Learning AutoCAD Electrical 2010 IEC - Volume 1 Slipstream

AutoCAD®

Electrical 2010

Autodesk Official Training Guide

Essentials

225B1-050000-CM03AJune 2009

Learning AutoCAD® Electrical 2010, Volume 1(IEC Standard)Using hands-on exercises, new users learn the basic commands necessaryfor creating professional electrical-controls production drawings.

© 2009 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.

Except as otherwise permitted by Autodesk, Inc., this publication, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced inany form, by any method, for any purpose.

Certain materials included in this publication are reprinted with the permission of the copyright holder.

Trademarks

The following are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USAand other countries: 3DEC (design/logo), 3December, 3December.com, 3ds Max, ADI, Algor, Alias, Alias (swirl design/logo),AliasStudio, Alias|Wavefront (design/logo), ATC, AUGI, AutoCAD, AutoCAD Learning Assistance, AutoCAD LT, AutoCADSimulator, AutoCAD SQL Extension, AutoCAD SQL Interface, Autodesk, Autodesk Envision, Autodesk Intent, AutodeskInventor, Autodesk Map, Autodesk MapGuide, Autodesk Streamline, AutoLISP, AutoSnap, AutoSketch, AutoTrack,Backburner, Backdraft, Built with ObjectARX (logo), Burn, Buzzsaw, CAiCE, Can You Imagine, Character Studio, Cinestream,Civil 3D, 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’sToolkit, DesignKids, DesignProf, DesignServer, DesignStudio, Design|Studio (design/logo), Design Web Format, Discreet,DWF, DWG, DWG (logo), DWG Extreme, DWG TrueConvert, DWG TrueView, DXF, Ecotect, Exposure, Extending the DesignTeam, Face Robot, FBX, Fempro, Filmbox, Fire, Flame, Flint, FMDesktop, Freewheel, Frost, GDX Driver, Gmax, GreenBuilding Studio, Heads-up Design, Heidi, HumanIK, IDEA Server, i-drop, ImageModeler, iMOUT, Incinerator, Inferno,Inventor, Inventor LT, Kaydara, Kaydara (design/logo), Kynapse, Kynogon, LandXplorer, Lustre, MatchMover, Maya,Mechanical Desktop, Moldflow, Moonbox, MotionBuilder, Movimento, MPA, MPA (design/logo), Moldflow PlasticsAdvisers, MPI, Moldflow Plastics Insight, MPX, MPX (design/logo), Moldflow Plastics Xpert, Mudbox, Multi-Master Editing,NavisWorks, ObjectARX, ObjectDBX, Open Reality, Opticore, Opticore Opus, Pipeplus, PolarSnap, PortfolioWall, Poweredwith Autodesk Technology, Productstream, ProjectPoint, ProMaterials, RasterDWG, Reactor, RealDWG, Real-time Roto,REALVIZ, Recognize, Render Queue, Retimer, Reveal, Revit, Showcase, ShowMotion, SketchBook, Smoke, Softimage,Softimage|XSI (design/logo), Sparks, SteeringWheels, Stitcher, Stone, StudioTools, Topobase, Toxik, TrustedDWG,ViewCube, Visual, Visual Construction, Visual Drainage, Visual Landscape, Visual Survey, Visual Toolbox, Visual LISP, VoiceReality, Volo, Vtour, Wire, Wiretap, WiretapCentral, XSI, and XSI (design/logo).

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Disclaimer

THIS PUBLICATION AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS MADE AVAILABLE BY AUTODESK, INC. “AS IS.”AUTODESK, INC. DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIEDWARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE REGARDING THESE MATERIALS.

Published by: Autodesk, Inc. 111 Mclnnis Parkway San Rafael, CA 94903, USA

iii

Contents

Introduction ............................................................................................... vi i

Chapter 1: Basic Workflow ........................................................................... 1Lesson: Navigating the Interface ......................................................................... 2

Environment Comparisons ........................................................................ 3About the Quick Access Toolbar ............................................................... 6About the Ribbon ...................................................................................... 7Changing Ribbon Settings and Display Options ........................................ 9Using the Application Menu ................................................................... 16Searching for Information Using InfoCenter ........................................... 21Exercise: Navigate the Interface .............................................................. 25

Lesson: Basic Workflow ..................................................................................... 27Basic Circuit Workflow ............................................................................ 28Exercise: Explore the Basic Circuit Workflow .......................................... 32

Chapter Summary ............................................................................................. 41

Chapter 2: Project Basics ............................................................................ 43Lesson: Project Manager ................................................................................... 44

About Project Files .................................................................................. 45About the Project Manager .................................................................... 48Creating New Projects ............................................................................. 54Exercise: Create a New Project ............................................................... 58

Lesson: Project Drawing List ............................................................................. 60About the Drawing List ........................................................................... 61Creating New Drawings ........................................................................... 63Editing the Project Drawing List .............................................................. 68About Drawing Descriptions and Sections .............................................. 75Adding Drawing Descriptions and Sections ............................................. 76Changing the Drawing List Display .......................................................... 78Project Batch Plotting ............................................................................. 82Exercise: Edit the Project Drawing List .................................................... 86

Lesson: Moving Through Projects ..................................................................... 90Selecting Drawings Using the Project Manager ...................................... 91About Opening the Previous or Next Project Drawing ............................ 94Searching Project Drawings Using the Surfer Tool .................................. 95Exercise: Move Through Project Drawings ............................................ 101

iv ■ Contents

Lesson: Managing Projects .......................................................................... 103Opening Projects ............................................................................... 104Activating and Closing Projects ......................................................... 107Copying Projects ............................................................................... 110Exercise: Copy Projects ..................................................................... 117

Chapter Summary ....................................................................................... 120

Chapter 3: Schematic Wiring ................................................................. 121Lesson: Wires and Ladders ......................................................................... 122

About Wires ...................................................................................... 123Inserting Wires .................................................................................. 127Layer Assignments ............................................................................ 131Trimming Wires ................................................................................. 132About Ladders and Rungs ................................................................. 136Referencing ....................................................................................... 138Inserting Ladders and Rungs ............................................................. 140Revising Ladders ................................................................................ 144Exercise: Insert a Ladder and Wires .................................................. 147

Lesson: Point-to-Point Wiring ...................................................................... 150Point-to-Point Style Drawings ........................................................... 151Point-to-Point Wiring Tools ............................................................... 152Using Point-to-Point Wiring Tools ..................................................... 156Exercise: Add Point-to-Point Wiring .................................................. 160

Lesson: Wire Numbers and Leaders ............................................................ 164About Wire Numbers and Leaders .................................................... 165Setting Wire Number and Leader Defaults ....................................... 169Automatically Adding Wire Numbers and Leaders ........................... 173Manually Adding and Editing Wire Copies and Leaders .................... 176Exercise: Add Wire Numbers ............................................................ 181

Lesson: Source and Destination Signals ...................................................... 185About Source and Destination Signals .............................................. 186Adding Source and Destination Signals ............................................. 187Exercise: Add Source and Destination Signal Arrows ........................ 194

Chapter Summary ....................................................................................... 201

Chapter 4: Schematic Components ....................................................... 203Lesson: Inserting Schematic Symbols .......................................................... 204

Schematic Symbol Insertion Process ................................................. 205About the Insert/Edit Component Dialog Box ................................... 209Selecting Existing Catalog Part Numbers ........................................... 219Creating Parent-Child Relationships .................................................. 223Exercise: Insert a Relay Coil and Child Contact ................................. 227

Lesson: Inserting Schematic Components from Lists .................................. 232About Equipment, Panel, and Catalog Lists ...................................... 233Inserting Components from Lists ...................................................... 235Exercise: Insert a Schematic Component from a Panel List ............... 248

Contents ■ v

Lesson: Connectors ..................................................................................... 253Inserting Connectors ......................................................................... 254Editing Connectors ............................................................................ 261Exercise: Add Connectors and Wiring ............................................... 267

Lesson: Terminals, Multiple Level Terminals, and Jumpers ......................... 271About Terminals and Jumpers ........................................................... 272About Multiple Level Terminals ........................................................ 275Inserting Terminals, Multiple Level Terminals, and Jumpers ............. 279Exercise: Create Terminal Jumpers and Associations ........................ 295

Lesson: Circuits ............................................................................................ 303About Circuits .................................................................................... 304Moving and Copying Circuits ............................................................ 306Inserting Wblocked Circuits .............................................................. 310Saving Circuits to an Icon Menu ....................................................... 313Inserting Saved Circuits ..................................................................... 319Exercise: Copy, Save, and Insert a Circuit .......................................... 323

Lesson: Multiple Phase Circuits ................................................................... 328Adding Multiple-Phase Wires ........................................................... 329Adding Three-Phase Components ..................................................... 334Exercise: Create a Three-Phase Circuit .............................................. 338

Chapter Summary ....................................................................................... 344

vi ■ Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

The Autodesk Learning team wishes to thank everyone who participated in thedevelopment of this project, with special acknowledgement to the authoringcontributions and subject matter expertise of Randy Brunette and BrunetteTechnologies, LLC. Brunette Technologies specializes in providing training, consulting, customization,and implementation services for AutoCAD® Electrical software. The company hasbeen creating courseware and other training material for Autodesk® since 2004. Randy J. Brunette is the owner of Brunette Technologies, LLC, and is located inChilton, Wisconsin. He has created custom training curriculum and professionalpresentations on a variety of subjects and is a top rated instructor at AutodeskUniversity.

vii

Introduction

Welcome to the Learning AutoCAD Electrical 2010 (IEC Standard) training guide for use in AuthorizedTraining Center (ATC®) locations, corporate training settings, and other classroom settings.

Although this guide is designed for instructor-led courses, you can also use it for self-paced learning.The guide encourages self-learning through the use of the AutoCAD® Electrical 2010 Help system.

This introduction covers the following topics:

■ Course objectives■ Prerequisites■ Using this guide■ CD contents■ Completing the exercises■ Installing the exercise data files from the CD■ Notes, tips, and warnings■ Feedback This guide is complementary to the software documentation. For detailed explanations of features andfunctionality, refer to the Help in the software.

Course Objectives

After completing this guide, you will be able to:

■ Describe the AutoCAD Electrical user interface and follow the basic electrical project designworkflow.

■ Manage projects and the multiple drawing and inter-drawing relationships contained in electricalprojects.

■ Insert wires, add wire numbers, manage circuits, and create point-to-point wiring diagrams anddrawings.

■ Insert and annotate schematic symbols.■ Edit drawings projectwide with commands that are specific to the electrical design environment.■ Extract information from drawings to create Bill of Material, Wiring, and other reports.■ Create and annotate panel layout drawings with lists of components that are extracted from

schematic drawings and with other specific panel layout tools, such as the Terminal Strip Editor.

viii ■ Introduction

Prerequisites

This guide is designed for new AutoCAD Electrical 2010 users. It is recommended that you have:

■ A background in electrical design (drafting and design experience is a plus).■ A working knowledge of AutoCAD®.■ A working knowledge of Microsoft® Windows® XP or Microsoft® Windows® Vista.

Using This Guide

The lessons are independent of each other. However, it is recommended that you completethe lessons in the order that they are presented, unless you are familiar with the concepts andfunctionality described in those lessons.

Each chapter contains:

■ Lessons Usually two or more lessons in each chapter.■ Exercises Practical, real-world examples for you to practice using the functionality you have just learned.

Each exercise contains step-by-step procedures and graphics to help you complete the exercisesuccessfully.

CD Contents

The CD attached to the back cover of this book contains all the data and drawings you need tocomplete the exercises in this guide.

Completing the Exercises

You can complete the exercise in two ways: using the book or on screen.

■ Using the book

Follow the step-by-step exercises in the book.■ On screen

Click the Learning AutoCAD Electrical 2010 IEC icon on your desktop, installed from the CD, andfollow the step-by-step exercises on screen. The onscreen exercises are the same as those in thebook. The onscreen version has the advantage that you can concentrate on the screen withouthaving to glance down at your book.

Introduction ■ ix

After launching the onscreen exercises, you might need to alter the size of your application window toalign both windows.

Installing the Exercise Data Files from the CD

To install the data files for the exercises:

1. Insert the CD. 2. Double-click the self-extracting archive setup.exe.

Unless you specify a different folder, the exercise files are installed in the following folder:

C:\Autodesk Learning\AutoCAD Electrical 2010\Learning IEC

After you install the data from the CD, this folder contains all the files necessary to complete eachexercise in this guide.

x ■ Introduction

Notes, Tips, and Warnings

Throughout this guide, notes, tips, and warnings are called out for special attention.

Notes contain guidelines, constraints, and other explanatory information.

Tips provide information to enhance your productivity.

Warnings provide information about actions that might result in the loss of data, systemfailures, or other serious consequences.

Feedback

We always welcome feedback on Autodesk Official Training Guides. After completing this course, ifyou have suggestions for improvements or if you want to report an error in the book or on the CD,please send your comments to [email protected].

Introduction ■ xi

Digital Prototyping

A digital prototype is created with Autodesk® Inventor® software and is a digital simulation of aproduct that can be used to test form, fit, and function. The digital prototype becomes more and morecomplete as all associated industrial, mechanical, and electrical design data are integrated. A completedigital prototype is a true digital representation of the entire end product and can be used to visualizeand simulate a product to reduce the necessity of building expensive physical prototypes.

xii ■ Introduction

What is Digital Prototyping?

Digital Prototyping gives conceptual design, engineering, and manufacturing departments theability to virtually explore a complete product before it becomes real. With Digital Prototyping,manufacturers can design, visualize, and simulate products from the conceptual design phase throughthe manufacturing process, boosting the level of communication with different stakeholders whilegetting more innovative products to market faster. By using a digital prototype created in Inventor,manufacturers can visualize and simulate the realworld performance of a design digitally, helpingreduce their reliance on costly physical prototypes.

What is the Autodesk Solution for Digital Prototyping?

Autodesk Inventor software takes manufacturers beyond 3D to Digital Prototyping. With Inventor,you can create a single digital model that gives you the ability to design, visualize, and simulate yourproducts:

■ Design: Integrate all design data into a single digital model, streamlining the design process and

increasing communication.■ Visualize: Create a virtual representation of the final product to review design intent, secure early

customer validation, and market products before they’re built.■ Simulate: Digitally simulate the real-world performance of your product, saving the time and

money required to build multiple physical prototypes. Inventor enables manufacturers to create a digital prototype, helping reduce reliance on costlyphysical prototypes and get more innovative products to market faster. The Autodesk® solution forDigital Prototyping brings together design data from all phases of the product development processinto a single digital model created in Inventor.

What Pain Points Does Digital Prototyping Address?

The manufacturing product development process today is dominated by islands of competency, eachpresenting its own technical challenges:

■ In the conceptual design phase, industrial designers and engineers often use paperbased methods

or digital formats that are incompatible with the digital information used in the engineeringphase. A lack of digital data, compatible formats, and automation keeps this island separate fromengineering—the conceptual design data must be recreated digitally downstream, resulting in losttime and money.

■ In the engineering phase, mechanical and electrical engineers use different systems and formats,and a lack of automation makes it difficult to capture and rapidly respond to change requests frommanufacturing. Another problem in the engineering phase: the geometric focus of typical 3D CADsoftware makes it difficult to create and use a digital prototype to validate and optimize productsbefore they are built, making it necessary to build multiple costly physical prototypes.

■ Manufacturing is at the downstream end of all the broken digital processes—the disconnectionbetween the conceptual design phase, the engineering components, electrical, and mechanical—and they receive this analog information in the form of drawings. The result is a heavy reliance onphysical prototypes and the subsequent impact on productivity and innovation.

■ Disconnected product development processes make it difficult to bring customer and marketingrequirements into the process early so customers can see exactly what the product will look likeand validate how it will function before it is delivered. The inability to involve the customer earlyin the product development process means that the customer can’t validate a design beforethe product goes to manufacturing. Customer requests for changes become exponentially moreexpensive to address the further along the product is in the manufacturing process. The result:companies have to build multiple physical prototypes for customer validation.

Introduction ■ xiii

Hasn't the Concept of Digital Prototyping Been Around for Years?

Although there has been talk about the benefits of Digital Prototyping for years, the budget for thetools required to build and test a true digital prototype has been out of reach for most manufacturingcompanies. Digital Prototyping solutions are usually expensive, customized installations for largeenterprises. Most out-of-the-box 3D modeling applications provide only part of the functionalityneeded to create a complete digital prototype.

What is Unique About the Autodesk Approach to Digital Prototyping? Scalable: The Autodesk solution for Digital Prototyping is scalable, flexible, and easy to integrate into

existing business processes. Using Inventor to create a single digital model, manufacturers can realizethe benefits of Digital Prototyping at their own pace, with minimal disruption to existing productiveworkflows. Attainable: The Autodesk solution for Digital Prototyping provides an easy to deploy and managesolution for mainstream manufacturers to create and maintain a single digital model that can be usedin all stages of production. Cost-effective: Delivering cost-effective software for design and manufacturing workgroups, anInventor-based Digital Prototyping solution delivers the fastest path to ROI. Autodesk has a provenrecord of making powerful desktop technology available to mainstream manufacturers.

How Do the Autodesk Manufacturing Products and Technology Drive Digital----Prototyping?

Inventor takes you beyond 3D to Digital Prototyping. The Autodesk solution for Digital Prototypingenables manufacturing workgroups to develop a single digital model, created in Inventor, that can beused in every stage of production—bridging the gaps that usually exist between conceptual design,engineering, and manufacturing teams. This single digital model simulates the complete product andgives engineers the ability to better design, visualize, and simulate their product with less reliance oncostly physical prototypes—thereby improving time to market, and increasing competitive advantage.Autodesk provides the interoperable tools required to create a complete digital prototype from theconceptual phase of a project through manufacturing.

xiv ■ Introduction

The Autodesk® Alias® product line enables you to work digitally from project outset using best-in-class industrial design tools. Capture ideas digitally—from initial sketches to 3D concept modelsusing products in the Alias product line—then share those designs with the engineering team usinga common file format, allowing a product’s industrial design data to be incorporated into the digitalprototype created in Inventor. Today, the look and feel of a machine or device is more important thanever for consumers, so industrial designers and engineers must share housing and user interfacesearly in the process.

With Autodesk® Showcase® software, you can quickly evaluate multiple design variations by creatingrealistic, accurate, and compelling imagery from 3D CAD data—helping reduce the time, cost, andneed for building physical prototypes. You can then interactively view the digital prototype in realisticenvironments, making it faster, easier, and less expensive to make design decisions. Autodesk Inventor software moves engineers beyond 3D and enables them to develop completedigital prototypes of their products. The Autodesk Inventor family of software provides the powerful—yet cost-effective and easy to learn—desktop technology engineers need to take advantage ofDigital Prototyping. Autodesk Inventor software enables engineers to integrate AutoCAD drawings and3D data into a single digital model, creating a virtual representation of the final product. Using thissingle digital model, you can design, visualize, and simulate products digitally. The model serves as adigital prototype that is refined and used to validate design functions, helping to reduce reliance onphysical prototypes and minimize manufacturing costs.■ Functional Design: Autodesk Inventor software products combine an intuitive 3D mechanical

design environment for creating parts and assemblies with functional design tools that enableengineers to focus on a design’s function, not geometry creation—letting the software drivethe automatic creation of intelligent components such as plastic parts, steel frames, rotatingmachinery, tube and pipe runs, and electrical cable and wire harnesses. Reducing the geometryburden helps engineers spend more time rapidly building and refining digital prototypes thatvalidate design functions and help optimize manufacturing costs.

Introduction ■ xv

■ DWG™ Interoperability: Inventor provides direct read and write of native DWG files whilemaintaining full associativity to the 3D model without risking inaccurate translations. (DWG fromAutodesk is the original format for storing and sharing design data when working with AutoCADsoftware. With billions of DWG files circulating throughout every industry, it’s one of the mostcommonly used design data formats.) This gives engineers the freedom to safely reuse valuable2D DWG files to build accurate 3D part models, then communicate insights gained from DigitalPrototyping with partners and suppliers that rely on AutoCAD software.

■ Dynamic simulation: Autodesk Inventor delivers the best integrated simulation tools in theindustry. Tightly integrated tools for calculation, stress, deflection, and motion simulation makeit possible for engineers to optimize and validate a digital prototype before the product is built.Simulation is performed based on real-world constraints, so you know you can rely on thesimulation results. The dynamic simulation tools in Inventor enable engineers to evaluate multiplepotential solutions to a motion problem, making it possible to make the best design decisions andavoid costly mistakes.

■ Documentation: Autodesk Inventor software includes comprehensive tools to generateengineering and manufacturing documentation directly from a validated 3D digital prototype,helping design teams communicate more effectively. Inventor combines the benefits of associativedrawing views, so any changes made to the model are reflected in the drawing—with the powerand widespread acceptance of the DWG format to help reduce errors and deliver the design inless time.

