCAD Electrical, breakwires upon insertion, and appear in the variousBOM, component, and wire connection re-ports.



Launches the Icon Menu Wizard to easilymodify or expand an icon menu, or replace

Icon Menu WizardAEMENUWIZ

an existing icon menu with your own custommenu. You can change the default icon menuusing the Project Properties dialog box. Thedefault icon menu can also be redefined in“wd.env.”

Migrate database and support files from aprevious version of AutoCAD Electrical to thecurrent release.

Migration UtilityAEMIGRATION

Associates two or more terminal symbols to-gether. Associating schematic terminals com-

Associate TerminalsAEASSOCTERMINAL

bines the terminals into a single terminal blockproperty definition. The number of schematicterminals that can be combined is limited tothe number of levels defined for the blockproperties.

Breaks one or more terminal symbols out ofan existing association. Schematic terminals

Break Apart Terminal As-sociations

are removed from any multi-tier relationshipAEBREAKASSOCand any schematic-panel relationships. Panelterminals are removed from any schematic-panel relationships.

Copies terminal properties from one terminalsymbol to another. If the application of the

Copy Terminal BlockProperties

terminal properties reduces the number ofAECOPYTERMINALPROPlevels and the number of terminal symbolsexceeds the total allowed, an alert displaysand the properties are not copied.

Collects and annotates groups of componentsthat carry the same TAG text string value (such

Component Cross-Refer-ence

as “101CR”). Components do not have to beAEXREFof the same family to be cross-referenced; they



just need to have the sameTAG1/TAG2/TAG_*/TAG attribute values.

Changes the visibility of cross-references. Inmost cases the cross-referencing should be

Hide/Unhide Cross-Refer-ence

visible but there are times when you may notAEHIDEXREFwant the cross-referencing displayed on parentsymbols.

Inserts standalone cross-reference symbol (nottied to a wire). You use standalone cross-refer-

Insert Stand-Alone Cross-Reference

ence symbols just as you would wireAESAXREFsource/destination arrow symbols but withoutthe wires. Insert a source reference symbol,and then tie one or more destination referencesymbols to it. These can be on the samedrawing or scattered across the project draw-ing set.

Updates cross-reference information for twotypes of cross-reference symbols: wire number

Update Stand-AloneCross-Reference

signal arrow symbols and standalone cross-AEUPDATESAXREFreference symbols. It can update your sourceor destination signals singly, drawing-wide,or project-wide.

Converts a long string of relay coil orsource/destination cross-reference text to a

Change Cross-Referenceto Multiple Line Text

multiline text entity (MTEXT). The underlyingAEXREF2TEXTattribute value is maintained, but flipped tovisible. The MTEXT entity is created at thesame XY location as the underlying attribute.The MTEXT entity updates, scoots, and be-haves as if it is an attribute tied to the compo-nent block.



Displays all associated and parent componentsto the selected component. A complete list of

Cross-Reference CheckAEXREFCHECK

components is extracted from the projectdrawing set. The component's tag is read,then all associated components are found andlisted in the dialog box. A bill of material checkcan be performed to see if the item's descrip-tion indicates that the quantity of contactscan be accommodated.

Updates child and panel components withinstallation, location, and description values

Child Location/Descrip-tion Update

carried by the associated parent schematiccomponent.

AECHILDLOCUPDATE

Copies and/or adds cross-reference compo-nent overrides from another symbol. You can

Copy/Add ComponentOverride

define components to have different cross-AECOPYOVERRIDEreferencing styles. The settings specified usingthis tool override the drawing properties.Component overrides are copied when thecomponent is copied; similarly they are ap-plied to multiple inserts of the same compo-nent.

Removes the component overrides so thecross-referencing commands use the settingsfor the drawing or project.

Remove ComponentOverrideAERMOVERRIDE

Inserts location marks on symbols that areidentified with location code in text form.

Location SymbolsAELOCATIONSYMBOL

Draws a dashed box around selected compo-nents. A description can be assigned to the

Location BoxAELOCATIONBOX

box, and components within the box can havetheir location and installation code(s) changed.



Performs mass copies of location, installation,group, or mount codes to all of the compo-

Copy Installation/Loca-tion Code Values

nents you select. You either type in the desiredAECOPYINSTLOCcode, pick from an on-line list, or pick a similarmaster component.

Moves from reference to reference across theproject drawing set. A new window opens and

SurferAESURF

the original window closes when Surf is select-ed unless you hold the Shift key while runningthe command.

Continues a previous surf session from thepoint where you left off.

Continue SurferAESURFCONT

Loads the drawing listed above the currentdrawing in the project explorer, and closesthe current drawing.

Previous Project DrawingAEPREV

Loads the drawing listed below the currentdrawing in the project explorer, and closesthe current drawing.

Next Project DrawingAENEXT

Selects schematic reports such as Bill of Mate-rial, Component lists, Wire From/To, PLC de-scriptions.

Schematic ReportsAESCHEMATICREPORT

Displays components that do not carry a cata-log number assignment. The components are

Show Missing CatalogAssignment

marked with diamond-shaped temporarygraphics.

AEMISSINGCATREPORT

Displays a report of detected problems or po-tential problems. You can save this file for ref-

Electrical AuditAEAUDIT

erence or surf the file to view and correct theerrors.



Displays a report of detected problems or po-tential problems. You can save this file for ref-

Drawing AuditAEAUDITDWG

erence or surf the file to view and correct theerrors.

Creates and maintains report formatting files.Report Format File SetupAEFORMATFILE

Defines a list of reports and their format filesto run automatically.

Automatic Report Selec-tionAEAUTOREPORT

Creates an attribute text file (*.wda) of user-defined attributes defined on AutoCAD Electri-

User Defined AttributeList

cal block files. The User Defined Attribute ListAEUDAis used by report tools to determine whichadditional attributes are listed in a report. Thelist file name can be the same as the activeproject or named Default to be used by theentire system. The Default .wda file is saved inthe base project folder, while the<project_name>.wda file is saved in the samefolder as the project definition file (*.wdp).

Extracts wire list information into an XML ex-port file to be used exclusively with AutodeskInventor Professional Cable and Harness.

Autodesk Inventor Profes-sional ExportAEAIPEXPORT

NOTE You must first configure wire number-ing to be On per Wire Basis for export and setup the appropriate variables before runningthe report.

Creates the Unity Pro I/O variable file (.xsy) inthe Unity Pro XML format. The XML file con-

Unity Pro ExportAEUNITYPRO

tains the PLC I/O addresses and descriptionsfor import into the Unity Pro software.



Exports the selected data category to a com-ma-delimited, Excel XLS, or Access MDB fileformat for editing.

Export to SpreadsheetAEEXPORT2SS

Updates components, wire numbers, terminaltext, and PLC I/O data from data importedfrom a spreadsheet.

Update from Spread-sheetAEIMPORTSS

Updates project drawings; attribute text only,from edits to the project's scratch databasefile.

Update from ProjectScratch DatabaseAEIMPORTDB

Inserts comma-delimited spreadsheet data intoa drawing as a table.

Insert Spreadsheet Datato TableAEINSERTSSTABLE

Defines defaults for component and wire tagformats, signal references, cross references,and layers.

Drawing PropertiesAEPROPERTIES

Renames layers one by one, or multiple layersat once by using the Find/Replace method. In

Rename Schematic Lay-ers

addition to renaming the layer, this also up-AERENAMELAYERdates the AutoCAD Electrical layer assignmentinformation carried on the drawing's WD_Mblock. For example, if DEMO-WIRES is current-ly assigned as an AutoCAD Electrical wire layer,and you rename it using this utility, the newlayer name is substituted for DEMO-WIRES inthe AutoCAD Electrical wire layer name list.

Displays differences between drawing andproject settings. Allows update.

Settings CompareAESHEETCOMPARE

Lists the drawing files associated with eachopen project. Use this to add new drawings,

Project ManagerAEPROJECT

reorder drawing files, and change project set-



tings. You cannot have two projects open inthe Project Manager with the same projectname.

Copies an existing project to a new name andcreates renamed copies of the drawing files.

Copy ProjectAECOPYPROJECT

Updates component tags, wire numbers, lad-der references, and select drawing settings.

Project-Wide Update/Re-tagAEPROJUPDATE

Updates wire numbers, component tags, andattribute text. Allows user-defined scripts tobe applied project-wide.

Project-Wide UtilitiesAEUTILITIES

Places an invisible mark on each componentbefore sending the drawings to a client. When

Mark/Verify DrawingsAEMARKVERIFY

the drawings are returned, a list is generatedthat includes any components or wire num-bers that have been modified, edited, orcopied.

NOTE This command writes information tothe project database file that is used to checkfor deleted components. Your drawings mustbe named and part of the active project to usethis command.

Translates component description text fromone language to another. Description text and

Language ConversionAELANG

switch position text is processed on schematicand panel components.

Opens the current language table for reviewand modification. The default table iswd_lang1.mdb

Edit Language DatabaseFileAELANGDB



Rebuilds or freshens the project temporarydatabase file for connections, cross-referenc-ing, and reporting.

Rebuild/Freshen ProjectDatabaseAEREBUILDDB

Panel Layout toolbar


Inserts panel footprint selected from on-screenicon menu. This icon menu can be modified,

Insert Footprint (IconMenu)

expanded, or replaced with your own customAEFOOTPRINTmenu. You can change the default icon menuusing the Project Properties dialog box. Usethe Icon Menu Wizard to easily modify themenu.

Inserts and annotates panel footprint by refer-encing the project's schematic component

Insert Footprint(Schematic List)

list. This report provides error checking be-AEFOOTPRINTSCHtween the schematics and the panel layoutdrawings. The program looks at the selectedcomponents, both schematic and panel, tofind a match in the project. For eachschematic component selected, the routinetries to find a matching panel componentbased on tag, location, and installation infor-mation. If a match is found, then it furthercompares catalog information looking for anydiscrepancies. The program looks at each se-lected panel component looking for a match-ing schematic component in the same way.

Inserts panel footprint using a generic shapeor by converting an existing non intelligentAutoCAD block.

Insert Footprint (Manual)AEFOOTPRINTMAN



Inserts and annotates panel footprint usingmanufacturer-specific icon menu. This can

Insert Footprint (Manu-facturer Menu)

save a lot of time if you frequently use theAEFOOTPRINTMFGsame vendor and panel components. You caneven apply this method to create client-specif-ic menus making it easier to use the vendoror components that each client prefers.

Inserts and annotates panel footprint fromuser-defined list of components with catalog

Insert Footprint (CatalogList)

assignments. The data displayed in this pickAEFOOTPRINTCATlist is stored in a database in generic MicrosoftAccess format. The file name is wd_pick-list.mdb and can be edited with Access orfrom Add/Edit/Delete along the bottom of thepick list's dialog box. The AutoCAD Electricalnormal search path sequence is used to locatethis file.

Inserts and annotates panel footprint fromuser-defined list of equipment.

Insert Footprint (Equip-ment List)AEFOOTPRINTEQ

Displays terminal strips inside of the activeproject database. The combination of Func-

Terminal Strip EditorAETSE

tion, Location, and Terminal Strip values makea complete unique record for selection in theTerminal Strip Selection dialog box.

Controls the Tabular Terminal layout formatautomatically. This creates a new drawing file

Terminal Strip TableGenerator

with each section break and automaticallyAETSEGENERATORadds them to the project listing. The terminalstrip's function (installation) code, locationcode, and tag are written to the Page Descrip-tion Field inside of the Project Listing (*.WDP).

Panel Layout toolbar | 31


Inserts and annotates panel terminals by refer-encing the project's schematic terminal list.

Insert Terminal(Schematic List)

This report provides error checking betweenAEPANELTERMINALSCHthe schematic terminals and panel layout ter-minals. The program looks at the selectedterminals, both schematic and panel, lookingfor a match in the project. For each schematicterminal selected, it tries to find a matchingpanel terminal based on tag, location, andinstallation information. If a match is found,then it compares catalog information, anddescription information, looking for any dis-crepancies. The program then looks at eachselected panel terminal looking for a matchingschematic terminal in the same way.

Inserts and annotates panel terminal footprintusing a generic shape or by converting an

Insert Terminal (Manual)AEPANELTERMINAL

existing non intelligent AutoCAD block. Someschematic components may not carry manu-facturer/catalog information or have a partnumber assigned that is not listed in thefootprint lookup file. In such a case, AutoCADElectrical cannot determine what footprintblock needs to be used so you have to selectto make catalog assignments, select or createa footprint, or create a lookup entry on thefly.

Copies selected panel footprint on activedrawing. Use the Copy Footprint tool instead

Copy FootprintAECOPYFOOTPRINT

of AutoCAD Copy when a panel componentfootprint has a balloon or a nameplate associ-ated to it. Since AutoCAD Electrical establishesinvisible Xdata pointers when these are tiedto a footprint, they are properly updated whencopied using this utility.



Edits panel footprint or terminal. Converts se-lected block if it is not AutoCAD Electrical

Edit FootprintAEEDITFOOTPRINT

compatible. In some cases, a footprint updatemay be required due to manufacturer, catalogor assembly value changes. When askedwhether to manually force a footprint change,click No to leave the existing footprint blockas is or click Yes to set up a footprint lookupdatabase file or manually draw a simple foot-print representation.

Converts any piece of non-visible extendedentity data (Xdata) into a visible attribute tieddirectly to the footprint block.

Make Xdata VisibleAESHOWXDATA

Inserts item number balloon.Insert BalloonAEBALLOON

Annotates panel footprint symbols with wireconnection information extracted from select-ed schematics.

Wire Annotation of PanelFootprintAEWIREANNOTATION

Selects panel reports such as Bill of Material,Component lists, Nameplates.

Panel ReportsAEPANELREPORT

Rebuilds or freshens the project temporarydatabase file for connections, cross-referenc-ing, and reporting.

Rebuild/Freshen ProjectDatabaseAEREBUILDDB

Inserts WBlocked panel footprint assembly.Use the Insert Panel Assembly utility instead

Insert Panel AssemblyAEPANELASM

of the AutoCAD Insert/Explode commandwhen you want to insert a WBlocked groupof panel component footprints with balloonsor nameplates. Since AutoCAD Electrical estab-lishes invisible Xdata pointers when these are



tied to a footprint, they are properly updatedwhen copied using this utility.

Copies one or more selected panel footprints.Copy AssemblyAECOPYASM

Copies Installation Code to one or more select-ed panel footprints.

Copy Installation CodeAECOPYINST

Copies Location Code to one or more selectedpanel footprints.

Copy Location CodeAECOPYLOC

Copies Mount Code to one or more selectedpanel footprints.

Copy Mount CodeAECOPYMOUNTCODE

Copies Group Code to one or more selectedpanel footprints.

Copy Group CodeAECOPYGROUPCODE

Assigns or resequences item number assign-ments on a drawing or project. This extracts

Resequence Item Num-bers

all panel components and nameplates andAERESEQUENCEresequences their item numbers starting atthe value you provide. Resequencing is basedon the main MFG/CAT/ASSYCODE valuecombination. Additional multi-catalog num-bers on a specific component are ignored.Only the main part number combination isused to group similar components togetherunder a common item number.

Edits the catalog number and footprint blockname lookup file. The footprint lookup

Footprint Database FileEditor

database links a manufacturer's catalog partAEFOOTPRINTDBnumbers to appropriate footprint block .dwg



files. This information is in a multitable Accessdatabase file (footprint_lookup.mdb).

Edits the records in the schematic_lookup.mdbfile to use for mapping panel footprints and

Schematic Database FileEditor

terminal representations to the equivalentschematic component block names.

AESCHEMATICDB

Renames panel-related layers and updatespanel drawing settings. The Panel Layer Re-

Rename Panel LayersAERENAMEPANLELLAYER

name utility makes it easy to rename layersone by one, or multiple layers at once by usingthe Find/Replace method. In addition to re-naming the layer, this also updates the Auto-CAD Electrical layer assignment informationcarried on the drawing's WD_M block. Forexample, if DEMO-WIRES is currently assignedas an AutoCAD Electrical wire layer, and yourename it using this utility, the new layer nameis substituted for DEMO-WIRES in the Auto-CAD Electrical wire layer name list.

Updates selected footprint layer assignmentsto match panel drawing settings layer assign-ments.

Update Footprint LayersAEFPLAYERS

Sets panel footprint drawing defaults such astext sizes and layer assignments. Configuration

Panel ConfigurationAEPANELCONFIG

settings are saved as attribute values on a non-visible block named WD_PNLM (that insertsat 0,0). If your current drawing does not havethis block present when any AutoCAD Electri-cal panel layout command is invoked, Auto-CAD Electrical pauses and asks you for permis-sion to insert this block.


Conversion toolbar


Explodes attributes and blocks to geometryand text entities while maintaining the value

Special ExplodeAEEXPLODE

previously defined in the attributes. You cantake advantage of the tagging tools to modifythe text entities to attributes and the linkingtools to make various blocks.

Performs drawing-wide and project-wide blockreplacements using a user-defined spread-

Block ReplacementAEBLOCKREPLACE

sheet. This automatically maps the unconvert-ed drawing's non-AutoCAD Electrical blockinserts and attributes to appropriate AutoCADElectrical-smart component symbols drawnfrom a symbol library.

Converts drawing files from promis·e to Auto-CAD Electrical. It examines the current symbol

Promis·e ConversionAEP2E

attributes on the drawing and maps them tothe equivalent AutoCAD Electrical attribute tomake them AutoCAD Electrical-smart.

Makes selected text entities an attributed blockfile with the TAG1 attribute visible. The tem-

Tag Schematic Compo-nent

plate block file (HDV1_CONVERT.DWG orAETAGSCHVDV1_CONVERT.DWG depending on thedrawing properties) contains attributes for aschematic component.

Makes selected text entities an attributed PLCaddress associated to a PLC tag. The template

Tag PLCAETAGPLC

block file (PLCIO_ADDR_CONVERT.DWG, PL-CIO_CONVERT.DWG, PLCIO_V_ADDR_CON-VERT.DWG, or PLCIO_V_CONVERT.DWG de-pending on the drawing properties) containsattributes found useful for PLC addressing.After the addressing is defined on the block,



select a PLC Tag or place one into the symboldefinition for use with AutoCAD Electrical.


Tag ChildAETAGCHILD

plate block file (HDV2_CONVERT.DWG orVDV2_CONVERT.DWG depending on thedrawing properties) contains attributes usedfor a child component.


Tag Child - N.O.AETAGNO

plate block file (HDV21_CONVERT.DWG orVDV21_CONVERT.DWG depending on thedrawing properties) contains attributes usedfor a child normally open contact component.

Makes the selected text entities an attributedblock file with the TAG2 attribute visible. The

Tag Child - N.C.AETAGNC

template block file (HDV22_CONVERT.DWGor VDV22_CONVERT.DWG depending on thedrawing properties) contains attributes usedfor a child normally closed contact compo-nent.

Makes the selected text entities an attributedblock file with the TAG2 attribute visible. The

Tag Child - Form CAETAGFORMC

template block file (HDV23_CONVERT.DWGor VDV23_CONVERT.DWG depending on thedrawing properties) contains attributes usedfor a child Form C contact component.

Makes the selected text entities an attributedblock file with the TAGSTRIP and TERM01 at-

Tag Schematic Terminal- Terminal Number

tribute visible. The template block fileAETAGTERMINAL(HT0T_CONVERT.DWG or VT0T_CON-VERT.DWG depending on the drawing prop-erties) contains attributes used for a terminal

Conversion toolbar | 37


block component containing a terminalnumber.

Makes the selected text entities an attributedblock file with the TAGSTRIP and WIRENO at-

Tag Schematic Terminal- Wire Number

tribute visible. The template block fileAETAGWIRENO(HT0W_CONVERT.DWG or VT0W_CON-VERT.DWG depending on the drawing prop-erties) contains attributes used for a terminalblock component containing a wire numberas the terminal number.

Makes the selected text entities an attributedblock file with the TAGSTRIP and TERM01 at-

Tag Schematic Terminal- Wire Number Change

tribute visible. The template block fileAETAGWIRENOCHANGE(HT1T_CONVERT.DWG or VT1T_CON-VERT.DWG depending on the drawing prop-erties) contains attributes used for a terminalblock component that changes the wirenumber. This creates a terminal number blockthat has a different wire number for each wireconnected to it.

Links simple text as Description 1-3 attributeson an AutoCAD Electrical block file. You can

Link DescriptionsAELINKDESC

link them as description attributes to one ormore existing template block definitions.During the conversion process, the text entityis removed and replaced with the next avail-able description attribute, up to 3.

Links another string of text to a tag attribute,creating a split tag. Create the device Tag us-

Link Split TagAELINKSPLITTAG

ing the TAG1, TAG, or P_TAG1 attributes, andthen use this tool to select the existing TAGattribute on the drawing and link anotherstring of text, creating a split tag situation.The first TAG becomes the Part1 of the split



tag while the linked portion becomes the Part2of the split tag.

Links simple text to a PLC address attribute asPLC I/O address description attributes. During

Link PLC Address Descrip-tions

the conversion process, the text entity is re-AELINKPLCmoved and replaced with the next availablePLC address description attribute, up to 5.

Links simple text to a TAGSTRIP attribute as aterminal number attribute on an AutoCAD

Link Terminal NumberAELINKTERMINAL

Electrical terminal block symbol. During theconversion process, the text entity is removedand replaced with the TERM01 or WIRENOattribute.

Links simple text as Location attributes on anAutoCAD Electrical block file. The entity value

Link Location CodeAELINKLOC

is used as the Location value for one or moretemplate block definitions. If only one tem-plate block is selected for the link, the textentity is removed and replaced with the Loca-tion attribute.