■ Routed Systems: Inventor software’s automated tools for designing routed systems, includingcomplex tube and pipe runs, and electrical cable and harness design, allow you to createand validate a more complete digital prototype, which helps reduce errors and ECOs prior tomanufacturing and get to market faster.

■ Tooling: The tooling capabilities of Inventor software give designers and engineers intelligent toolsand mold base catalogs to quickly and accurately generate mold designs directly from a digitalprototype. Using the Inventor digital prototype, mold, tool, and die manufacturers can validatethe form, fit, and function of a mold design before it’s built, reducing errors and improving moldperformance.

To help validate and optimize designs before manufacturing, you can use the broad range of finiteelement analysis (FEA) and simulation tools in Algor simulation software, which will enhance theAutodesk solution for Digital Prototyping.

xvi ■ Introduction

AutoCAD Mechanical software is built to help mechanical designers and drafters simplify complexmechanical design work, enhancing productivity. Quickly detail production drawings using industry-specific manufacturing tools, reducing errors and saving hours of time. AutoCAD, one of the world’sleading design and professional drafting software, plays an important role in Digital Prototypingworkflows. AutoCAD gives you the power and flexibility to explore, document, and communicateideas. Both AutoCAD Mechanical and AutoCAD software enable engineers to accurately documentdigital prototypes created in Inventor, and communicate insights gained from Digital Prototyping withcolleagues, partners, and suppliers that rely on AutoCAD software. AutoCAD® Electrical software passes electrical design intent information for cables and conductorsdirectly to Autodesk Inventor software, adding valuable electrical controls design data to the digitalprototype created in Inventor. Inventor users can pass wire-connectivity information to AutoCADElectrical and automatically create the corresponding 2D schematics. The smooth integration betweenInventor and AutoCAD Electrical helps your electrical and mechanical teams work collaboratively andefficiently on 2D and 3D mechatronic product designs.

Introduction ■ xvii

To optimize plastic part and injection mold designs, use Autodesk® Moldflow® injection moldingsimulation software.

Autodesk® 3ds Max® software enables you to leverage engineering data to create advanced software-rendered and -animated visualizations of digital prototypes created in Inventor. 3ds Max contains acomplete suite of CAD data preparation, modeling, effects, and rendering tools to create the highestquality photorealistic and stylistic still and animated visualizations. Autodesk® Navisworks® software for manufacturing enables manufacturing companies to visualizecomplete manufacturing facilities, industrial machinery, factory floor models, and production lines ina single environment. The software supports complete assembly visualization and optimization, andenables you to combine CAD data from various design systems regardless of file format or size. Autodesk’s data management tools allow design workgroups to manage and track all the designcomponents for a digital prototype, helping you to better reuse design data, manage bills of material,and promote early collaboration with manufacturing teams and clients. With the Autodesk® Vaultfamily of data management applications, design, engineering, and manufacturing workgroups canmanage the Digital Prototyping process by helping reduce time organizing files, avoid costly mistakes,and more efficiently release and revise designs. You can further facilitate Digital Prototyping workflowswith Autodesk® Design Review software, the all-digital way to review, measure, mark up, and trackchanges to designs—all without the original creation software.

What Can Customers Do with the Autodesk Solution for Digital Prototyping----Today?

Industrial designers use Autodesk Alias products to digitally sketch design ideas and create 3D digitalconcept models for validation that then can be shared with engineering or manufacturing teams.

Engineers use Autodesk Inventor to explore ideas with simple, functional representations that helpgenerate a digital prototype. Inventor software delivers the best bidirectional interoperability on themarket between 2D and 3D mechanical and electrical design applications. Integrated stress analysisand motion simulation help engineers optimize and validate complete designs digitally and confirmthat customer requirements are met even before a product is built.

Manufacturing teams benefit from accessing the most current and accurate data (release drawings,models, and BOMs)—avoiding mistakes caused by using outdated documents. They can provide

xviii ■ Introduction

expertise earlier in the engineering process by sharing the digital prototype with Autodesk’s DWF™(Design Web Format™) technology to communicate, mark up, and measure designs—moving one stepcloser to true paperless manufacturing processes.

What Are the Business Benefits of Digital Prototyping?

According to an independent study by the Aberdeen Group, best-in-class manufacturers use DigitalPrototyping to build half the number of physical prototypes as the average manufacturer, get tomarket 58 days faster than average, experience 48 percent lower prototyping costs, and ultimatelydrive greater innovation in their products. The Autodesk solution for Digital Prototyping helpscustomers achieve results like these.

Introduction ■ xix

How Does the Autodesk Solution for Digital Prototyping Help Get Customers----to Best-in-Class?

By giving you the tools to develop a complete digital prototype, Autodesk helps you build fewerphysical prototypes—and ultimately get to market ahead of the competition with more innovativeproducts. Autodesk’s position is that moving to 3D is only the first step in creating a digital prototype.In today’s increasingly competitive global market, being best in class means using technology to stayahead of the competition—incorporating Digital Prototyping into the product development processgives you that edge. Autodesk provides this functionality through a complete, easy-to-learn set ofdesign applications and a wide range of partners for consultation regarding what is needed to makeDigital Prototyping a reality.

xx ■ Introduction

What is the Market Saying about Digital Prototyping?■ “To be best-in-class is not just about moving from 2D to 3D, but rather to push ahead to digital

prototyping to answer questions about your product before you start to build it.”—Start-IT

■ “IDC believes that with its new definition of digital prototyping, Autodesk is offering a productdevelopment solution to SMBs that will strengthen their competitiveness and give them thefunctional tools and processes required to achieve product excellence and profitability for years tocome."—Gisela Wilson and Michael Fauscette, IDC

■ “One of the primary reasons manufacturers aim to capture more product informationelectronically is to digitally prototype their product. As a result, they can reduce physicalprototyping and in turn, save time and development costs.”—Aberdeen Group

■ “It [Autodesk] provides a comprehensive range of software solutions for the manufacturingindustry including its flagship 3D design offering, Autodesk Inventor. The solutions redefineproduct design process by supporting and connecting all disciplines of product development, fromindustrial design to mechanical and electrical engineering, and manufacturing.”—Design News

■ “The ability to not only visualize product development in 3D but also to simulate how that productwould perform in the physical world are among the benefits assigned to digital prototyping.Research from consulting firm Aberdeen Group, in fact, shows that the use of digital prototypesfor top-performing companies both reduces their product development costs and speeds up howquickly products get to market.”—IndustryWeek

■ “The latest Autodesk manufacturing solutions redefine the product design process by supportingand natively connecting all of the disciplines involved in product development, from industrialdesign to mechanical and electrical engineering and manufacturing.”—The Manufacturer

■ “The Digital Prototyping approach is now embraced by some important manufacturers who oncepromoted enterprise PLM, including Boeing. Its new 787 Dreamliner, like the 777 before it, wasdigitally designed, but the digital definition from engineering was pushed into manufacturing vianew processes that replaced DCAC/MRM.”—Nancy Rouse-Tally, Desktop Engineering

■ “Autodesk is doing what it has always been good at—taking a technology idea and giving it thetop 80% of functionality at 20% of the price. Digital Prototyping is no different. It takes the idea of‘expensive’ out of PLM and brings it down to all those other users.”—Rachael Dalton-Taggart, PR, Marketing and the Business of CAD

■ “Before Inventor, it would typically take me 18 months to bring a new design to market,” JasonFaircloth, product manager and designer for Marin Bikes, Inc. says. “The finite-element andmotion analysis software have enabled me to almost eliminate physical prototypes. Withthe software, it’s now nine months, and getting faster—and the product is better. This is ourfuture.” The CAE capabilities of Inventor Professional enabled Faircloth to produce multiple“digital prototypes” so that the time-consuming process of physical prototyping was reduced oreliminated.—Desktop Engineering

1

Chapter

1

Basic Workflow

This chapter describes the AutoCAD® Electrical version of AutoCAD® software. AutoCAD Electrical iscreated for electrical engineers who design industrial control systems. Along with the familiar AutoCADworking environment, an intuitive menu system is included that gives you access to many industry-specific tools that automate the electrical control system's design process. AutoCAD Electrical is aneffective design tool for you to use to create schematics, diagrams, layouts, and related reports fasterand more accurately than using AutoCAD software.

Objectives

After completing this chapter, you will be able to:

■ Navigate the user interface areas of ribbons, the Quick Access toolbar, the application menu, andthe InfoCenter.

■ Describe and execute the basic steps required to create or edit an AutoCAD Electrical circuit.

2 ■ Chapter 1: Basic Workflow

Lesson: Navigating the Interface

In this lesson you learn about the design environment and changes to the user interface. You learnabout the Quick Access toolbar, ribbon, Application menu, and how to search for information usingInfoCenter. When changes are made to the user interface of a software application, there is the potential forusers to have feelings of anxiety or frustration. By learning about the changes and enhancements tothe user interface, you will not lose any efficiency when navigating the user interface to create andmodify your designs. In the following illustration, a portion of the user interface is shown after initially starting AutoCADElectrical.

Objectives

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

■ Describe and compare AutoCAD Electrical with AutoCAD, including symbol libraries and searchpaths.

■ Describe the purpose and controls of the Quick Access toolbar.■ Describe the function and general characteristics of the ribbon.■ Set the ribbon and its panels to display the tools you want access to.■ Access tools and options on the Application menu.■ Locate helpful information using InfoCenter.

Lesson: Navigating the Interface ■ 3

Environment Comparisons

The AutoCAD Electrical environment differs only slightly from the familiar AutoCAD interface. Alongwith Electrical-specific commands, other enhancements include Electrical symbol libraries and morepowerful search path options. Knowing these differences can help you to learn the AutoCAD Electricalinterface more quickly.

About AutoCAD Compatibility

AutoCAD Electrical is not just compatible with AutoCAD. It is AutoCAD. AutoCAD Electrical iscompletely integrated with AutoCAD software, and it shares the same commands and functionality.Automated and enhanced commands have been added to AutoCAD Electrical to help you createschematic drawings.

Electrical intelligence is stored in the drawings, mainly in the form of attributed blocks. Because theelectrical information is stored in the drawing and not in a proprietary database, you can manipulatethe drawings with any program that you can use to edit standard DWG™ files without corrupting thedrawing and electrical intelligence.


Familiar AutoCAD Environment

The AutoCAD Electrical menu system has many industry-specific tools that automate the electricalcontrol systems' design process. With the familiar AutoCAD working environment, you can useAutoCAD commands in AutoCAD Electrical for normal operations. Many AutoCAD Electrical functionsare powerful AutoCAD macros, and other product functions use AutoCAD programming languages tocreate electrical industry-specific commands.

AutoCAD Electrical produces generic AutoCAD objects in generic AutoCAD drawings. Everythingautomatically created by AutoCAD Electrical can be completed with a sequence of AutoCAD manualoperations. Consequently, AutoCAD Electrical drawings can be edited with AutoCAD, or AutoCAD LT®,without corrupting or damaging AutoCAD Electrical functionality.

Symbols and Footprints

All AutoCAD Electrical schematic blocks, or symbols, are standard AutoCAD blocks using acombination of attributes and xdata to enhance the block's intelligence. Symbols typically rely moreon attributes, while panel layout blocks, or footprints, rely more on xdata.

Symbol as inserted Exploded symbol

You can create symbols with generic AutoCAD block creation tools or with the AutoCAD ElectricalSymbol Builder wizard. The Symbol Builder wizard automates many manual tasks, including thecreation, sizing, and placing of symbol attributes.

To differentiate between the two types of blocks, schematic blocks are usually referred

to as symbols and panel layout blocks are usually referred to as footprints. Both symbolsand footprints are referred to as components.


Symbol Libraries

Several electrical symbol libraries are included with AutoCAD Electrical. These libraries include:■ Two sizes of JIC symbols, JIC1 and JIC125 (Joint Industrial Council - United States)■ Two sizes of IEC symbols, IEC2, and IEC4 (International Electromechanical Commission - Europe)■ One size of GB symbols (Gua Biao - Chinese)■ One size of JIS symbols (Japanese Industrial Standard)■ One size of AS symbols (Australian Standard)

Directory listing of available libraries

Also included are several libraries of symbols for design processes other than Electrical schematics.These libraries include the following symbols.

Type

Symbols included

Hydraulic Filters, valves, cylinders, pressure switches, motors, pumps, meters, restrictors, quickdisconnects, flow arrows, and other miscellaneous components that all adhere to theNFPA/T3.10.4R1-1990 and AS1101.1-1993 standards.

Pneumatic Operators, valves, flow paths, filters, regulators, cylinders, meters, motors, quickdisconnects, mufflers, manifolds, flow arrows, and other miscellaneous components.

P & ID Equipment, tanks, nozzles, pumps fittings, valves, actuators, logic functions,instrumentation, flow, flow arrows that all adhere to the ANSI/ISA S5.1 instrumentationstandard.

One-line Library symbols for the creation of one-line style diagrams. The symbols are similar inappearance to schematic symbols.


About the Scratch Database

AutoCAD Electrical automatically maintains a scratch database, which reflects a project drawing’sintelligence and is updated as the drawings are changed. The database carries a snapshot of the blockand attribute information carried in the project’s drawing files so that projectwide functions can beprocessed more efficiently.

There is no need for you to manage the database; the drawing is the data storage area. If the scratchdatabase is lost or corrupted, it is re-created automatically from the data stored in the projectdrawings.

About the Quick Access Toolbar

The tools you access most often vary depending on the industry you work in and your specific duties.To help you work as efficiently as possible, you need to have an understanding of the purpose andcapabilities of the Quick Access toolbar.

Definition of the Quick Access Toolbar

The Quick Access toolbar is a toolbar located above or below the ribbon. By default it is locatedabove the ribbon just to the right of the Application menu. The Quick Access toolbar contains thetools you want frequent and instant access to. You can customize the Quick Access toolbar by addingand removing tools so only tools you need are listed. You modify the Quick Access toolbar using theoptions in the shortcut menu.

Example of the Quick Access Toolbar

In the following illustration, two different settings for tools are shown in the Quick Access toolbar.The AutoCAD default configuration of tools is shown first and the AutoCAD Electrical configuration isunder it. In the AutoCAD Electrical configuration, the user requires frequent access to Previous ProjectDrawing, Next Project Drawing, and Surfer; therefore, those tools were added for easier and quickeraccess.

AutoCADConfiguration

AutoCADElectricalConfiguration


About the Ribbon

In AutoCAD Electrical 2010, the location where you access the majority of tools was changed from thetoolbars and palettes to the ribbon. In the following illustration, schematic editing is taking place. Partof the Schematic tab on the ribbon is shown with the tools for creating schematic drawings.

Definition of the Ribbon

The ribbon is an aspect of the user interface that provides easy access to AutoCAD Electrical toolsthrough a collection of tabs. Each tab contains multiple panels and each panel contains multiple tools.The position and layout of the panels on the tabs and the tools in a panel are based on the mostcommon frequency of use. Some tools are available after expanding the panel while other tools maybe in a flyout, similar to a toolbar. The display and organization of the ribbon follows the idea and workflow of having only the tools youneed for the task at hand. Tools for unrelated tasks or tools that are used very infrequently are eithernot shown or are accessible in a flyout in the panel. If your workflow or designs require a differentlayout or organization of tools, you can customize the position and appearance of the ribbon, thepanels displayed on the tabs, and the tools displayed on a panel.


Example of the Ribbon

In the following illustrations, tabs are shown for the ribbon for managing projects, working with panellayout drawings, and creating reports.


Changing Ribbon Settings and Display Options

There are a number of settings and changes you can easily make to customize how you interact withthe ribbon and how it is displayed. To set the ribbon and its panels to display the tools you want accessto, you need to know what changes can be made and where to make those changes.

In the following illustration, the ribbon is shown in its default display and again after making somechanges to the way it is displayed.


Ribbon Position

By default the ribbon is displayed at the top of the application. You can also set the ribbon to bedisplayed docked on the left or right sides of the application window or set to float anywhere on thescreen. In the following illustration, the position of the ribbon was changed from its default top position to bedocked on the left. The display of the tools in the panels is also changed to better suit this position.

Ribbon Tab Order

If you want the tabs on the ribbon to be displayed in a different order, you can change the tab orderby dragging them to a new location. The tab's new position is between the two tabs where youdropped the tab being moved.

In the following illustration, the Panel tab is shown in the process of being reordered and after beingreordered.


Tab Display - Full or Minimized

The tabs have three different options for how they are displayed. You can set to display all the panelson the active tab, only the panel titles on the active tab, or only the tabs themselves. The primarydifference between these settings is the amount of screen area the ribbon covers and how you accessa tool on a panel on a tab. When set to show the full ribbon, with the proper tab already active, youstart a tool by clicking the tool on the panel. When set to display only the panel titles, prior to clickingthe tool, you first move the cursor over or click the panel where the tool resides. When set to displayonly the tabs, you first click the tab and then the tool on the panel.

Show Full Ribbon

Minimize to Panel Titles

Minimize to Tabs


You switch between the tab display settings by right-clicking in the ribbon and then clicking Minimizeas shown, or you click the identified option to cycle through the display settings.

Panels per Tab

You can add or remove panels from a tab based on a set list of panels for the active tab. The availablepanels and what you have set to display vary from one tab to another. You toggle on or off the displayof a panel on a tab by right-clicking anywhere on the ribbon and then clicking Panels. You then clickthe name of the panel you want to toggle on or off. In the following illustration, the list of panels that can be toggled on and off for the Model tab areshown being accessed.


Panel Location

Panels can move to a new position on the tab or you can move it off the ribbon and display it as afloating panel. When the panel is floating, you can place it anywhere on the screen. To reposition thepanel on the ribbon or move it off the ribbon to have it float, click the title of the panel and then dragit to the desired location. To put a floating panel back on the ribbon, drag it back on the ribbon or clickReturn Panels to Ribbon on the floating panel.


Tooltips

When you move your cursor over a tool on a ribbon panel, a tooltip displays the name and a briefdescription. When you move the cursor over the tool a little longer, the tooltip expands to displayadditional textual and graphical information if additional information is available.


You can specify at which level tooltips are displayed and how long you wait before they are displayed.You make these setting changes in the Options dialog box, Display tab, Window Elements area.


Using the Application Menu

Each area of the user interface enables you to accomplish different tasks. To efficiently utilize theApplication menu, you need to understand the purpose of the Application menu and where and howto access its tools and options.

Application Menu

The Application menu is displayed after clicking the AutoCAD Electrical product icon in the upper-left corner of the application window. You use the Application menu to perform common tasks suchas opening and closing files, accessing tools, searching for tools, modifying application options, andexiting AutoCAD Electrical.

To expand the menu list for a menu item so that you can access the tools related to that item, youmust first either move the cursor over the menu item until the menu expands or click the right arrow.


In the following illustration, the Application menu for Print has been expanded so the tools within thatmenu can be accessed.

Viewing a List of Recent and Open Files

When you first display the Application menu, a listing of files is displayed in the menu. This list of filesis either a list of recently accessed files or a list of currently opened files. You toggle between showingthe list of recent documents and open documents by clicking the corresponding button to the leftof the list title. By default the list is ordered. You have other options for how you want the files to bedisplayed. You can change the file list to display different size icons or different size preview images.

In the following illustration, a portion of the Application menu and file list is shown with both file listsettings active. On the left, the list for recent documents is shown and the Recent Documents optionis identified. On the right, the list of currently open files is shown with the Open Documents optionidentified.


In the following illustration, the list of files has been set to display with small images. The option forselecting between icons and images and their size is shown being accessed.

In the following illustration on the left, the option for setting how the file list is sorted is shown beingaccessed. The results for organizing the list by type of file are shown on the right.

As you open different files, the list of recently opened documents updates accordingly. If you want adocument to continue to display in the list even after opening multiple files since the last time youopened the document, click the pin icon to the right of the file name. When the icon is displayed as a


pin pushed in, that document continues to be displayed in the list. Click the pin icon again to allow itto be removed from the list and return the icon back to a side view of a pin. In the following illustration, the document Side Exhaust Manifold.iam has been pinned to the list ofrecent documents.

When you move the cursor over a file in the Recent or Open Documents list, a tooltip is displayedwith information about that file. Along with information such as the file location and the date it wasmodified, a preview image is also displayed.


Searching in the Application Menu

There is a search tool within the Application menu that enables you to quickly locate and launch toolsthat you may not frequently use and need help finding. This tool is a real-time search that begins themoment you start typing in the search field. The following illustration shows the Application menu with the search field identified.

You can enter any text character, symbol, or number in the search field and it is not case sensitive. Theresults for a search depend on the environment that is currently active. Along with the name of thetool in the search results, the list also displays which ribbon tab and panel the tool can be accessedfrom. When the tool you want to use is displayed in the search results, you can start that tool byclicking it in the list. If you press ENTER while your cursor is in the search field, the first search resultin the list is automatically selected and the tool is executed. Any tool that is returned in the list butcannot be currently executed is disabled and appears dimmed. In the following illustration, the word insert is being entered into the search field. All tools that beginwith Insert are listed.