Links simple text as Installation attributes onan AutoCAD Electrical block file. The entity

Link Installation CodeAELINKINST

value is used as the Installation value for oneor more template block definitions. If only onetemplate block is selected for the link, the textentity is removed and replaced with the Instal-lation attribute.

Links simple text as manufacturer attributeson an AutoCAD Electrical block file. The entity

Link ManufacturerAELINKMFG

value is used as the Manufacturer value forone or more template block definitions. If onlyone template block is selected for the link, the



text entity is removed and replaced with theManufacturer attribute.

Links simple text as Catalog Number attributeson an AutoCAD Electrical block file. The entity

Link Catalog NumberAELINKCAT

value is used as the Catalog Number value forone or more template block definitions. If onlyone template block is selected for the link, thetext entity is removed and replaced with theCatalog Number attribute.

Links simple text as Rating 1-12 attributes onan AutoCAD Electrical block file. The entity

Link RatingAELINKRATING

value is used as the rating value for one ormore template block definitions. If only onetemplate block is selected for the link, the textentity is removed and replaced with the ratingattribute, up to 12.

Links simple text (that is not an attribute defi-nition or part of geometry) as User (01-99)

Link UserAELINKUSER

attributes on an AutoCAD Electrical block file.The entity value is used as the user value forone or more template block definitions. If onlyone template block is selected for the link, thetext entity is removed and replaced with theuser attribute, up to 99. Window selection isallowed.

Selects the tagged template block file anddisplays everything (such as description, loca-

Show LinksAESHOWLINK

tion, manufacturer, and catalog numbercodes) that has been linked to it.

Selects an existing linked attribute and unlinksthe attribute from the symbol, changing theattribute to AutoCAD text.

Un LinkAEUNLINK



Adds wire connection attributes to the existingtagged block file. Select line endpoints or ge-

Add Wire ConnectionsAEWIRECONN

ometry to add the appropriate wire connec-tion attributes to. A new block definition iscreated with the newly added wire connec-tions. You can subsequently create a newblock file if the block is exploded.

Adds AutoCAD geometry to a template blockfile to be created as part of a unique block in-

Add GeometryAEGEOMETRY

stance. It creates a new block definition withthe newly added geometry. You can subse-quently create a new block file if the block isexploded.

Makes selected text entities an attributed blockfile with the P_TAG1 attribute visible. The

Tag Panel ComponentAETAGPANEL

template block file (ACE_P_TAG1_CON-VERT.DWG) contains attributes for a panelcomponent.

Makes selected text entities an attributed blockfile with the DESC1-3 attributes visible. The

Tag NameplateAETAGNAMEPLATE

template block file (ACE_NP_CONVERT.DWG)contains attributes used in nameplate symbols.If the description text strings were previouslydefined as attributes on an AutoCAD Electricalpanel component block definition, the at-tribute values on the panel component arehidden and the nameplate attributes DESC1-3 are added and made visible.

Makes selected text entities an attributed blockfile with the TERM01 terminal number at-

Tag Panel Terminal -Terminal Number

tribute visible. The template block fileAETAGPANELTERMINAL(ACE_TERMT_CONVERT.DWG) contains at-tributes for terminal numbers.



Makes selected text entities an attributed blockfile with the WIRENO wire number attribute

Tag Panel Terminal -Wire Number

visible. The template block fileAETAGWIRENO(ACE_TERMW_CONVERT.DWG) contains at-tributes for panel terminal symbols.

Links simple text as Description 1-3 attributeson an AutoCAD Electrical Panel block file. You

Link DescriptionAELINKDESC

can link them as description attributes to oneor more existing template block definitions.During the conversion process, the text entityis removed and replaced with the next avail-able description attribute, up to 3.

Links another string of text to a tag attribute,creating a split tag. Create the device Tag us-

Link Split TagAELINKSPLITTAG

ing the TAG1, TAG, or P_TAG1 attributes, andthen use this tool to select the existing TAGattribute on the drawing and link anotherstring of text, creating a split tag situation.The first TAG becomes the Part1 of the splittag while the linked portion becomes the Part2of the split tag.

Links simple text as an Item Number attributeon an AutoCAD Electrical Panel block file.

Link Item NumberAELINKITEM

During the conversion process, the text entityis removed and replaced with the Item Num-ber attribute (P_ITEM).

Links simple text as Location attributes on anAutoCAD Electrical Panel block file. The entity

Link Location CodeAELINKLOC

value is used as the Location value for one ormore template block definitions. If only onetemplate block is selected for the link, the textentity is removed and replaced with the Loca-tion attribute.



Links simple text as Installation attributes onan AutoCAD Electrical Panel block file. The

Link Installation CodeAELINKINST

entity value is used as the Installation value forone or more template block definitions. If onlyone template block is selected for the link, thetext entity is removed and replaced with theInstallation attribute.

Links simple text as manufacturer attributeson an AutoCAD Electrical Panel block file. The

Link ManufacturerAELINKMFG

entity value is used as the Manufacturer valuefor one or more template block definitions. Ifonly one template block is selected for thelink, the text entity is removed and replacedwith the Manufacturer attribute.

Links simple text as Catalog Number attributeson an AutoCAD Electrical Panel block file. The

Link Catalog NumberAELINKCAT

entity value is used as the Catalog Numbervalue for one or more template block defini-tions. If only one template block is selectedfor the link, the text entity is removed and re-placed with the Catalog Number attribute.

Links simple text as Rating 1-12 attributes onan AutoCAD Electrical Panel block file. The

Link RatingAELINKRATING

entity value is used as the rating value for oneor more template block definitions. If only onetemplate block is selected for the link, the textentity is removed and replaced with the ratingattribute, up to 12.

Links simple text (that is not an attribute defi-nition or part of geometry) as User (01-99)

Link UserAELINKUSER

attributes on an AutoCAD Electrical block file.The entity value is used as the user value forone or more template block definitions. If onlyone template block is selected for the link, the



text entity is removed and replaced with theuser attribute, up to 99. Window selection isallowed.

Selects the tagged template block file anddisplays everything (such as description, loca-

Show LinksAESHOWLINK

tion, manufacturer, and catalog numbercodes) that has been linked to it.

Selects an existing linked attribute and unlinksthe attribute from the symbol, changing theattribute to AutoCAD text.

Un LinkAEUNLINK

Adds wire connection attributes to the existingtagged block file. Select line endpoints or ge-

Add Wire ConnectionsAEWIRECONN

ometry to add the appropriate wire connec-tion attributes to. A new block definition iscreated with the newly added wire connec-tions. You can subsequently create a newblock file if the block is exploded.

Adds AutoCAD geometry to a template blockfile to be created as part of a unique block in-

Add GeometryAEGEOMETRY

stance. It creates a new block definition withthe newly added geometry. You can subse-quently create a new block file if the block isexploded.

Converts the upper-most line reference num-ber on a non-intelligent ladder to be AutoCADElectrical-aware.

Convert LadderAE2LADDER

Changes wire types and converts lines towires. Use the grid control to sort and selectthe wire types for easy modification.

Change/Convert WireTypeAECONVERTWIRETYPE



Converts a text object to an AutoCAD Electri-cal compatible wire number.

Convert Text to WireNumbersAETEXT2WIRENO

Replace a non-AutoCAD Electrical source arrowwith a smart AutoCAD Electrical source arrow

Convert Block to SourceArrow

and maps the information to the new Auto-CAD Electrical source.

AEBLK2SRC

Replaces a non-AutoCAD Electrical destinationarrow with a smart AutoCAD Electrical destina-tion arrow.

Convert Block to Destina-tion ArrowAEBLK2DEST

Verifies that the invisible Xdata pointers onboth sides of a wire gap/loop are valid. If not,appropriate pointers are established.

Check/Repair Gap Point-ersAEGAPPOINTER

Lengthens a wire until it meets another wireor an AutoCAD Electrical component.

Stretch WireAESTRETCTWIRE

Quickly changes attribute text size whencomponents or wire numbers have alreadybeen inserted onto your drawings.

Change Attribute SizeAEATTSIZE

Adds a new attribute to an existing instanceof a block insert.

Add AttributeAEATTRIBUTE

Converts a text object into an attribute defini-tion object. This is not an attribute associated

Convert Text to At-tribute Definition

to an already-inserted block. This is an at-AETEXT2ATTtribute definition possibly on a library symbolthat becomes an attribute when the symboldrawing is inserted as a block into anotherdrawing.



Allows display and edit of an object's “1000”type extended entity data (Xdata).

Xdata EditorAEXDATA

Takes non-AutoCAD Electrical blocks orgraphics representing a symbol and replaces

Convert to SchematicComponent

it with an AutoCAD Electrical block and trans-AEBLK2SCHfers the attribute or text values to this newAutoCAD Electrical block.

Reassigns attributes from a converted blockto those expected by AutoCAD Electrical. This

Map Attributes from Oldto New

allows you to continue what you started withAEMAPATTConvert to Schematic Component. Use this ifyou did not finish mapping values from yournon-AutoCAD Electrical block.

Lets you update or change blocks in place.Attribute values are retained during the

Swap/Update BlockAESWAPBLOCK

swapping process. Wire connections are alsomaintained even if the new symbol is slightlywider or narrower than the original.

Conduit Marker toolbar


Formats an inter-wiring list from a selectionof interconnected components. Inserts as aconduit tag.

Conduit Marker (Pick)AECONDUITMARKER

Formats an inter-wiring list from a subset of acomponent from/to report. Inserts as a con-duit tag.

Conduit Marker(From/To List)AECONDUITMARK-ERLIST



Edits conduit marker tag, descriptions, andwire assignments.

Edit Conduit MarkerAEEDITCONDUITMARK-ER

Extracts conduit marker information into areport. Extractable conduit marker symbols

Conduit Marker ReportAECONDUITMARKERRPT

are named “WWAY*.” A conduit can be repre-sented by a line or a polyline and by itself doesnot carry any intelligence. However, you caninsert a conduit marker symbol and associateit to a conduit. The conduit marker symbolthen carries wire information intelligencepulled from the AutoCAD Electrical drawings.

Reports a list of conduit tag assignments thata given wire or cable passes through.

Wire/Conduit RoutingReportAEROUTINGREPORT

Extracts schematic wiring information prior toconduit assignment.

Extract Wire DataAEEXTRACTWIREDATA

Power Check toolbar


Marks a component with a power source andload value. A related routine, when invoked,

Add/Edit PowerSource/Load Levels

then scans the wire interconnections and re-AEPOWERLOADLEVELSports if there is too much load on a givenpower source

Marks a component with a PASSPWR flag. ThePASSPWR flag instructs the Power Report to

Mark Component ToPass Power

pass through the marked component whenAEPASSPWR

Power Check toolbar | 47


calculating the load on a given source. If acomponent carries the PASSPWR flag thePower Report program will pass through thecomponent and continue looking for loadvalues on the network.

NOTE Certain components don't need aPASSPWR flag (such as terminals and contacts)since they are automatically passed through.

Scans the wire interconnections and reportsif there is too much load on a given powersource.

Power Load Check Re-portAEPOWERLOADREPORT

Panel Level/Sequencing toolbar


Allows viewing, assigning, or editing 3-digitlevel codes and 4-digit sequence codes on

Insert/Edit Panel LevelAssignment

panel footprint components. This coding,AEPANELLEVELwhen present, can influence the way that Au-toCAD Electrical calculates the wire connectionfrom/to sequence. As it processes theschematic component representations andwiring, it checks for any coding found on thepanel footprint and panel terminal strip repre-sentations. If present, it adjusts the from/tosequencing accordingly.

Reports which component symbols do nothave leveling and sequencing information al-

Missing Level/SequenceAssignments

ready assigned to them. This is used as aAEMISSINGLEVELtroubleshooting mechanism to aid in the as-signment of leveling and sequencing informa-tion to provide better wire routing capabilities.



Allows viewing or editing 3-digit level codesfor boundary boxes. Devices placed within the

Insert/Edit Boundary BoxAssignment

boundary box take on the boundary's levelAEBOUNDRYBOXcodes. The dialog box lists the number of de-vice footprints found within the boundary andthe number of devices that currently do notmatch the boundary default.

Removes routing assignments found on com-ponents, boundary boxes, or terminals.

Remove Level/Sequenc-ing assignmentAEREMOVELEVEL

Allows defining or capturing a common set oflevel assignments for panel footprint compo-

Copy Level AssignmentsAECOPYLEVEL

nents and then copy these 3-digit level codesto one or multiple footprints. This coding,when present, influences the way that Auto-CAD Electrical calculates the wire connectionfrom/to sequence. As it processes theschematic component representations andwiring, it checks for any coding found on thepanel footprint and panel terminal strip repre-sentations. When present, it adjusts thefrom/to sequencing accordingly.

Displays terminal level/sequencing assign-ments.

Show Terminal Strip Se-quencing AssignmentsAESHOWTERMINALSEQ

Displays footprint level/sequencing assign-ments through terminal strips.

Show Footprint Sequenc-ing AssignmentsAESHOWFPSEQUENCE

Sequences component footprints sharing thesame level assignment.

View/Edit ComponentSequenceAEVIEWCOMPSEQ

Panel Level/Sequencing toolbar | 49


Displays footprint level/sequencing assign-ments.

Show Footprint Compo-nent SequenceAESHOWFPCOMPSE-QUENCE

Freshens wire connection table in project'sdatabase.

Freshen Wire DataAEFRESHENWIREDATA

Define a rectangle as a supplementary terminalstrip to be used in the wiring routing informa-tion over large control system equipment.

Insert Terminal StripRepresentationAETERMINALSTRIP

Allows for selection of a supplementary termi-nal strip representation to display wiring infor-

Panel Terminal Strip Re-port

mation inside of a report generator dialog,AETERMINAL-STRIPREPORT and subsequently insert a terminal strip layout

drawing.

Swaps wire annotation text from one side ofthe terminal strip to the other. The Internal

Panel Terminal StripSwap Wire Text

and External default definition applies whenthe terminal strip is initially placed.

AEPANELTERMINAL-SWAPTEXT

Extra Libraries toolbar


Inserts Pneumatic components from an on-screen icon menu. This icon menu can be

Insert Pneumatic Compo-nents

modified, expanded, or replaced with yourAEPNEUMATICown custom menu. You can change the de-fault icon menu using the Project Propertiesdialog box. Use the Icon Menu Wizard toeasily modify the menu.



Inserts hydraulic components from an on-screen icon menu. This icon menu can be

Insert Hydraulic Compo-nent

modified, expanded, or replaced with yourAEHYDRAULICown custom menu. You can change the de-fault icon menu using the Project Propertiesdialog box. Use the Icon Menu Wizard toeasily modify the menu.

Inserts P&ID components from an on-screenicon menu. This icon menu can be modified,

Insert P&ID ComponentAEPID

expanded, or replaced with your own custommenu. You can change the default icon menuusing the Project Properties dialog box. Usethe Icon Menu Wizard to easily modify themenu.

Extra Libraries toolbar | 51

52

Projects

AutoCAD® Electrical software extends the capabilities of AutoCAD® so that you can quicklybuild and manage an electrical controls drawing set.

This manual provides concepts and exercises to help you get started with AutoCAD Electrical.

About Standards

AutoCAD Electrical currently supports the following industry standards: JIC(US), IEC (Europe), JIS (Japan), GB (China) and AS (Australia). Although AutoCADElectrical supports many standards, the Getting Started manual follows the JICstandard and sample drawing set.

Since the workflow for both JIC and IEC are nearly identical, you can performthe following exercises using the IEC demo drawing set, however yourcomponents and wire numbering will display differently.

Performing Exercises

All of the AutoCAD commands and features are available while working onAutoCAD Electrical drawings. All intelligence is carried directly on the drawingusing AutoCAD blocks with attributes and XDATA. AutoCAD Electrical doesnot require any underlying database.

Backup exercise files are found at Documents and Settings\{username}\MyDocuments\Acade {version}\Aedata\Tutorial\Aegs orUsers\{username}\Documents\Acade {version}\Aedata\Tutorial\Aegs on a WindowsVista installation. If you make a mistake while working through the exercisesin this manual, simply browse to and copy the demo file(s) to your projectfolder.

2

53

NOTE The exercises in this manual must be performed in order. It is advised toturn off the AutoCAD DYN feature (found on the status bar) before starting theexercises.

The Getting Started manual uses two manufacturers: Allen Bradley and Siemens.You must install both manufacturers in order to have the same results thatare shown here. If you need to install content from these manufacturers,follow these steps.

1 Open the Add or Remove Programs tool in your Control Panel.

2 Select AutoCAD Electrical

3 Click Change/Remove.

4 Click Add/Remove Features.

5 Click Next on the first screen.

6 Select AB and Siemens on the Manufacturer Contents Selection screen.

7 Click Next on the Symbol Libraries screen.

8 Click Next to continue.

Prerequisites

It is assumed that you have a working knowledge of the AutoCAD interfaceand tools. If you do not, review the AutoCAD online documentation.

It is recommended that you have a working knowledge of Microsoft®

Windows® 2000 or Windows® XP, and a working knowledge of electricaldesign and schematic ladder wiring diagrams.

Help

The AutoCAD Electrical Help system provides detailed concepts, procedures,and reference information about every product feature. To access the Helpsystem:

■ Select Help ➤ Electrical Help Topics from the menu.

■ Click the Help button or press F1 within a dialog box or at a commandprompt.

54 | Chapter 2 Projects

Be more productive with Autodesk® software. Get trained at an AutodeskAuthorized Training Center (ATC®) with hands-on, instructor-led classes tohelp you get the most from your Autodesk products. Enhance your productivitywith proven training from over 1,400 ATC sites in more than 75 countries.For more information about Autodesk Authorized Training Centers, [email protected] or visit the online ATC locator atwww.autodesk.com/atc.

Working with Projects

AutoCAD Electrical is a project-based system. Each project is defined by anASCII text file with a .wdp extension. This project file contains a list of projectinformation, default project settings, drawing properties, and drawing filenames. You can have an unlimited number of projects; however, only oneproject can be active at a time.

NOTE You must install the JIC symbol library for these exercises to functionproperly.

Use the Project Manager to add new drawings, reorder drawing files, andchange project settings. You cannot have two projects open in the ProjectManager with the same project name. By default, the Project Manager is openand docked on the left-hand side of your screen. You can dock the ProjectManager into a specific location on the screen or hide it until you want to usethe project tools. Right-click the properties icon to display options to move,size, close, dock, hide, or set the transparency for the Project Manager.

Working with Projects | 55

[email protected]

www.autodesk.com/atc

Create an AutoCAD Electrical project

1 Click the Project Manager tool if the Project Manager is not alreadydisplayed on your screen.

Projects ➤ Project ➤ Project Manager

2 In the Project Manager, click the New Project tool.

NOTE You can also use the Project Manager to open an existing project. Inthe Project Manager, click the project selection arrow and select Open Project.

3 In the Create New Project dialog box, specify:

Name: AEGS

A name must be entered in order to define any of the project properties.The .wdp extension is not required in the edit box.

4 Make sure wddemo.wdp is specified in the Copy Settings from ProjectFile edit box.


5 Click OK-Properties.

Your new project is added to the current projects list and automaticallybecomes the active project.

The Project Properties dialog box displays, where you can modify your projectdefault settings. All information defined on these tabs are saved to the projectdefinition file as project defaults and settings.

Set project properties

1 In the Project Properties dialog box, click the Components tab.

2 In the Component Tag Format section, verify Line Reference is selected.

This creates unique reference-based tags when multiple components ofthe same family are located at the same reference location. Whenreference-based tagging is used, a suffix variable is required to keepcomponents of the same family type unique. For example, 3 pushbuttonson line reference 101 could be labeled PB101, PB101A, and PB101B. ClickSuffix Setup to change the suffix variable.

3 Click the Wire Numbers tab.

4 In the Wire Number Format section, verify Line Reference is selected.

This creates unique reference-based wire number tags for multiple wirenetworks beginning at the same reference location. When reference-basednumbering is used, a suffix variable is required to keep wires on the samereference line or in the same reference zone unique. Click Suffix Setupto change the suffix variable.

Working with Projects | 57

5 Review the various options on the different tabs of the Project Propertiesdialog box.

NOTE In the Project Properties dialog box, icons indicate whether the settingsapply to project settings or drawing defaults. Settings that apply to projectsettings have the project icon next to them and are saved inside the projectdefinition file (*.wdp). Settings that are saved in the project file as drawingdefaults have the drawing icon next to them. Drawing related data thatshould be added to the project when running the Add Drawing commandis saved as Drawing Custom Properties.

6 Click OK.

Working with Drawings

A single project file can have drawings located in many different directories.There is no limit to the number of drawings in a project. You can add drawingsto your project at any time. When you create a new drawing, it is automaticallyadded to the active project.

Many of the drawing settings used by AutoCAD Electrical are stored in a smartblock on the drawing named WD_M.dwg. Each AutoCAD Electrical drawingshould contain only one copy of the WD_M block. If multiple WD_M blocksare present, the settings may not be stored and read consistently.


Create a new drawing

1 In the Project Manager, click the New Drawing tool.

2 In the Create New Drawing dialog box, specify:

Name: AEGS11

Description 1: Bill of Materials Report

3 Click Browse next to the Template edit box.

A set of templates (*.dwt files) installed with AutoCAD Electrical containsettings for various kinds of drawings, such as acad.dwt andACAD_ELECTRICAL.dwt.

You can create your own templates, or use any drawing as a template.You can save a drawing at any stage of completion as a template file.When you use a drawing as a template, the settings in that drawing areused in the new drawing. The changes you make to a drawing that isbased on a template do not affect the template file.

AutoCAD Electrical fully supports the use of AutoCAD template files. Tomake an AutoCAD drawing compatible with AutoCAD Electrical, selectan AutoCAD Electrical command to modify the drawing.

4 In the Select template dialog box, select ACAD_ELECTRICAL.dwt, andclick Open.

5 In the Create New Drawing dialog box, click OK.

Working with Drawings | 59

NOTE You could click OK-Properties to display the Drawing Properties dialogbox. This dialog box has options similar to those found in the ProjectProperties dialog box, but defines drawing-specific settings that are maintainedinside the drawing's WD_M block.

6 In the Project Manager, double-click the project name (AEGS) to displaythe drawing files. AEGS11 should be the only file in the list.

Add drawings to the project

1 In the Project Manager, right-click AEGS, and select Add Drawings.

2 In the Select Files to Add dialog box, select drawings AEGS01.dwg toAEGS10.dwg and click Add.

3 When asked whether to apply the project default values to the drawingsettings, click Yes.

The Project Manager lists the files under the AEGS folder. New drawingsthat you add from this point on are added at the end of the drawingorder. You now have access to the files required for the exercises in thisbook.

NOTE Two projects can reference the same drawing file; however this canlead to conflicts if both projects try to modify the same drawing with aproject-wide tagging or cross-referencing function.

The drawing order in the Project Manager determines how AutoCADElectrical processes the drawings during project-wide operations such asresequencing and wire numbering.

4 In the Project Manager, right-click the project name, and select ReorderDrawings.


5 In the Reorder Drawings dialog box, select AEGS11.dwg and click MoveDown until the drawing is at the bottom of the list.

6 Click OK.

AEGS11.dwg is now at the bottom of the project drawing file list in theProject Manager.

NOTE The active drawing displays in bold text in the project drawing listallowing you to easily see which file you are working in.

You can add descriptions for each drawing to the project file. Drawingdescriptions are saved in the project file only and do not change the drawingitself. You can reuse drawing descriptions in title block attributes and associatethem with AutoCAD Electrical reports.

Add the description of a drawing you add

1 In the Project Manager, right-click AEGS10.dwg, and select Properties ➤

Drawing Properties.

2 In the Drawing Properties ➤ Drawing Settings dialog box, Drawing Filesection, specify:

Description 1: Connector Drawing

3 Click OK.

4 In the Project Manager, select AEGS10.dwg.


5 In the Project Manager, Details section, review the drawing descriptions.

The drawing details update when you highlight a drawing file and remainvisible until a new drawing file is selected. Displayed information includesthe status, file name, file location, file size, last saved date, and the nameof the last user who modified the file.

Use the Project Manager to easily preview drawings. Moving among drawingsusing the up and down keys does not open the drawing. It changes the previewor details display in the Project Manager.

View drawings in a project

1 In the Project Manager, select AEGS04.dwg.

2 In the Project Manager, Details section, click Preview.

3 Continue to click the drawing name you want to preview or use the upand down arrow keys to scroll through the drawing files.

4 When you finish viewing the drawings, click Details to return to thedrawing details view.

If a project drawing is currently open and you want to move to the previousor next drawing in the projects list, use the Previous Project Drawing and NextProject Drawing tools. When you use these tools to move among drawings,any unsaved changes to the current drawing are saved, the drawing is closed,and the requested drawing is opened.

View project drawings when a drawing is open

1 In the Project Manager, double-click AEGS04.dwg.


2 To view the drawings, click Previous Project Drawing and NextProject Drawing.

A new window opens and the original window closes when you click thenavigation tools unless you hold the Shift key while clicking the tools.


64

Ladder Style Diagrams

Part 2 of this manual provides information on setting up and working with ladder stylediagrams.

65

66

Wires

This chapter contains information about wires and how they are used in AutoCAD® Electrical.

About Wires

AutoCAD Electrical treats AutoCAD® line entities as wires when the lines areplaced on an AutoCAD Electrical defined wire layer. The number of wire layersavailable in AutoCAD Electrical is unlimited. These lines get tagged with wirenumbers and show up in various wire connection reports.

Two wire segments connect if the end of one wire segment touches or fallswithin a small trap distance of any part of the other wire segment. Thisconnection can be at the end of the other wire or anywhere along the lengthof the other wire.

AutoCAD Electrical considers a wire connected to a component if the wire endfalls within a trap distance from the wire connection-point attribute of acomponent.

The wire layer for a new wire segment is determined by:

■ Wires that begin or end in space or begin and end at a componentconnection point, are put on the current layer (if it's a wire layer), or on thefirst wire layer AutoCAD Electrical finds in a layer name search.

■ Wires that begin at an existing wire are put on the same layer as thebeginning wire.

■ Wires that begin in space or at a component and end at an existing wiretake on the layer of the ending wire.

3

67

Inserting Wires

You can start or end a wire segment in empty space, from an existing wiresegment, or from an existing component. If you start from a component, thewire segment snaps to the wire connection terminal closest to your pick pointon that symbol. If the wire segment ends at another wire segment, a DOT(block name wddot.dwg) is applied if appropriate. If it ends at anothercomponent, the segment connects to the wire connection terminal closest toyour pick point on that symbol.

NOTE When inserting wires, if a wire already occupies a wire connection point,the new wire is drawn as an angled wire connection.

Insert wiring

1 In the Project Manager, Project Drawing List, double-click AEGS04.dwg.

2 Zoom in on the upper left corner of the drawing. Make sure thehot and neutral vertical wires are displayed.

3 Click the Add Rung tool.

Wires ➤ Add Rung

4 Respond to the prompts as follows:

Add rung passing through this location or [wiretype (T)]:

Select a location between the two vertical bus wires beside line reference 403(1)

Add rung passing through this location or [wiretype (T)]:

Select a location between the two vertical bus wires beside line reference 404,underneath the newly created rung (2), press ENTER

68 | Chapter 3 Wires

Two horizontal wires are created automatically between the vertical buswires at the closest line reference location.

Create two vertical wires between two horizontal wires

1 Click the Insert Wire tool.

Wires ➤ Insert Wire


Specify wire start or [wiretype (T)/show connections (X)]:

Select the top wire at line reference 403(1)

Specify wire end or [V=start Vertical/H=start

Horizontal/Continue]: Select the lower wire at line reference 404 (2)

The color of temporary graphics changes for a new wire when AutoCADElectrical can connect the wire to an existing wire.

Component wire connection points are displayed as green x’s at the wireconnections when you enter X + ENTER during wire insertion. If you panor zoom, you have to repeat the command in order to view the wireconnection points.

3 Insert another wire to the right of the new wire.

4 Press ENTER to exit the command.

The inserted wires resemble the following image.

Trimming Wires

After you insert wires, you may need to trim them. The Trim Wire tool removeswire segments. You can trim single or multiple wires.

Trimming Wires | 69

Trim a wire

1 Click the Trim Wire tool.

Wires ➤ Trim Wire


Fence/Crossing/Zext/<Select wire to TRIM>:

Specify the wire segment at line reference 404 between the two vertical wires(1), right-click

Wire segments are trimmed back to a connecting dot, a component, orcompletely if neither is encountered along the segment. Any connectiondots that are no longer needed are removed.

The trimmed wire resembles the following image.

70 | Chapter 3 Wires

Schematic Components

This chapter contains information about schematic components in AutoCAD® Electrical andinserting them into drawings.

About Schematic Components

An AutoCAD Electrical schematic component is an AutoCAD® block with certainexpected attributes. When inserting components, you can use AutoCAD Electricaltools to break wires, assign unique component tags, cross reference relatedcomponents, and enter values for catalog information, component descriptions,and location codes.

AutoCAD Electrical supplies a schematic symbol dialog box for finding andinserting schematic components. It also triggers a number of additional features,such as automatic wire breaks, component tagging, real-time cross-referencing,and component annotation.

Inserting Components

AutoCAD Electrical employs a parent/child relationship for schematiccomponents. A relay coil with a certain number of contacts is represented bythe parent coil symbol and the child contact symbols. When the parent coilsymbol is inserted, it is assigned a unique component tag. When the childcontact symbols are inserted, the child is related to the parent and the parenttag is assigned to the child symbol.

In this exercise, you insert components on the wires previously defined inAEGS04.dwg.

4

71

Insert a parent component

1 Click the Insert Component tool.

Components ➤ Insert Component

2 In the Insert Component: JIC Schematic Symbols dialog box, clickRelays/ Contacts.

3 In the JIC: Relays and Contacts dialog box, click Relay Coil.


Specify insertion point:

Position the component on the wire at line reference 403 near the neutral wireand click (1)

TIP If the component misses the wire and it fails to break, click Cancel in theInsert/Edit Component dialog box and press ENTER to repeat the commandand try again.

The coil symbol breaks the underlying ladder wire and reconnects if youselect directly on the wire or very near to it. If the component didn’tinsert in-line with the wire, you didn’t select close enough to the wirefor the symbol to sense that there was a nearby wire. Click Cancel on theInsert/Edit Component dialog box. Right-click or press ENTER to repeatthe command and try again. Turning on Snap will help (0.125 is a goodsetting to use).

This tool inserts components into alignment with underlying wires, itdoes not align components side-to-side. If you want to insert componentsin neat columns, you have 3 options: use AutoCAD Snap when insertingcomponents; use the Scoot command to stretch components andconnected wires in place; or use the Align Component tool.

5 In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, verify the Component Tag isset to CR403.

72 | Chapter 4 Schematic Components

AutoCAD Electrical automatically determines the unique tag name forthe new relay based on the line reference location that you inserted thesymbol on. “CR” indicates that it is a control relay and “403” indicatesthat the symbol is on line reference 403. If you inserted this symbol online reference 404 then the tag name would be “CR404.”

You can assign a catalog number to the component that can be extractedinto reports. There are two pieces of BOM catalog information:manufacturer code and catalog number. These values are carried asinvisible attributes on the symbol. You can type in values for each orselect the BOM information from an on-line catalog database file.

6 In the Catalog Data section, click Lookup.

There are three search criteria pull-down lists across the top of the PartsCatalog dialog box. You can easily change the search criteria to get adifferent set of valid catalog numbers. Each time you make a selectionfrom one of these lists, the catalog selection is filtered.

7 In the Parts catalog dialog box, select the following search criteria:

MANUFACTURER: AB

TYPE: TYPE P

8 Change the catalog assignment to 700-P200A1.

Inserting Components | 73

9 Click Catalog Check.

10 In the Bill Of Materials Check dialog box, review the BOM informationassociated with the selected part number.

Click Close.

11 In the Parts catalog dialog box, click OK.

The selected manufacturer code and catalog number display in theInsert/Edit Component dialog box. When you click OK on the dialogbox, the values will transfer to the symbol.

NOTE Sample catalog information is provided with AutoCAD Electrical inAccess Database format (.mdb). If your company uses its own internal codingsystem instead of manufacturer catalog numbers, just substitute thosenumbers into AutoCAD Electrical’s catalog database files. If you use your ownsystem and reference a vendor’s number, extra user fields are available in allof the sample database files.

12 In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, Description section, specify:


Line 1: MASTER CONTROL

Line 2: RELAY

Up to 3 lines of description text can be entered as a description forcomponents. If the third description line is unavailable, the symbol doesnot carry an attribute for a third line of description.

NOTE You can specify a description by entering text or by clicking Defaultsto select from a list of standard component descriptions.

13 In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, Location code section, clickDrawing.

AutoCAD Electrical does a quick read of the drawing file and returns alist of all location codes used so far.

14 In the All Locations - Drawing dialog box, select MCAB5 and click OK.

NOTE You can also include an external “LOC” location list in the project“LOC” list to help with consistency. To use this feature, create a file calleddefault.loc and put it in an AutoCAD Electrical search directory. The formatfor this text file is each location on its own line in the file with no leadingspaces. You can also create a project-specific file by naming it the same asyour project but with a .loc extension.

15 In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, the pin values are insertedbased on the selected catalog number:

Pins: 1: K1

Pins: 2: K2


16 In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, click OK.

Any values entered here are saved as attribute values on the symbol itself.

Relocating Components

You might need to scoot the component if it was not inserted in the correctlocation. Use the Scoot tool to select a component or wire number and slideit back and forth along the wire while keeping everything connected. You canselect a wire or a whole rung of circuitry and scoot it to a new position. Ifthere are any parent components among the scooted items, you will be askedif you want to re tag the scooted components.

The Scoot tool works on wire numbers, components, terminals, PLC I/Omodules, jogs in dashed link lines, signal arrows, wires, and wires withwire-crossing loops.


Scoot a component

1 Click the Scoot tool.

Components ➤ Scoot


Select component, wire, or wire number for SCOOT:

Select the component that was just inserted at line reference 403

The cursor changes to a box.

Select component, wire, or wire number for SCOOT: to:

Move the cursor to the right and click, right-click to exit the command

The component moves to its new location.

You can use the Scoot tool to grab a component or a wire number andslide it back and forth along a wire. You can grab a wire or a whole rungof circuitry and scoot it to a new position, while keeping everythingconnected.

The steps to insert a parent component and a child component are the same,except when you annotate the symbol.

Insert a child component



Relocating Components | 77

2 In the Insert Component: JIC Schematic Symbols dialog box, clickRelays/ Contacts.

3 In the JIC: Relays and Contacts dialog box, click Relay NO Contact.



Position the cursor on the wire at line reference 404 near the hot wire and click(1)

The Insert/Edit Child Component dialog box displays. Notice thatAutoCAD Electrical did not automatically assign a tag name for the relaycontact; there is just a generic “CR” in the edit box. You must determinethe relay contact tag name. A relay contact is a child component thatmust link to a parent relay coil on a drawing in the active project. Thechild gets the same name that is found on the parent relay coil.

You can assign the tag name by clicking Parent/Sibling and picking theparent in the drawing or by clicking Drawing or Project to select from alist of components with the same family name.

5 In the Insert/Edit Child Component dialog box, Component Tag section,click Drawing.

6 In the Active Drawing list for FAMILY=”CR” dialog box, select:

MCAB5 CR403 MASTER CONTROL RELAY


7 Click OK.

The parent’s values are immediately transferred to the contact. It iscross-referenced in real-time. This means that the coil is annotated withthe line reference number of the new child contact and the child contactgets annotated with the line reference location of the parent coil.

8 In the Insert/Edit Child Component dialog box, verify the followingoptions are specified:

Component Tag: CR403

Description: Line 1: MASTER CONTROL

Description: Line 2: RELAY

Cross-reference: 403

Location code: MCAB5

Pins: Pin 1: A1X

Pins: Pin 2: A1Y

Relocating Components | 79

9 In the Insert/Edit Child Component dialog box, click OK.

The child component is inserted:

Aligning Components

Align the normally open relay with an existing component. After you inserta component, you can align or edit it as necessary.

Align a component

1 Expand the Scoot tool, and then click the Align tool.

Components ➤ Align


Pick component to align with (Horizontal/<Vertical>):


Select the normally open limit switch component near the hot wire at linereference 406 (1)

A dashed line is displayed.

Select objects:

Select the previously inserted child contact component near the hot wire at linereference 404 (2), right-click

The aligned component is placed.

Inserting Components

Now you need to insert a system reset push button, pilot light, and anemergency stop push button to make up the circuit.

Insert a system reset button



2 In the Insert Component: JIC Schematic Symbols dialog box, clickPush Buttons.

3 In the JIC: Push Buttons dialog box, click Push Button NO.



Position the push button on the wire at line reference 403 near the hot wireand click (1)


5 In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, verify the following:

Component Tag: PB403

AutoCAD Electrical automatically assigned the tag name based on theline reference.

6 In the Descriptions section, specify:

Line 1: SYSTEM

Line 2: RESET

7 In the Location code section, click Drawing.

8 In the All Locations - Drawing dialog box, select OPSTA3 and click OK.


Insert a pilot light



2 In the Insert Component: JIC Schematic Symbols dialog box, clickPilot Lights.

3 In the JIC: Pilot Lights dialog box, click Green Press to Test.



Position the pilot light on the wire at line reference 404 near the neutral wireand click (2)


TIP Having Snap turned on makes positioning the pilot light easier.

5 In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, verify:

Component Tag: LT404


Line 1: CONVEYOR

Line 2: ON




Insert a push button for emergency stop



2 In the Insert Component: JIC Schematic Symbols dialog box, clickPush Buttons.

3 In the JIC: Push Buttons dialog box, click Mushroom Head NC.



Position the push button on the middle of the wire at line reference 403 andclick (3)



Component Tag: PB403A

AutoCAD Electrical automatically assigned the tag name based on theline reference. It added the “A” suffix since this is your second pushbutton on this line reference.


Line 1: EMERGENCY STOP




Your finished schematic should resemble the following:

Editing Components

You can go back to a component at any time and make changes. You canchange description, tag, catalog number, location code, terminal numbers,and rating values using the Edit Component tool.

Insert a child contact

1 Zoom in on the blank ladder rung at line reference 410.

2 Press F9 to turn SNAP on.




4 In the Insert Component: JIC Schematic Symbols dialog box, clickSelector Switches.

5 In the JIC: Selector Switches dialog box, click 2nd+ NC Contact.



Position the selector switch at line reference 410 near the left side of the ladderand click (1)


Insert a pilot light



2 In the Insert Component: JIC Schematic Symbols dialog box, clickPilot Lights.

3 In the JIC: Pilot Lights dialog box, click Blue Press to Test.



Position the pilot light at line reference 410 near the neutral wire but exactlyin line with the selector switch and click (2)

Editing Components | 85


Component Tag: LT410


Line 1: MAINT

Line 2: MODE


Edit a child contact

1 Press F9 to turn SNAP off.

2 Click the Edit Component tool.

Components ➤ Edit Component

NOTE You can also right-click on a component and select Edit Componentfrom the context menu.


Select component/cable/location box to EDIT:

Select the selector switch on line reference 410

4 In the Insert/Edit Child Component dialog box, Component Tag section,click Parent/Sibling.



Select component:

Select the bottom sibling contact (3) of the existing switch on line reference 408

AutoCAD Electrical reads the sibling contact and transfers the appropriateannotation to your new switch contact.

Editing Components | 87


The sibling contact information is displayed on the drawing.

Linking Components

In this exercise, you link the selector switch you just inserted to the existingRAM MODE selector switch residing on line reference 406 through 408 usingdashed link lines.

Connect components using wires





Specify wire start or [wireType/X=show connections]:

Click the wire connection point on the right-hand side of the switch contact (1)

Specify wire end or [Continue]:

Drag the wire to the right and click the wire connection point on the left-handside of the blue pilot light (2)

Specify wire start or [Scoot/wireType/X=show connections]:

Click the left-hand side of the switch contact


Drag the wire to the left and click the left-hand vertical bus wire

The wire automatically ends on the bus and inserts a wire connectiondot.

3 Repeat the process to connect the right-hand side of the blue pilot lightto the vertical bus wire.

4 Right-click and select Enter to finish creating the wire connections.

If you lay a wire over the top of a series of components, AutoCADElectrical automatically breaks and reconnects to the underlying wireconnection points.

Link components

1 Expand the Dashed Link Lines tool, and then click the LinkComponents with Dashed Line tool.

Components ➤ Link ➤ Link Components with Dashed Line


Component to link from:

Click the contact of the switch on line reference 408 (6)

Linking Components | 89

Component to link to:

Click anywhere on your new switch contact (7), right-click

The contact’s annotation is changed to invisible and a dashed link lineis drawn from the bottom of the upper contact to the top of your newcontact.

Your finished schematic should resemble the following:

NOTE The Scoot command is fully compatible with dashed line links. Scootingone contact left or right causes both links to automatically update. You caneven scoot the horizontal “jog” in the dashed link line up or down.

Editing Catalog Information

Sample catalog information is supplied with AutoCAD Electrical. Theinformation is held in tables in an Access Database file (.mdb) that is populatedwith sample vendor data.

You can use sort criteria in the catalog lookup to selectively display catalognumbers for a component type.

Filter catalog data

1 Right-click on LT410 and select Edit Component.

2 In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, Catalog Data section, clickLookup.


3 In the Parts Catalog dialog box, select:

Manufacturer: AB

Type: 30.5mm

Voltage: 120VAC XFMR

4 Change the catalog assignment to 800T-PT16E.

Add a catalog entry

1 In the Parts Catalog dialog box, click Add.

Editing Catalog Information | 91

The entries are prefilled with the information for the currently assignedcatalog part number. This makes it easy to add a new entry with similarinformation.

2 In the Add Catalog Record dialog box, specify:

Catalog: BOG-123B

Manufacturer: BOGUS

The catalog lookup works most efficiently when field values that aremeant to be the same are exactly the same in both spelling andcapitalization. The list box beside each field helps you maintainconsistency as you add new catalog items.

3 Click List next to the Description field.

AutoCAD Electrical does a quick scan of the existing catalog file. It collectsand displays a list of all of the different description field values found inthe catalog.

4 In the Field Description existing values dialog box, select BLUE PILOTLIGHT - PRESS TO TEST, NEMA 4/13 and click OK.


5 In the Add Catalog Record dialog box, click List next to the Type, Voltageand Miscellaneous fields and select the values shown below if not alreadyselected.

AutoCAD Electrical provides 3 blank user fields for your own internaluse. Each can be a maximum of 24 characters wide and are extracted intoBOM reports along with all of the other fields.

NOTE You can add catalog entries with a subassembly. To link a subassemblywith the main, the catalog part numbers should share the same codes. In theEdit Catalog Record dialog box, select As main->sub, enter the ASSYCODE,and click OK. The ASSYCODE needs to be unique since it links the maincatalog item with subassembly items. To add the subassembly item, in theAdd Catalog Record dialog box, create a new catalog entry, select As sub,enter an ASSEMBLYLIST code, and click OK.

6 In the Add Catalog Record dialog box, click OK.

As the new entry is being added to the file, the Part Catalog dialog boxdisplays.