Searching for Information Using InfoCenter

A key part of your continual learning is knowing how and where to get more information when youneed it. By understanding the what, where, and why of InfoCenter, you can locate the information youneed.

InfoCenter

The InfoCenter is a collection of tools located on the right end of the main AutoCAD Electrical windowtitle bar. You use these tools to help you learn and relearn as efficiently as possible. The tools withinInfoCenter include:

■ A search engine.■ Quick access to Subscription Center.■ Communication Center access.■ A listing of Favorites.■ The Help menu.

InfoCenter Search

The InfoCenter search engine enables you to quickly search for the most relevant information for theword or phrase you enter into the search field. The default search looks through all AutoCAD andAutoCAD Electrical Help systems. Instead of searching all locations, you can specify a single location tosearch for information. You specify the location for a search by displaying the Search menu and thenselecting the appropriate option.


In the following illustration, the Search menu is shown being accessed so that a specific searchlocation can be specified.

Clicking Search Settings on the Search menu displays the InfoCenter Settings dialog box. Within thisdialog box, you can specify which locations are included in the default search and how many itemsto display. You can also include additional search locations so that if you have company-specific helpinformation you can configure InfoCenter to have those files searched. Along with configuring thesearch locations, within this dialog box you can also configure the general InfoCenter settings and theCommunication Center settings.


InfoCenter Communication Center

The Communication Center enables you to access RSS feeds and knowledge base information. Byconfiguring the CAD Manager Channel in the InfoCenter Settings dialog box, you can also reviewinternally published content. The Communication Center also provides notifications regarding updatedsoftware and subscription content updates. In the following illustration, the top part of the Communication Center list is shown. The first categoryis the RSS feeds.

InfoCenter Favorites

The Favorites list displays the topics you have identified as a topic you want to quickly access. You addand remove topics from the Favorites list by clicking the star icon that is displayed to the right of thelink.


In the following illustration, the Quick Reference help information on parts lists was added to theFavorites list.

Help

When you click Help within InfoCenter, the AutoCAD Electrical Help window is displayed. By firstdisplaying the Help menu, you can access an area related to help or a specific help topic.


Exercise: Navigate the Interface In this exercise, you become familiar with the user interface. You access tools from the ribbon and QuickAccess toolbar, adjust the display of the ribbon, set which panels to display on a ribbon tab, review helpinformation, and search for a command.

The completed exercise.

Completing the ExerciseTo complete the exercise, followthe steps in this book or in theonline exercise. In the online list ofchapters and exercises, click Chapter 1:Navigating the Interface. Click Exercise:Navigate the Interface.

Use the Ribbon and Help In this section of the exercise, you access tools fromthe ribbon and use different help tools to locate tools. 1.

On the ribbon, review the list of tabs. Clickdifferent tabs to activate them and brieflyreview which panels are displayed on thosetabs.

2.

On the Project tab, Project Tools panel, movethe cursor over the Manager tool. Afterremaining stationary for a couple of seconds,the tooltip display expands to display helpinformation for the tool.


3.

To search for the Pin List Database Editor tool:■ Click to expand the Application menu.■ In the search field, enter Pin List.■ Notice the search list includes the ribbon

location for the tool.

4.

To start the Pin List Database Editor tool, in thesearch results list, click Pin List Database Editor.

5.

In the Select Pin List Table dialog box, clickCancel.

Adjust the Ribbon Display In this section of the exercise, you adjust the displayof the ribbon and include another panel to bedisplayed on a ribbon tab. 1.

To add the display of a tab to the ribbondisplay:

■ Right-click anywhere on the ribbon.■ On the shortcut menu, click Tab > View.

2.

To begin reviewing some of the display optionsfor the ribbon panels, on the ribbon to theright of the Conversion Tools tab, click thedown arrow to toggle the ribbon to its nextminimize display state.

3.

To display the tools in the panels, move thecursor over a panel name.

4.

Click the same down arrow located to the rightof the Conversion Tools tab twice to toggle theribbon and return its display to the full ribbon. This completes the exercise.

Lesson: Basic Workflow ■ 27

Lesson: Basic Workflow

Understanding the basics of the design process can help you when you adapt AutoCAD Electrical toyour design methods and standards. This lesson describes the basic workflow of AutoCAD Electricaldesign. Although some methods are used more often than others, many methods are available. For example,you may start with a panel layout to determine and order components that require a long lead time.Then you can extract a component list from the panel layout to design the schematic. Or maybe youdesign your schematics in a point-to-point style, laying out components in empty areas of the drawingand then connecting the components with wires. AutoCAD Electrical automatically connects thesecomponents as wires are drawn across them.

Objectives


■ Describe and perform many of the basic steps necessary to complete an electrical design.


Basic Circuit Workflow

One of the more frequently used styles for electrical design is drawing a ladder and rungs, and theninserting components from the icon menu system. Basic commands are described for a generaloverview of AutoCAD Electrical functionality.

A typical reset circuit including rungs, components, and wire numbers


Process: Basic Circuit Workflow

The following is an overview of the schematic ladder-style design process.

1. Set the drawing properties options to match your company or project standards for component tagreferencing, symbol libraries, ladder numbering, and other design parameters.

2.

Add ladders, rungs, or wires to your schematic drawing.


3.

Select the components to be added by browsing through the icon menu system.

4.

Select the insertion location point of the symbol. The symbol is inserted and automatically trims andconnects to the underlying wire.


5.

In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, enter the component information, including part-numberlookups from a database, description and location code assignments, and pin-number checking andassignments.

6.

Add wire numbers and cross-referencing.

7.

At any point during the design process, you can generate Bill of Material, Wiring, and other reports.


Exercise: Explore the Basic Circuit Workflow In this exercise, you create a simple electrical controlcircuit. You complete the following steps:■ Insert ladder rungs and a push button.■ Insert push-button components and add part-

catalog information.■ Add a second push button and a relay coil.■ Add a light and wire numbers and generate a Bill

of Material report.

The completed exercise

Completing the ExerciseTo complete the exercise, follow thesteps in this book or in the onscreenexercise. In the onscreen list ofchapters and exercises, click Chapter 1:Basic Workflow. Click Exercise: Explorethe Basic Circuit Workflow.

Insert Ladder Rungs and a Push Button 1.

If the Project Manager is not displayed, on theProject tab, Project Tools panel, click Manager.

2.

In the Project Manager, right-click in an emptyarea. Click Open Project.

3.

Browse to where you installed the exercisefiles and select Basic_Workflow_IEC.wdp. ClickOpen.

4.

On the Project Manager, double-clickBasic_Workflow_IEC to expand the drawinglist.

5.

Right-click Basic_Workflow_IEC_06.dwg. ClickOpen.


6.

Zoom in to the left side of the drawing. Makesure both the positive and 0 volt wires aredisplayed.

7.

On the Schematic tab, Edit Wires/WireNumbers panel, click Add Rung to add tworungs to the ladder at location references 1and 2.

8.

Select the insertion points for two rungs atlocation references 1 and 2. (These will be atthe x values of 70 and 110, respectively.) Note: Be sure to click anywhere between thehorizontal buses, rather than on the bus.

9.

Notice that the rung automatically snaps tothe nearest rung reference (if available) andadds connection symbols as necessary.

10.

On the Schematic tab, Insert Componentspanel, click Icon Menu to insert the firstcomponent, which is a push button to resetthe circuit.

11.

In the Insert Component: IEC: SchematicSymbols dialog box, click Push Buttons.

12.

In the IEC: Push Buttons dialog box, click PushButton NO Momentary.

13.

Select the insertion point on the left rung, nearthe upper end.

14.

Now you annotate the component, addingdescription and catalog information. Youcan manually enter the desired information,but AutoCAD Electrical provides many toolsfor entering the information from variousreference files. In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box,notice that AutoCAD Electrical automaticallyassigns the tag name -06S1. Under Description, click Defaults.


15.

In the Descriptions dialog box, click System|Reset. Click OK.

16.

Under Catalog Data, click Project.

17.

In the Find: Catalog Assignments dialog box,click Active Project. Click OK.

18.

In the Qsave dialog box, click OK to save thecurrent drawing, ensuring that the drawing filedata is up to date.

19.

AutoCAD Electrical searches all of the drawingsin the current project and lists any pushbuttons found in the HPB11/VPB11 CatalogValues (This Project) dialog box.

20.

Select AB, 800EP-F2. Click OK. Notice that AutoCAD Electrical transfersthe catalog data, including the subassemblyinformation, into the Insert/Edit Componentdialog box.

21.

Click OK. This completes the insertion of the pushbutton. This same basic process is repeated formost component insertions.

Add a Second Push Button and a Relay Coil 1.

On the Schematic tab, Insert Componentspanel, click Icon Menu to add an emergencystop push button.


2.

In the Insert Component: IEC: SchematicSymbols dialog box, click Push Buttons.

3.

In the IEC: Push Buttons dialog box, clickMushroom Head NC Momentary.

4.

Select the insertion point near the middle ofthe left rung.

5.

In the Insert/Edit Component dialogbox, notice that AutoCAD Electrical hasautomatically entered the tag name as -06S2.Because this is the second push buttoninserted, AutoCAD Electrical increments thelast push button number automatically. This drawing had the Automatic Numberingoption set to Sequential. If the numbering wasbased on the component location, the secondpush button on the same rung would have asuffix such as "A" appended to it.

6.

In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box,under Descriptions, click Defaults.

7.

In the Descriptions dialog box, selectEmergency|Stop.

8.

In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box,under Catalog Data, click Lookup.

9.

In the Parts Catalog (Table: PB) dialog box,you can browse the parts catalog database tofind the desired part number. You filter theavailable options using the edit boxes at thetop of the dialog box. Select the part number 800T-D6A. Click OK.

10.

Notice that the information is transferred intothe Insert/Edit Component dialog box.

11.

Click OK. This completes the push button insertion.


12.

On the Schematic tab, Insert Componentspanel, click Icon Menu to add an emergencystop push button.

13.

In the Insert Component: IEC: SchematicSymbols dialog box, click Relays/Contacts.

14.

In the IEC: Relays and Contacts dialog box, clickRelay Coil.

15.

Select the insertion point for the relay coil onthe left rung, near the bottom, directly to theleft of -06K2.

Notice that AutoCAD Electrical hasautomatically assigned the component tagname as -06K1.

16.

In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box,under Description, click Defaults.

17.

In the Descriptions dialog box, select MasterControl|Relay. Click OK.

18.

In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box,under Catalog Data, click Lookup.

19.

In the Parts Catalog (Table: CR) dialog box,select the part number 700-P200A1. Click OK.

20.

In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, clickOK.

21.

You can easily edit component insertionswith built-in utilities. To move the Descriptionattribute to the outside of the ladder in thesame way as the other relay coils on thedrawing, do the following:■ Right-click -06K1.■ Click Attributes > Move Attribute.■ Enter W.■ Press ENTER.■ Select the Master Control and Relay

attributes.■ Press ENTER.■ Select the Base point.■ Select the desired To point.■ Press ENTER.

Note: Changing the justification requires youto use the AutoCAD Properties command.

Add Wire Branches and Relay Coil ChildContacts 1.

On the Schematic tab, Insert Wires/WireNumbers panel, click Wire to add two wiresthat create connecting branches for the circuit.

2.

For the wire start point, select a point on theleft rung between -06K1 and -06S2.


3.

Select the wire endpoint on the right rung,directly to the right of the wire start point. Notice that AutoCAD Electrical adds angledwire connections automatically.

4.

For the second wire branch, select the wirestart point on the left rung between -06S1 and-06S2.

5.

Select the wire endpoint on the right rung,directly to the right of the wire start point.Press ENTER.

6.

On the Schematic tab, Edit Wires/WireNumbers panel, click Trim Wire to trim thewire on the right rung between the two wirebranches that you added.


7.

Select a point on the right rung between thetwo wire branches you added.

Notice that AutoCAD Electrical removed theselected wire. If the angled connections areno longer needed, AutoCAD Electrical alsoremoves them.

8.

On the Schematic tab, Insert Componentspanel, click Icon Menu to add a contact from-06K1. This contact will latch the circuit when-06K1 is activated.

9.

In the Insert Component: IEC: SchematicComponents dialog box, click Relays/Contacts.

10.

In the IEC: Relays and Contacts dialog box, clickRelay NO Contact.

11.

Select the insertion point on the right rung,directly to the right of -06S1. This is a child contact of the parent coil.

12.

In the Insert/Edit Child Component dialog box,under Component Tag, click Parent/Sibling toselect the parent coil and transfer data fromthe parent to the child.

13.

In the drawing, select anywhere on -06K1. 14.

In the Insert/Edit Child Component dialogbox, click OK to transfer data such as the tag,description, and pin numbers to the childcomponent.

Add a Light and Wire Numbers andGenerate a BOM Report 1.

On the Schematic tab, Insert Componentspanel, click Icon Menu to insert a red light tosignal when the circuit is engaged.


2.

In the Insert Component: IEC: SchematicSymbols dialog box, click Pilot Lights.

3.

In the IEC: Pilot Lights dialog box, clickStandard Lights.

4.

In the IEC: Standard Lights dialog box, click RedLight.

5.

Select the insertion point on right rung,directly right of -06K1.

6.

Instead of using the description defaults, youmanually enter the description. In the Insert / Edit Component dialog box, inthe Description area, for Line 1, enter POWER.

7.

For Line 2, enter ON. 8.

Under Catalog Data, click Lookup. 9.

In the Parts Catalog (Table: LT) dialog box,select AB, 800H-PR16R. Click OK.

10.


11.

On the Schematic tab, Insert Wires/WireNumbers panel, click Wire Numbers to addwire numbers.

12.

In the Wire Tagging dialog box, click Drawing-Wide. The drawing is searched for wire networks. Awire number is placed on each network found.

13.

The last step is to extract a Bill of Materialreport from the components in the drawing. On the Reports panel, Schematic tab, clickReports.

14.

In the Schematic Reports dialog box, in theReport Name area, select Bill of Material.


15.

In the Bill of Material area, click ActiveDrawing. Click OK.

16.

In the Qsave dialog box, click OK. A Bill of Material report is generated fromcomponent data within the drawing. You cansave the report to any of five different fileformats, or place on the drawing in the form ofa table.

17.

In the Report Generator dialog box, click Close. This completes the exercise.

Chapter Summary ■ 41

Chapter Summary

In this chapter you learned about the AutoCAD Electrical version of AutoCAD software.

AutoCAD Electrical is created for electrical engineers who design industrial control systems. Along withthe familiar AutoCAD working environment, an intuitive menu system is included that gives you accessto many industry-specific tools that automate the electrical control systems design process. AutoCADElectrical is an effective design tool for you to create schematics, diagrams, layouts, and related reportsfaster and more accurately than using AutoCAD software.


Chapter Overview ■ 43

Chapter

2

Project Basics

This chapter describes the project-based system used by AutoCAD® Electrical to manage the multipledrawings and inter-drawing relationships contained in most electrical projects. Understanding how thissystem works is essential to increasing your efficiency and creating accurate electrical designs.

Objectives


■ Use the Project Manager to create new projects and open existing ones, and activate and closeprojects.

■ Display the Project Manager drawing list, including adding and removing drawings from the list,change the list display configuration, change the drawing order, and edit the drawing properties.

■ Open project drawings using the Project Manager drawing list, the Previous and Next Drawingcommands, and the Surfer utility.

■ Open, close, activate, and copy projects.

44 ■ Chapter 2: Project Basics

Lesson: Project Manager

This lesson describes how to use the Project Manager to manage your project files, create new files,open existing files, close open files, and activate project files as required. Using the Project Manager, you can quickly switch between different active projects. The projects canhave completely different symbol libraries, part number databases, and drawing configurations. Allthe settings that the project references change as the project changes.

Project Manager displaying the preview of a drawing

Objectives


■ Describe a project file and the information it contains.■ Display open and active projects with the Project Manager.■ Create a new project with the Project Manager.

Lesson: Project Manager ■ 45

About Project Files

Usually an electrical project requires more than one drawing to convey all of the necessary designinformation. In AutoCAD Electrical, you use a project file to manage the group of drawings.

Definition of a Project File

A project file is an ASCII text file with a .wdp extension that stores information about a project. Aproject file contains some of the following information:■ Project description lines■ Project default settings■ Project drawing list, including:

❏ Complete path information❏ Drawing description lines❏ Section and subsection assignments

■ Other miscellaneous catalog and symbol library settings

To ensure consistency throughout the project drawings, the project settings you store in the projectfile are referenced when you create or add new drawings to a project. A single project file can find anunlimited number of drawings located in many different directories.

A project file is not needed if the project consists of a single drawing.

By default, project files are stored in the directory pointed to by the WD_PROJ setting in yourenvironment file, but the project files can be stored in any subdirectory. The location of the projectfile is used early in the file search path. Custom drawing files, symbol libraries, and other referencefiles can be stored in the project directory so that you can easily change configurations for separateprojects.


Project File Example

The following is an example of a typical project file.

Lines starting with "*[n]" are project description lines.

Lines starting with "?[n]" are drawing default settings.

Lines starting with "+[n]" are projectwide settings.

Lines starting with "=" are drawing section labels. Lines starting with "= =" are drawing subsection labels.

Lines starting with "= = =" are drawing description lines.

Lines without a prefix are project drawing files.

For more details on what is contained in a project file, go to AutoCAD Electrical Help> Index > Projects, File Formats.


Relative Drawing File Paths

Relative path information is used to save the drawing file location. If the drawing is stored in the samedirectory as the project file, only the file name is stored in the project file. If the drawing is stored in adifferent directory than the project file, the drawing name information includes both the file name andcomplete relative path information. In the following example, the project file and first drawing are stored at

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Autodesk Learning\AutoCAD Electrical 2010\AOTG\Settings andConfiguration\.

The second drawing is stored at C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Autodesk Learning\.

A project drawing file that is stored in the same directory as the project file. Only the drawing file nameis listed.

A project drawing file that is stored in a different directory from the project file. Relative paths areadded to the drawing file name. In this example the double periods ".." are a DOS command meaning move one level up in the directorytree structure.

Store the project file in the same directory as the project drawings.

Although this is not required, it allows the project to be moved to different directoriesor entered into file management programs, such as Autodesk® Vault, with little or nomanagement of file paths.

Absolute or fixed paths to drawing files can also be used. To use an absolute path to a

drawing file, you must manually edit the project file using any text editor. You cannotenter a fixed path using the Project Manager.

Guidelines for Project Files

Follow these guidelines when working with project files.

■ A single project file can have drawings located in many different directories. There is no limit to the

number of drawings in a project.■ Although you can use any text editor to edit a project file, in most cases it is recommended that

you use the Project Manager to make changes.■ The recommended location for the project file is in the same directory as the project drawing files.■ When archiving or backing up the project drawing files, it is helpful to include the project file.


About the Project Manager

An electrical project can consist of dozens or even hundreds of separate drawing files. Managing all ofthese files, keeping them in the correct order, and so on, can be a time-consuming task. To efficientlymaintain these files you need to understand what functionality the Project Manager can provide andhow to use it.

Project Manager with the project, expanded drawing list, and current drawing in bold

Project Manager Definition

You use the Project Manager to open, close, and activate projects. You also use the Project Managerto add, delete, and reorder drawings in a project file.

The Project Manager uses a tool palette style interface called an Enhanced Secondary Window (ESW)to manage the project files and drawings. The behavior of the Project Manager ESW is very similar toother AutoCAD® tool palettes. You can dock the Project Manager at different locations on the screenor hide it until you want to use the project tools.


Click the Properties icon, or right-click in the title bar area to display options to move, size, close, dock,hide, or set the transparency for the Project Manager.

Use the Anchor option to relocate the palette to the left or right side of the screen. Thisoption docks the palette to the selected side but allows the Autohide feature to work.

Command Access

Project Manager

Quick Access toolbar:

Ribbon: Project tab > Project Tools panel > Manager

Menu Bar: Projects > Project > Project Manager Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical 2 > Project Manager > Project Manager


Projects List

The Projects list displays all the open projects. The active project is shown at the top of the list inboldface. You can change project settings and create projectwide reports only for active projects.

To edit project-based drawing information, such as descriptions or the drawing order, right-click theproject name to display a shortcut menu with available options.

Projects Drop-down List

The Projects drop-down list displays all open projects, as well as commands, for creating a new projector opening an existing one. Projects cannot be closed from the drop-down list. The active project isshown with a check mark.


Shortcut Menus

You use shortcut menus extensively in AutoCAD Electrical. You right-click elements such as symbols,wires, project names, and drawing names to display the associated shortcut menu options. Forexample, different shortcut menus are displayed for active and nonactive projects.


When you click in an empty area, the Project Manager displays a shortcut menu that you can use tocreate new projects and drawings and open existing projects.

Learning how to access shortcut menus is essential because several commands areaccessible only through the shortcut menus.