Editing Catalog Information | 93

7 In the Parts Catalog dialog box, select the BOG-123B catalog entry andclick OK.


Moving Between Symbols

Use the AutoCAD Electrical Surf utility to quickly move from componentreference to reference across the project drawing set.

1 Zoom on the upper left-hand portion of the first ladder column.

2 Click the Surfer tool.

Projects ➤ Surfer

3 Click anywhere on relay coil CR407.


All instances of CR407 appear in the Surf dialog box.

4 Select the reference on sheet 6.

5 Click Go To.

The instance of CR407 on sheet 6 is surfed to and displayed in the drawingnext to the Surf dialog box.

Moving Between Symbols | 95

6 Select the reference on sheet 9.

7 Click Go To.

You can edit or delete the component using options in the Surf dialogbox.

8 Double-click the first entry in the Surf dialog box to return to the originalAEGS04.dwg drawing.

9 Click Close.

NOTE Drawing files are saved while surfing if AutoCAD Electrical senses thata change has been made to the drawing.

Swapping Components

You can use the Swap Block tool to swap one component for another (suchas swapping a proximity switch with a limit switch) in a single drawing orproject-wide.

Swap switches while keeping wire connections

1 Zoom in on the limit switch on line reference 406.


2 Expand the Insert Component tool, and then click the Swap/UpdateBlock tool.

Components ➤ Component Miscellaneous ➤ Swap/Update Block

3 In the Swap Block/ Update Block/ Library Swap dialog box, specify:

Option A: Swap a Block - drawing wide

Pick new block from icon menu

Retain old block scale

Auto re tag if parent swap causes FAMILY change

Attribute Mapping: Use Same Attribute Names (default)

Click OK.

4 In the Insert Component: JIC Schematic Symbols dialog box, clickMiscellaneous Switches.

5 In the JIC: Other Switch Types dialog box, click Proximity SwitchNO.


Select component type to swap out: Select the limit switch, LS406

The limit switch symbol disappears and the proximity switch symbolinserts. All existing text annotation transfers to the new symbols and thewires reconnect.

Swapping Components | 97

Creating Custom Symbols

You can use the Symbol Builder to easily create an AutoCAD Electrical symbol.This utility builds a smart schematic symbol by either adding AutoCADElectrical attributes to the symbol's geometry or by converting text entities toAutoCAD Electrical attributes. You can also use AutoCAD attribute definitionand editing commands to do the same thing. This tool makes the task easierbecause you quickly pick and place attributes. It tracks what attributes arepresent and checks your work to make sure that any required attributes arenot omitted.

NOTE If you exit out of the Symbol Builder, restart it. On the Select Symbol/Objectsdialog box, click Select objects and select any graphics and attributes you addedso far. You can then start from where you left off.

Create a parent schematic symbol

1 Draw a rectangle anywhere on the drawing.

TIP It is easiest to draw it in the white space on the left-hand side of thedrawing.


2 Open AEGS03.dwg.

3 Expand the Miscellaneous tool, and then click the Symbol Buildertool.

Components ➤ Symbol Library ➤ Symbol Builder

4 In the Select Symbol/Objects dialog box, Attribute template section,browse to the Library path C:\Documents and Settings\AllUsers\Documents\Autodesk\Acade {version}\jic125 (orC:\Users\Public\Documents\Autodesk\Acade {version}\jic125 on a WindowsVista installation).

5 In the Attribute template section, select Symbol: Horizontal Parent, Type:Generic.

6 In the Select from drawing section, click Select objects and select therectangle.

7 Select OK.

Adding Attribute Symbols

In this example, you add the attributes: TAG1, DESC1, LOC, INST, FAMILY,MFG, CAT, and ASSYCODE. You are not limited to these attributes and youcan include your own user-defined attributes on the AutoCAD Electrical blockfiles.

NOTE The TAG1 attribute is the only one required for a parent schematic symbol.The other attributes in the Required section are expected on a parent schematicsymbol, however the symbol is recognized as a parent symbol without them.

Add attributes

1 If the Symbol Builder Attribute Editor is not visible, select theShow/Hide Symbol Builder Palette tool.

Adding Attribute Symbols | 99

Use this palette to assign attributes to the rectangle as well as set theheight and justification for each attribute. The palette displays theAutoCAD Electrical attributes that you can insert and define as part ofthe symbol. Once an attribute is inserted on the symbol a check mark isdisplayed next to it and you cannot insert it again. AutoCAD Electricalallows only one insertion of each attribute.

2 In the Symbol Builder Attribute Editor, select TAG1 and click theProperties tool. Enter:

Value: PS

This is the default code used as the %F value of the tag format (such as“CR” , “PB”, “LT”)

Height: 0.125

Justify: Center

Click the Insert Attribute tool.

3 Insert the attribute above the rectangle.

In the Symbol Builder Attribute Editor, notice the check mark next tothe TAG1 attribute. Continue placing the rest of the attributes.


4 In the Symbol Builder Attribute Editor select DESC1.

Click the Insert Attribute tool.

5 Insert the attribute below TAG1.

6 Insert the LOC and INST attributes as indicated.

7 Insert the FAMILY attribute near the center of the rectangle. With FAMILYstill highlighted in the Symbol Builder Attribute Editor, select theProperties tool. Enter “PS” as the Value and OK. This assigns the %F valueto the FAMILY attribute inserted.

8 Select MFG and insert near the center of the rectangle. CAT andASSYCODE are inserted with MFG as a group.

Adding Wire Connection Points

If a component’s X?TERMxx (for example, "X2TERM01") wire connection-pointattribute lies within the small trap distance of the end of a wire, then AutoCADElectrical interprets the component connected to the wire. The only time the

Adding Wire Connection Points | 101

trap distance changes is when you change the Feature Scale Multiplier in theDrawing (or Project) Properties ➤ Drawing Format dialog box.

NOTE Components with closely spaced wire connection points may not beprocessed properly if the connection points fall within the AutoCAD Electrical trapdistance of one another.

A wire connection attribute can have a related terminal text attribute, TERMxx,and terminal description attribute, TERMDESCxx. The "xx" is a two-digitnumber (starting at 01) that is used to match up with the correspondingX?TERMxx wire connection attribute.

Insert connection points

1 In the Symbol Builder Attribute Editor, expand the Wire Connectionsection.

2 In the Direction / Style list, select Others.

3 On the Insert Wire Connection dialog box select Terminal Style: Screw.

This terminal style inserts both the graphic to represent the screw andthe wire connection points. You now have to determine which directionthe wire attaches to the component.

4 Check Use this configuration as default. This directs Symbol Builder touse the current Terminal Style and Scale as the default in the SymbolBuilder Attribute Editor.

5 Select Connection direction: Left & Top.

6 Enter “L” as the value for TERM01 in Pin Information.

7 Select X2TERMDESC01 in Pin Information and click Delete.

8 Click Insert.


9 Select the Insert Wire Connection tool and insert the terminal in theupper left-hand corner as shown.

NOTE Always use AutoCAD Snap to insert the wire connection point.

10 Back on the Symbol Builder Attribute Editor, expand the Wire ConnectionDirection / Style list and select Right & Top / Screw.

11 Select the Insert Wire Connection tool and insert the terminal inthe upper right-hand corner.

You can continue to insert wire connections until you press ENTER byentering the characters indicated in the command line prompt followedby a space. You can also select from the Direction / Style list.

12 Insert the rest of the terminals as follows:

TERM03: Right

Insertion Point: below TERM02

TERM04: Bottom

Insertion Point: in the lower right-hand corner

TERM05: Bottom

Insertion Point: to the left of TERM04

TERM06: Bottom


TERM07: Bottom


13 Press Enter if necessary to return to the command prompt.

Adding Wire Connection Points | 103

14 On the Symbol Builder Attribute Editor, expand the Pins section. Enterthe Pin values as follows:

TERM02 : N

TERM03 : GND

TERM04 : -

TERM05 : -

TERM06 : +

TERM07 : +

Your drawing should look like the following:

Saving Symbols

You have two options for saving the symbol: WBlock or Block. WBlock createsthe symbol .dwg file while Block creates the symbol for this drawing file only.


Save and insert the symbol onto a drawing

1 Select the Save Symbol Definition icon from the toolbar.

2 Click Insertion Point: Pick point and select a point in-line with the topterminals so that it is easy to later place on a wire.

3 Select WBlock, enter a file name or accept the default.

4 Click OK.

5 Select Close Block Editor from the block editor toolbar.

6 When asked to insert the symbol, click Yes.

7 Place the symbol on the empty wire on the left-hand side of the drawing.

The wire breaks, the component tag inserts, and the wires connect to thesymbol.

Saving Symbols | 105

NOTE New symbols you create can also be inserted with the AutoCADElectrical Insert Component command. You can add your new symbol to theicon menu or you can select it from the Type it or Browse dialog box fileselection options in the icon menu.



Circuitry

This chapter provides information about working with collections of interconnectedcomponents, or circuits. Circuits can be simple or complex, single or multiple, and with orwithout interconnecting wiring. Reusing circuits can both speed up drawing creation andreduce errors.

Moving an Existing Circuit

When you move a circuit, most of the parent components contained in thecircuit automatically retag since the drawing is set up for reference-basedcomponent tagging. In the process of moving the circuit, you change thereference locations of the moved components. Related child components updateto match the new parent tags, including references on other drawings in theproject.

NOTE Tagging updates vary depending on your default tagging configurations.

Move the location of a circuit

1 Open AEGS02.dwg.

2 Zoom in on the lower left corner of the drawing. Make sure the3-phase motor circuit at line reference 215 is visible.

5

107

This circuit has component tags

■ “FU215” on the 3-pole fuse

■ “215CBL” on the multi-conductor cable

■ “DS215” on the disconnect switch

■ “MOT216” on the motor

3 Expand the Insert Circuit tool, and then click the Move Circuittool.

Components ➤ Move Circuit


Select Objects:

Window select the circuit on line reference 215 to capture the connection wireand dots that tie in to the vertical bus, right-click

Press F9 to turn SNAP on.

Specify base point or displacement:

Select a base point and then select a point on line reference 214

The circuitry is moved, the affected components are retagged, andcross-references are updated based on the new line reference. Each of thelisted parent component tags decrement by one. For example, fuse FU215became FU 214.

5 In the Update Related Components dialog box, click Yes-Update.

108 | Chapter 5 Circuitry

Related child references on the active drawing update to match the newlyretagged parent components.

6 In the Update other drawings dialog box, click OK.

Related child components and panel layout references on other drawingsupdate to match the parent components on the moved circuit.

7 If asked to save the drawing, click OK.


9 Select FU214 on the drawing.

The Surf dialog box displays three references on sheet 2 and one referenceon sheet 9.

10 Double-click the reference on Sheet 9.

Surfer goes to the panel layout drawing and zooms in on the physicalrepresentation of this 3-pole fuse. Notice that the physical representationof the fuse block tag updated because the circuit was moved.

11 Double-click the first entry in the dialog box to return to the originalAEGS02.dwg drawing.

12 Click Close.

Moving the motor circuit up one line reference spacing opened up a bit moreroom for a new circuit to be added below it. The next step is to extend the3-phase bus down to line reference 218 and over to the right to begin buildinga new motor circuit.

Extending the 3-phase bus


Moving an Existing Circuit | 109

Wires ➤ Trim Wire



Click the bottom ends of the three dangling wires, right-click

You can insert vertical or horizontal 3-phase wiring. Three-phase wiringautomatically breaks and reconnects to any underlying components thatit finds in its path. If it crosses any existing wiring, wire-crossing gaps areinserted.

3 Expand the Insert Wire tool, and then click the Multiple Wire Bustool.

Wires ➤ Multiple Wire Bus

4 In the Multiple Wire Bus dialog box, select:

Horizontal Spacing: 0.5

Vertical Spacing: 0.5

Starting at: Another Bus (Multiple Wires)

Number of Wires: 3


5 Click OK.


Select existing wire to begin multi-phase bus connection:

Select the bottom corner of the left-most vertical bus on line reference 214 asshown

Select existing wire to begin multi-phase bus connection: to:

Pull the cursor down to line reference 218.

Temporary graphics show the proposed routing of the extended bus.

7 Click to create the wires.

8 Right-click to exit the command.

The 3-phase bus and wire connection dot symbols are inserted on thedrawing.

Moving an Existing Circuit | 111

Creating a New Motor Circuit

You will now construct a new motor circuit on the extended 3-phase bus. Itis similar to the previous one, except it wires directly from the overloads tothe motor through a fusible disconnect switch.

Insert and configure the circuit

1 Expand the Insert Circuit tool, and then click the Circuit Buildertool.

Components ➤ Circuit Builder

2 The Circuit Selection dialog box displays.


3 Select Horizontal - FVNR non-reversing.

4 Select Configure.

5 Specify insertion point at rung 217.

Circuit Configuration

A circuit is made up of individual circuit elements and the wiring that connectsthem. Circuit Builder inserts a template drawing. This template contains thebase wiring for the circuit and strategically positioned “marker” blocks”.

The “marker blocks” control what circuit elements are presented in the CircuitConfiguration dialog box. For example, a “marker block” indicates the needfor a Disconnecting Means in the circuit. Various options for the DisconnectingMeans are presented in the dialog box. The option selected for this circuit

Creating a New Motor Circuit | 113

element is inserted at the location of the “marker block”. Circuit Builderdynamically builds the complete circuit based on the selections you make onthis dialog box.

1 In the Circuit Elements section, select 3ph motor ckt, 3-pole disconnectingmeans. In the Select section, select Main Disconnect: Fuses (parent + 2children) and Include N.O. auxiliary contact: No.

Setup & Annotation section: The options within this section changeaccording to your selections in the Circuit Elements and Select sections.

Type in values or select the Browse button to access a lookup table.Select an entry from the lookup table to obtain values for the individualsettings. The catalog lookup is opened if the circuit option is a component.

2 In the Circuit Elements section, select Control transformer and circuit -non-reversing. In the Select section, select Include control circuit: None.


3 In the Circuit Elements section, select 3ph motor ckt - Power Factor correction.In the Select section, select Include power factor correction capacitor: None.


4 In the Circuit Elements section, select 3pole overloads. In the Select section,select Overload elements: Thermal, and Include N.O. auxiliary contact: No.


5 In the Circuit Elements section, select 3ph motor ckt - motor terminalconnections. In the Select section, select Motor Connection Terminals: Round.


6 In the Circuit Elements section, select Safety disconnect at the motor. Inthe Select section, select Safety disconnect switch at the motor: FusedDisconnect, and Include N.O. auxiliary contact: No.


7 In the Circuit Elements section, select 3ph motor insert. In the Selectsection, select Motor: 3ph motor.


8 Select the Insert all circuit elements tool. Circuit Builder inserts eachof the selected circuit elements.

9 Select Done.

Multi-level terminals




2 Select the round terminal on rung 217 inserted as part of the new circuit.The Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box displays, where you canannotate the terminal properties and associations.

3 In the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box, Project List section, selectTag Strip TB.

4 Enter Location: MCAB5 and Number: 10.

5 Click Details >>.

6 In the Catalog Data section, click Catalog Lookup.

7 On the Parts Catalog dialog box, select:

Manufacturer: SIEMENS

Type: MULTI-LEVEL

Rating: 20 AMPS

8 Select part 8WA1 011-3JF16 and click OK.

The Manufacturer and Catalog information for the selected part displaysin the Catalog Data section of the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialogbox.

9 On the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box, click OK.




11 Select the middle terminal between rungs 217 and 218. The Insert/EditTerminal Symbol dialog box displays.



Modify multi-level terminal associations

1 On the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box, ModifyProperties/Associations section, click Add/Modify.

2 On the Add/Modify Association dialog box, Select Association section,expand the active project node. The active node is bold in the list and inthis case is MCAB5-TB (11).

The terminal block quantity displays at the end of the node string inparenthesis (). This terminal strip contains 11 terminal blocks.


3 Select the terminal block node you inserted on line reference 217 (10, ,(3)).

The terminal numbers defined on the block are listed, separated bycommas. The number of levels defined in the block properties displaysat the end of the node string in parenthesis. For example, 1,21,GND (3).If a level is not represented on the schematic, it is represented by emptyspace: 1, , GND (3). If a terminal has been assigned to the level, but theterminal doesn’t have a number assignment, they are represented by ‘???’:1,???,GND (3).

NOTE The grid to the right populates with the definition for the selectedterminal: Level 1 has Label = TOP, Number = 10, Reference = 2,217.

4 Select Level 2 in the grid and click Associate.

Once you click Associate, the middle level updates with the terminalnumber in the grid in the Active Association section of the dialog box.

5 Click OK.

The level assignments display in the Properties/Associations section ofthe Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box. Notice that the terminal isthree levels and levels 1 and 2 are now assigned.





8 Select the bottom terminal on rung 218. The Insert/Edit Terminal Symboldialog box displays.




12 On the Add/Modify Association dialog box, Select Association section,expand the active project node.

13 Select the terminal block node you inserted on line reference 217 (10,11,(3)). Notice that the node properties updated to reflect that levels 1 and2 are assigned and that level 3 is still blank/available.

14 Select Level 3 in the grid and click Associate.


Once you click Associate, the bottom level updates with the terminalnumber in the grid in the Active Association section of the dialog box.You can rearrange the levels by selecting a level and clicking Move Upor Move Down.

15 Click OK.

The level assignments display in the Properties/Associations section ofthe Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box. Notice that levels 1, 2, and3 are now assigned.



Insert a ground




Specify wire start or [wireType/ X=show connections]:

Select a point on the motor symbol near its 5 o’clock position


Move the cursor down past the bottom pole, left-click, pull the wire to the leftand down, then left-click to insert the wire, press ESC to exit the command


3 Click the Copy Component tool.

Components ➤ Copy Component


Select component to copy:

Select the ground symbol from the circuit on line reference 214

Specify insertion point: Select the end of the motor ground wire

Saving and Inserting Standard Circuits

AutoCAD®Electrical makes saving and inserting pre-drawn circuits easy andconvenient. You can save and insert from a user circuits page on the InsertComponent icon menu or you can use the normal AutoCAD® WBlockcommand to save selected circuitry to disk and an Insert Circuit command toinsert WBlocked circuits into the active drawing.

Save your circuit for use in the future

1 Zoom around the circuit so that it fills your screen.

Saving and Inserting Standard Circuits | 127

2 Expand the Insert Circuit tool, and then click the Save Circuit toIcon Menu tool.

Components ➤ Save Circuit to Icon Menu

3 On the Save Circuit to Icon Menu dialog box, click Add ➤ New circuit.

4 On the Create New Circuit dialog box, specify:

Name: Motor Circ - Fusible DS

Image file: Active and Create PNG from current screen image

File name: UserCirc1

5 Click OK.


Base point:

Select the left-most wire connection point where the circuit ties into the left-handvertical bus wire


Select objects:

Window around the circuit from left to right to capture all of the componentsand wiring, but exclude the vertical bus, press ENTER

7 On the Save Circuit to Icon Menu dialog box, click OK.

The circuit is saved to your AutoCAD Electrical user folder and can bequickly accessed from the Insert Component icon menu or from theInsert Saved Circuit tool.

The new motor has a 3-pole motor contactor child reference but there isn’t aparent motor starter relay coil to operate it. The motor start coil circuit needsto be added on a control schematic in the project drawing set and linked backto the new motor circuit.

Insert motor start coil circuit to control schematic

1 Open AEGS04.dwg.

2 Zoom on the upper-right hand ladder column so the full circuit on linereference 422-423 is displayed.

3 Expand the Insert Circuit tool, and then click the Save Circuit toIcon Menu tool.

Components ➤ Save Circuit to Icon Menu

4 On the Save Circuit to Icon Menu dialog box, click Add ➤ New circuit.

5 On the Create New Circuit dialog box, specify:

Name: Motor starter circ

Image file: Active and Create PNG from current screen image

File name: UserCirc2


Click OK.


Base point: Select the left-most wire connection point at line reference 422

Select objects:

Window around the circuit from left to right to capture all of the componentsand wiring, but exclude the vertical bus, press ENTER

7 On the Save Circuit to Icon Menu dialog box, click OK.

Insert a circuit you saved for re-use

1 Pan to display the blank area between line references 426 - 432.

2 Expand the Insert Circuit tool, and then click the Insert SavedCircuit tool.

Components ➤ Insert Saved Circuit

3 In the JIC: Saved User Circuits dialog box, select the Motor starter circbutton.

4 In the Circuit Scale dialog box, click OK.




Place the circuit insertion point on the vertical bus wire at line reference 427,left-click to insert the circuit.

The circuit inserts and updates. Tags automatically update to reflect thenew line reference number, and parent/child relationships defined insideof the circuit update accordingly.

6 Right-click the M427 coil symbol and select Edit Component.

7 In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, specify:

Description Line 2: MOTOR NO. 2

Click OK.

8 In the Update Related Components dialog box, click Yes-Update.

Linking the parent coil to the child contactor

1 Open AEGS02.dwg and zoom on the untagged 3-pole motorcontact/overloads on line reference 217.

2 Right-click the “M” contact and select Edit Component.

The Insert/Edit Child Component is displayed. You must enter the exactparent coil tag into the Component Tag box to establish the link betweenthe parent and the child contacts. Currently the Component Tag is M.

3 In the Insert/Edit Child Component dialog box, Component Tag section,click Project.

4 In the Complete Project list for Family=”M” dialog box, select M427HYDRAULIC MOTOR NO 2 and click OK.


The tag M427 is now displayed in the Component Tag edit box. Noticethat the description, cross-reference, and location code boxes have alsoupdated.


6 In the Update linked components dialog box, click OK.

The components are now linked. If you go back to drawing AEGS04.dwgand look at the motor starter coil, it shows references to these 3 childcontacts (plus one seal contact around PB427).