Project Drawing List

You can expand or collapse the drawing list for a project by double-clicking the project name. Thecurrent drawing opened for editing is displayed in boldface in the drawing list. With the drawinglist displayed, you can right-click a drawing name to display a shortcut menu and access individualdrawing commands such as Remove, Rename, or Properties.


With the drawing list displayed, you can right-click a drawing name and access individual drawingcommands such as Remove, Rename, or Properties.

Drawings are opened for editing by right-clicking the drawing name and clicking Open. You can alsoopen a drawing by double-clicking the drawing name. You can view detailed information or a thumbnail of a selected drawing file in the lower area of theProject Manager. Click either Details or Preview to select your viewing choice.

Drawing details displayed Drawing preview displayed


Creating New Projects

A project file is one of the most important parts of an AutoCAD Electrical project and containsnecessary information for project functions. To consistently and efficiently create new project files,you need to understand the utilities provided for this purpose.


Command Access

New Project

Project Manager toolbar: New Project

Project Manager shortcut menu: Right-click in the Projects list. Click New Project.


Procedure: Creating New Projects

The following steps describe how to create a new project with name, location, and reference filesettings.

1.

In the Project Manager, click New Project.

2.

For Name, enter the name for the new project.

3.

Select the Create Folder with Project Name check box to create a new folder for the project withthe same name that you entered for the project. The folder is created in the path that is specified inLocation. The location is also the path where the project file is saved. If left empty, AutoCAD Electricaluses the path to the wd.env file.

4.

If you want to copy project settings from an existing project, click Browse to select the existing projectfile.

5.

Click Descriptions to enter project information that can be included in report headers and title blocks.


6.

Click OK-Properties to create the new project and open the Project Properties dialog box where youcan make changes to the settings.

7.

Click OK to create the new project without making changes to the settings.

Project Descriptions

You can enter an unlimited number of project description lines. Information you enter can be reusedin Bill of Material, Component, and Wire reports that are generated for the project or mapped to yourdrawing's title blocks. To include project description line information in reports, select the In Reportscheck box.

AutoCAD Electrical uses a WDL file that defines edit box title lines that you can useinstead of the generic Line 1, Line 2, Line 3 references. These titles are usually matchedto your drawing title block attributes.On the Project menu, the Title Block utility can update your title block with projectdescription and drawing description information. When the WDL file is used to relabelthe edit boxes, you can see how the information in the project description lines is relatedto the title block.For more information on the WDL file, see AutoCAD Electrical Help > Project-Wide Tools> Title Block Utility > Link Information to the Title Block > Procedure > Customize LINExLabels.


Exercise: Create a New Project In this exercise, you create a new project and addproject description information.


Completing the ExerciseTo complete the exercise, follow thesteps in this book or in the onscreenexercise. In the onscreen list ofchapters and exercises, click Chapter 2:Project Basics. Click Exercise: Create aNew Project.

1.


2.

In the Project Manager, click New Project.

3.

In the Create New Project dialog box, forName, enter NEWPROJ.

4.

For Location, do the following:■ Click Browse.■ In the Browse for Folder dialog box,

browse to where you installed the exercisefiles.

■ Select the Project Basics folder.■ Click OK.

5.

Select the Create Folder with Project Namecheck box to turn on the Create Folder withProject Name option.


6.

For Copy Settings from Project File, do thefollowing:■ Click Browse.■ In the Open dialog box, browse to where

you installed the exercises files.■ In the Project Basics folder, select

Project_Basics_IEC.wdp.■ Click Open.

7.

In the Create New Project dialog box, clickDescriptions.

8.

In the Project Description dialog box, for Line1, enter your name. Select the In Reportscheck box.

9.

For Line 2, enter your company name. Selectthe In Reports check box.

10.

For Line 3, enter your city. Select the InReports check box.

11.

For Line 4, enter 12345-67. Select the InReports check box.

12.

Click OK to save your changes. 13.

In the Create New Project dialog box, click OK. 14.

In the Project Manager, select NEWPROJ.

15.

Click Details. Under Details, notice that theproject information you entered for the firstfour lines is displayed.

This completes the exercise.


Lesson: Project Drawing List

This lesson describes what the drawing list is and how to use the Project Manager to manage thedrawing list by adding drawings, removing drawings, and changing the drawing order. Managing thedrawing list is a crucial part of managing the drawings used within your project.

Expanded drawing list with descriptions

Objectives


■ Describe what the drawing list is, and how to manage it using the Project Manager.■ Create a new drawing using the New Drawing tool.■ Edit the project drawing list by adding and removing drawings from the list and changing the

sequence of how AutoCAD Electrical processes the drawings.■ Describe the primary uses for descriptions and sections.■ Edit the properties of each drawing, including the description, section, and reference information.■ Change the configuration of the drawing list, displaying different pieces of information about the

drawings.■ Use the Plot Project utility to batch plot your entire project drawing list or sections you select.

Lesson: Project Drawing List ■ 61

About the Drawing List

Almost every electrical design project contains multiple drawings. This list of drawings is referenced bythe project for various functions. It is important for you to know what the drawing list is and how tomanage it using the Project Manager.

IECDemo project expanded to display drawing list


Definition of the Drawing List

Drawings referenced by a project are stored within the project file as a drawing list. There is nolimit to the number of drawings in a project. The drawing list, and the drawing order in the list, isreferenced during projectwide operations including tagging and report generation. The drawing orderis also used when drawings are opened sequentially.

Included in the project file along with the drawing file name is the path to the drawing file relativeto the project file location. A project file can have drawings located in many different folders. If thedrawing file is stored in the same folder as the project file, no path information is included.

Project_Basics_IEC_01.dwg in bold as current drawing

Example Use of the Drawing List

A new project you are starting has specifications that match parts of previous projects you havecreated. You start a new project, adding drawings gathered from the previous projects. After thedrawings are added to the new project, you reorder the drawings into logical groupings such asschematic, panel, and machine layout drawings. You also reorder the drawings to match the flow ofthe schematic design. For example, all drawings with PLC input modules are ordered sequentially.


Creating New Drawings

You frequently need to create new drawings for use with your projects. You can complete a newdrawing by using standard AutoCAD commands to create and save the drawing, and then usingAutoCAD Electrical commands to add the drawing to the project. You can simplify this process by usingthe New Drawing command.

Command Access

New Drawing

Project Manager: New Drawing

Project Manager shortcut menu: Right-click in the Projects list. Click New Drawing.


Creating New Drawings

To create a new drawing and add it to your project, you use the New Drawing command. Thiscommand displays the Create New Drawing dialog box, which combines all of the drawing settings andstartup options in a single dialog box.

Drawings created with the New Drawing command are automatically added to the active project atthe end of the drawing order, and the title block update routine is completed on each new drawing.

Procedure: Creating New Drawings

The following steps describe how to create a new drawing, set some of the drawing properties, andautomatically add the drawing to the current project.

1.

In the Project Manager, start the New Drawing command.


2.

For Name, enter the drawing name.

Note: You must enter a name. 3.

For Template, click Browse. In the standard AutoCAD Select Template dialog box, select a template for the new drawing.


4.

Under Location, the directory of the active project file is listed by default. Click Browse to select adifferent location for the new drawing.

5.

Enter the drawing description information.

6.

Enter the IEC style designator information.


7.

Enter the sheet value information.

8.

Click OK to create the new drawing, or click OK - Properties to create the drawing and open theDrawing Properties dialog box.

Other than the Name and Template fields, you can edit any of the fields later usingthe Drawing Properties command.


Editing the Project Drawing List

Frequently during a project design you need to edit the project drawing list. As the projectspecifications change you need to change the drawings and the order in which they are referenced.The order of drawings in the list determines how AutoCAD Electrical processes the drawings duringprojectwide operations, such as resequencing and wire numbering.


Command Access

Using the Project Manager, you can add, remove, and change the order of drawings in the drawinglist. The Project Manager is the only feature in AutoCAD Electrical that enables you to access thesefunctions. Right-click the project name to display a context menu containing the available commands.

Project Manager shortcut menu displaying drawing list editing commands

Use Add Drawings to add multiple drawings to your project.

Use Reorder Drawings to change the drawing display and processing order.

Use Remove Drawings to remove multiple drawings from your project.


Procedure: Adding Drawings

The following procedure describes how to add drawings to your project.

1. Open the Project Manager.

2.

Right-click the project to which you want to add the drawings. Click Add Drawings.

3.

In the Select Files to Add dialog box, select the desired drawing files. Click Add to add the selecteddrawings to the project. The added drawings are inserted in the drawing list at the end of the drawing order.


4.

Reorder the drawings as required.

Two projects can reference the same drawing file; however, doing so can lead

to conflicts. Each project attempts to process the drawing according to its ownrequirements. The last project to process the drawing overwrites any changes fromprevious projects.

Procedure: Removing Multiple Drawings

The following steps describe how to remove multiple drawings from your project.


2.

Right-click the project from which you want to remove the drawings. Click Remove Drawings.


3.

In the Select Drawings to Process dialog box, select the drawings from the Project Drawing list that youwant to remove.

4.

Click Process V to move the selected files to the Drawings to Remove list. Click OK.

Procedure: Removing Individual Drawings

The following steps describe how to remove individual drawings from your project.



2.

Locate the project containing the drawing you want to remove. If the drawing list is not displayed,double-click the project to expand the drawing list.

3.

Right-click the drawing to be removed. Click Remove.

Removing Is Not Deleting Removing drawings from a project does not delete them. It removes only the

reference to the file from the project.


Procedure: Changing the Drawing Order

The following steps describe how to reorder the drawings in a project.

1. In the Project Manager, in the Projects list, right-click the project name. Click Reorder Drawings.

2.

In the Reorder Drawings dialog box, select the drawing whose position you want to change. Click MoveUp, Move Down, or Sort, as necessary, to reorder the list.

3.

Use the Sort option to choose between alphanumeric or numeric-alphanumeric sort orders. You cansort the drawings by reference, section, subsection, and file name.


No Drag-and-Drop Editing The Projects drawing list does not support drag-and-drop editing.

About Drawing Descriptions and Sections

Some projects are so large that it is difficult to keep track of all the drawings, what the drawingscontain, and where the drawings are used. To effectively work with these larger projects, you need tolearn about the tools available for describing and grouping the drawings.

Drawing Descriptions

You can add up to three lines of description for each drawing to the project file. They are stored onlyin the project file and do not change the drawing itself. You can reuse these drawing descriptions indrawing title block attributes and associate them with AutoCAD Electrical reports.

Section and Subsection Codes

Especially in projects with large numbers of drawings, it can be helpful to separate groups of drawingsinto sections or even subsections. The software can search for and process these groupings ofdrawings during projectwide operations. This information is stored only in the project file and does notchange the original drawings.

You do not have to use the section and subsection codes in sequence. There is no fixed

relationship between the two codes. Depending on your company standards, you mightnot use section codes at all and might use only subsection codes for identifying yourdrawings.


Section and Subsection Example

You can use the section and subsection codes to group your drawings for reports, plotting, and otherfunctions. For example, add section codes of infeed and outfeed to the appropriate drawings. Whencreating reports, you can sort on the section code and create a Bill of Material report from only thosedrawings marked as infeed.

Adding Drawing Descriptions and Sections

There are times when the drawing file name may not include enough information to easily identifythe drawing. You can add drawing description and section information to aid in the identification andgrouping of the drawings.

Command Access

Drawing Properties

Ribbon: Schematic tab > Other Tools panel > Drawing Properties

Menu Bar: Projects > Drawing Properties Shortcut menu option: Project Manager, right-click drawing name; click Properties > Drawing

Properties


Procedure: Adding Drawing Descriptions and Section Codes

The following steps describe how to add or change the drawing description and section codes.

1. Start the Drawing Properties command.

2.

On the Drawing Settings tab, under Drawing File, enter drawing descriptions.

3.

Enter section and subsection codes.


You can designate the drawing as a reference file only to exclude it from tagging,

cross-referencing, and reporting functions. Drawings designated as reference filesare included in projectwide plotting and title block update operations.

You can reselect and edit entries in the drawing properties at any time. This can savetime and improve accuracy when reentering the information for another drawing.

Changing the Drawing List Display

Depending on company name conventions, a drawing file name itself may not help to identify theinformation contained on a drawing. To aid in identifying the drawings in the drawing list, you candisplay more information about the drawing files. To have this extra information appear, you need toknow how to edit the drawing list display.

Drawing list with file name followed by drawing description


Command Access

Drawing List Display Configuration

Project Manager: Drawing List Display Configuration

The only access to the Drawing List Display Configuration command is by using thetoolbar in the Project Manager.

Drawing List Display Options

By default, the drawing list displays only the file name. You can change the appearance of the drawinglist displayed in the Project Manager, adding more information about the file. Other drawing listdisplay configuration options include the following:

■ Installation Code (%I)■ Location Code (%L)■ Section■ Sub Section■ Sheet Number (%S)■ Drawing Number (%D)■ Drawing Description 1, 2, and 3


Drawing Highlighting

There are two options for controlling the highlighting of drawings in the Project Manager.

Option

Description

Always ShowHighlight

When you move the cursor away from the Project Manager, the last drawing youselected remains highlighted.

Show Highlight OnlyWhen Active

When you move the cursor away from the Project Manager, the drawinghighlight is removed.


Procedure: Changing the Drawing List Display

The following steps describe how to change the appearance of the drawing list in the Project Manager.

1. From the Project Manager, click Drawing List Display Configuration.

2.

In the Drawing List Display Configuration dialog box, select an option from the Display Options list.

3.

Click the double arrows (>>) to move selected options to or from the Current Display Order list.


4.

Click Move Up or Move Down to reorder options in the Current Display Order list.

5.

Specify a separator value to be used between the display options. The default character is a hyphen (-).

Project Batch Plotting

When you are plotting drawings referenced by a project, you often need to plot more than a singledrawing. To batch plot project drawings, you need to learn about the Plot Project command and theoptions available.

Command Access

You can use the Plot Project command to batch plot a project's full drawing set or a group of drawings.

Plot Project

Project Manager toolbar: Publish/Plot > Plot Project Project Manager shortcut menu option: Right-click the project name; click Publish > Plot Project


Batch Plotting Options and Order Dialog Box

The Batch Plotting Options and Order dialog box is the control center for batch plotting.

The following options are available in the Batch Plotting Options and Order dialog box.

Specify LayoutTab to Plot

Enter a value in the Layout Tab to Plot box or select an option from the Pick List (fromActive Drawing) list. The list contains the existing layout tabs in your drawing. Onlyone layout tab can be plotted during a single batch process. If you require multiplelayout tabs to be printed, run the Plot Project command several times.

For EachDrawing

You can execute command scripts before and after plotting. For example, the preplotcommand script file might stamp Preliminary on the drawing before it is plotted. Thepostplot script can remove it. The default script files are named preplot.scr and postplot.scr, respectively. The filesare located in the user subdirectory. For more information on script files, click AutoCAD Help menu > Commands > SCommands > Script.


Output DeviceName

You can set options for the output device name, configuration file, and output filename. You can accept the default layout tab configuration, or you can set a customconfiguration for the process. For more information about plotting and plot configurations, click AutoCAD Helpmenu > Plot command.

Order To accept these options and plot the selected drawings, click OK. Click OK-Reverse toplot the drawings in reverse order, last one first.

Procedure: Plotting a Project

The following steps describe how to batch plot project drawings.

1. In the Project Manager, start the Plot Project command.


2.

In the Select Drawings to Process dialog box, select drawing files from the drawing list. Click Process Vto add the selected files to the process list.

Click Do All to add all the files to the Drawings to Print/Plot list. You can select defined sections byclicking Section/Subsection. You can add or remove files from the Drawings to Print/Plot list at anytime.

3.

When you are satisfied with the selection in the Drawings to Print/Plot list, click OK. 4.

Select the desired options in the Batch Plotting Options and Order dialog box.


Exercise: Edit the Project Drawing List In this exercise, you edit the drawing list and drawinglist display. You complete the following:■ Add, remove, and replace drawings from a project

drawing list.■ Edit drawing descriptions and change the drawing

list display.


Completing the ExerciseTo complete the exercise, follow thesteps in this book or in the onscreenexercise. In the onscreen list ofchapters and exercises, click Chapter 2:Project Basics. Click Exercise: Edit theProject Drawing List.

Edit the Drawing List 1.


2.


3.

Browse to where you installed the exercisefiles and in the current project folder, selectProject_Drawing_List_IEC.wdp. Click Open.

4.

In the Project Manager, right-clickProject_Drawing_List_IEC. Click Add Drawings.

5.

In the Select Files to Add dialog box, from theProjects_IEC list, select New_Project_IEC_01 through New_Project_IEC_04. Click Add.

6.

In the Apply Project Defaults to DrawingSettings dialog box, click No.


7.

In the Project Manager, double-click theProject_Drawing_List_IEC project name toexpand the drawing list.

8.

Right-click New_Project_IEC_04.dwg. ClickRemove.

9.

Right-click New_Project_IEC_02.dwg. ClickReplace.

10.

In the Select Replacement Drawing dialog box,select New_Project_IEC_04.dwg to replaceNew_Project_IEC_02.dwg. Click Select.

11.

In the Apply Project Defaults to DrawingSettings dialog box, click No.

Edit and Display the Drawing Descriptions 1.

Right-click New_Project_IEC_01.dwg. ClickProperties > Drawing Properties.

2.

In the Drawing Properties dialog box, DrawingSettings tab, for Description 1, enter 3 PhaseMotors. Click OK.

3.


4.

In the Drawing Properties dialog box, DrawingSettings tab, for Description 1, enter PanelLayout. Click OK.

5.


6.

In the Drawing Properties dialog box, DrawingSettings tab, for Description 1, enter PalletSensors. Click OK.


7.

In the Project Manager, click Drawing ListDisplay Configuration.

8.

In the Drawing List Display Configuration dialogbox, under Display Options, select DrawingDescription 1. Click the double arrows (>>)to add the Drawing Description 1 box to theCurrent Display Order list.

9.

Click OK.

10.

In the Project Manager, click New Drawing.

11.

In the Create New Drawing dialog box, forName, enter New Project Drawing.

12.

For Template, click Browse. SelectACAD_ELECTRICAL_IEC.dwt. Click Open.


13.

For Description 1, enter This is a NewDrawing. Click OK.

14.

In the Apply Project Defaults to DrawingSettings dialog box, click Yes.



Lesson: Moving Through Projects

This lesson describes how to open drawings in three ways that are different from the standardAutoCAD commands:■ Selecting a drawing from the Projects drawing list in the Project Manager.■ Navigating to the previous or next drawing in the list.■ Using the Surf utility to search through drawings for component references with characteristics

you specify.

Overview of the drawing-opening tools: Project Manager, Surf, and Previous Drawing and NextDrawing

AutoCAD Electrical 2006 and later versions support the Multiple Document Interface,

or MDI, standard. With an MDI application, such as AutoCAD Electrical, you can openseveral files at the same time.

Lesson: Moving Through Projects ■ 91

Objectives


■ Select and open drawings from the Project Manager.■ Move between sequential drawings in the active project using the Previous Project Drawing and

Next Project Drawing tools.■ Use the Surfer tool to quickly locate and open project drawings based on component references.

Selecting Drawings Using the Project Manager

Especially with projects containing large numbers of drawings, you may want to open drawingsscattered throughout the drawing list. To do this quickly and easily, you need to learn how to use thedrawing list in the Project Manager for this purpose.


Procedure: Opening Drawings Using the Project Manager

The following steps describe how to open a drawing from the drawing shortcut menu in the ProjectManager.

1.

In the Project Manager, double-click a project to expand the drawing list.

2.

Browse to the desired drawing file name in the list.


3.

To open the drawing, double-click the drawing name, or right-click the drawing name and click Open.

This method opens the selected drawing but does not close other drawings that arecurrently open.

This method is recommended when browsing among drawings scattered in the drawinglist.


About Opening the Previous or Next Project Drawing

Schematics are most commonly organized and connected in a linear fashion with wires connectingfrom one drawing to the next sequentially. The design process usually follows this pattern also. Tomove between drawings sequentially, as the design process dictates, you use the Previous ProjectDrawing and Next Project Drawing tools.

Command Access

Previous Project Drawing


Ribbon: Project tab > Other Tools panel > Previous Drawing

Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical 2 > Previous Project Drawing

Next Project Drawing


Ribbon: Project tab > Other Tools panel > Next Drawing

Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical 2 > Next Project Drawing


Previous and Next Project Drawing Command Options

When you use these tools to move to the previous or next drawing, any unsaved changes to thecurrent drawing are saved, the drawing is closed, and the requested drawing is opened.

To not save and close the current drawing, and only open the requested drawing, you press and holdSHIFT while selecting the command.

These tools are available only when the current drawing is referenced from the active

project. The commands are disabled if the current drawing is not from the activeproject.

This method is recommended for moving sequentially between drawings in the projectdrawing list.