Using the icon menu to add a motor

1 Reopen drawing AEGS04.dwg and zoom to the blank area at line references430-431.

2 Repeat the steps for inserting the saved Motor starter circ circuit.



4 Insert the circuit at line reference 430.

5 Right-click the M430 coil symbol, and select Edit Component.


Description Line 2: MOTOR NO. 3

Click OK.

7 In the Update related components dialog box, click Yes-Update.

8 Open drawing AEGS02.dwg and zoom to the blank area at line references204-206.

9 Repeat the steps for inserting a saved circuit, but this time insert theMotor Circ - Fusible DS circuit.




Position the motor circuit so that the insertion point lands on the left-handvertical bus at line reference 204, left-click to insert the circuit.

Notice that the fuse, disconnect, and motor automatically retag basedon their reference locations.

12 Right-click the M child motor contact symbol, and select Edit Component.

13 In the Insert/Edit Child Component dialog box, Component Tag section,click Project.

14 In the Complete Project list for Family=”M” dialog box, select M430HYDRAULIC MOTOR NO. 3 and click OK.

The tag M430 is now displayed in the Component Tag edit box. Noticethat the description, cross-reference, and location code boxes have alsoupdated.


16 In the Update linked components dialog box, click OK.


You can now renumber your terminals manually or project-wide.

Renumber terminals

1 Click Components ➤ Terminals ➤ Terminal Strip Utilities ➤ TerminalRenumber (Project-wide).

2 On the Project-wide Schematic Terminal Renumber dialog box, select:

Include Installation/Location in terminal strip Tag-ID match

Starting Terminal Number = 1

3 In the Tag-ID section, click Drawing.

4 On the Terminal Tag-ID List dialog box, select Tag-ID = TB and click OK.

5 On the Project-wide Schematic Terminal Renumber dialog box, click OK.

6 On the Select Drawings to Process dialog box, click Do All and click OK.


You can modify an existing terminal to make it a multi-level terminal blockand then associate terminals to the master terminal block.

Modify terminal properties

1 Right-click terminal 4 on line reference 207 and select Edit Component.

2 On the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box, Catalog Data section,delete the Manufacturer and Catalog information.

3 In the Modify Properties/Associations section, click Block Properties.

4 On the Terminal Block Properties dialog box, specify:

Levels: 3

Level 1

Level Description: Top


Wires Per Connection: 2

PinL: 1

PinR: 2

Level 2

Level Description: Middle


PinL: 3

PinR: 4

Level 3

Level Description: Bottom


PinL: 5

PinR: 6

Click OK.

Notice on the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box,Properties/Associations section that the block now has 3 levels andterminal 4 is assigned to the top level of the block.



6 On the Update other drawings dialog box, click OK.


8 Click Components ➤ Terminals ➤ Associate Terminals.


Select “Master” terminal: Select terminal 4 on line reference 207

Pick terminal: Select terminal 5

Pick terminal: Select terminal 6, right-click

NOTE The command prompt area indicates that the terminal was added aslevel 02 or level 03 once you pick the terminal.

10 Right-click terminal 6 and select Edit Component.

On the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box, Properties/Associationssection, all three levels have been assigned. You can now move a terminalto another level using the Add/Modify Association dialog box.



12 On the Add/Modify Association dialog box, Active Association section,highlight level 3 in the grid and click Move Up.

The grid updates to reflect the move. Notice that terminal 6 is nowassigned to level 2.

13 Click OK.


15 If asked to update related components, click Yes-Update.


Add wire tee markers to your circuits

1 Pan your view so the circuit on line reference 204 is visible.

2 Expand the Wire Tee Markers tool, and then click the Insert DotTee Markers tool.



Select the connection points at the vertical 3-phase bus for each wire

4 Insert dot tee markers for the circuit on line reference 204.


Inserting Saved Circuits Using WBlock

Another method for saving and inserting circuits is to use the AutoCAD WBlockcommand to save the circuit to disk. A separate Insert Circuit command isused to browse to a selected saved circuit and insert it into the active drawing.This method allows unlimited circuits to be constructed and saved to disk.They can be arranged into a set of shared subfolders for easy browsing andretrieval using the Insert Circuit command.

Saving a circuit using WBlock

1 Pan to display the 3-phase motor circuit at line references 207 - 209.

2 Enter wblock at the command line and press ENTER.

3 In the Write Block dialog box, click Pick point.


Specify insertion base point:


Select the intersection of the left vertical bus with the upper horizontal wire atline reference 207

5 In the Write Block dialog box, click Select objects.


Select objects: Window from left to right around the full circuit, right-click

7 In the Write Block dialog box, enter a name for the saved circuit. Takenote of the location where the drawing file is being saved.

8 Click OK.

Inserting a WBlocked circuit

1 Expand the Insert Circuit tool, and then click the Insert WBlockedCircuit tool.

Components ➤ Insert WBlocked Circuit

2 In the Insert Wblocked Circuit dialog box, browse to the folder containingthe circuit you just saved.

3 Select the WBlocked motor circuit, and click Open.

4 In the Circuit Scale dialog box, select:

Move all lines to wire layers

Keep all source arrows

Inserting Saved Circuits Using WBlock | 139

Update circuit’s text layers as required

Click OK.


Specify insertion point: Select any blank spot on your drawing

The parent component tags that are not set to Fixed automatically retagbased on the insertion point, similar to the behavior when inserting acircuit using the icon menu method.

6 Delete the circuit.


PLC

Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) modules are built dynamically when selected from themenu. From a small set of library symbols, hundreds of PLC modules can be built on request.This method allows the module to conform to the underlying ladder rung spacing, so youcan add spacers and break the module at insertion time.

Inserting Ladders into Drawings

You can insert a ladder into a drawing at any time. A drawing may have multipleladders, as well as single-phase and three-phase ladders. The ladders can havedifferent parameters, such as rung spacing, number of rungs, and ladder width.

Insert a single-phase ladder

1 Open AEGS05.dwg.

2 Click the Insert Ladder tool.

Wires ➤ Ladders ➤ Insert Ladder

3 In the Insert Ladder dialog box, specify:

Width: 9.000

Spacing: 1.0000

1st Reference: 519

Index: 1

Rungs: 18

Phase: 1 Phase

Draw Rungs: Yes

Skip: 0

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141

You do not need to specify the Length since it is automatically calculatedonce the 1st Reference, Index and Rungs are specified.

NOTE Reference 519 represents Page 5, Reference 19.

4 Click OK.


Specify start position of first rung or [wiretype (T)]:

Enter 16, 21, press ENTER

NOTE You can also specify the start position of the first rung by left-clickinga location on the drawing with your mouse.

A single phase ladder is inserted in the drawing.

Inserting PLC Modules

AutoCAD®Electrical generates any of hundreds of different PLC I/O moduleson demand, in a variety of different graphical styles, all without a single,

142 | Chapter 6 PLC

complete I/O module library symbol resident on the system. Modules adaptto the underlying ladder rung spacing, whatever that value might be. Theycan be stretched or broken into two or more pieces at insertion time.

To insert a PLC module, you select the module and pick a location. AutoCADElectrical builds and inserts the module, using a small set of library symbols.

Insert a PLC module

1 Click the Insert PLC (Parametric) tool.

Components ➤ Insert PLC Modules ➤ Insert PLC (Parametric)

2 In the PLC Parametric Selection dialog box, select:

Manufacturer: Allen-Bradley

Series: 1746

Type: Discrete Input

Part Number: 1746-IA16

Graphics Style: 2, Vertical Module

Inserting PLC Modules | 143

3 Click OK.


Specify PLC module insert point or [Z=zoom, P=pan]:

Pick a point on wire line reference 520 closer to the right side, ensure the X isnear the horizontal wire, click

144 | Chapter 6 PLC

5 In the Module Layout dialog box, verify the default settings:

Spacing: 1.0000

I/O Points: Insert all

Click OK.

AutoCAD Electrical reads the vertical rung spacing of your ladder andcalculates how long the module is going to be. It multiplies the rungspacing by the number of wire connections specified by the module youselected.

Temporary graphics display a representation of the module (with thespacing defined) to help position the module on the ladder.

6 In the I/O Point dialog box, specify:

Rack Number: 1

Slot Number: 1

NOTE Specify the values by either entering text into the edit boxes or byclicking the arrows.

7 Click OK.

Inserting PLC Modules | 145

8 In the I/O Address dialog box, specify:

Beginning address: I:11/00

NOTE You can also select the beginning address from the Quick picks list.

9 Click OK.

10 In the I/O Addressing dialog box, click Decimal.

The PLC module is inserted into your drawing with incremental addressnumbers already annotated as the module goes in, it breaks andreconnects to underlying wires.

You can break an I/O module into as many pieces as you want at insertiontime. This is great for high-density modules that won’t fit into a singleladder column. Use the Allow spacers/breakers option in the ModuleLayout dialog box at insertion time to do this.

You can also add extra space between adjacent I/O points using the StretchBlock tool. This feature lets you leave extra room when you know aheadof time that certain I/O point will have additional components wiredtied to a single I/O point after a PLC module is inserted.

NOTE This can be used on any block, not just a PLC module.

146 | Chapter 6 PLC

Remove ladder rungs


Wires ➤ Trim Wire



Select the ladder rung at line reference 519, right-click

The ladder rung is removed from your drawing.

Using Multiple Insert Component

You can insert components into wires that are tied to the PLC module. Usethe Multiple Insert Component tool to insert a string of normally open limitswitches.

Insert a limit switch

1 Click the Multiple Insert Component tool.

Components ➤ Multiple Insert ➤ Multiple Insert (Icon Menu)

2 In the Insert Component: JIC Schematic Symbols dialog box, clickLimit Switches.

3 In the JIC: Limit Switches dialog box, select Limit Switch, NO.

Using Multiple Insert Component | 147


Component Fence, From Point:

Select above the wire at line reference 520 (1)

Component Fence, From Point: to:

Drag below the wire at line reference 522, click the point (2), right-click

5 In the Keep dialog box, select:

Keep this one

Show edit dialog after each

Click OK


Component Tag: LS520

Description: Line 1: PALLET ENTERING

Description: Line 2: STATION

Location code: MACHINE

Click OK.

NOTE In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, Component Tag section,you can use the Use PLC Address button to add the I/O Address as thecomponent tag.


Keep this one


Click OK



Description: Line 1: PALLET INSIDE

148 | Chapter 6 PLC



Click OK.


Keep this one


Click OK



Description: Line 1: PALLET LEAVING



Click OK.

The normally open limit switches are inserted into the drawing.

Insert terminals

1 Click the Multiple Insert Component tool.

Components ➤ Multiple ➤ Insert Multiple Insert (Icon Menu)

2 In the Insert Component: JIC Schematic Symbols dialog box, clickTerminals/Connectors.

3 In the JIC: Terminals and Connectors dialog box, click Round withTerminal Number.



Component Fence, From Point: Select above wire at line reference 520 (1)

Component Fence, From Point: to:

Select below wire at line reference 535 (2), left click to end command, right-clickto add terminal

5 In the Keep dialog box, select Keep this one.

Click OK.

6 In the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box, Terminal section, specify:

Location: MCAB5

Tag Strip: TS1

Number: 1

150 | Chapter 6 PLC

7 Click OK.


Keep all, don’t ask

Clear Show edit dialog after each

Click OK

The terminals are automatically added to your drawing.


Annotating PLC I/O Descriptions

You can add description text to a PLC module using the Edit Component tool.You can make changes to the descriptions at any time. However, you mustedit each split PLC piece separately.

Add description text




Select component/cable/location box to EDIT:

Select anywhere on the top portion of the PLC module

The Edit PLC Module dialog box displays.

152 | Chapter 6 PLC

This dialog box provides spaces for you to enter description text for eachI/O point. Assume that the descriptions already assigned to the connectedlimit switches are similar to what you want to use for the PLC I/O pointdescriptions.

3 In the Edit PLC Module dialog box, click Wired Devices.

AutoCAD Electrical immediately follows each I/O point’s connected wirebackwards. If it finds a connected component, the component descriptiontext is retrieved. Each description is displayed in a dialog list.

4 For the first I/O address (I:11/00), select the first description (PALLETENTERING STATION) in the extracted device list.

The Confirmation dialog box displays.

5 Make sure the correct description is specified and click OK.

Annotating PLC I/O Descriptions | 153

6 Click Next to highlight I/O address 1:11/01 in the Addressing list.

The corresponding device description highlights automatically.

7 Select the highlighted description, PALLET INSIDE STATION, and clickOK.

8 Repeat this process for the remaining I/O point.

NOTE Alternately you can use Pick to capture existing description text froma connected device. To do so, in the Edit PLC Module dialog box, click Pickand then select the component whose text you want to copy. AutoCADElectrical reads the existing DESC text values on the component and transfersa copy to the DESC boxes in the Edit PLC Module dialog box.

9 In the Edit PLC Module dialog box, click OK.

Your descriptions appear on the module.

NOTE If your PLC description is not where you want it, use the Scoot toolto scoot the description to a new location.

Inserting I/O Based Wire Numbers

You can insert wire numbers based on the I/O address that each PLC connectedwire touches. The wire numbers insert with your specified format as fixed wirenumbers, so they will not change if a wire number re-tag is run later on.

154 | Chapter 6 PLC

NOTE If you want PLC I/O based wire numbering to be the automatic default fora drawing, set this up in the Drawing Properties dialog box. Select the Search forPLC I/O address on insert toggle.

Insert PLC I/O wire numbers

1 Expand the Insert Wire Numbers tool, and then click the PLC I/OWire Numbers tool.

Wires ➤ Wire Numbers Miscellaneous ➤ PLC I/O Wire Numbers

The PLC I/O Wire Numbers dialog box displays.

The default format is %N, the address number. The wire number will bethe same as its connected I/O address number.

2 Click I:%n to change the wire number format.

This adds an ‘I’ prefix to each wire number that ties to the input module.

3 Click OK.


Select I/O module to process: Select anywhere on the PLC module

Select objects: Select all of the connected wires to process, right-click

Inserting I/O Based Wire Numbers | 155

The wire numbers are inserted with the specified format. If some of theI/O points short-circuit to other I/O points, the last point wire numberprevails for that common wire network.

156 | Chapter 6 PLC

Resequencing Ladders

AutoCAD Electrical drawings can be easily renumbered and retagged with aminimum of manual clean up. You can resequence line reference numbers,component tags, and wire numbers. This is useful when a drawing has beencopied from a previous project and the line reference numbers and taggingformat of the drawing do not conform to the project requirements.

Resequence ladder line reference numbers

1 Expand the Insert Ladder tool, and then click the Revise Laddertool.

Wires ➤ Ladders ➤ Revise Ladders

The Modify Line Reference Numbers dialog box displays a list of laddersin the drawing.

2 Change the beginning line reference numbers for each ladder. Changethe first ladder to 101 (column 1, line 01) and the second ladder to 201(column 2, line 01).

3 Click OK.

The reference numbers update along each ladder.

Resequencing Ladders | 157

158

Wire Numbers

This chapter provides information about working with wire numbers in drawings and acrossprojects.

About Wire Numbers

Wire numbers can be assigned to any and all existing wires on an individualselection, an entire drawing, selected drawings in a project, or an entire project.

AutoCAD® Electrical assigns a unique wire number to each wire network. A wirenetwork consists of one or more wires that are electrically connected.

Attaching Source Signal Arrows

AutoCAD Electrical uses a named source/destination concept. You identify awire network to be the source, insert a source arrow on that network, andassigning a source code name to it. On the wire network that is to be acontinuation of the same wire number (whether on the same drawing or adifferent drawing in the project) you insert a destination arrow and give it thesame code name that you gave to its source. AutoCAD Electrical then reprocessesyour drawing set for wire numbering update, it matches source code nameswith destination names and copies source wire numbers over to the destinationwire networks.

You can attach a source signal to a wire segment of a wire network. This enablesthe wire number assigned to the network to jump and continue to anothernetwork on the current drawing or on one or more drawings in the project. Thesource and destination are also helpful with the Wire From/To reports andconnection information.

7

159

Attach a source signal arrow

1 Open AEGS03.dwg.

2 Expand the Source Destination Signals tool, and then click theSource Signal Arrow tool.

Wires ➤ Signal References ➤ Source Signal Arrow


Select wire end for Source:

Select the end of the hot wire on the schematic on the right side of the drawingat line reference 332 (1)

4 In the Signal - Source Code dialog box, specify:

Code: 24 VDC

Signal Arrow Style: 1

160 | Chapter 7 Wire Numbers

AutoCAD Electrical allows one description line on a source arrow. Thisdescription can then be carried over to the associated destination arrow.You can define some default description lines to make them easier toenter without typing them in each time. AutoCAD Electrical looks for afile called WDSRCDST.WDD. This file is a simple text file with each linebeing read as a separate description. If this file exists, the Defaults buttonis available on the Signal - Source Code and Insert Destination Codedialog boxes.

5 Click OK.

6 In the Source/Destination Signal Arrows dialog box, click No.

NOTE Click No to insert the signal arrows on the next drawing. Click OK toinsert the signal arrows on the current drawing.

7 Click the Next Project Drawing tool to access AEGS04.dwg.

Now you are ready to insert a destination signal arrow.

Attaching Destination Signal Arrows

After the source signal arrow is attached to a wire in the drawing, you canattach a destination signal to a wire segment of a wire network. This enablesthe wire number assigned to another source wire network to carry over to thecurrent network automatically.

Attaching Destination Signal Arrows | 161

Attach a destination signal

1 Expand the Source Destination Signals tool, and then click theDestination Signal Arrow tool.

Wires ➤ Signal References ➤ Destination Signal Arrow


Select wire end for Destination:

Select the top of the hot wire on the schematic on the left side of the drawingat line reference 402 (2)

3 In the Insert Destination Code dialog box, click Project.

4 In the Signal codes -- Project-wide Source dialog box, select the following:


5 Click OK.

6 In the Insert Destination Code dialog box, verify:

Code: 24 VDC


Click OK + Update Source.

The cross-references for your signal insert into the drawing above the hotwire.

Attach source and destination signals to the neutral wires.

1 Click the Previous Project Drawing button to return to AEGS03.dwg.

2 Expand the Source Destination Signals tool, and then click theSource Signal Arrow tool.


Wires ➤ Signal References ➤ Source Signal Arrow


Select wire end for Source:

Select the bottom of the neutral wire at line reference 332 (3)

4 In the Signal - Source Code dialog box, specify:

Code: 24 VDC NEUTRAL

Click OK.

5 In the Source/Destination Signal Arrows dialog box, click No.

NOTE Click No to insert the signal arrows on the next drawing. Click OK toinsert the signal arrows on the current drawing.

6 Click the Next Project Drawing tool to open AEGS04.dwg.

7 Expand the Source Destination Signals tool, and then click theDestination Signal Arrow tool.

Wires ➤ Signal References ➤ Destination Signal Arrow



Select wire end for Destination:

Select the top of the neutral wire at line reference 402 (4)

9 In the Insert Destination Code dialog box, click Project.

10 In the Signal codes -- Project-wide Source dialog box, select the following:


11 Click OK.

12 In the Insert Destination Code dialog box, verify:

Code: 24 VDC NEUTRAL


Click OK + Update Source.

NOTE If asked to change the destination wire layer, click Yes.

The cross-references for your signal insert into the drawing above theneutral wire.

13 Expand the Source Destination Signals tool, and then click theShow Signal Paths tool.

Wires ➤ Signal References ➤ Show Signal Paths


Temporary graphics illustrate the flow of the signals on your drawings.

NOTE There is no limit to the number of source and destination links youcan set up. One source network can jump to multiple destinations on one ormany drawings. A wire can carry both a destination signal and a source signalpointing to the next daisy-chained destination.

Inserting Wire Numbers

You can process and tag wires with sequential wire numbers or with wirenumbers based upon the line reference location start of the wire network.When wire numbers are automatically inserted into a drawing, the numbersare not duplicated if they are defined on another network.

AutoCAD Electrical works from left to right, top to bottom as it processes wirenetworks by default. You can change the direction of wire numbering usingthe Project Properties ➤ Wire Numbers dialog box (in the Project Manager,right-click the project name, and select Properties. In the Project Propertiesdialog box, click the Wire Numbers tab).

Inserting Wire Numbers | 167

Insert wire numbers automatically

1 With AEGS04.dwg open as the active drawing, zoom the top portion ofthe wire network on the left side of the drawing.

2 Click the Insert Wire Numbers tool.

Wires ➤ Insert Wire Numbers

3 In the Sheet 4 - Wire Tagging dialog box, click Pick Individual Wires.


Select objects:

Select the wire segment between the two push buttons on line reference 403 (1),right-click

The wire number is placed.

Add wire numbers to the entire drawing



2 In the Sheet 4 - Wire Tagging dialog box, click Drawing-wide.

Wire numbers are assigned to each segment in your drawing.


Add wire numbers project-wide



2 In the Sheet 4 - Wire Tagging dialog box, click Project-wide.

3 In the Wire Tagging (Project-wide) dialog box, verify:

Wire tag mode: Reference-based tags

To do: Tag/retag all

Freshen database (for Signals)

4 Click OK.

5 In the Select Drawings to Process dialog box, Project Drawing List section,press SHIFT as you select AEGS03.dwg and AEGSO04.dwg. Click Process.

6 Verify AEGS03.dwg and AEGSO04.dwg are listed as the drawings to processand click OK.


Wire numbers are processed for the selected drawings.

You can use the Delete Wire Numbers tool to select a wire number or to pickon any wire of the network.

Inserting Wire Numbers | 169

Delete a wire number

1 Click the Delete Wire Number tool.

Wires ➤ Delete Wire Number

2 Respond the prompts as follows:

Select objects: Enter all, press ENTER

The wires in the network change to dashed lines, representing the wiresfrom which the wire numbers will be erased.

3 Press ENTER again to erase the wire numbers.

Working with Wire Layers

When a wire is inserted, the wire ends up on the first valid wire layer as definedin the Drawing Properties dialog box. It may be more appropriate for somewires to be placed on different wire layers. You can use the AutoCAD®

PROPERTIES command to move a wire to the correct layer or you can use theWire Layer utility.

Change wire layer assignments

1 Expand the Insert Wires tool, and then click the Change/ConvertWire Type tool.

Wires ➤ Change/Convert Wire Type

The Change/Convert Wire Type dialog box lists all of the valid wire layersthat are defined for the active drawing. The wire layer name and the wireproperties like color, size, and user defined properties are listed in thegrid. A number in the Used column indicates the number of wires on thedrawing. A “0” in the Used column indicates that the layer name existsin the drawing but it is not currently being used.

2 Select RED_18AWG.

The wire type highlights in blue in the dialog box indicating that this isthe wire type that will be changed.


3 Click OK.


Select Objects:

Window from left to right around the wires as shown and press ENTER

Before you press ENTER, the wires display as dashed lines to indicate thatthey have been selected; once you press ENTER the lines display in redindicating that they have been moved to the RED_18AWG wire layer.

5 Repeat to move any other wiring onto another wire layer.

Working with Wire Layers | 171

172

Panel Layouts

This chapter provides information about working with tools that insert footprint componentsinto panel layouts in AutoCAD® Electrical.

About Panel Layouts

AutoCAD Electrical provides tools to create intelligent panel layout drawings.You can drive layouts from information on the AutoCAD Electrical schematicdrawings or you can construct them independently of the schematics.

AutoCAD Electrical places no special naming or attribute requirements onmechanical footprint symbols. You can use footprint symbols supplied byvendors in AutoCAD® format with AutoCAD Electrical.

Inserting Panel Components

Using the AutoCAD Electrical Panel Layout tools, you can select from a list ofschematic components and then place the footprint component directly intoa panel layout. The footprint remains linked to the original schematiccomponents, so you can perform bidirectional updating between schematiccomponents and the associated footprint blocks.

For this chapter, use the Panel Layout tools:

Select schematic component footprints

1 Open AEGS08.dwg.

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2 Expand the Insert Component Footprint tool, and then click theInsert Footprint (Schematic List) tool.

Panel Layout ➤ Insert Footprint (Schematic List)

3 In the Schematic Component List -- Panel Layout Insert dialog box, verify:

Extract component list for: Project

Location Codes to extract: All

4 Click OK.

5 In the Select Drawings to Process dialog box, select AEGS04.dwg and clickProcess.

6 Verify that AEGS04.dwg is listed in the Drawing to Process section andclick OK.

7 In the Schematic Components (active project) dialog box, click MarkExisting. An x marks the footprints that are already placed in the project.

You cannot insert the same component multiple times. If you select anitem with an x, the Insert button is disabled.

NOTE An o next to a component in the list indicates that a panel componentwith a matching component tag was found, but the catalog information doesnot match.

174 | Chapter 8 Panel Layouts

8 In the Schematic Components (active project) dialog box, Display section,select Hide Existing.

The schematic component footprints not yet inserted into the panellayout are displayed.

Inserting Panel Components | 175

Now you can begin to manually insert schematic component footprintson the panel layout.

Insert the system reset footprint manually

1 In the Schematics Components (active project) dialog box, select PB403OPSTA3 SYSTEM RESET.


2 Click Manual.

NOTE The Manual button is used when schematic component footprints donot have a manufacturer and catalog number defined.

The next step is to make a catalog assignment for the automatic footprint.

3 In the Footprint dialog box, Choice A section, click Catalog lookup.

NOTE Use Choice B to enter a graphic without selecting a catalog number.


MANUFACTURER: AB

TYPE: 30.5mm FLUSH

STYLE: *ALL*

5 Change the catalog assignment to 800T-A2A 1 NO 1 NC BLACK PUSHBUTTON - MOMENTARY, NEMA 4/13 and click OK.


6 In the Footprint dialog box, Choice A section, verify:

Manufacturer: AB

Catalog: 800T-A2A

Click OK.


Select Location for PB403: Select to the left of PB414A (1)

Select Location for PB403: <Ortho on> select ROTATION:

Right-click to place the push button


The component may already have an Item Number assigned. If AutoCADElectrical finds a panel component with the same catalog information,it automatically assigns the same item number to this new component.If no item number is assigned and you think a matching component wasalready inserted, use one of the Find buttons to look through the drawingor project. If no matching component is found, click Next to assign anitem number to this footprint. This button updates each time you inserta footprint and assign an item number. This item or detail number isused for BOM and component reporting and can be referenced by optionalballoon labels tied to the footprint.


NOTE The Panel Layout - Component Insert/Edit dialog box displays eachtime you insert a panel footprint. Information from the schematicrepresentation is automatically carried over to the panel footprintrepresentation.

8 In the Panel Layout - Component Insert/Edit dialog box, click OK.

The Schematics Component (active project) dialog box redisplays. Youcan continue inserting components from the project’s schematic list.

Insert the emergency stop footprint manually

1 In the Schematic Components (active project) dialog box, select: PB403AOPSTA3 EMERGENCY STOP.


2 Click Manual.



Manufacturer: AB

Type: 30.5mm

Style: Red

5 Change the catalog assignment to 800T-D6A 1NO-1NC PUSHBUTTON-MUSHROOM, NEMA 4/13 and click OK.


Manufacturer: AB

Catalog: 800T-D6A

Click OK.


Select Location for PB403A: Select to the left of Conveyor Motor Start (2)

Select Location for PB403A: <Ortho on> select ROTATION:


Right-click to place the push button


Insert the light footprint manually

1 In the Schematic Components (active project) dialog box, select LT404OPTSTA3 CONVEYOR ON.


2 Click Manual.



MANUFACTURER: AB

TYPE: 30.5mm

VOLTAGE: *ALL*

5 Change the catalog assignment to 800H-QRT24G PLASTIC LENS24VAC/VDC FULL VOLT GREEN PILOT and click OK.

NOTE To easily sort the Catalog list, select Show list sorted by catalog partnumber in the Parts catalog dialog box.



Manufacturer: AB

Catalog: 800H-QRT24G

Click OK.

7 Respond to the prompts:

Select Location for LT404:

Select to the left of the Conveyor Running light (3)

Select Location for LT404: <Ortho on> select ROTATION:

Right-click to place the pilot light



In the Schematics Components (active project) dialog box, notice themaster control relay still needs to be placed.

9 In the Schematic Components (active project) dialog box, click Close.

NOTE You can modify a footprint at any time using the Edit Footprint tool.Since there is bidirectional update capabilities between the schematics andthe panel layout drawings, you may introduce some inconsistencies betweenthe two during edit. If this happens, AutoCAD Electrical alerts you to firstcheck other drawings and then update any affected drawings.

10 In the Update other drawings dialog box, click OK.


Modifying Attributes

You can align the inserted schematic component footprints with existingfootprints. Temporary lines indicate the direction in which the alignment isbeing defined as you select components for the alignment.

Align footprints vertically


Modifying Attributes | 185



Select component to align with (Horizontal/<Vertical>):

Enter V, press ENTER


Select the power on button on the top, left of the layout (1)

Select objects:

Select the three components that were just inserted (2-4), right-click

The components are aligned vertically.

Align footprints horizontally





Enter H, press ENTER


Select the conveyor running button (1)


Select objects: Select LT404 (2), right-click

3 Follow steps 1 and 2 to align the remaining footprints horizontally.

Move an attribute

1 Expand the Edit Attributes tool, and then click the Move/ShowAttributes tool.

Components ➤ Attributes ➤ Move/Show Attributes


Select attribute to Move or pick on block graphics for list

(W=Window move): Select tag LT404 (1)

Select object: Right-click to select

Base point: Select the base point (2), drag to the new location, right-click

The attribute is placed.

3 Repeat for PB403 and PB403A, then right-click to exit the command.

Very little of the information held on panel footprints is visible since onlyspecific attributes are used when assigning catalog information. If an attributeis not found, the information is saved as standard AutoCAD extended entitydata (Xdata).

AutoCAD Electrical provides a way to change the extended entity datamanually into visible attributes tied to an inserted footprint block.

Modifying Attributes | 187

Change Xdata to attributes

1 Expand the Edit Footprint tool, and then click the Make XdataVisible tool.

Panel Layout ➤ Make Xdata Visible


Select footprint: Select LT404

The Select XData to Change to a Block Attribute dialog box displays. AllXdata related to LT 404 are shown.

3 Select DESC1 and click Insert.


Specify location for attribute (DESC1):

Select the location for the attribute

The attribute is displayed on the drawing and the dialog box reopens.

5 Select DESC2 and click Insert.


Specify location for attribute (DESC2):

Select the location for the attribute

7 Click Done.


Adding Nameplate Footprints

At this point, you can add nameplates to the panel layout. Nameplates areassociated with existing component footprints. Nameplates can be insertedfrom the main panel icon menu or from a vendor menu.

Insert an automotive type nameplate

1 Expand the Insert Component Footprint tool, and then click theInsert Footprint (Icon Menu) tool.

Panel Layout ➤ Insert Footprint (Icon Menu)

2 In the Insert Footprint: Panel Layout Symbols dialog box, clickNameplates.

3 In the Panel: Nameplates dialog box, click Nameplate, CatalogLookup.

4 In the Nameplate dialog box, Choice A section, click Catalog Lookup.


MANUFACTURER: AB

TYPE: 800T Automotive

COLOR_AND_: *ALL*

6 Change the catalog assignment to 800T-X701 Red Blank Name Plate andclick OK.

7 In the Nameplate dialog box, Choice A section, verify:

Manufacturer: AB

Catalog: 800T-X701

Click OK.


Select objects: Select PB403 (1), right-click to the place the nameplate

Adding Nameplate Footprints | 189

As you select each footprint to insert, the nameplate block inserts andthe Panel Layout - Nameplate Insert/Edit dialog box displays where youcan annotate the nameplate and assign a BOM item number if needed.

9 In the Panel Layout - Nameplate Insert/Edit dialog box, click OK.

NOTE The data on the nameplate is linked by a tag name to the footprint and tothe schematic component of the same name. Changing the tag name of any ofthese 3 representations triggers a prompt for permission to update the otherrelated instances.

Insert a half round nameplate

1 Expand the Insert Component Footprint tool, and then click theInsert Footprint (Icon Menu) tool.

Panel Layout ➤ Insert Footprint (Icon Menu)

2 In the Insert Footprint: Panel Layout Symbols dialog box, clickNameplates.

3 In the Panel: Nameplates dialog box, click Nameplate, CatalogLookup.

4 In the Nameplate dialog box, Choice A section, click Catalog Lookup.


MANUFACTURER: AB

TYPE: 800T Half Round

COLOR_AND_: *ALL*


6 Change the catalog assignment to 800T-X59E Gray Custom Text NamePlate and click OK.

7 In the Nameplate dialog box, Choice A section, verify:

Manufacturer: AB

Catalog: 800T-X59E

Click OK.


Select objects: Select PB403A (2), right-click to place the nameplate

Adding Nameplate Footprints | 191

9 In the Panel Layout - Nameplate Insert/Edit dialog box, click OK.

The nameplate is inserted.

Editing Terminal Strips

Terminal blocks are used to connect devices that require quick disconnect ordisassembly during product shipment, while at other times they can be usedto distribute power to other devices. The Terminal Strip Editor easily andquickly defines the locations for these connected devices during the systemdesign process. Terminal strip editing is primarily used towards the end of thecontrol system design cycle to expedite the labeling, numbering, andrearranging of terminals on a terminal strip.

Copy and paste terminal properties

1 Open AEGS09.dwg.

The terminal strip you will be editing, “TB”, is already placed on thedrawing. Zoom in on terminal strip “TB” to see what the terminal stripcurrently looks like.


2 On the Panel layout toolbar, click the Terminal Strip Editor tool.

Panel Layout ➤ Terminal Strip Editor

3 On the Terminal Strip Selection dialog box, select Terminal Strip “TB”and click Edit.

4 On the Terminal Strip Editor dialog box, Terminal Strip tab, select terminal1 in the grid.

Editing Terminal Strips | 193

5 In the Terminal section, click the Move Terminal button.

6 In the Move Terminal dialog box, click Pick Above. In the Terminal StripEditor grid, select terminal 4.

NOTE You can also use the Move Up tool to move terminal 1 to the top ofthe grid.

Click Done.

7 Select terminal 4 in the grid.

8 In the Properties section, click the Copy Terminal Block Propertiesbutton.

Notice that when you click Copy Terminal Block Properties, terminals 5and 6 also highlight. This is because terminals 4, 5, and 6 are associatedtogether so if you copy the properties from one of these terminals, youwill also copy the properties from the associated terminals. The CopyTerminal Block Properties tool then copies the properties from theterminals to one or many terminals within the same terminal strip.

9 Select terminal 7 and 10 in the grid by holding down the CTRL key whileyou select the terminals.


10 In the Properties section, click the Paste Terminal Block Propertiesbutton.

The properties you copied from terminal 4 are pasted to terminals 7 and10. Notice that both terminals are now 3-tiered terminals with level 1assigned for both.

Associate terminals

1 Select terminals 8 and 9 in the grid.

2 In the Multi-Level section, click the Associate Terminals button.

3 On the Associate Terminals dialog box, select terminal 7, , (3) and clickAssociate.


Click OK.

4 On the Terminal Strip Editor dialog box, select terminals 11 and 12 inthe grid.

5 In the Multi-Level section, click the Associate Terminals button.

6 On the Associate Terminals dialog box, select terminal 10, , (3) and clickAssociate.

Click OK.

Insert spare terminals and accessories



2 In the Spare section, click the Insert Spare Terminal button.

3 On the Insert Spare Terminal dialog box, specify:

Number: SPARE

Quantity: 1

NOTE You can also assign catalog information for the spare terminal fromthe Insert Spare Terminal dialog box by clicking Catalog Lookup. You canthen select the part from the Parts Catalog dialog box if needed.

Click Insert Above.

Now you will insert accessories (end barriers) into the terminal strip - oneat the top and one at the bottom of the terminal strip.


5 In the Spare section, click the Insert Accessory button.

6 On the Insert Accessory dialog box, specify:

Number: EB1

Quantity: 1

NOTE You can also assign catalog information for the accessory from theInsert Accessory dialog box by clicking Catalog Lookup. You can then selectthe part from the Parts Catalog dialog box if needed.

Click Insert Above.



8 In the Spare section, click the Insert Accessory button.

9 On the Insert Accessory dialog box, specify:

Number: EB2

Quantity: 1

Click Insert Below.

Insert the terminal strip into the drawing

1 On the Terminal Strip Editor dialog box, click the Layout Preview tab.

2 Select Graphical Terminal Strip as the terminal type to insert into thedrawing.

3 Click Rebuild.


4 On the Terminal Strip Editor dialog box, click OK.

5 On the Terminal Strip Selection dialog box, click OK.


200

Point-to-PointDiagramming

Part 3 of this manual provides information on creating point-to-point diagrams using connectortools. You can also create drawings for hydraulic, pneumatic, and P&ID style diagrams.

201

202

Connector Diagrams

This chapter provides information about working with point-to-point style wiring schematics.

About Connector Diagrams

The connector wiring tools help you more easily create and work withpoint-to-point style wiring schematics (as opposed to ladder-style schematics).Though you may find some of these tools useful for ladder-style schematics,they are tuned to work well with drawings that are heavy on point-to-pointconnector diagrams. Instead of creating and maintaining a large library ofschematic connector symbols, each symbol is generated parametrically, on thefly, per user input and at user-defined orientation. A connector toolbar containstools for creating and editing connectors.

Inserting Connectors

The Insert Connector tool generates a connector symbol from user-definedparameters. The symbol is created on the fly and inserted as a block insert intoyour active drawing file. Since these are created on an as needed basis, iteliminates the need for you to create and maintain a library of connectorsymbols.

Change drawing properties

1 Open AEGS10.dwg.

2 Click the Drawing Properties tool.

Projects ➤ Drawing Properties

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3 On the Drawing Properties ➤ Components dialog box, select Sequential.

4 On the Drawing Properties ➤ Wire Numbers dialog box, New WireNumber Placement section, select In-Line.

5 Click OK.

Add connectors to the drawing

1 Click the Insert Connector tool.

Components ➤ Insert Connector ➤ Insert Connector

2 On the Insert Connector dialog box, specify:

Pin Spacing: 1.0

Pin Count: 15

Fixed Spacing

Pin List: 1

Insert All

3 Click the Flip button to flip the connector about its long axis. Thepreview should look like the following image.

4 Click Insert.

204 | Chapter 9 Connector Diagrams

A preview outline of the connector displays for placement on the drawing.It shows rounded corners for the plug side of the connector. An “x”indicates the insertion point of the connector. An arrow indicates theplug side wire connection direction for plug/receptacle or plug-onlyconnector inserts or shows the wire connection direction for areceptacle-only connector insert.

NOTE Prior to committing the connector outline to the drawing, press TABto flip the connector through four different orientations, or press the V keyto switch between vertical and horizontal orientations.


Specify insertion point or [Z=zoom, P=pan, X=wire crossing,

V=horizontal/vertical, TAB=flip]:

Select to place the connector in the middle of the right-hand border of BlackBox 1

The connector was automatically assigned a component tag of PJ1.




Pin Spacing: 0.75

Inserting Connectors | 205

Pin Count: 4

Fixed Spacing

Pin List: A

Insert All

8 Click the Flip button to flip the connector. The preview shouldlook like the following image.

9 Click Insert.




Select to place the connector in the middle of the left-hand border of Black Box2

The connector was automatically assigned a component tag of PJ2.

11 Repeat steps 6 - 10 to place connectors on Black Box 3 and Black Box 4.

The connectors are assigned tags PJ3 and PJ4 respectively.


Wiring Connectors

Black Box 1 is associated to a larger component such as a power box. BlackBox 2 - Black Box 4 are smaller components that are part of the power box.The components must be wired together. The easiest way to do this is to usethe Insert Wire and Multiple Wire Bus tools.

Wire the connectors together





Click on PJ1 at pin 1 on Black Box 1

Specify wire end or [Continue]: Click on PJ2 at pin A on Black Box 2

3 Repeat to connect PJ1 (Pin 2) to PJ3 (Pin A) and PJ1 (Pin 3) to PJ4 (PinA). Right-click to exit the command.

Wiring Connectors | 207

Notice that the Insert Wire tool drew the wire between the connectorswhile avoiding any existing geometry on the screen.



5 On the Multiple Wire Bus dialog box, specify:

Horizontal Spacing: 0.75

Vertical Spacing: 0.50

Starting at: Component (Multiple Wires)


6 Click OK.


Window select starting wire connection points:

Select pins 5-7 on Black Box 1 (1) and right-click

to (T= wiretype) (Continue/Flip):

Drag the wires to the right past the 3 wires you just inserted, enter C and pressENTER (to continue and lock the drag)

to Point (Continue/Flip):

Drag the wires up towards PJ2 on Black Box 2, enter C and press ENTER (tocontinue and lock the drag)

to (Continue/Flip):

Drag the wires to the right and connect to pins B-D on PJ2 (2)




9 On the Multiple Wire Bus dialog box, click OK to use the previous settings.



Select pins 9-11 on Black Box 1 and right-click


Drag the wires to the right, enter C, and press ENTER (to continue and lock thedrag)


Drag the wires up towards PJ3 on Black Box 3, enter C, and press ENTER (tocontinue and lock the drag)

to (Continue/Flip):

Drag the wires to the right and connect to pins B-D on PJ3




12 On the Multiple Wire Bus dialog box, click OK to use the previous settings.



Select pins 13-15 on Black Box 1 and press ENTER


Drag the wires to the right, enter C, and press ENTER (to continue and lock thedrag) before you cross the wire connection to pin A


Drag the wires down towards PJ4 on Black Box 4, press C, and press ENTER (tocontinue and lock the drag)

to (Continue/Flip):

Drag the wires to the right and connect to pins B-D on PJ4


Grouping Wires

Now that you’ve wired the connectors together, you need to insert in-lineconnectors to group the wires.

Insert in-line connectors




Pin Spacing: 1.0

Pin Count: 3

At Wire Crossing

Pin List: 1

Insert All

3 Click Details.

4 On the Type section, clear the Add Divider Line box.

5 On the Display section, set Plug to Right and Pins to Both Sides.

6 On the Size section, set the Plug to 0.325.


7 Click Insert.




Select to place the connector on the wires connected to PJ1, Pins 1-3




Pin Spacing: 1.0

Pin Count: 9

At Wire Crossing

Pin List: 1

Allow Spacers/Breaks

11 Click Insert.




Select to place the connector starting on the line at PJ1, Pin 5

Notice how the connector expands when you cross the wires.

13 On the Custom Pin Spaces/Breaks dialog box, click Insert NextConnection.

The dialog box displays which connector pin has been inserted so far.Keep clicking Insert Next Connection until you place six of the nineconnections.

14 When the Custom Pin Spaces/Breaks dialog box says “Inserted So Far: 6of 9,” click Break Symbol Now.

Grouping Wires | 213




Select to place the connector starting on the line at PJ1, Pin 13

16 On the Connector Layout dialog box, select Insert All.

17 Click OK.


NOTE Another method is to insert the entire connector and then use theSplit Connector tool to break the existing connector.