Searching Project Drawings Using the Surfer Tool

During the design of a project you may have the need to search for insertions of specific objects, suchas components, wire numbers, or catalog number assignments. To accomplish this task quickly andeasily, you need to understand how to use the Surfer tool.


Definition of the Surfer Tool

You use the Surfer tool to move through drawings to panel, pneumatic, and schematic componentlocations. You can surf to related components based on a component tag, catalog number, or wirenumber.

You specify surf criteria by selecting an existing component reference or by entering referenceinformation manually. Wild-card characters are supported during manual entry. Once you haveidentified the surf criteria, the Surfer tool scans the project drawings and returns a list of allcomponent references found.

When you click a found reference, AutoCAD Electrical saves and closes the current drawing, opens thedrawing that contains the reference, and zooms in on the selected component. You can quickly editthe component and return to the Surf list for further surfing and editing.

Surfer zoomed in to selected component reference

Many AutoCAD Electrical reports, such as Missing Bill of Material and Cross-Reference

Exception, can be exported to the Surfer tool. You can use the exported Surf list to editcomponent references.

The Surfer tool is available only when the current drawing is referenced from the

active project. The command is disabled if the current drawing is not from the activeproject.

The Surfer tool is especially useful for surfing through the project drawing list toscattered drawings based on component references.


Command Access

Surfer


Ribbon: Project tab > Other Tools panel > Surfer

Menu Bar: Projects > Surfer Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical 2 > Surfer

Continue Surfer

Ribbon: Project tab > Other Tools panel > Surfer flyout > Continue Surfer

Menu Bar: Projects > Continue Surfer Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical 2 > Surfer > Continue Surfer


Surf List Columns and Options

The Surf dialog box displays information about each found reference, such as the component type,the state of contacts, the sheet and reference location, and the installation and localization codes.You also have several options available for displaying and editing the found references. The list areacolumns and some of the other options are shown in the following figure.

The letter X indicates that this reference has been visited during this surfing session.

Codes listed in this column identify the type of reference:■ A blank or empty column indicates that this reference is a child schematic component, such as a

relay contact.■ The letter p indicates that this reference is a parent component, such as a relay coil.■ The # symbol indicates that this reference is a panel layout component.■ The abbreviation np indicates that this reference is a panel nameplate component.

This column indicates the state of the reference, where applicable:■ NO indicates that this reference is a normally open contact.■ NC indicates that the reference is a normally closed contact.

This lists the sheet and reference location of the reference.

This lists the installation and location codes of the component.

You can adjust zoom levels for the current session or save a zoom level for future surfing.


You can use Edit to modify a selected component reference without canceling the Surfer session.

You can use Delete to remove a component from the drawing.

Procedure: Using the Surfer Tool

The following steps describe how to search through a project for all related references to the selecteddata.

1.

Start the Surfer tool.

2.

At the Command prompt either select a component or tag for the Surfer to trace, or press ENTER tomanually enter a tag to trace.

3.

If you want to enter a tag manually, in the Type It to Surf It dialog box, enter the trace data.


4.

In the Surf dialog box, select the desired trace reference from the list. Click Go To.

5.

Click Edit to open the appropriate editing tool for the reference selected, or choose another commandoption.

Some command options within the Surfer tool require the Surfer to close. When the

operation is complete, you use Continue Surfer to return to the last Surf dialog boxlisting.

Searching for an Existing Component

You know that a relay tagged as K74 exists somewhere in your project, but you can't remember whichsheet it is located on. To find the relay, you start the Surfer tool, and press ENTER to select manualentry. In the Type It to Surf It dialog box, in the Component Tag box, you enter K74. All referencesto the relay are displayed in the Surf dialog box. You click Go To to take you directly to the desiredcomponent reference.


Exercise: Move Through Project Drawings In this exercise, you use the Project Manager, Previous Project Drawing and Next Project Drawing, and theSurfer utility to move to and open drawings in the active project.


Completing the ExerciseTo complete the exercise, follow thesteps in this book or in the onscreenexercise. In the onscreen list ofchapters and exercises, click Chapter2: Project Basics. Click Exercise: MoveThrough Project Drawings.

1.


2.

If Project_Basics_IEC is the active project, skipto step 6. If it is open but not active in theProject Manager, do the following:■ Right-click Project_Basics_IEC.■ Click Activate.■ Skip to step 6.

3.



4.

Browse to where you installed the exercise filesand select Project_Basics_IEC.wdp. Click Open.

5.

In the Projects list, double-clickProject_Basics_IEC to expand the drawing list.

6.

Right-click Project_Basics_IEC_06.dwg. ClickOpen.

7.

On the Quick Access toolbar, click NextDrawing.

8.

On the Quick Access toolbar, click PreviousDrawing.

9.

Zoom in to the relay coils located in the middleof the first ladder.

10.

On the Quick Access toolbar, click Surfer.

11.

From the drawing, select the relay coil -06K4.

12.

In the Surf dialog box, select the child contactlisting, NO, 07, 3/A. Click Go To.

13.

If requested, in the Qsave dialog box, click OK.

14.

In the Surf dialog box, double-click the parentcoil listing, p 06, 6/E. Click Go To.

15.

If requested, in the Qsave dialog box, click OK. 16.

You can change the zoom factor that the Surfertool uses. Click Zoom Out.

17.

Click Close to exit the Surfer tool. AutoCADElectrical displays the current drawing locationand view.


Lesson: Managing Projects ■ 103

Lesson: Managing Projects

This lesson describes how to manage projects. You learn how to open, close, activate, and copyprojects. Because projects are the main tools used to manage the drawings required by a design, youmust learn how to manage them.

Objectives


■ Open existing projects with the Project Manager.■ Activate and close projects with the Project Manager.■ Create copies of existing projects, including all drawings and project-related files.


Opening Projects

Completed projects are often opened and used again. Even if you just want to make corrections toreflect actual assembly methods, you often have to return to completed and closed projects. It isessential for you to know how to access the Open Project command and to follow some guidelineswhen opening projects.


Command Access

Open Project

Project Manager: Projects list > Open Project Project Manager: Projects list > Right-click > Open Project

Open Project displayed in Project list Open Project displayed in Project pane

You can only open projects by using the Projects list or shortcut menu options.A drawing must be opened if you want to use the shortcut menu option.


Procedure: Opening Projects

The following steps describe how to open a project with the Project Manager.

1. In the Project Manager, open the Projects list or right-click in empty area.

2.

Click Open Project.

3.

Browse to the desired project file.

The Select Project File dialog box displays only AutoCAD Electrical WDP file types. 4.

Double-click or select the project file. Click Open.


Guidelines

Follow these guidelines when opening projects:

■ When you open a project, it is added to the current Projects list and automatically becomes the

active project.■ You can have as many projects open as you want, but only one project can be active at a time.■ Keep open only the current projects you are working on. Having many projects open can adversely

affect system resources.

Activating and Closing Projects

You may have to move between projects frequently during the course of a workday, sometimes withinminutes. Because the project files contain important information about the project, you need to learnhow to activate projects for reference by AutoCAD Electrical.

Definition of an Active Project

AutoCAD Electrical references the active project for symbol libraries, configuration settings, and otherresource information. You can have as many projects open as you need, but only one project can beactive at a time.

The active project is displayed at the top of the Projects list in boldface. In the Projects list, the activeproject is indicated by a check mark.

When you close a project, AutoCAD Electrical removes it from the current Projects list. If you close theactive project, the next project in the list becomes the active project.


Command Access

Activate

Project Manager: Right-click the nonactive project in the Projects list. Click Activate. Project Manager: Project drop-down list. Select project.

Close

Project Manager: Right-click the project in the Projects list. Click Close.

The only way to close projects is to use the context menu in the Project Manager.

Procedure: Activating and Closing Projects

The following steps describe how to activate and close projects using the Project Manager.

1. To activate a project, open the Project Manager.

2.

In the Projects list, right-click a nonactive project name. Click Activate. The project is displayed at thetop of the Projects pane in boldface.


3.

To close a project, open the Project Manager.

4.

In the Projects list, right-click a project name. Click Close.

5.

If the active project is closed, the next project in the Projects list is made active.

Closing a project does not delete it. The project is removed only from the Projects listdisplayed in the Project Manager.


Copying Projects

New projects are rarely started completely from scratch. Almost always, new projects are started bycopying existing projects and drawings and then modifying them to match the new requirements.Because you do this so frequently, it is important for you to learn how to use the Copy Project tool.

Copying Projects Manually

A typical manual process for starting a new project uses Microsoft Windows Explorer to complete thefollowing steps:1. Create a new project folder.2. Copy existing project files into the new folder, including drawings and reference files.3. Rename each file one at a time.4. Edit the project file, removing old references and adding new ones.

Copy Project Tool

The Copy Project tool combines all of the manual steps into a single wizard-style interface that guidesyou through the process of copying and renaming project files, including reference files and drawings.

All files referenced by a project are copied into the new project folder and renamed accordingly tomatch the new project name. You can use Find and Replace to rename the drawing files within theproject.

As the project file is copied, the old drawing paths and file names are replaced with the copieddrawing paths and file names.

Command Access

Copy Project

Ribbon: Project tab > Project Tools panel > Copy Project

Menu Bar: Projects > Project > Copy Project Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical 2 > Project Manager > Copy Project


Cannot Copy Open Drawings You cannot copy open drawings. You must close drawings that are part of the project

you are copying before starting the command.

Procedure: Copying Projects Using the Copy Project Tool

The following steps describe how to make a copy of a project.

1. Start the Copy Project tool.

2.

In the Select Existing Project to Copy dialog box, either browse to select an existing project to be copiedor click Copy Active Project.

3.

Select the path and file name for the new project.


4.

In the Select Drawings to Process dialog box, select existing drawings to be copied to the new project.

5.

Browse to or enter the base path for the project drawings.

If you have created project-related files, you can select these to be copied and renamed to the newproject name as well. AutoCAD Electrical cannot find files that are not selected.


6.

Edit the new drawing file names. You can edit them one at a time or click Find/Replace to make changesthroughout the drawing list.

The newly created project is opened and made active. The first drawing in the drawing list is opened.

Procedure: Selecting Drawings for Projectwide Processing

For any projectwide procedure, you need to select only those drawings from the project that you wantto process. You are not required to process all drawings that are referenced by the project.

1.

Start any projectwide command.

The upper list displays all drawings that the project references that AutoCAD Electrical has not alreadyadded to the lower processing list.


2.

Select the drawings you want to process.

3.

Click Process to add the selected drawings to the process list.


4.

Click Do All to add all available drawings to the process list.

5.

To remove drawings from the process list, select drawings in the process list. Click Unselect.


6.

Drawings removed from the process list (or not selected for processing) are displayed in the upper list.Click OK to process all drawings in the process list.


Exercise: Copy Projects In this exercise, you copy an existing project and drawings, creating a new project and copies of the selecteddrawings.


Completing the ExerciseTo complete the exercise, follow thesteps in this book or in the onscreenexercise. In the onscreen list ofchapters and exercises, click Chapter2: Project Basics. Click Exercise: CopyProjects.

1.



2.


3.

Browse to where you installed the exercisefiles. Select Project_Basics_IEC.wdp.

4.

In the Project Manager, double-clickProject_Basics_IEC to expand the drawing list.

5.

On the Quick Access toolbar, click New.

6.

In the Select Template dialog box, selectacadiso.dwt. Click Open.

7.

On the Project tab, Project Tools panel, clickCopy.

8.

In the Copy Project: Step 1 dialog box, clickCopy Active Project. Click OK.

9.

In the Copy Project: Step 2 dialog box, for FileName, enter COPY PROJECT.

10.

Click Save to accept the same directory pathfor the new project file that is used for thecurrent project.

11.

In the Select Drawings to Process dialog box,click Do All. Click OK.

12.

In the Copy Project: Step 4 dialog box, noticethat all available project-related files are alsoselected for copying.

13.

Click OK to accept the same directory path forthe new project drawings that you used for thecurrent project drawings.

14.

In the Copy Project: Step 5 dialog box, noticethat the original named drawings are listed.

15.

Click Find/Replace. 16.

In the Find/Replace dialog box, for Find, enterProject_Basics_IEC_.

17.

For Replace, enter CopyProjects_IEC_.


18.

Click OK. The original files are renamed asshown.

19.

In the Copy Project: Step 5 dialog box, click OK. AutoCAD Electrical activates the copied projectand opens the first drawing for editing.



Chapter Summary

In this chapter you learned about the project-based system used by AutoCAD Electrical. Each projectis defined by an ASCII text file with a .wdp extension. The project file includes the drawing list, projectdescription lines, project settings, and drawing descriptions and section information.


Chapter

3

Schematic Wiring

This chapter describes many of the tools that are provided to increase the productivity of yourstandard schematic creation tasks. Tools such as Automatic Wire Numbers not only automate the taskbut also add intelligence and accuracy to your drawings. Tools such as the Source and DestinationSignals link components throughout your project and transfer intelligence between the drawings.

Objectives


■ Configure, insert, and edit the ladders and wires in your schematic drawings.■ Create point-to-point wiring diagrams using multiple-wire buses, wires, and connector utilities.■ Automatically insert wire numbers and leaders onto wires.■ Set up and insert source and destination signals.

122 ■ Chapter 3: Schematic Wiring

Lesson: Wires and Ladders

This lesson introduces you to the basics of adding wires and ladders to your electrical schematics.You learn what distinguishes a line in AutoCAD® from a wire in AutoCAD® Electrical. You insert a newladder, and edit or revise existing ladders. You also learn to add individual wires and rungs, and to trimor erase existing wires.

Objectives


■ Define wires and wire networks, wire connections and tees, and wire trap distance.■ Insert wires in your drawings.■ List the priority used to determine the layer assignment for new wires added to a drawing.■ Trim wires in your drawings.■ Describe what ladders and rungs are and give examples of their uses.■ Describe the difference between X-Y Grid and XZone referencing and how they are used.■ Insert schematic ladders of differing sizes and configurations, and add rungs as necessary.■ Revise schematic ladders and existing ladder references.

Lesson: Wires and Ladders ■ 123

About Wires

You use objects that represent wires in every schematic design style. In the common ladder and point-to-point styles, lines on a drawing usually represent the actual wires that connect to componentsin the design. To effectively create schematics, you must learn what defines a wire in the AutoCADElectrical environment.

Wires

Wires are AutoCAD line objects that you place on specific wire layers in the Create/Edit Wire Typedialog box. Other line properties, such as Linetype and Width, can be used in the wire-type definition.

Polylines, lwpolylines, and other AutoCAD object types are not recognized as wires.

Wire Networks

A wire network is one or more wire segments and optional branches that interconnect and form anunbroken electrical conductor. Wire segments of the network may contain inline components such asterminals, splices, or wire-crossing gaps, as long as these objects do not force a wire number change asthe wire passes through them.


Wire Connections

When you select a component or branch for the wire start point, connection dots or angledconnections are added automatically, as required by the Drawing Properties dialog box settings. The X=Show Connections option, chosen before selecting a wire start point, places a small marker onthe component wire connection points currently visible on the screen. Any zoom operation erases themarkers.

If you choose a component wire connection point with an existing wire already attached, a shortangled wire is added to offset the second wire from the original. Placement of the offset wire dependson the second point chosen.

Components with multiple wires attached with angled connections

Connection Tees

When connecting wires you can use a variety of connection symbols to help indicate how the wiringshould be installed. You can have a default style, which you set in the Drawing Properties dialog box,and later edit that style using the Toggle Angle Tee Markers command.

For more information, see Electrical Help Topics. Enter Tee on the Search tab and select WireSequencing.


Wire Connection Tee Options

The following illustration shows the various wire-tee options that are available when connecting twowires.

Standard connection dot Wire tee - angle 1, left

Wire tee - angle 2, left

No connection symbol Wire tee - angle 1, right

Wire tee - angle 2, right

Wire Trap Distance

When connecting to another wire, the two wire segments are considered connected if the end of onewire segment touches or falls within the trap distance of any part of the second wire segment. This canbe at the end of the second wire or anywhere along the length of the second wire.

When connecting to a component, the component's wire connection attributes are used.

The trap distance is 0.025 when using inch units, 0.625 when using millimeter units.

For more information about wire connection attributes, click Help menu > Electrical

Help Topics. Enter connection attributes in the Search tab. Select Overview of SchematicAttributes.


Wire and Wire Network Example

As shown in the following illustration, wires numbered 10 through 19 are lines drawn betweenconnections on the terminal strip TB-4 and the various components. Because these lines are on a layerdefined as a wire layer, they are considered to be wires in the AutoCAD Electrical environment.

Wires numbered 11 and 15 are also examples of wire networks that contain several wire segments.


Inserting Wires

Inserting wires into your drawings is one of the most common tasks you perform, and several methodsfor inserting wires are available. Knowing the correct tools, recommended procedures, and insertionguidelines can help you work smarter.


Command Access

Insert Wire

Ribbon: Schematic tab > Insert Wires/Wire Numbers panel > Insert Wire

Menu Bar: Wires > Insert Wire Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical > Insert Wire

Insert Wire Options

Use the Insert Wire command to add new wire segments to your drawings. The Insert Wire commandis similar to the AutoCAD Line command in the following ways:■ You are prompted for start points and endpoints.■ You can continue a wire segment by continuing to select points.

In addition, the Insert Wire command provides the following functionality:■ Lines drawn are placed on a wire layer by default.■ By default, segments are automatically drawn in 90-degree increments.■ Connections are made automatically to other components or wires.

Inserting a wire with a 90-degree bend between two segments


If you want to fix the endpoint of the first segment, at the Command prompt, enter C. The InsertWire command continues the wire from the fixed point, automatically drawing the two perpendicularsegments. Unless you select a specific angle with the Insert Wire command, only horizontal andvertical wire segments are drawn.

Be sure to have Snap mode turned on when drawing wires and inserting components.

This keeps the cursor locked in the position you want and helps to prevent unwantedwire segments from being added due to the automatic 90-degree segments.

You can also use the AutoCAD Line command to insert new wires. Make sure the

current layer is set to a valid wire layer. Use the AutoCAD Electrical Insert Wire Gapcommand if the line crosses another wire and you want to show a gap.

Procedure: Inserting Wires

The following steps describe how to insert a wire in your drawing.

1. Start the Insert Wire command.

2.

If desired, enter T at the command line. Press ENTER to manually set a wire-type layer. Select a wire type from the list.


3.

Select the start point for the wire.

4.

Select endpoints for the wire segments. If desired, enter C at the command line. Press ENTER to select the intermediate endpoints.

5.

Press ENTER to end the wire. The command autorepeats, enabling you to insert another wire.


Layer Assignments

When you use any command to add wires in your drawings, the new wires are automatically placedon a wire layer. Knowing the methods used to make layer assignments is essential to creating accurateelectrical designs.

Wire Layer Assignments

When new wires are added to a drawing, the following wire type layer assignments are madeautomatically:

■ If a new wire segment is attached to an existing wire, the new wire is placed on the same layer as

the existing wire. When a wire segment is added between wires on two different layers, the wirelayer at the starting connection is used for the new wire segment.

■ When new wire segments are not attached to existing wire, they are placed on the current layer ifit is a valid wire layer. If the current layer is not a wire layer, the new wire segment is placed on thedefault wire layer as set in the Create/Edit Wire layer dialog box.

You can also manually set the default wire layer. Before selecting a wire start point, choose theT=Wiretype option. This displays the Set Wire Type dialog box where you set the wire layer to be usedduring the command.

For more information about the Wire Type command, click Help menu > Electrical Help Topics. EnterUse Wire Layers in the Search tab.

You can change the layer assignments of line objects at any time, converting lines to

wires and vice versa, by using the AutoCAD Electrical Change/Convert Wire Type utility orby using any AutoCAD properties commands.


Trimming Wires

Existing wires can be edited or erased using a variety of methods. Knowing the available tools andrecommended procedures improves your efficiency.

Example of wires with components added


Command Access

Trim Wire

Ribbon: Schematic tab > Edit Wires/Wire Numbers panel > Trim Wire

Menu Bar: Wires > Trim Wire Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical > Trim Wire

Trim Wire Options

Use the Trim Wire tool to remove a wire segment and connection dots, as necessary. You can trim asingle wire or draw a fence or a crossing to select multiple wires.

When you choose a wire segment to be trimmed, AutoCAD Electrical follows the wire in each directionfrom your selected point until it finds wire connection points. The wire is trimmed to each point andthe connection dot is automatically removed if it is no longer needed.

You can also use the AutoCAD Erase or Trim command to remove wires, but the wire

connection dots are not removed automatically and might require extra steps toremove them.


Procedure: Trimming Wires

The following steps describe how to trim wires from your drawings.

1. Start the Trim Wire command.

2.

To trim individual segments, select each segment.


3.

To trim multiple segments using a fence line, at the Command prompt, enter F. Draw a fence lineacross all wires that you want to trim.

4.