18 Expand the Dashed Link Lines tool, and then click the LinkComponents with Dashed Line tool.

Components ➤ Link ➤ Link Components with Dashed Line


Component to link from: Select the bottom portion of PJ6 (1)

component to link to: Select the top portion of PJ6 (2), right-click

Grouping Wires | 215

Modifying Connectors

The Insert Connector toolbar has tools for modifying connectors and connectorpins. You can reverse a connector about its horizontal or vertical axis, rotatea connector about its insertion point at increments of 90 degrees, increase ordecrease the connector's overall length or width, and split the connector intotwo separate block definitions. You can also add, remove, or move the pinsfound inside of the connector.

Stretch existing connectors

1 Expand the Insert Connector tool, and then click the StretchConnector tool.

Components ➤ Insert Connector ➤ Stretch Connector


Specify which end of connector to stretch: Select the bottom of PJ1

Specify second point of displacement:

Pull the connector down towards the bottom of Black Box 1


3 Repeat for PJ6, pulling the bottom of the connector down so that it iseven with PJ1.

Add connector pins

1 Expand the Insert Connector tool, and then click the AddConnector Pins tool.

Components ➤ Insert Connector ➤ Add Connector Pins


Select connector: Select PJ1

Specify where to insert new pin or [Reset]<16>:

Select 4 spaces down from pin 15 on PJ1, right-click and select Enter

The next available pin number (16) inserts at the selected point.

Modifying Connectors | 217

3 Expand the Insert Connector tool, and then click the AddConnector Pins tool.

Components ➤ Insert Connector ➤ Add Connector Pins


Select connector: Select PJ6

Specify where to insert new pin or [Reset]<10>:

Select the new pin 16 on PJ1 to insert pin 10 in-line with it, right-click andselect Enter

NOTE You can delete pins using the Delete Connector Pins tool. Select thepin you want to delete and it is automatically removed from the connector.

Modify connector pins

1 Expand the Insert Connector tool, and then click the MoveConnector Pins tool.

Components ➤ Insert Connector ➤ Move Connector Pins



Select connector pin to move: Select pin 16 on PJ1

Specify new location for pin 16: Select 2 spaces up on PJ1

Select connector pin to move: Select pin 10 on PJ6

Specify new location for pin 10:

Select pin 16 on PJ1 to move pin 10 in-line with it, right-click

3 Expand the Insert Connector tool, and then click the SwapConnector Pins tool.

Components ➤ Insert Connector ➤ Swap Connector Pins


Select connector pin: Select pin 16 on PJ1

Select connector pin: swap with: Select pin 12 on PJ1, right-click

5 Expand the Insert Connector tool, and then click the ReverseConnector tool.

Components ➤ Insert Connector ➤ Reverse Connector


Select connector to reverse: Select the top in-line connector, right-click

Modifying Connectors | 219




Pin Spacing: 1.0

Pin Count: 2

Fixed Spacing

Pin List: 1

Insert All

9 Click Details.

10 On the Type section, select Add Divider Line.

11 On the Display section, set Pins to Plug Side.

12 Click Insert.




Select to place the connector on the top of Black Box 1

14 Expand the Insert Connector tool, and then click the RotateConnector tool.

Components ➤ Insert Connector ➤ Rotate Connector


Select connector to Rotate or [Hold]:

Select the new connector, right-click and select Enter


Adding Wire Numbers

Wire numbers are blocks or attributes inserted on a line wire entity. AutoCAD®

Electrical assigns each wire number type to its own layer. You can assign adifferent color to each of these layers so you can easily tell them apart. Thewire number placement is set to in-line as defined on the Drawing Properties ➤ Wire Numbers dialog box.

Insert wire numbers



2 On the Wire Tagging dialog box, specify:

Wire Tag Mode: Sequential

Start: 100

3 Click Drawing-Wide.

The wire numbers are automatically inserted into the drawing startingwith number 100.

4 Click the Move Wire Number tool.

Wires ➤ Move Wire Number


Specify new Wire Number location (select on wire):

Select each wire closest to Black Box 1, right-click

NOTE You can align the wire numbers using the Align tool.

Adding Wire Numbers | 221

Adding Connector Descriptions

AutoCAD Electrical supports two lines of description text on each connector:one for the plug and one for the receptacle side of the connector.

Add descriptions

1 Right-click connector PJ1 and select Edit Component.

2 On the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, Pins section, click List.

3 On the Connector Pin Numbers In Use dialog box, connector pin grid,click in the Description column for Pin 1.

4 On the Pin Descriptions section, enter POWER B2 for the Receptacle.

Click in the Description column again for Pin 1 to assign the description.

5 On the connector pin grid, click in the Description column for Pin 2.




7 On the connector pin grid, click in the Description column for Pin 3.



9 Click OK.

10 On the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, click OK.

11 Repeat to add the description POWER IN for Pins A on Black Box 2, BlackBox 3 and Black Box 4.

Your finished point-to-point diagram should look similar to the followingimage.

Adding Connector Descriptions | 223

224

Pneumatic, Hydraulic,and P&ID Diagrams

This chapter goes through the steps for creating Piping & Instrumentation (P&ID) andHydraulic drawings. The same workflow can be applied for Pneumatics. Once your drawingis created, you can use the regular tools in the AutoCAD® Electrical software to modify yourdrawing.

Setting Up Hydraulic Drawings

Use the Project Manager to manage your hydraulic drawings. From here youcan create a new drawing and modify any drawing properties.


1 In the Project Manager, right-click the project name, and select Properties.

2 In the Project Properties ➤ Project Settings dialog box, click Default toswitch on all paths for pneumatic, hydraulic and P&ID schematic libraries.

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3 Click OK.



Name: AEGS12

Template: Mouse over the edit box to verify AutoCAD_Electrical.dwt isspecified

Description 1: Hydraulic Example

Click OK.

NOTE You can also Click OK-Properties to proceed to Drawing Propertiesdialog box if you want to set the component, wire number, cross-reference,style and drawing format settings.

6 Select Tools ➤ Drafting Settings.

7 In the Drafting Settings ➤ Snap and Grid dialog box, turn on Snap andGrid and set the size of both to 0.125.

8 Click OK.



10 In the Drawing Properties ➤ Drawing Format dialog box, Scale section,make sure that the feature scale multiplier is set to 1.0 inch.

11 Click OK.

NOTE For metric unit, the following settings are recommended so that thewire connection points will be placed on the grids for easier drafting. Gridand Snap Size = 2.5mm; Feature scale multiplier =20 (scale factor = 20)

.

12 Select Projects ➤ Toolbars ➤ Extra Libraries Toolbar.

NOTE You can also turn on the toolbar by right-clicking on any toolbar andselecting ACE: Extra Libraries.

226 | Chapter 10 Pneumatic, Hydraulic, and P&ID Diagrams

This toolbar has tools for inserting Pneumatic, Hydraulic and P&IDcomponents.

Inserting Hydraulic Schematic Symbols

The hydraulic symbol library in AutoCAD Electrical includes filters, valves,cylinders, pressure switches, motors, pumps, meters, restrictors, quickdisconnects, flow arrows and more. The hydraulic symbol library consists ofall the hydraulic symbols and is found at \Documents and Settings\AllUsers\Documents\Autodesk\Acade {version}\Libs\hyd_iso125 or\Users\Public\Documents\Autodesk\Acade {version}\Libs\hyd_iso125 on aWindows Vista installation.

Insert hydraulic symbols

1 Click the Insert Hydraulic Component tool.

2 In the Insert Component: Hydraulic Symbol dialog box, select the checkbox for Vertical.

3 In the Insert Component: Hydraulic Symbol dialog box, click theGeneral Valves icon.

4 In the Hydraulic: General Valves dialog box, click Shut Off ValveOpen.



Select to place the valve in the upper left corner of your drawing


Component Tag: VAL2

Click OK.

7 Repeat steps 1 - 3.

Inserting Hydraulic Schematic Symbols | 227

8 In the Hydraulic: General Valves dialog box, click Checkvalve FlowLeft.



Select to place the check valve below the shut off valve



12 In the Insert Component: Hydraulic Symbol dialog box, clickMotors & Pumps.

13 In the Hydraulic: Motors and Pumps dialog box, click FixedDisplacement.

14 In the Hydraulic: Fixed Displacement dialog box, clickUni-Directional Pump.


Specify insertion point: Select to place the pump below the check valve



Component Tag: Hydraulic Oil Pump

Click OK.

17 Insert another Shut Off Valve Open below the Hydraulic Oil Pump.


19 In the Insert Component: Hydraulic Symbol dialog box, click Filters.

20 In the Hydraulic: Filters dialog box, click Filter.


Specify insertion point: Select to place the filter below the shut off valve


Component Tag: FI2

Description: Line 1: Filter

Click OK.


24 In the Insert Component: Hydraulic Symbol dialog box, clickMiscellaneous.

25 In the Hydraulic: Miscellaneous dialog box, click Reservoir.


Specify insertion point: Select to place the reservoir below the filter

Inserting Hydraulic Schematic Symbols | 229


Creating Pipes

In the AutoCAD Electrical application, we use different types of wires torepresent the type of running pipes that allows water or oil flows from oneinstrument to another. Let's start by setting up the type of wires for pipe runs.

Insert wires as pipes

1 Expand the Insert Wire tool, and then click the Create/Edit WireType tool.

Wires ➤ Create/Edit Wire Type

2 In the Create/Edit Wire Type dialog box, specify:

Wire Color: RED


Size: 20

The Layer Name is automatically created. The name RED_20 is assignedto the wire layer you are creating.

3 Click Color.

4 In the Select Color dialog box, select red and click OK.

5 Click Linetype.

6 In the Select Linetype dialog box, select Continuous and click OK.


Wire Color: GREEN

Size: 10

Color: Green

Linetype: Hidden2

8 Select RED_20 in the grid and click Mark Selected as Default.

9 Click OK.

Creating Pipes | 231





Enter X and press ENTER


Select the bottom of the shut off valve

Specify wire end or [Scoot/T=wiretype, X=show connections]:

Select the top of the check valve

12 Continue inserting wires connecting the components together. Right-clickto exit the command.

Your drawing should look like the following:


NOTE You can also insert the vertical or horizontal pipes first and then insertthe components onto the pipe, one at a time.


14 In the Insert Component: Hydraulic Symbol dialog box, select the checkbox for Vertical.

15 In the Insert Component: Hydraulic Symbol dialog box, clickPressure Relief Valves.

16 In the Hydraulic: Pressure Relief Valves dialog box, click N.C.Pressure Relief Valve with Preset -1.



Specify insertion point: Select to place the valve to the right of the pump


Component Tag: VAL4

Description: Line 1: Pressure Relief

Click OK.





Enter X, press ENTER


Press SHIFT + right-click and select Midpoint from the menu, then select themidpoint on the pipe between the pump and the shut off valve above it

Specify wire end or [V=start Vertical/H =start

Horizontal/Continue):

Drag the pipe to the right so that it is directly above the pressure relief valve,drag the pipe down and click the top connection point on the pressure reliefvalve

You now need to insert a pipe that connects the end of the valve backto the pump.


TIP Make sure that Snap is turned off and that the Wire Layer is set toGREEN_10.


Select the bottom connection point on the pressure relief valve

Specify wire end or [V=start Vertical/H =start

Horizontal/Continue):

Drag the pipe down and to the left, click the connection point at the bottom ofthe pump, right-click

Completing the Hydraulic Drawing

The rest of the hydraulic drawing consists of inserting a Pressure Gauge andCheck Valve at the left side of the pump and then inserting devices (Cylinder;Restrictors; Filter; Check valve and 2-ways valve) along the top of the drawing.

NOTE During insertion, clear the Vertical option in the Insert Component: HydraulicSymbols dialog box.

Insert components


Completing the Hydraulic Drawing | 235

2 In the Insert Component: Hydraulic Symbol dialog box, clickMeters.

3 In the Hydraulic: Meters dialog box, click Pressure Gauge.



Select to place the pressure gauge to the far left (and slightly above) of the pump


Component Tag: MTR1

Description: Line 1: Pressure Gauge

Click OK.


7 In the Insert Component: Hydraulic Symbol dialog box, clickGeneral Valves.

8 In the Hydraulic: General Valves dialog box, click Shut Off ValveOpen.



Select to place the valve to the right of the pressure gauge



11 Set the wire layer to RED_20.





Select the right connection point on the pressure gauge


Drag the pipe to the right and click the left connection point on the valve

Specify wire start or [Scoot/wireType/X=show connections]:

Select the right connection point on the valve


Drag the pipe to the right and click the vertical pipe, right-click



15 Insert and place the devices listed below as shown in the followingillustration. In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, click OK after eachinsertion.

NOTE You can also insert the vertical or horizontal pipes first and then insertthe components onto the pipe, one by one.

Symbol to InsertIcon

2 Way Valves ➤ Solenoid Spring Return -1(insert as Vertical symbol)

General Valves ➤ Checkvalve Flow Left (insert as a Vertical symbol)



Filters ➤ Filter (insert as a Vertical symbol)

Restrictors ➤ Restrictor with Variable Output Flow

Restrictors ➤ By-Pass Flow Regulator with Variable Output Flow

Cylinders ➤ Single Acting Single Ended Piston Rod

TIP Align the components horizontally and vertically using the Align tool tomake inserting the pipes easier.




17 Connect the pipes from one control device to another as illustrated.


19 In the Insert Component: Hydraulic Symbol dialog box, clickGeneral Valves.

20 In the Hydraulic: General Valves dialog box, click Checkvalve FlowLeft.


Specify insertion point: Select to place the valve below the restrictor





24 Connect the pipes as shown.


The hydraulic schematic diagram is complete.

If you want to create a pneumatic drawing, use the Insert PneumaticComponents tool on the Extra Libraries toolbar. Refer to the pneumaticdemo drawing file (Demo03.dwg) in the Extra Library Demo project.

Setting Up P&ID Drawings

Use the Project Manager to manage your P&ID drawings. From here you cancreate a new drawing and modify any drawing properties.




Name: AEGS13


Template: Mouse over the edit box to verify AutoCAD_Electrical.dwt isspecified

Description 1: P&ID Example

Click OK.

NOTE You can also Click OK-Properties to proceed to Drawing Propertiesdialog box if you want to set the component, wire number, cross-reference,style and drawing format settings.

3 Select Tools ➤ Drafting Settings.

4 In the Drafting Settings ➤ Snap and Grid dialog box, turn on Snap andGrid and set the size of both to 0.125.

5 Click OK.



7 In the Drawing Properties ➤ Drawing Format dialog box, Scale section,make sure that the feature scale multiplier is set to 1.0 inch.

8 Click OK.

NOTE For metric unit, the following settings are recommended so that thewire connection points will be placed on the grids for easier drafting. Gridand Snap Size = 2.5mm; Feature scale multiplier =20 (scale factor = 20).

Set up wire layers



2 In the Create/Edit Wire Type dialog box, click in the Wire Type #2 rowand specify:

Wire Color: RED

Size: 25

Setting Up P&ID Drawings | 243

The Layer Name is automatically created. The name RED_25 is assignedto the wire layer you are creating.

3 Click Color.

4 In the Select Color dialog box, select red and click OK.

5 Click Linetype.

6 In the Select Linetype dialog box, select Continuous and click OK.

7 Click Lineweight.

8 In the Select Lineweight dialog box, select 0.30 and click OK.

For this example, you need to create three more wire types (two yellowwire layers and one green wire layer) using the Create/Edit Wire Typedialog box.


Wire Type #3

Wire Color: YELLOW

Size: 15

Color: Yellow

Linetype: Continuous

Lineweight: default

Wire Type #4

Wire Color: YELLOW

Size: 10

Color: Yellow

Wire Type #5

Wire Color: GREEN

Size: 10

Color: Green


NOTE For pipe runs in P&ID drawings, you must include the differentlinetypes from the acade.lin file. You can set up the wire types for pipes atthe beginning of the drawing or before creating the pipes.

10 To set the Linetype for the GREEN_10 wire layer, click Linetype.

11 In the Select Linetype dialog box, click Load.

12 In the Load or Reload Linetypes dialog box, click File.

13 In the Select Linetype File dialog box, select acade.lin and click Open.

NOTE The default location for the acade.lin file is \Documents andSettings\{username}\Application Data\Autodesk\AutoCAD Electrical{version}\{release number}\{country code}\Support or\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD Electrical{version}\{release number}\{country code}\Support on a Windows Vistainstallation.

14 In the Load or Reload Linetypes dialog box, select Pneumatic Signal andclick OK.

Setting Up P&ID Drawings | 245

15 In the Select Linetype dialog box, select Pneumatic Signal and click OK.

16 In the Create/Edit Wire Type dialog box, click OK.

Inserting P&ID Schematic Symbols

The P&ID symbol library in AutoCAD electrical includes equipment, tanks,nozzles, pumps, fittings, valves, actuators, logic functions, instrumentation,flow, and flow arrows. The P&ID symbol library consists of all the piping andinstrumentation symbols and is found at \Documents and Settings\AllUsers\Documents\Autodesk\Acade {version}\Libs\Pid or\Users\Public\Documents\Autodesk\Acade {version}\Libs\Pid on a WindowsVista installation.

Insert P&ID Symbols

1 Click the Insert P&ID Component tool.

2 In the Insert Component: Piping and Instrumentation Symbolsdialog box, click Equipment.

3 In the PID: Equipment dialog box, click Ball Mill.




Select to place the ball mill in the upper left corner of your drawing


Component Tag: C-100

Description: Line 1: BALL MILL

Click OK.

6 Follow steps 1-2 above.

7 In the PID: Equipment dialog box, click Conveyors.

8 In the PID: Conveyors dialog box, click Conveyor 1.



Select to place the conveyor to the right and diagonally below the ball mill


Component Tag: N-100

Description: Line 1: CONVEYOR

Click OK.

11 Follow steps 1-2 above.

12 In the PID: Equipment dialog box, click Mixer 2.


Inserting P&ID Schematic Symbols | 247


Select to place the mixer to the right and diagonally below the conveyor


Component Tag: A-100

Description: Line 1: MIXER

Click OK.


16 Insert and place the devices listed below as shown in the followingillustration. In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, click OK after eachinsertion.


Valves ➤ Gate ValveIn the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, clear the ComponentTag

Equipment ➤ DryerComponent Tag = C-200; Description Line 1 = DRYER

Instrumentation ➤ Discrete Instruments ➤ Field MountedComponent Tag = TE 201


TIP Align the components horizontally and vertically using the Align tool tomake inserting the pipes easier.

Creating Pipes

In AutoCAD Electrical, we use different types of wires to represent the type ofrunning pipes that allow water or oil flows from one instrument to another.

Insert wires as pipes

1 In the AutoCAD Layers toolbar, change the wire layer to RED_25.



3 Connect the pipes as shown. Right-click to exit the command.


4 In the AutoCAD Layers toolbar, change the wire layer to POS and thelinetype to HIDDEN2.





Select the bottom of the discrete instrument


Drag the wire down a few spaces, press ENTER



8 In the Insert Component: Piping and Instrumentation Symbolsdialog box, click Flow Arrows.

9 In the PID: Equipment dialog box, click Flow Arrow Down.



Select to place the flow arrow at the bottom of the new wire

The P&ID diagram is complete.

If you want to see how to expand the P&ID drawing, refer to the P&ID demodrawing file (Demo01.dwg) in the Extra Library Demo project.


252

Generating Reports

Part 4 of this manual includes information on generating reports, modifying the format ofthe reports, and inserting report tables.

253

254

Report Generation

AutoCAD® Electrical provides a number of reports as well as great flexibility in each reportformat. This chapter provides information about generating a report and then using variousmethods to manipulate the report format in AutoCAD Electrical.

Generating Bill of Material Reports

Using AutoCAD Electrical, you can perform a project-wide extract of all BOMdata found on your project drawing set. The data is extracted from the projectdatabase, matched with standard entries in the catalog database, and thenadditional fields are pulled from the catalog files. You can format this data intovarious report configurations and output to report files, export to a spreadsheetor database program, or place in an AutoCAD Electrical drawing.

Generate a bill of material (BOM) report

1 Open AEGS11.dwg.

2 Click the Schematic Reports tool.

Projects ➤ Reports ➤ Schematic Reports

3 In the Schematic Reports dialog box, select:

Report Name: Bill of Material

Bill of Material: Project

Verify that the following options are specified:

Include options: All the above

Display option: Normal Tallied Format

Installation Codes to extract: All

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255

Location Codes to extract: All

Click OK.

4 In the Select Drawings to Process dialog box, select AEGS03.DWG, andclick Process.

5 Verify that AEGS03.DWG is displayed in the Drawings to Process sectionof the dialog box and click OK.

The generated report is displayed in the Report Generator dialog box.

6 In the Report Generator dialog box, select:

Header: Time/Date

Header: Column Labels

Add blanks between entries

Inserting BOM Tables into Drawings

Insert a BOM into the drawing in tabular format

1 With the BOM report displayed in the dialog box, click Put on Drawing.

2 In the Table Generation Setup dialog box, select:

Column Labels: Include column labels

Title: Include time/date

Column Width: Calculate automatically

Borders: All Borders

Click OK.

256 | Chapter 11 Report Generation

NOTE The extents of the BOM table are displayed in temporary graphics.Press Z to zoom down, or R to flip into real-time pan and zoom mode, ifnecessary.

3 The table outline moves with your cursor. Position the table, and thenclick to place the table. The BOM table is built where you placed it.

4 In the Report Generator, click Close.

Editing BOM Tables on Drawings

You can use the Edit Component tool together with the Report Generator’sEdit Mode to modify a report that has already been placed on a drawing.

Edit the BOM report



2 Select the report on the drawing.

Editing BOM Tables on Drawings | 257

The report is displayed using the current report settings.

3 In the Report Generator dialog box, click Edit Mode.

4 In the Edit Report dialog box, select FU307.

5 Click Move Up.

The lines that make up a single BOM entry are kept together and movedup one space in the report dialog box.


NOTE You can also edit report data, delete BOM entries and add new catalogitems to the report.

6 Click OK - Return to Report.

7 In the Report Generator dialog box, click Put on Drawing.

The report on the drawing updates to reflect the changes you made.

8 In the Table Generation Setup dialog box, click OK.

9 In the Report Generator dialog box, click Close.

Editing BOM Tables on Drawings | 259

Changing Formats of BOMs

Each AutoCAD Electrical report is customizable, from which data fields arereported and the order in which they appear to the justification of any columnand the column labels.

Remove the TAGS columns from the BOM

1 Erase the table, or UNDO, and rerun the BOM extract for AEGS03.DWG.

2 In the Report Generator dialog box, click Change Report Format.

In the Bill of Materials Data Fields to Report dialog box, Fields to reportsection, the fields that format the BOM are displayed.

3 Select TAGS in the Fields to report list.

4 Click <<Remove.

The TAGS field is moved out of Fields to report and into Available fields.

NOTE You can also select a field in the Available fields list to add it to thereport or rearrange columns using the Move Up and Move Down buttons.Clicking Ok-Save As saves these settings to a file for later use.

5 Click OK.


NOTE This new format becomes the default the next time you extract a BOMreport.

The BOM data in the Report Generator dialog box is reformatted anddisplayed.

6 Scroll down the report to verify that the component tags column isremoved.

7 Insert the new version of the BOM table into the drawing.

Exporting BOMs to Spreadsheets

You can move your BOM to a spreadsheet, database, or any other applicationthat can read data in a comma-delimited or Microsoft®Access format.

Export the BOM to a Microsoft Excel® spreadsheet

1 In the Report Generator dialog box, click Save to File.

2 In the Save Report to File dialog box, select Excel spreadsheet format (.xls)and click OK.

3 In the Select file for report dialog box, enter an output file name or clickOK to accept the default name BOM.xls. Click Save.

4 In the Optional Script File dialog box, click Close - No Script.

5 In Microsoft Excel, click File ➤ Open.

6 Browse to the location where you saved the spreadsheet (the default isC:\Documents and Settings\{username}\My Documents orC:\Users\{username}\My Documents on a Windows Vista installation) andselect the spreadsheet.

7 Click Open.

Exporting BOMs to Spreadsheets | 261

Your BOM data is displayed in spreadsheet format. You can slide the columnborders to expose the full column of text for each field. The first six columnsof the spreadsheet are shown above. The first column is the tallied quantity,followed by subassembly quantity, catalog number, and manufacturer code.The remaining fields are those extracted from the mfg/cat combo query onthe external catalog look-up file.


Migrating AutoCAD Data

Part 5 of this manual includes information on migrating AutoCAD® data to make it AutoCAD®

Electrical smart.

263

264

Migration of AutoCADData

This chapter describes using the tagging and linking tools in AutoCAD® Electrical to convertnon blocked geometry and text to a fully functional AutoCAD Electrical-aware block insert.

About Tagging and Linking Tools

AutoCAD Electrical has tagging and linking tools that enable non blockedgeometry to be made aware of AutoCAD Electrical. The existing geometry staysin place and is unblocked, but key text entities are converted to attributes withuser picks and are linked into a generic, non graphical block insert. Wireconnection attributes can also be merged into this generic block insert. Theprocess to convert it from dumb text, circle, and line entities takes only momentsto complete and the result appears as a fully functional AutoCAD Electrical-awareblock insert.

Exploding Block and Attributes

The Special Explode tool in AutoCAD Electrical explodes attributes and blocksto geometry and text entities while maintaining the value previously definedin the attributes. You can take advantage of the tagging tools to modify the textentities to attributes and the linking tools to make various blocks.

Explode AutoCAD® blocks

1 In the Project Manager, right-click the project name (AEGS), and selectAdd Drawings.

12

265

2 In the Select Files to Add dialog box, double-click the CONVERT subfolder.

3 Select files Convert-01.dwg through Convert-04.dwg and click Add.

4 When asked to apply the project defaults to the drawing settings, clickYes.

5 Open Convert-03.dwg.

6 Zoom in on the components in the upper left-hand corner of thedrawing.

7 Select Projects ➤ Toolbars ➤ Conversion Tools from the menu.

NOTE Only a portion of the conversion tools are shown here. The others arenot used in this manual; refer to the Help for information on how to usethem.

Use the Special Explode tool to explode attributes and blocks to geometryand text entities while maintaining the value previously defined in theattributes. You can take advantage of the tagging tools to modify the textentities to attributes and the linking tools to make various blocks.

266 | Chapter 12 Migration of AutoCAD Data

8 Click the Special Explode tool.

Projects ➤ Conversion Tools ➤ Special Explode


Select objects:

Select push button lights A - D (including all graphics and text) on lines 401 -407 (use either single picks or window-select), right-click

The blocks explode into separate text entities and geometry.

Tagging Schematic Components

Use the AutoCAD Electrical Tagging tools to convert text entities into anattributed block. Through the insertion of a template block, you have controlover which attributes are inserted and visible. All necessary attribute definitionsare automatically placed. During the tagging process, the text entity is removedand replaced with a template block file that contains multiple attributes usedin AutoCAD Electrical.

Tagging Results:

■ The selected text entities are replaced with a template block file.

Tagging Schematic Components | 267

■ The TAG attribute takes on the value of the converted text.

■ The TAG attribute is set to fixed.

■ The TAG attribute takes on the same ACAD properties as the tagged text.

Tag schematic components

1 Click the Tag Schematic Component tool.

Projects ➤ Conversion Tool ➤ Tag Schematic ➤ Tag SchematicComponent


Select objects: Select 9PB, 10PB, 11PB, and 12 PB, right-click

NOTE You may have to right-click several times to exit the command.

The text changes color to indicate that it has been tagged. The color ofthe TAG attribute is by layer. The attribute is the same layer as definedon the WD_M block. You can now link the descriptions and wire numbers.

3 Click the Schematic Report tool.


4 In the Schematic Report dialog box, specify:

Report Name: Component

Active Drawing

Click OK.

5 If asked to save the drawing, click Yes.

In the Report Generator dialog box, notice that 9PB-12PB are listed inthe TAGNAME column of the report


Linking Schematic Attributes

Use the AutoCAD Electrical Linking tools to associate non blocked text topreviously placed template blocks. Through the modification of a template


block, you have control over which attributes are inserted and visible. Allnecessary attribute definitions are placed using the properties of the existingtext entities, such as justification, height, and location. If multiple templateblock files are selected, the value of the text is added to the previously definedtemplate block attributes as hidden attributes and the text is not removed.

Linking Results:

■ The selected text entities are replaced with an AutoCAD Electrical attribute.

■ Colors change to visually distinguish what has been already converted asdefined in the WD_M block.

■ Temporary lines display the link.The Link Descriptions tool links simple text as Description 1-3 attributeson an AutoCAD Electrical block file. You can link them as descriptionattributes to one or more existing template block definitions. During theconversion process, the text entity is removed and replaced with the nextavailable description attribute, up to 3.

Link descriptions

1 Expand the Link Schematic tool, and then click the LinkDescriptions tool.

Projects ➤ Conversion Tools ➤ Link Schematic ➤ Link Description


Select objects: Select 9PB, right-click

Select text to fill in next available DESC attribute:

Select LIGHT A, right-click



Select LIGHT B, right-click



Select LIGHT C, right-click



Select LIGHT D, right-click

Linking Schematic Attributes | 269


Colors change to visually distinguish what has been converted andtemporary lines display the link.

3 Click the Schematic Report tool.


4 In the Schematic Report dialog box, specify:

Report Name: Component

Active Drawing

Click OK.

5 If asked to QSave the drawing, click Yes.

In the Report Generator dialog box, notice that 9PB-12PB are still listedin the TAGNAME column of the report.

6 In the Report Generator dialog box, click Change Report Format.

7 In the Component Data Fields to Report dialog box, select Desc1 fromthe Available Fields list.

Desc1 moves into the Fields to report list. These are the fields that willdisplay in the Component report.


8 Click OK.

The Report Generator dialog box now lists the TAGNAME and DESC1values from the active drawing.


Adding Wire Connections

Wire connection attributes can also be merged into the new generic blockinsert. AutoCAD Electrical’s Add Wire Connections tool adds wire connectionattributes to the existing tagged block file. Select line endpoints or geometryto add the appropriate wire connection attributes to. A new block definitionis created with the newly added wire connections. You can subsequently createa new block file if the block is exploded.

Wire Connection Results:

■ Visual indicators (x) appear where the wire connection attributes havealready been applied.

■ Wire connection attributes, terminal attributes, and terminal descriptionattributes are added.

■ The block definition is automatically modified during the attribute additionprocess.

Adding Wire Connections | 271

■ Terminal attribute colors change to visually distinguish what has beenalready converted as defined in the WD_M block.

Convert device pins to wire connection attributes

1 Expand the Link Schematic tool, and then click the Add WireConnections tool.

Projects ➤ Conversion Tools ➤ Link Schematic ➤ Add WireConnections


Select block TAG or PLC Address: Select 9PB

Select end of wire (P=Pick Location): Enter P and press ENTER

Select location (W=Wire):

Press SHIFT + right-click to select Endpoint from the Snap options, select theend point of the first wire on line 401

In the Wire Direction dialog box, select from left.

Select TERM01 text object: Select 22 (underneath 9PB TAG)

NOTE Visual indicators (x) appear where the wire connection attributes havebeen applied.

Select location (W=Wire):

Press SHIFT + right-click to select Endpoint from the Snap options, select theend point of the second wire on line 401

In the Wire Direction dialog box, select from right.

Select TERM02 text object: Select 55 (underneath line 401), right-click

You should be back at the prompt to Select block TAG or PLC Address.

3 Repeat for 10PB - 12PB.



Pause the mouse over 9PB - 12 PB. The text, wire connection attributes,and description text should all highlight. We still must convert the wirenumber text and add the geometry to our block.



5 In the Create/Edit Wire Type dialog box, select Make all Lines Valid Wiresand click OK.

6 Click the Convert Text to Wire Numbers tool.

Projects ➤ Conversion Tools ➤ Convert Drawing ➤ Convert Text toWire Numbers


Select LINE near wire number text:

Select the left endpoint of the wire with the text 13 above it (line 401)

Select existing wire number text to convert: Select text 13

8 While you are still in the command, repeat for text 14 - 16 on lines 403- 407.

Adding Wire Connections | 273


Adding Geometry

The Add Geometry tool in AutoCAD Electrical adds AutoCAD geometry to atemplate block file to be created as part of a unique block instance. It createsa new block definition with the newly added geometry. You can subsequentlycreate a new block file if the block is exploded.

Add Geometry Results:

■ TAG1, TAG2, PLC TAG, and TAGSTRIP attributes are defined and selectedfirst.

■ The block definition is automatically modified.

■ The geometry's color changes by layer to visually distinguish what hasbeen already converted as defined in the WD_M block.

Add geometry to the block

1 Expand the Link Schematic tool, and then click the Add Geometrytool.

Projects ➤ conversion Tools ➤ Link Schematic ➤ Add Geometry


Select block for additional geometry: Select 9PB

Select objects: Select the graphics for the push button, right-click

Specify insertion point: Select the middle of the push button

The geometry is associated to the template block files. Check thateverything has been tied to the block by mousing-over 9PB. The text,wire connection attributes, description text and geometry highlights.


3 Repeat steps 1 -2 for 10PB, 11PB, and 12 PB.

Your blocks are now AutoCAD Electrical-smart.

Tagging and Linking Panel Components

The AutoCAD Electrical Tagging and Linking tools work on panel componentsthe same way they work on schematic components.

Tag and link panel components

1 Open Convert-04.dwg.

2 Zoom in on the components in the middle of the drawing.

3 Click the Special Explode tool.

Projects ➤ Conversion Tools ➤ Special Explode


Select objects:

Tagging and Linking Panel Components | 275

Select push button lights A - D (including all graphics and text) (use eithersingle picks or window-select), right-click

The blocks explode into separate text entities and geometry.

The Tag Panel Component tool makes selected text entities an attributedblock file with the P_TAG1 attribute visible. The template block file(ACE_P_TAG1_CONVERT.DWG) contains attributes for a panelcomponent.

5 Click the Tag Panel Component tool.

Projects ➤ Conversion Tools ➤ Tag Panel ➤ Tag Panel Component


Select objects: Select 9PB, 10PB, 11PB, and 12 PB, right-click


The text changes color to indicate that it has been tagged. The color ofthe PTAG attribute is by layer. The attribute is the same layer as definedon the WD_M block.

7 Expand the Link Panel tool, and then click the Link Descriptionstool.

Projects ➤ Conversion Tools ➤ Link Panel ➤ Link Description




Select LIGHT A, right-click



Updating Panel or Schematic Components

Once a panel component has a component tag assigned, it is automaticallylinked to the related schematic component. Updates to either the schematicor panel component prompt an update to the related component.

Surf to the related schematic component


Projects ➤ Surfer


Select tag for “Surfer” trace (or <Enter> to type it): Select 9PB

3 In the Surf dialog box, double-click the component marked with type“p.”

Updating Panel or Schematic Components | 277

Surfer goes to the schematic drawing and zooms on the schematiccomponent.


5 In the Surf dialog box, click Edit.

6 In the Component Insert/Edit dialog box, change the description toLIGHT 1 and click OK.

The Update Other Drawings dialog box displays. This dialog alerts thatother drawings in the project set may include child components or relatedpanel components.


8 In the Update Other Drawings dialog box, click OK.


Projects ➤ Surfer


Select tag for “Surfer” trace (or <Enter> to type it): Select 9PB

11 In the Surf dialog box, double-click the component marked with type“#.”


Surfer goes to the panel layout drawing and zooms on the physicalrepresentation of the push button. Notice that the description for 9PBupdated to reflect the change you made to the schematic component.

12 In the Surf dialog box, click Close.

Updating Panel or Schematic Components | 279

280

Index

A

add connector pins 217add geometry 274Add Rung tool 68align components 80All Locations-Drawing dialog box 75, 82attributes 99, 101, 187, 269, 271, 276

add 99DESC1 101FAMILY 101INST 101link panel descriptions 276link schematics 269LOC 101move 187wire connections 271

AutoCAD Electrical Help 54

B

bill of material reports 255Bill of Materials Data Fields to Report

dialog box 260

C

catalog assignments 91, 177add 91

catalog lookup 92catalog numbers 73Change/Convert Wire Type dialog

box 170Circuit Builder 112, 114

configuration 114circuits 107, 112, 127, 129–130, 139

Circuit Builder 112insert saved circuits 130insert WBlocked circuits 139move 107save 127

save to icon menu 129command summary 3Component Data Fields to Report dialog

box 270component fence 148component tag 72components 72, 77, 80, 96, 127, 268

aligning 80child 77copy 127parent 72scooting 77swap 96tag 268

conduit marker toolbar 46Connector Layout dialog box 214connector pin descriptions 222connector pins 217–219

add 217move 218swap 219

connectors 203, 205, 215–216, 219–220, 222

insertion 203pin descriptions 222placement 205reverse 219rotate 220split 215stretch 216

conversion toolbar 36, 266convert text to wire numbers 273Create New Drawing dialog box 59, 226,

242Create New Project dialog box 56Create/Edit Wire Type dialog box 231,

243, 273Custom Pin Spaces/Breaks dialog

box 213

Index | 281

D

dashed link lines 88–89, 215destination signals 161dialog boxes 59, 73, 75, 79, 82–84, 86,

99, 110, 141, 143, 145–146, 148–152, 155, 157, 160–162, 164–165, 168–170, 174, 180, 182, 204–205, 208, 210–214, 226, 231, 242, 255–256, 258, 260–261, 270, 277

All Locations-Drawing 75, 82–84Bill of Materials Data Fields to

Report 260Change/Convert Wire Type 170Component Data Fields to

Report 270Connector Layout 214Create New Drawing 226, 242Create/Edit Wire Type 231Custom Pin Spaces/Breaks 213Edit PLC Module 152Edit Report 258I/O Address 146I/O Point 145Insert Connector 204–205, 212–213Insert New Ladder 141Insert/Edit Child Component 86Insert/Edit Component 75Insert/Edit Contact 79Keep 148–151Modify Line Reference Numbers 157Module Layout 145Multiple Wire Bus 110, 208, 210–

211Panel Layout-Component

Insert/Edit 180, 182Parts Catalog 73PLC I/O Module

Selection/Insert 143PLC I/O Wire Numbers 155Report Generator 256Save Report to File 261Schematic Component List - Panel

Layout Insert 174Schematic Components 174Schematic Reports 255

Select Template 59Sheet 4-Insert Destination

Code 162, 165Signal Codes-Proj-wide Source 162Signal-Source Code 160Source/Destination Signal

Arrows 161, 164Surf 277Symbol Builder 99Table Generation Setup 256Terminals 150Wire Tagging 168Wire Tagging (Project-wide) 169

dot tee markers 138drafting settings 226, 243drawing details 62drawing properties 61drawings 60–62

add 60descriptions 61in projects 60next 62previous 62reorder 60viewing within projects 62

E

edit components 86Edit PLC Module dialog box 152Edit Report dialog box 258exercises 53explode blocks 265extra libraries toolbar 50, 226

F

Footprint dialog box 177footprints 180, 186

aligning 186manual insertion 180

H

Help systems, AutoCAD Electrical 54

282 | Index

hydraulic symbols 227–229, 233, 236, 238–240

by-pass flow regulator 239checkvalve flow left 228, 238, 240filters 229, 239fixed displacement pump 228general valves 227, 236, 240insertion 227meters 236motors and pumps 228pressure gauge 236pressure relief valves 233reservoir 229restrictor with variable output

flow 239shut off valve open 227, 236single ended piston rod 239solenoid spring return 238uni-directional pump 228

I

I/O Address dialog box 146I/O Point dialog box 145Insert Connector dialog box 204–205,

212–213, 220Insert New Ladder dialog box 141Insert Pneumatic Component tool 242Insert Wire tool 69Insert/Edit Child Component dialog

box 86Insert/Edit Component dialog box 75Insert/Edit Contact dialog box 79item numbers 179

K

Keep dialog box 148–151

L

ladder rungs, removing 147ladders, single-phase 141linking tools 265Load or Reload Linetypes dialog box 245

M

main electrical 2 toolbar 18Modify Line Reference Numbers dialog

box 157Module Layout dialog box 145move connector pins 218multi-level terminals 120–122, 124multiple wire bus 110Multiple Wire Bus dialog box 110, 208,

210–211

N

name plates 186, 189–190insertion 189–190

New Drawing tool 59New Project tool 56

P

P&ID drawing 242p&id symbols 246–248, 251

ball mill 246conveyor 247dryer 248equipment 246field mounted instruments 248flow arrow down 251flow arrows 251gate valve 248mixer2 247

panel layout toolbar 30, 173Panel Layout-Component Insert/Edit

dialog box 180, 182panel level/sequencing toolbar 48parent/child relationships 71, 78, 131Parts Catalog dialog box 73, 91pin descriptions 222pipes 230, 249piping & instrumentation 242PLC I/O Module Selection/Insert dialog

box 143PLC I/O point descriptions 153PLC I/O Wire Numbers dialog box 155PLC modules 143

Index | 283

point-to-point tools 203power check toolbar 47prerequisites for exercises 54Project Manager 55–56project properties 57Project Properties dialog box 58projects 56

R

reference-based tags 57renumber terminals 134reorder drawings 60Report Generator dialog box 256reports 255, 257, 260–261

change format 260edit 257export to spreadsheet 261

reverse connectors 219rotate connectors 220

S

Save Report to File dialog box 261schematic bill of material reports 255schematic component 71Schematic Component List - Panel Layout

Insert dialog box 174Schematic Components dialog box 174Schematic Report dialog box 268, 270Schematic Reports dialog box 255schematic symbols 72, 78, 81–83, 85,

97, 147, 149blue press to test pilot lights 85green press to test pilot lights 82limit switch buttons 147miscellaneous switches 97normally open limit switches 147normally open push buttons 81normally open relays 78pilot lights 82, 85proximity switches 97push buttons 81, 83relays buttons 72, 78selector switches 85standard coils 72

terms and connectors 149scooting components 77Select Color dialog box 231, 244Select Linetype dialog box 231, 244Select Linetypes File dialog box 245Select Lineweight dialog box 244Select Template dialog boxes 59Sheet 4-Insert Destination Code dialog

box 162, 165Signal Codes-Proj-wide Source dialog

box 162Signal-Source Code dialog box 160signals 159, 161, 166

destination 161show 166source 159

Source/Destination Signal Arrows dialogbox 161, 164

stretch connectors 216surf components 277Surf dialog box 277surf symbols 94swap components 96swap connector pins 219symbol builder 98–99, 102, 104

add attributes 99add wire connection points 102saving the symbol 104

T

Table Generation Setup dialog box 256tag panel components 275tag schematic components 268tagging tools 265templates 59terminal strips 192terminal styles 102terminals 122, 134

associations 122, 134multi-level 122, 134properties 134renumber 134

Terminals dialog box 150terms and connectors 149

284 | Index

toolbar 3, 18, 30, 36, 46–48, 50conduit marker 46conversion 36extra libraries 50main electrical 3main electrical 2 18panel layout 30panel level/sequencing 48power check 47

Trim Wire tool 70

W

WBlock 104, 127, 138WD_M block 58wire connection points 69, 102wire connections 272

add 272

wire layers 67, 170wire numbers 168–169, 221, 273

automatic 168convert text 273move 221projects 169

Wire Tagging (Project-wide) dialogbox 169

Wire Tagging dialog box 168, 221wires 67–69, 109–110

multiple wire bus 110single-phase 68trimming 69, 109

X

xdata 188

Index | 285