To trim multiple segments by window-selecting, at the Command prompt, enter C. Draw a crossingwindow across all the wires that you want to trim.

Nonwire objects are ignored and are not trimmed or erased.


About Ladders and Rungs

When using ladder-style design methods, one of your first tasks is to create the ladder structure forthe insertion of components. To complete this task, you need to understand what ladders and rungsare in AutoCAD Electrical.

Ladder with rungs and wires

Ladders

Ladders are a collection of wires joined together to form a matrix. The outside wires of the ladder arereferred to as a bus. The inside wires are referred to as rungs. Three-phase ladders are usually createdwith only the bus wires.

Ladders, ladder rungs, and power buses are all wires; you can draw them using the Insert Wirecommand. However, Insert Ladder and Add Rung commands are available to make the creation ofthese special types of wires easier. There is no limit to the number of ladders you can insert into a drawing as long as the ladders do notoverlap each other. You can insert a new ladder at any time.

Multiple ladder fragments in the same vertical column need to be vertically aligned along the left side.Note that these limitations do not apply when X-Y Grid or X-Zone referencing is selected.

A single drawing can contain both control ladders and three-phase ladders, each onewith a different length, width, and rung spacing, as necessary.


Ladder Rungs

Add Rung is a specialized version of the Insert Wire command. When you select an insertion point,AutoCAD Electrical seeks to the left and to the right, or to the top and to the bottom, depending onthe ladder orientation, for bus wires. The rung is inserted, connecting the two buses. Connectionsymbols are inserted as required. If ladder referencing is used, the rung is placed at the closest linereference location.

Do not click directly on the bus wires. This can cause the program to behave

inconsistently when seeking a connection to the bus wires. Always click somewherebetween the two buses.

Example showing pick points not on buses

Insert Ladder Example

The Insert Ladder and Add Rung commands make the creation and editing of ladders much faster. Forexample, creating a ladder with buses and rungs using the Insert Wire command requires drawingthe two buses and repeatedly drawing wires from bus to bus, being careful to start each wire on thecorrect reference location. Then reference numbers need to be added.

The Insert Ladder command does this automatically, even placing all wires on the default wire layer.


Referencing

Locating components within the project drawings is very helpful when troubleshooting or editing yourschematics. This is especially true when working with complex drawings and larger projects. Two maintypes of referencing styles are commonly used: ladder referencing and grid referencing. You need tolearn what those types are and how they define locations in your drawings.

Ladder reference example Grid reference example

Ladder Referencing

When using ladder referencing, each rung in the ladder is assigned a number. The number can be in avariety of formats that may include rung number, sheet or drawing number, or several other variables.

The first ladder reference number is a master ladder reference (MLR) block. Attributes in this blockcontain the settings for the ladder. All other reference numbers in the ladder are simple text objectsand can be erased without affecting the ladder intelligence. Each ladder in the drawing is associatedwith a unique MLR block.

Example of ladder referencing with MLR highlighted


You set the ladder referencing format under Format Referencing on the Drawing Formattab in the Drawing Properties dialog box.

Grid Referencing

There are two grid referencing options available, X-Y Grid, and XZone. When X-Y Grid referencing isused the drawing area is divided into columns and rows. This is similar to the referencing commonlyused on geographical maps. If XZone referencing is chosen the drawing is divided into columns only.

Grid referencing does not place any intelligence on the ladder itself. The grid reference spacing,origin, and vertical and horizontal axis annotation lists are carried on attribute values of the drawing'sinvisible WD_M block. There is no MLR block, and no reference text values inserted on the ladder.

Drawing with X-Y Grid referencing; Columns sorted by numbers, rows sorted by letters

Example of Ladder Referencing

Your company standard is to use a four-character number for each ladder rung. The first twocharacters represent the sheet number in the project and the last two characters represent the rungnumber. You set the component tag format to Referencing to use the ladder reference as the tag value

When using this method you can identify where a component is in the project drawings by justinterpreting the tag value. For example, CR1043 is a control relay on located on sheet 10, rung 43.


Inserting Ladders and Rungs

Inserting ladders and rungs is very tedious if you use manual methods such as the AutoCAD Line orAdd Wire commands. For the highest design productivity, you need to understand the tools that helpyou to simplify these tasks.

Command Access

Insert Ladder

Ribbon: Schematic tab > Insert Wires/Wire Numbers panel > Insert Ladder

Menu Bar: Wires menu > Ladders > Insert Ladder Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical > Insert Ladder > Insert Ladder

Add Rung

Ribbon: Schematic tab > Edit Wires/Wire Numbers panel > Add Rung

Menu Bar: Wires menu > Add Rung Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical > Add Rung


Insert Ladder Dialog Box

Insert Ladder dialog box areas

Setting

Description

Width Specifies the width of the ladder between buses.

Spacing Specifies the spacing between each rung.

Length Specifies both the length of the ladder and the number of rungs. Whicheverone is not entered is calculated automatically. You can enter the total ladderlength, the number of ladder rungs, or leave both blank and manually select thebeginning and ending points of the ladder.

1st Reference Specifies the beginning line reference for the ladder. Index is the incrementnumber for line reference numbering (default=1).

Phase Specifies whether to create a one-phase or three-phase ladder. If you select tocreate a three-phase ladder, the Width and Draw Rungs options are unavailable.


Setting

Description

Draw Rungs Specifies how to draw the rungs. No Bus draws only the line reference numbers,while No Rungs draws only the hot and neutral bus without rungs. Select Yes toinclude rungs automatically at every reference location (Skip=0). You can specifywhether to skip rungs; a value of Skip=1 means every other rung is drawn; avalue of Skip=4 means that four rungs are skipped for every one that is drawn.

Procedure: Inserting Ladders and Rungs

The following steps describe how to insert a ladder and rungs in your drawing.

1. To insert a ladder, start the Insert Ladder command.

2.

In the Insert Ladder dialog box, click the phase of the ladder--either 1 Phase or 3 Phase.

3.

Enter other ladder options as desired.


4.

Select the ladder insertion point.

5.

To add rungs, start the Add Rung command.

6.

Select a rung insertion point.


Revising Ladders

After a ladder has been inserted, changes may be required to match new requirements. To makethese changes, you need to understand how to use the Revise Ladder tool.

Command Access

Revise Ladder

Ribbon: Schematic > Edit Wires/Wire Numbers panel > Add Rung flyout > Revise Ladder

Menu Bar: Wires > Ladders > Revise Ladder Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical > Insert Ladder > Revise Ladder

Revise Ladder Options

The Revise Ladder tool adjusts the line reference numbering along the side of the ladders; however, itdoes not change existing ladder rung spacing. You use the Scoot utility or other methods to managerung spacing.

Revise Ladders cannot change the style of a ladder, once it is inserted. For example,

you cannot use it to change the reference number formatting from Numbers Onlyto Sheet and Numbers. To change the style of a ladder, you can use the Swap Blockutility to change the master ladder reference block.


Each line in the Modify Line Reference Numbers dialog box represents a ladder in the drawing.Changing any value in the dialog box automatically selects the Redo check box. Select Redo manuallyto force an update.

Updating the ladder's reference numbers does not update existing components or

wire numbers. Use the Retag Components and Automatic Wire Numbers commandsto complete these tasks.

Use the AutoCAD Move command to relocate an entire ladder. Make sure that you select

the entire ladder, including the very first-line reference number (the MLR block insert).Click Revise Ladder. When the Revise Ladder dialog box is displayed, click Cancel. Usingthis sequence forces an update of the internal ladder location list.

Revise Ladder Example

You inserted a ladder in your drawing but decided that you needed to change the spacing and numberof rungs. You start the Revise Ladder command and change the rung spacing from 0.75 to 0.50 and thenumber of rungs from 7 to 8.


Ladder and dialog box before revision

Ladder and dialog box after revision


Exercise: Insert a Ladder and Wires In this exercise, you insert a ladder in a new drawing. You edit the ladder by trimming rungs and adding wiresand rungs.


Completing the ExerciseTo complete the exercise, follow thesteps in this book or in the onscreenexercise. In the onscreen list ofchapters and exercises, click Chapter 3:Schematic Wiring. Click Exercise: Inserta Ladder and Wires.

1.


2.

If Schematic_Wiring_IEC is the active project,skip to step 6. If it is open but not active, in theProject Manager, do the following:■ Right-click Schematic_Wiring_IEC.■ Click Activate.■ Skip to step 6.


3.


4.

Browse to where you installed the exercisefiles. Select Schematic_Wiring_IEC.wdp. ClickOpen.

5.

Double-click Schematic_Wiring_IEC to expandthe drawing list.

6.

Double-click Schematic_Wiring_IEC_22.dwg toopen the file.

7.

On the Schematic tab, Insert Wires/WireNumbers panel, Insert Ladder flyout, clickInsert Ladder.

8.

In the Insert Ladder dialog box, do thefollowing:■ For Phase, select 1 Phase.■ For Width, enter 180.■ For Spacing, enter 40.■ For Rungs, enter 8.■ For Draw Rungs, select Yes.

9.

Notice that AutoCAD Electrical automaticallycalculates the ladder length when you movethe cursor from the box. Click OK.

10.

Select an insertion point for the ladder atapproximately 70.00,260.00.

11.

On the Schematic tab, Edit Wires/WireNumbers panel, click Trim Wire.

12.

Select rungs 2, 4, 6, and 8.

13.

On the Schematic tab, Insert Wires/WireNumbers panel, Wire flyout, click Wire.

14.

Add a wire starting on rung 1D and ending onthe bottom horizontal bus at 2E.

15.

Add a wire starting on rung 1B and ending onthe upper horizontal bus at 2A.


16.

Add a wire starting on rung 3B and running tothe right and down to 4D. Select the endpointof the first segment.

17.

Continue running the wire and select theendpoint on rung 5D.

18.

On the Schematic tab, Edit Wires/WireNumbers panel, Add Rung flyout, click AddRung.

19.

Add ladder rungs at references 6 and 8. (Besure to click in the area between verticalbuses.) Press ESC to end the command.



Lesson: Point-to-Point Wiring

This lesson describes the point-to-point style of schematic design and the specific tools required tocreate this style of drawing.

Example of point-to-point style wiring between connectors

Objectives


■ Describe what point-to-point style drawings or wiring diagrams are and how they differ fromladder style schematics.

■ Describe the tools available that aid in the creation of point-to-point style schematics.■ Create and edit wiring in point-to-point drawings (wiring diagrams).

Lesson: Point-to-Point Wiring ■ 151

Point-to-Point Style Drawings

Different industries use different styles of schematic drawings. To create different styles of drawings,you need to learn the differences between point-to-point and ladder style drawings.

Point-to-Point Style Drawings Defined

The point-to-point or wiring diagram style of drawings generally refer to the same style of schematicdrawing. In this style of drawing the components are placed on the drawing in a freeform manner,many times to display the simplest wire routing and component connections. Some drawings may usethe location of the component in the drawing to simulate the location on the machine.

This is in contrast to using a ladder style drawing that uses two buses and rungs running betweenthem. The ladder style of drawing generally restricts placement of the components to the buses andrungs.

Either style of drawing can be used to represent just about any electrical device. Which one is used isdetermined by company and industry standards.

Example of ladder style drawing Example of point-to-point style drawing

Example of Point-to-Point Style Drawings

You are working for a company that uses the wiring diagram or point-to-point style of drawings forits schematics. Start to create the drawing by placing components that are located in the front ofthe machine on the left side of the drawing, and components that are located near the back of themachine on the right side of the drawing. After the components are placed, you insert individual wiresbetween the components, connecting them together.


Point-to-Point Wiring Tools

Most of the standard AutoCAD Electrical commands fully support the point-to-point style of design.In addition, several commands offer functionality to aid in the creation of point-to-point designschematics. To efficiently create these wiring diagrams, you need to know what these tools are andhow they are used.

Only some of the tools that are especially helpful for point-to-point style drawing

creation are presented here. All tools can be useful for both ladder style and point-to-point drawings.

Collision Avoidance and Wire Routing

As you insert wires, the software checks for collisions and automatically routes the wire to avoidoverlapping existing wires.

The following steps describe how to add a 45-degree wire segment. When you start a wire at a wireconnection where a wire exists, a short 45-degree segment is added to the new wire to offset it fromthe existing wire.

Existing wire

Start new wire at wireconnection point

45-degree wire segment added


When you insert a wire so that it overlaps an existing wire, the new wire is automatically offset to runparallel to the existing wire.

Existing wire

Select new wire pointscausing overlap

Wire is automatically routed aroundexisting wire

Insert Splice

When using the Insert Splice command, the splice symbol is oriented to the wire direction (vertical orhorizontal) and connects to the wire. A splice also triggers a wire number change.

After the splice is inserted on the wire, the Insert/Edit Component dialog box is displayed so that youcan assign catalog numbers and add descriptions and other attribute data.


Insert Wire

When using the Insert Wire command, you select endpoints for each wire segment. The Insert Wirecommand automatically attempts to create two segments 90 degrees to each other when selectingendpoints.

The Continue option is useful. During the Insert Wire process you can enter C and press ENTER at thecommand line. This ends the first segment at the current corner point and continues drawing the wirefrom the newly established endpoint.

Insert Wire command indicating two 90-degree segments before using the Continueoption

With first segment ended, Insert Wire command iscontinued after using the Continue option

Bend Wire

Use this command to bend wires around obstacles in the wire path. This command adds a corner tothe existing wire, adding new segments to the existing wire. You are prompted to select the bendpoints on the two intersecting wires. A corner is added between the selected wires.

Wires before bend

Result of using Bend Wire command


Multiple Wire Bus

The Multiple Wire Bus command has many options, including the ability to connect to a component bywindowing the pins on the existing component. In the Multiple Wire Bus dialog box, under Starting At,use the Component (Multiple Wires) option. You are prompted to select pins at the starting connector.

With this option selected, you do not need to set the number of wires. This number is determined bythe connections you select for wiring during the command. Spacing for the start points of the wires isdetermined by the connections selected, but the spacing settings are used as the wires traverse thedrawing, make turns, and so on.

You can start and end connections on more than one component at a time. For example, youcan window a series of terminals for a connection to a plug. You can select several pins from onecomponent and create multiple wires that connect to another component. You must use a window forselecting wire connections, but you can select only one pin at a time.

The selection order defines the order that the wires connect to the ending connector. The defaultorder at the ending connector can be reversed or flipped by entering F on the command line. Onlyone symbol orientation can be selected at a time, such as, for example, only horizontal connections orvertical connections.

Little green X’s indicate that the available wire connection points are displayed during the selectionprocess. If you zoom, these connection indicators may disappear, but the connection points still existand can still be selected.

If you connect to a device that has multiple connection points, the utility finds the other connectionpoints on the device and automatically connects to them. When connecting to devices with a singleconnection point, you select each connection point individually.

Multiple Wire Bus command pin selectionwindow

Multiple Wire Bus command connecting wires


Using Point-to-Point Wiring Tools

Although all tools work with different types of design styles, some tools and options are used morefrequently in the point-to-point style of design. To create drawings with this style of design, you needto know which options to select and how to use them.

Command Access

Insert Splice

Ribbon: Schematic tab > Insert Components panel > Insert Connector flyout > Insert Splice

Menu Bar: Components > Insert Connector > Insert Splice Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical > Insert Connector > Insert Splice Insert Component icon menu: Miscellaneous > Splice Symbols > Splice

Bend Wire

Ribbon: Schematic tab > Edit Wires/Wire Numbers panel > Stretch Wire flyout > Bend Wire

Menu Bar: Wires > Bend Wire Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical > Insert Wire > Bend Wire


Multiple Wire Bus

Ribbon: Schematic tab > Insert Wires/Wire Numbers panel > Multiple Wire Bus

Menu Bar: Wires > Multiple Wire Bus Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical > Insert Wire > Multiple Wire Bus

Procedure: Adding Wire Bends

The following steps describe how to add a bend to a wire.

1. Start the Bend Wire command.

2.

Select two points on an existing wire.

3.

Press ENTER. Corners will be added at the selected points, creating the bend.


Procedure: Adding Multiple Wires Between Components

The following steps describe how to add multiple wires between components.

1. Start the Multiple Wire Bus command.

2.

In the Multiple Wire Bus dialog box, do the following:■ Set the spacing between the horizontal wires.■ Set the spacing between the vertical wires.■ Click Component (Multiple Wires).■ Click OK.

3.

Select the wire connection start points, using a selection window.


4.

Draw unattached multiple-phase wires by selecting the start points and endpoints, in a similar way aswhen you use the Add Wire command.

5.

To lock or fix an endpoint but continue with the bus wiring, enter C at the Command prompt.

6.

To reverse or flip the phase sequence of the wires when turning a corner, enter F at the Commandprompt. The phase sequences are shown as normal and flipped.


Exercise: Add Point-to-Point Wiring In this exercise, you add point-to-point style wiring to your drawing. You complete the following steps:■ Add individual wires and change the wire placements with the Scoot command.■ Add a splice and an additional wire connection.■ Use the Multiple Wire Bus command to add wires to individual terminals and a connector.


Completing the ExerciseTo complete the exercise, follow thesteps in this book or in the onscreenexercise. In the onscreen list ofchapters and exercises, click Chapter 3:Schematic Wiring. Click Exercise: AddPoint-to-Point Wiring.

Insert Individual Wires 1.


2. If Schematic_Wiring_IEC is the active project,skip to step 6. If it is open but not active, in theProject Manager, do the following:■ Right-click Schematic_Wiring_IEC.■ Click Activate.■ Skip to step 6.


3.


4.


5.

In the Projects list, double-clickSchematic_Wiring_IEC to expand the drawinglist.

6.

Right-click Schematic_Wiring_IEC_18.dwg.Click Open.

7.

Zoom in to rungs 4-8.

8.

Add four wires between the connectors andterminals. As you insert the wires, notice theX's on the wire connection points, and how thewire path is automatically changed to avoidcollisions with existing wires. On the Schematic tab, Insert Wires/WireNumbers panel, Wire flyout, click Wire. Do thefollowing:■ For the wire start, select the bottom side

of terminal 62.■ For the wire end, select -18X1, pin 1.■ For the wire start, select the bottom side

of terminal 53.■ For the wire end, select -18X2, pin 2.■ For the wire start, select the bottom side

of terminal 63.■ For the wire end, select -18X1, pin 2.■ For the wire start, select the right side of

terminal 54.■ For the wire end, select -18X2, pin 1.

9.

On the Schematic tab, Edit Components tab,Scoot flyout, click Scoot.

10.

Select the topmost horizontal wire and evenlyspace it below the lowest wire as shown.


Add a Splice 1.

On the Schematic tab, Insert Componentspanel, click Icon Menu.

2.

In the Insert Component dialog box, IEC:Schematic Symbols preview window, clickMiscellaneous.

3.

In the IEC: Miscellaneous preview window,click Splice Symbols.

4.

Click Splice. 5.

For the insertion point, select the leftmostvertical wire.

6.


7.

On the Schematic tab, Insert Wires/WireNumbers panel, Wire flyout, click Wire.

8.

For the wire start point, on the splice, selectthe top wire connection.

9.

For the wire endpoint, on the PLC, selectoutput terminal 13. Press ENTER.

10.

On the Wires palette, click Scoot. 11.

Select the horizontal portion of the new splicewire. Scoot it down off the terminal text.

Add Multiple Wires 1.

In the Project Manager, right-clickSchematic_Wiring_IEC_16. Click Open.

2.

On the Schematic tab, Insert Wires/WireNumbers panel, click Multiple Bus.

3.

In the Multiple Wire Bus dialog box, clickComponent (Multiple Wires). Click OK.


4.

In the drawing, select the pin connectionpoints 1-6 on the plug side of connector -16X1.Press ENTER.

5.

Drag the cursor to the left and down to displaythe wires crossing over each other.

6.

Before selecting an insertion point, enter F.Press ENTER. This flips the wire crossovers and attachmentorder.

7.

Click the upper wire connection point on input17 to attach the wires to the PLC. Notice how the spacing of the wires changesto match the component.



Lesson: Wire Numbers and Leaders

This lesson describes different types of wire numbers, how to change wire-number placement andother options, and how to attach wire numbers and wire leaders to wire networks in your drawing set.

Using tools provided in the software, you can automatically add wire numbers to every wire networkin the project drawing set with a single command. This is more accurate and faster than adding wirenumbers manually using AutoCAD commands.

Objectives


■ Identify different types of wire numbers, describe the purpose of leaders, and describe placementoptions.

■ Set wire number and leader default options for automatic placement.■ Automatically add wire numbers and wire number leaders to your drawings.■ Manually add and edit wire number copies and leaders.

Lesson: Wire Numbers and Leaders ■ 165

About Wire Numbers and Leaders

Wire numbers and leaders are unique labels that identify individual wires and wire networks.

Wire number 06.4 is shown in default location; Wire number 06.5 shown with leader; Wire number06.6 shown inline

Definition of Wire Numbers

Wire numbers are unique labels that identify individual wires and wire networks. A wire number is anattribute attached to an invisible block (a block without graphics). The block is inserted on the wire andthe attribute is displayed nearby, depending on the location style chosen. The distance from the wire isdetermined by the attribute spacing within the wire number block definition.

Only one wire number is assigned per wire network. A wire network may have manywire number copies added to it.

There are four types of wire numbers: normal, fixed, extra, and terminal/signal.

Type

Description

Normal Updated whenever AutoCAD Electrical executes an automatic wire-numberingcommand.

Fixed Locked to current values. They can be edited manually but are not updated duringautomatic wire-numbering commands.


Type

Description

Extra Extra copies of a normal or fixed wire number that are assigned to a given wirenetwork. A wire network has only one normal or fixed wire number, but not both,and may have many extra copies of that wire number inserted at various locations onthe network. Extra wire numbers automatically update if the normal or fixed numberis changed.

Terminal/signal For terminals and signal arrows.

Assign different layers and layer colors to each type of wire number in order to identifythem easily in your schematic.

Wire numbers cannot be added to a wire network entirely made of wires with theWire Numbering property set to No. Existing wire numbers can be updated.

Definition of Wire Number Leaders

Wire number leaders are graphics that extend from a point on a wire to a remotely located wirenumber. Wire number leaders indicate where the wire number is attached to the wire.

Examples of wire numbers with leaders


Leaders are commonly used when the default wire number location is crowded and thewire number collides with other objects in the area.

Arrow indicates wire number leader added due to crowding

Leader checks are triggered when you insert wire numbers or recenter them with a move. If theapplication cannot determine a suitable location, the wire number is left in its original position, andyou must adjust it manually.

Wire leaders are placed on the same layer as the associated wire number.

Automatic Leader Options

If you set the placement location option to Above or Below the wire you have several options forautomatically adding leaders to every new wire number.

Use the following options for the automatic placement of leaders.

Option

Description

As Required The application adds leaders to wire numbers when it determines that the wire-number text is colliding with something. However, it does not determine if the leaderitself is colliding with something.

Always Leaders are added to every new wire number.

Never Leaders are not added to a wire number even if a collision is detected.


You can also add leaders to wire number copies.

Wire Number Example

While your company standard is to use line referencing for the wire numbers, a customer hasrequested that the schematic is to have all the wires in the project wired sequentially. You take thestandard schematic and run the Automatic Wire Number command. By setting the wire numberstyle to sequential and selecting a projectwide process, you renumber all the wires in the projectautomatically to the sequential style. Examples of wire numbers applied in a drawing are shown in the following illustration.

Normal, placed above the horizontal wire.

Fixed, placed above (to the left of) the wire. This wire number is not changed by any automatic wire-numbering process.

Wire Number Copy, placed above (to the left of) the wire. This wire number automatically changes asthe corresponding wire number changes.

Wire Number Copy, with leader, placed above (to the left) of the wire.


Process: Adding Wire Numbers and Leaders

The following chart shows the overall process for adding wire numbers and leaders.

Setting Wire Number and Leader Defaults

You use the Wire Numbers tab in the Project Properties or Drawing Properties dialog boxes to set thedefault settings for the automatic insertion of wire numbers and leaders. Default options include layerproperty, wire number placement and offset position, and leader attachment.


Command Access

You can use the following methods to access the Drawing Properties dialog box, Wire Numbers tab.

Drawing Properties

Ribbon: Schematic tab > Other Tools panel > Drawing Properties

Menu Bar: Projects > Drawing Properties Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical 2

You can use the following method to access the Project Properties dialog box, Wire Numbers tab.

Project Properties

Project Manager: Right-click the project name. Click Properties.

Right-clicking the project name in the Project Manager is the only way to accessProject Properties.

Changing the project properties does not automatically change the drawingproperties. You must transfer project properties to drawing properties.


Wire Number Location

You can locate the wire numbers above (or left with a vertical wire), below (or right with a verticalwire), or inline with a wire automatically.

Procedure: Changing the Default Wire Number Location

The following steps describe how to change the default location of new wire numbers.

1. Open the Drawing Properties dialog box.

2.

On the Wire Numbers tab, under New Wire Number Placement, select the desired location.

3.

If you select the In-Line option for the placement of the wire numbers, you set the gaps between theend of the wire and the start of the text with the Gap Setup option.

4.

Select the position in relation to the beginning of the wire, Center or Offset. If you select Offset, enterthe distance for the offset.


You cannot change the placement of existing wire numbers automatically. You musterase the existing wire numbers and re-add them to change their placement.

Procedure: Defining Wire Number Layers

The following steps describe how to set the layers for the different types of wire numbers.


2.

In the Drawing Properties dialog box, Drawing Format tab, under Layers, click Define.

3.

Enter the desired layer names in the appropriate boxes.

Procedure: Changing Leader Options

The following steps describe how to change the default options for the automatic insertion of leaders.


2.

On the Wire Numbers tab, under New Wire Number Placement, select the desired option from theLeaders list.


Automatically Adding Wire Numbers and Leaders

You can automatically add wire numbers to each wire network in your project drawings. Depending onthe default option chosen, wire leaders are also added automatically, either to every wire number oronly when space is not available for normal positioning of the wire number.

Command Access

Insert Wire Numbers

Ribbon: Schematic tab > Insert Wires/Wire Numbers panel > Wire Numbers

Menu Bar: Wires > Insert Wire Numbers Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical 2 > Insert Wire Numbers

Wire Numbering Selection Options

Use one of the following options for the command:

Setting

Description

Project-wide Sequences tagging through all drawings in the Project drawing list. The WireTagging (Project-wide) dialog box is displayed, where you can select additionalproject settings.

Pick Individual Wires Prompts you to select individual wires within the current drawing for theautomatic wire-numbering process.

Drawing-wide Processes all wires in the current drawing.


Procedure: Adding Wire Numbers and Leaders

The following steps describe how to add wire numbers and optional leaders to individual wires, anentire drawing, or across an entire project.

1.

Start the Insert Wire Number command.

2.

In the Wire Tagging dialog box, set the desired wire number options. Preset options from the drawing default settings are displayed. You can override these options duringthe current operation.

3.

Select the wires to be numbered. You can select from Project-wide, Drawing-wide, or individual wires.


4.

A wire number is automatically applied to each wire network selected. The default setting is to process wire networks from top to bottom and from left to right.

It is recommended that you keep the Cross-reference Signals and Freshen Database (forSignals) options selected for all operations.

A "???" wire number indicates that an actual number is not assigned to the wire. If

the wire is an off-page connector, it may be because wire numbers are only assignedto the current drawing. Wire signal arrows allow a wire network to jump to anotherlocation.


Manually Adding and Editing Wire Copies and Leaders

You can manually add wire number copies and wire number leaders. You can also remove leadersfrom wire numbers, automatically repositioning the wire number back to the default position.

Examples of wire numbers with leaders

Command Access

Copy Wire Numbers

Ribbon: Schematic tab > Edit Wires/Wire Numbers panel > Copy Wire Number flyout > CopyWire Number

Menu Bar: Wires > Copy Wire Number Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical 2 > Copy Wire Number


Wire Leaders

Ribbon: Schematic tab > Insert Wire/Wire Numbers panel > Wire Number Leader

Menu Bar: Wires > Wire Number Leader Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical 2 > Wire Leaders

Procedure: Copying Wire Numbers

The following steps describe how to insert wire number copies.

1. Start the Copy Wire Number command.

2.

Select a location on a wire for the wire number copy.


3.

The assigned wire number is found on the selected wire network. A wire number copy is inserted at theselected point.

Wire numbers must be assigned to a wire network before adding wire numbercopies.

Procedure: Adding Wire Number Leaders

The following steps describe how to manually add wire number leaders to wire numbers.

1. Start the Wire Leader command.

2.

Select a wire number to add a leader.


3.

Select leader segment points.

4.

Press ENTER to end the leader segments and locate the wire number.


Procedure: Collapsing Wire Number Leaders

The following steps describe how to remove or collapse wire number leaders to reposition a wirenumber back to its original or default location.

1.

Start the Wire Leader command.

2.

At the Command prompt enter C. Press ENTER.

3.

Select the wire number with the leader you want to remove. The leader is removed and the wire number is relocated back to its original position.

Each leader to be collapsed must be selected individually.


Exercise: Add Wire Numbers This exercise takes you through the process ofinserting wire numbers automatically.■ First, you add wire numbers throughout the

drawing.■ Then, as you enter a relay contact symbol, you

see how wire numbers are updated automaticallywhen components change the wire networks. Youalso add wire number copies.

■ Finally, you add wire numbers projectwide,sequencing through the entire project drawinglist.


Completing the ExerciseTo complete the exercise, follow thesteps in this book or in the onscreenexercise. In the onscreen list ofchapters and exercises, click Chapter 3:Schematic Wiring. Click Exercise: AddWire Numbers.

Add Wire Numbers Drawingwide 1.


2.


3.


4.


5.

Double-click Schematic_Wiring_IEC to expandthe drawing list.

6.

Double-click Schematic_Wiring_IEC_06.dwg toopen the file.


7.


8.

On the Schematic tab, Insert Wires/WireNumbers panel, click Wire Numbers.

9.

In the Sheet 06 - Wire Tagging dialog box, useall of the default settings. Click Drawing-wide. Notice that AutoCAD Electrical adds a singlewire number to each of the wire networks inthe drawing.

Update Wire Numbers and Add Copies 1.


2.

In the Insert Component dialog box, selectRelays/Contacts.

3.

In the Relays and Contacts dialog box, selectRelay NO Contact.


4.

Select an insertion point on rung 4 betweenthe -06S4 limit switch and the -X1-A terminal.

5.

In the Insert/Edit Child Component dialog box,click OK to complete the insertion of the childcontact. Notice that the new wire number isautomatically added.

6.

On the Schematic tab, Edit Wires/WireNumbers panel, click Copy Wire Number.

7.

Select insertion points on rungs, 4, 5, and 6 justto the bottom of the -X1-A terminals. Notice that different colors are used for theextra wire numbers.

Add Wire Numbers Projectwide 1.

On the Schematic tab, Insert Wires/WireNumbers panel, click Wire Numbers.

2.

In the Wire Tagging dialog box, click Project-Wide.

3.

In the Wire Tagging (Project-wide) dialog box,click OK to accept all defaults.

4.



5.

If requested, in the Qsave dialog box, click OK. Notice that AutoCAD Electrical processes eachdrawing that is selected and automatically addswire numbers to all wire networks and crossreferences.


Lesson: Source and Destination Signals ■ 185

Lesson: Source and Destination Signals

This lesson describes how to insert and link source and destination signals in your schematic drawings. AutoCAD Electrical fully supports wire number signals, which can carry a wire number from onelocation to another, from source to destination. A wire number can jump from one column to the next,from one drawing to the next, or skip around the project drawing set.

Objectives


■ Describe source and destination signals and the functionality they provide.■ Set up and insert source signals, linking them to destination signals.


About Source and Destination Signals

Understanding what source and destination signals are and how they work makes it easier foryou to know when and where to place them in your drawings. This knowledge also helps whentroubleshooting problems or when working with the drawings without the AutoCAD Electricalsoftware available.

Definition of Source and Destination Signals

When a wire is forced to traverse to a remote location, either on the same drawing or separatedrawings, you end the wire in the first location, and start a new wire in the remote location.

Source and destination signals are blocks with specifically named attributes that you place on the twoends of the wires. You enter matching code values in mating signal blocks. This effectively connectsthe two separate wires into a single wire network.

Source signals provide the beginning or parent link between the two wires. A destination signal isthe ending or child link. Properties from the source wire such as wire number and wire type aretransferred to the destination wire.

Wire numbering will not span across source or destination arrows that include wireswith the No Wire Numbering property set to No.

Signal Arrow Examples

The illustration shows examples of source and destination signals.

Source Signal Arrow

Destination Signal Arrow


Adding Source and Destination Signals

Schematic diagrams are typically spread across multiple drawings. To link wires into a single networkthroughout the drawing set, you need to understand the processes and options used to add sourceand destination signals.

Command Access

Source Signal Arrow

Ribbon: Schematic tab > Insert Wires/Wire Numbers panel > Source Arrow flyout > Source Arrow

Menu Bar: Wires > Signal References > Source Signal Arrow Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical 2 > Source Destination Signals > Source Signal Arrow


Destination Signal Arrow

Ribbon: Schematic tab > Insert Wires/Wire Numbers panel > Source Arrow flyout > DestinationArrow

Menu Bar: Wires > Signal References > Destination Signal Arrow Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical 2 > Source Destination Signals > Destination Signal Arrow

Procedure: Inserting Source Signals

The following steps describe how to insert source signals and establish the links to destination signals.

1. Start the Source Signal Arrow command.


2.

Select the wire end for the source signal. Click near the end of the wire segment. (You do not have tobe exactly on the endpoint.)

3.

In the Signal - Source Code dialog box, for Code, enter or select a value.

You can use any of the tools provided to search for and select an existing code, or to manually enter anew code.


Source Options

The following table describes the tools available in the Signal - Source Code dialog box for selecting orentering code values and for changing signal display options.

Setting

Description

Code Specifies the source signal code. Enter a unique number, word, or phrase (32-character maximum). AutoCAD Electrical uses this code to link the source wirenetwork to any or all destination wire networks.

Use Enters the displayed value as the code. This is useful for using the next numberin a sequence.

Description Describes the source signal (optional).

Defaults Opens an ASCII text file where you can choose standard descriptions.

Recent Choose from recently inserted codes. The list is saved in the current session ofAutoCAD Electrical only.

Drawing Choose from all source and destination codes used in the current drawing.

Project Choose from all source and destination codes used in the selected project.

Search Prompts you to select a wire network, and then searches for a destination signalon the selected wire network. If a destination signal is found, AutoCAD Electricalrepeats its signal code for the new source signal.

Pick Selects an existing wire network. AutoCAD Electrical searches for an existingdestination signal and uses its signal code on the new source signal.

Signal Arrow Style Specifies the signal style to use for the source signal. There are currently fourstyles to choose from. The remaining five are for custom styles.

OK + UpdateDestination

Inserts the source signal and updates the destination signal with this sourcesignal information.


Procedure: Inserting Destination Signals

The following steps describe how to insert destination signals and establish links to source signals.

1. Start the Destination Signal Arrow command.

2.

Select the wire end for the destination signal. Click near the end of the wire segment. (You do not haveto be exactly on the endpoint.)


3.

In the Insert Destination Code dialog box, for Code, enter or select a value.

You can use any of the tools provided to search for and select an existing code, or to manually enter anew code.

Destination Options

The following table describes the tools available in the Signal - Destination Code dialog box forselecting or entering code values and for changing signal display options.

Setting

Description

Code Specifies the destination signal code. Enter a unique number, word, orphrase (32-character maximum). AutoCAD Electrical uses this code to link thedestination wire network to any or all source wire networks. Enter the code forthe source signal arrow to make the link to it.

Description Describes the destination signal (optional).

Defaults Opens an ASCII text file where you can choose standard descriptions.

Recent Choose from recently inserted codes. The list is saved in the current session ofAutoCAD Electrical only.

Drawing Choose from all source and destination codes used in the current drawing.


Setting

Description

Project Choose from all source and destination codes used in the selected project.

Pick Selects an existing wire network. AutoCAD Electrical searches for an existingsource signal and uses its signal code for use on the new destination signal.

Signal Arrow Style Specifies the style to use for the destination signal. There are currently four stylesto choose from. The remaining five are for custom styles.

OK + Update Source Inserts the destination signal and updates the source signal with this destinationsignal information.

Guidelines

Follow these guidelines when working with source and destination signals.

■ You can start with either a source or a destination signal and link the signals together when youinsert the mating component.

■ A source signal can be linked to multiple destination signals, but a destination signal can be linkedto only one source signal.

■ To easily maintain and report source and destination signals in a project, you can use theComponent Cross Reference and Projectwide Update/Retag commands.


Exercise: Add Source and Destination Signal Arrows In this exercise, you create source and destination signals in your schematic. You complete the following:■ Review the cross references on an existing source signal.■ Add a contact and wiring for a motor starter.■ Add a destination signal arrow to one side of the motor contact coming from a power source on a second

drawing.■ Add a source arrow to the other side of the motor contact, sending the power to a third drawing.■ Complete the source/destination network, adding a light component and a destination signal arrow

coming from the motor contact source signal you created.



Completing the ExerciseTo complete the exercise, follow thesteps in this book or in the onscreenexercise. In the onscreen list ofchapters and exercises, click Chapter 3:Schematic Wiring. Click Exercise: AddSource and Destination Signal Arrows.

Review the Source Signal 1.


2.


3.


4.


5.

In the Projects list, double-clickSchematic_Wiring_IEC to expand the drawinglist.

6.

Right-click Schematic_Wiring_IEC_05.dwg.Click Open.

7.

Zoom in to rung 8. Notice that the source signal arrow on rung 8/C is sending signals to rungs 02-4/B and 02-6/B.

Add a Contact and Wire 1.

On the Quick Access toolbar, click PreviousProject Drawing to open the previous drawing,Schematic_Wiring_IEC_04.dwg, in the Projectslist.

2.

Click Previous Drawing again to openSchematic_Wiring_IEC_03.dwg.Click Previous Drawing again to openSchematic_Wiring_IEC_02.dwg.


3.

Zoom in to rungs 5-8/D to create a source/destination circuit identical to the one on rung6.

4.


5.

In the Insert Component: IEC SchematicSymbols dialog box, click Relays/Contacts.

6.

In the IEC: Relays and Contacts dialog box, clickRelay NO Contact.

7.

Select the insertion point for the contacton rung 8, directly to the right of the -08K1contactor. (The contact is placed in emptyspace, that is, not on an existing rung.)

8.

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

9.

In the drawing, select the -08K1 contactcomponent as the sibling.

10.

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

11.

On the Schematic tab, Insert Componentspanel, click Link Components with DashedLine.

12.

Select the rightmost -08K1 contact on rung 7as the component to link from.

13.

Select the -08K1 contact you inserted on rung8 as the component to link to. Press ENTER.


14.

On the Home tab, Layers panel, change thecurrent layer to RD_1_mm^2. (This is anAutoCAD Electrical wiring layer.)

15.

On the Schematic tab, Insert Wires/WireNumbers panel, click Wire to insert a newwire.

16.

Select the wire start point directly below therelay contact at approximately the C location.Select the wire endpoint above the relaycontact at approximately the B referencelocation. Press ENTER. Note: Be careful to draw a straight wirewithout any turns. The wire is automatically connected to bothsides of the contact.

Add a Destination Signal Arrow 1.

On the Schematic tab, Insert Wires/WireNumbers panel, Source Arrow flyout, clickDestination Arrow.

2.

In the drawing, select near the upper end onthe added wire.

3.

In the Insert Destination Code dialog box, clickProject.

4.

Notice that AutoCAD Electrical transfersthe signal code information to the InsertDestination Code dialog box. In the Signal Codes--Project-wide Source dialogbox, select MOTORS CONNECTED, Reference 8/C. Click OK.


5.

In the Insert Destination Code dialog box, clickOK + Update Source.

Add a Source Signal Arrow 1.

On the Schematic tab, Insert Wires/WireNumbers panel, Source Arrow flyout, clickSource Arrow.

2.

In the drawing, select near the lower end onthe added wire.

3.

In the Signal - Source Code dialog box, enter-02M3 AUX CONTACT as the code. Click OK.

AutoCAD Electrical places the matchingdestination on Schematic_Wiring_IEC_06.dwgand you cannot select it at this time.

4.

In the Source/Destination Signal Arrows dialogbox, click No.

5.

On the Quick Access toolbar, click NextProject Drawing as required to openSchematic_Wiring_IEC_05.dwg.


6.

Zoom in to rung 8. Notice the reference added to rung 02-8/B.

Complete the Network 1.

On the Quick Access toolbar, clickNext Project Drawing to openSchematic_Wiring_IEC_06.dwg.

2.

Zoom in to the lower area on rung 7.

3.

On the Schematic tab, Insert Wires/WireNumber panel, click Wire.

4.

Draw the wire starting on the lower horizontalbus at rung 7 and ending about one quarter ofthe way across the ladder. Note: Be careful to draw a straight wirewithout any turns.

5.

On the Schematic tab, Edit Components panel,click Copy Component.

6.

Select -06H1 located on rung 2. 7.

Insert the new light on the added wire directlyto the right of -06K4.


8.

In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, dothe following:■ Under Description, for Line 1, enter

INDEXING MOTOR.■ For Line 2, enter RUNNING.■ Click OK.

9.

On the Schematic tab, Insert Wires/WireNumbers panel, Source Arrow flyout, clickDestination Arrow.

10.

Click near the upper end of the added wire onrung 7.

11.

In the Insert Destination Code dialog box, clickRecent.

12.

In the Signal Source/Destination Codes--Recent dialog box, select -02M3 AUX CONTACT.Click OK.

13.

In the Insert Destination Code dialog box, clickOK + Update Source.

14.

In the Change Destination Wire Layer? dialogbox, click Yes. Notice that when you resequence andretag the project, AutoCAD Electricaltransfers the wire number fromSchematic_Wiring_IEC_02.dwg toSchematic_Wiring_IEC_06.dwg and replacesthe question marks.


Chapter Summary ■ 201

Chapter Summary

In this chapter you learned about many of the tools that are provided to increase the productivity ofyour standard schematic creation tasks. Tools such as Automatic Wire Numbers not only automate thetask but also add intelligence and accuracy to your drawings. Tools such as the Source and DestinationSignals link components throughout your project and transfer intelligence between the drawings.



Chapter

4

Schematic Components

This chapter describes how to use schematic components in your drawings. Several methods areavailable to insert schematic components. When starting with an empty project, you use the IconMenu system to select and insert the component symbols. When panel or schematic drawings exist,you can extract component lists to aid the insertion process. You can also use an external componentlist as an insertion tool. Some tools, such as the Circuit tools and the Multiple Wire Bus tool, provideintelligence and automation to otherwise repetitive tasks.

Objectives


■ Insert and annotate schematic symbols, add catalog and description data, and create parent-childrelationships.

■ Select schematic components for insertion from a panel component list extracted from the project.■ Describe and insert parametric connectors in your schematic drawings.■ Describe and create multiple level terminals and terminal jumpers.■ Create and edit electrical circuits, including moving, copying, and saving them in the icon menu.■ Insert multiple-phase wires and components into your drawings.

204 ■ Chapter 4: Schematic Components

Lesson: Inserting Schematic Symbols

This lesson describes how to use the Insert Component icon menu system to select and insertschematic symbols. You learn how to assign information such as manufacturer and part number,location, and descriptions to the inserted components. You also establish the relationship between aparent component and its contacts, or children. Inserting and annotating components is the basic procedure for building an intelligent schematic. Datafrom the annotated schematic components is reused several times in places such as panel design andreports.

Objectives


■ Describe the basic process of selecting and inserting schematic symbols.■ Describe the primary function and multiple options available in the Insert/Edit Component dialog

box.■ Use the catalog lookup function to display and select catalog numbers for a component type.■ Establish a link between parent and child components.

Lesson: Inserting Schematic Symbols ■ 205

Schematic Symbol Insertion Process

Inserting schematic symbols is one of the most basic and frequent tasks in creating an electricaldrawing. Most of the information in a schematic is given through the insertion of graphic symbols. Youneed to understand the basic process and options used to insert symbols.

Insert Component Process

The following diagram describes the typical process for inserting components.

Command Access

Insert Component

Ribbon: Schematic tab > Insert Components panel > Icon Menu

Menu Bar: Components > Insert Component Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical > Insert Component Shortcut Menu: Right-click over a wire; click Insert Component > Insert Component


Inserting Schematic Symbols with Icon Menus

Icon menus are the primary user interface you use to select and insert symbols. You use controls inthe Insert Component icon menu to manage the insertion of symbols in your schematic drawings.

When you are at the main or first page in the menu, entries in the tree view on the left correspond tothe icons in the icon symbol menu in the center. For example, the first entry in the list, Push Buttons,corresponds to the icon of a push button shown under Schematic Symbols, and so on. Clicking Push Buttons in either the tree view or under Schematic Symbols highlights Push Buttons inthe tree view and displays the Push Buttons icon submenu.


Menu Controls

The following controls are available in the Insert Component dialog box.

Tree view menu - Enables you to maneuver through symbol display pages. Selecting an entry heredisplays the matching icon page in the Symbol Menu area.

Symbol menu - Displays icons of schematic symbols. This is where you select the symbol for insertion.

Recently Used - Displays the symbols you most recently used during this session. You can change thenumber of icons displayed by entering a value in the Display box.

Menu - Toggles the display of the tree view. If the tree view is closed, click this button to redisplay it.

Up One Level - Displays the previous icon menu page. It is similar to the Back button used in Windows.This button is especially important for maneuvering through symbol pages when the tree view iconmenu is not displayed.

Views - Displays an option menu for changing the display of the icon menu page. You can select fromthe following:■ Icons with Text (default).■ Icons Only.■ List View (text with very small icons).

Vertical/Horizontal - Toggles the preview orientation of the symbol during insertion. This buttondepends on the ladder orientation setting in the Drawing Properties dialog box, as follows:■ If the ladder orientation is horizontal, this button is displayed as Vertical.■ If the ladder orientation is vertical, this button is displayed as Horizontal.


No Edit Dialog - Inserts the symbol without displaying the Insert/Edit Component dialog box. Thecomponent tag is inserted, but no other component information.

Scale Schematic/Panel - Changes the scale factor of the symbols as they are inserted.

Type It and Browse - Enables you to enter the name of the symbol in the box or browse to the filelocation if the component to be inserted is not in the icon menu system but exists as a file.

Symbol Insertion

When you select a symbol for insertion, the symbol appears on the cursor as a reference whileyou select an insertion point. When you have vertically oriented ladders with horizontal rungs, thehorizontal symbol appears on the cursor by default. If you choose a vertical wire, the symbol isautomatically switched to a vertically oriented symbol for insertion.

The opposite is true for horizontally oriented ladders with vertical rungs. A vertical symbol appears onthe cursor and is automatically switched if a horizontal wire is selected.

Vertical symbol preview with vertical wire

Upon insertion, the schematic symbols break the underlying ladder rung or wire and reconnect. Thisworks if you select directly on the wire or within the trap distance.

After the symbol is inserted, you can complete the annotation and insertion of the component in theInsert/Edit Component dialog box.


If you cancel the insertion process at any time, the symbol is not inserted and the underlying ladderrung or wire is rejoined. This is true even if the symbol has been placed on the wire and the Insert/EditComponent dialog box is displayed.

Left image is during insertion with inserted symbol and broken wire; Right image is with rejoined wire aftercancel

About the Insert/Edit Component Dialog Box

The Insert/Edit Component dialog box is one of the most important dialog boxes used in yourschematic designs. This dialog box is where you enter the component information such as catalognumbers, tag name, and descriptions, and so on, into the component attributes. This informationdrives almost all the intelligence and automation available in the software. It is important that youunderstand the options and choices that are available for creating the most intelligent drawings andprojects possible.


Command Access

Insert/Edit Component: Insert


Menu Bar: Components > Insert Component Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical > Insert Component Shortcut menu: Right-click over a wire; click Insert Component > Insert Component

Insert/Edit Component: Edit

Ribbon: Schematic tab > Edit Components panel > Edit flyout > Edit

Menu Bar: Components > Edit Component Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical > Edit Component Shortcut menu: Right-click over a component; click Edit Component


Insert/Edit Component Dialog Box

You use the Insert/Edit Component dialog box for both inserting and editing component attributevalues. During the component insertion process, the dialog box is automatically displayed afteryou select the component insertion point. It is also displayed when you select the Edit Componentcommand.

The boxes in the Insert/Edit Component dialog box correspond to attributes found in the component.You can either enter information directly in the boxes or use the labeled buttons to look up and enterthe information automatically.

You can use any AutoCAD® attribute editing tool to edit symbol attributes. However, the Insert/EditComponent dialog box also provides tools to help fill the attributes with accurate information.

Insert/Edit Component dialog box for selector switches


Component Tag

Component tags, such as -06S7, are based on the current drawing configuration settings and areautomatically generated during the component insertion process. To define the component tagmanually, you edit the existing tag or enter another tag in the box. Select Fixed if you do not wantthis tag to be updated during automatic retag operations. Other options in this window enable you tosearch for existing tag entries.

Each component must have a unique tag or identifier.

The tag format is customizable.

You set component tag and suffix formatting on the Components tab in the DrawingProperties dialog box.

When a component tag is fixed, AutoCAD® Electrical changes the TAG attribute in

two ways:■ Moves it to the Fixed Tags layer as defined in the Drawing Properties, Define

Layers dialog box.■ Appends an F to it; for example, TAG1 becomes TAG1F.


Description

You can enter up to three lines of description attribute text. If a description line is unavailable, thecomponent you are editing does not carry that attribute.

The following describes the options available under Description.

Option

Description

Drawing Displays a list of descriptions found in the current drawing so you can choose similardescriptions to insert and edit.

Project Displays a list of descriptions found in the project so you can choose similar descriptions toinsert and edit.

Defaults Opens an ASCII text file from which you can select standard descriptions.

Pick Prompts you to choose a similar description from a component to edit on the current drawing.

AutoCAD Electrical has an option (on by default), which automatically capitalizes entries

in the description lines. To change the setting, right-click the project name in theProject Manager to open the Project Properties dialog box. The option is located on theComponents tab, under Component Options.


Cross-Reference

AutoCAD Electrical usually enters cross-reference information automatically as components areinserted and linked together.

Under Cross-Reference, you can manually edit the cross-reference information on a component.

The following options are available under Cross-Reference.

Option

Description

ComponentOverride

Changes the cross-reference formatting for the component, thereby overriding thesettings in the Drawing Properties dialog box.

Reference NOand Reference NC

Contains the cross-reference information for the child contacts of the symbol.Normally, these values are updated automatically as child contacts are inserted, butyou can also edit the information manually.

NO/NC Setup Creates pin list assignments for the component being edited. Normally, these valuesare copied onto the parent component automatically from the pin list databaseinformation (if available) when a matching catalog number is selected. You can alsoedit the information manually.


Catalog Data

Sample catalog information is included with the default installation. The information is stored in tablesin a Microsoft Access database file (MDB) populated with sample vendor data. Expand and modifythese tables to meet your specific bill-of-materials needs. You can use the tools provided with thesoftware or a database program that can read and write the MDB file format. You are not required tohave Microsoft Access or any other database software installed when you access the database file.

The following options are available under Catalog Data.

Option

Description

Lookup Opens the component's catalog database, from which you can manually enteror select the manufacturer or catalog values. Search the database for a specificcatalog item to assign to the selected component.

Drawing Lists the part numbers used for similar components in the current drawing.

Project Lists the part numbers used for similar components in the active project, adifferent project, or in an external list file.

Multiple Catalog Inserts or edits extra catalog part numbers to the selected component. You canadd up to ten part numbers to any component. These multiple bill-of-materialpart numbers appear as subassembly part numbers to the main catalog partnumber in the various bill-of-material and component reports.

Catalog Check Displays what the selected item looks like in a bill-of-material template.


Ratings

Under Ratings, you can specify values for each ratings attribute. You can enter up to 12 ratingsattributes on a component. Select Defaults to display a list of default values.

If Ratings is unavailable, the component you are editing does not carry ratingattributes.

Show All Ratings

Selecting Show All Ratings displays a separate dialog box specifically for editing the rating values.

Use the Defaults option to open an external ASCII text file, which is named Wd_Ratings.wdr bydefault. You can edit this file to list the values that you use most often.

In the View/Edit Rating Values dialog box, the box descriptions are a combination of

the attribute name, and the attribute prompt value.For example, Rating 1 is the attribute name, and Motor Size is the value of theattribute prompt.

Because the tools for handling Ratings attributes are built into the interface, you can

frequently use these attributes for the unusual or miscellaneous values you want tostore with a component.


Installation and Location Codes

Enter the installation and location codes by entering a value in the boxes or by clicking Drawing orProject.

Drawing and Project searches are available in several areas of the Insert/Edit Component dialog box.They have the same general purpose in all instances.

Option

Description

Drawing Lists the values used for similar components only in the current drawing.

Project Lists the values used for similar components in the following:■ Any drawing in the active project.■ Any drawing in a different project.■ An external ASCII list file.


Pins

Assigns pin numbers to the pin or terminal attributes that are physically located on the component.The GREATER THAN (>) and LESS THAN (<) keys increase and decrease the value displayed in the box,respectively.

Pins 1 and 2 are always displayed. You use the third box (X) for entering all other pin numbers. You usethe arrow keys to move between the pins.

If pin list information is associated with a catalog number in the pin list database, the appropriate pinnumbers are automatically filled in when the catalog number is selected.

The terms Pin and Terminal are used interchangeably when discussing the wireconnection points on components.

Switch Positions

Under Switch Positions, you can enter descriptions for switches with multiple positions.

Positions 1 and 2 are always displayed. You can use the third box for entering all other positiondescriptions. You use the arrow keys to move between the positions.

In the State box, you can enter the normal state of the switch. A common style is to enter the letter Oto indicate normally open and the letter X to indicate normally closed, such as, OX.


Selecting Existing Catalog Part Numbers

You can manually enter part numbers and manufacturer information in the Insert/Edit Componentdialog box, but this can be a tedious and time-consuming task that leaves you vulnerable totypographical errors. To improve this process, you need to learn how to use the Catalog Data: Lookupfunction to search the catalog database for existing catalog numbers.

Tool Access

In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, under Catalog Data, click Lookup to select an existing partnumber from the part catalog.


Parts Catalog Dialog Box

When you click Lookup, the Parts Catalog dialog box is displayed and you can access the databasetable that matches the family type of the inserted component. In this dialog box, you can search thedatabase for a specific catalog item that you want to assign to the selected component.

Parts Catalog dialog box for the light family


Database Filters

Database queries, or filters, appear in three lists across the top of the Parts Catalog dialog box.Query 1 is Manufacturer, Query 2 is Type, and Query 3 is Style. The Query 2 and 3 headings mayvary depending on the component type you have selected. For example, when you select a motorcomponent, the Query 3 heading is HP; when you select a light, the Query 3 heading is Voltage.

Each time that you make a selection from one of the query lists, the catalog selection is filtered. As youmake selections in the lists, the list of appropriate catalog numbers narrows.

Parts Catalog dialog box with all three filter lists displayed

Main window of the Parts Catalog dialog box displays the identified matches

Selecting the All check box for a column removes the filter and displays all entries for

that field from the catalog database. For example, the Manufacturer list can displayall manufacturers for all part numbers that have been previously entered in thedatabase table for the selected component family.


Parts Catalog Lookup Options

The lower portion of the Parts Catalog dialog box has options for prefiltering, displaying, and editingthe catalog database as well as the database and table selections.

Sorts the catalog entries by catalog number. By default the entries are shown in the order that theyappear in the catalog database.

Filters the symbol names using the WDBLKNAM value. If you select this option, records that containa WDBLKNAM value that does not match the symbol block name do not appear in the catalog list. Ifyou do not select this option, the query does not check the WDBLKNAM field and returns all cataloginformation matching the other selected sort criteria. The first character of the block name, called theorientation character, is removed. For example, a red light has a block name of HLT1R. If you select the Symbol Name Filtering option,only catalog entries with the WDBLKNAM of LT1R are displayed. If you set the option to OFF, all catalogentries in the LT table are displayed.

Opens the Add Catalog Record dialog box and provides a template to add a new catalog item to thecatalog database file. If you select a catalog number, the template is prefilled with values from theselected catalog number.

Enables you to select the catalog record to edit from the Parts Catalog dialog box, and make anychanges in the Edit Catalog Record dialog box.


Creating Parent-Child Relationships

The basic process of selecting and inserting a child symbol, such as a switch or relay contact, is similarto the process used to insert a parent symbol. The process changes when you link the child to aparent component and enter the component attribute information. To establish the parent and childrelationship, you need to understand the difference between the two insertion processes and how toestablish the link between the parent and the child components.

Parent Coil Child Coil Contacts

Command Access

Insert/Edit Component: Insert


Menu Bar: Components > Insert Component Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical > Insert Component Shortcut menu: Right-click over a wire; click Insert Component > Insert Component


Insert/Edit Component: Edit

Ribbon: Schematic tab > Edit Components panel > Edit flyout > Edit

Menu Bar: Components > Edit Component Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical > Edit Component Shortcut menu: Right-click over a component; click Edit Component

If a child component is selected for insertion or editing, the Insert/Edit Child

Component dialog box is automatically displayed instead of the standard Insert/EditComponent dialog box.


Insert/Edit Child Component Dialog Box

Except for the Component Tag area, the Insert/Edit Child Component dialog box is similar to the parentInsert/Edit Component dialog box.

The Catalog Data area is not displayed in this dialog box. Catalog data is stored in theparent component only.

Parent-Child Link

To establish a parent-child relationship, the same tag value is used for both the parent and the childcomponent. Differently named tag attributes on the parent and child components identify the symbolsas a parent or a child. Under Component Tag, you find options that help you enter the matching tag value so that you canlink the child component to its parent.


Use the following options under Component Tag to link the parent and child components.

Option

Description

Tag Manually enters the tag name of the parent component to be linked.

Drawing Selects the parent symbol from a list of all parent symbols in the drawing. Onlythose parents of the same family type are displayed.

Project Selects the parent symbol from a list of all parent symbols of the same familytype in the project. Only those parents of the same family type are displayed.

Parent / Sibling Selects the parent symbol or a sibling (child component) in the current drawing.

When the parent component is selected the tag value from the parent is copied to the child tag valuelinking the two together.

Other attribute values from the parent symbol are also copied in the Insert/Edit Child Componentdialog box. You can also edit the child attributes independently of the parent attributes.


Exercise: Insert a Relay Coil and Child Contact In this exercise you insert a limit switch, relay coil, and contact using the schematic symbol icon menu. You addinformation to the symbols using various copying and searching techniques to take advantage of existing data.You complete the following:■ Insert a limit switch, copying description lines, and searching the project for catalog information.■ Insert a relay coil, searching the drawing for catalog information.■ Insert a relay contact and link the child contact to the parent coil.


Completing the ExerciseTo complete the exercise, follow thesteps in this book or in the onscreenexercise. In the onscreen list ofchapters and exercises, click Chapter 4:Schematic Components. Click Exercise:Insert a Relay Coil and Child Contact.

Insert a Limit Switch

1.



2.

If Schematic_Components_IEC is the activeproject, skip to step 6. If it is open butnot active, in the Project Manager, do thefollowing:■ Right-click Schematic_Components_IEC.■ Click Activate.■ Skip to step 6.

3.


4.

Browse to where you installed the exercisefiles. Select Schematic_Components_IEC.wdp.Click Open.

5.

In the Projects list, double-clickSchematic_Components_IEC to expand thedrawing list.

6.

Right-clickSchematic_Components_IEC_06.dwg. ClickOpen.

7.

Zoom in to rungs 5/A -6/A on the upper area ofthe ladder.

8.


9.

In the Insert Component: IEC SchematicSymbols dialog box, click Limit Switches.

10.

In the IEC: Limit Switches dialog box, click LimitSwitch, NO.

11.

Select the insertion point on rung 6/A, directlyto the right of -06S5.

12.

In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, underDescription, click Pick.


13.

Select -06S5. The description lines from the selectedcomponent are copied to the matchingdescription lines in the Insert/Edit Componentdialog box.

14.

Change the first description line to RAM 03. 15.

Under Catalog Data, click Drawing. 16.

In the HLS11/VLS11 Catalog Values dialog box,select the MS MS-50L entry. Click OK.

17.

The catalog values from the existingcomponents are copied to the Insert/EditComponent dialog box. Click OK.

The insertion of -06S1 limit switch iscompleted.

Insert Relay Coil 1.

In the Project Manager, right-clickSchematic_Components_IEC_18. Click Open.

2.

Zoom in to rungs 6/D.

3.


4.



5.

In the IEC: Relays and Contacts dialog box,select Relay Coil.

6.

Select the insertion point on rung 6/D, directlyto the left of -18K2.

7.

In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, underDescription, click Pick.

8.

On rung 6/A, select the PLC output description,Audible Alarm Relay.

9.

Under Catalog Data, click Project. 10.

In the Find: Catalog Assignments dialog box,click Active Project. Click OK.

11.

If prompted, in the Qsave dialog box, click OK. 12.

In the HCR1/VCR1 Catalog Values dialog box,select the AB, 700-P400A1 entry. Click OK.

13.

In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, clickOK. This completes the insertion of the -18K1Audible Alarm Relay coil.

Insert Relay Child Contact 1.

In the Project Manager, right-clickSchematic_Components_IEC_08. Click Open.

2.

Zoom in to rung 5/A.

3.

On the Schematic palette, click InsertComponent. On the Schematic tab, Insert Componentspanel, click Icon Menu.


4.


5.

In the IEC: Relays and Contacts dialog box,select Relay NO Contact.

6.

Select the insertion point on rung 5/A, directlyto theleft of -18K2.

7.

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

8.

In the Complete Project List for Family ="CR"dialog box, select the 18K1, Audible AlarmRelay entry. Click OK.

9.

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

The child contact is linked to the parent coil,and data is copied from the parent to the child,including descriptions, pin numbers, and cross-reference information. This completes the exercise.


Lesson: Inserting Schematic Components fromLesson: Lists

This lesson describes how to create and use component lists to help you with your schematicdrawings. You insert these listed components into your schematic drawings, linking the componentsbetween the schematic and panel drawings. Some workflows require a preliminary panel layout design to determine panel size requirementsand to aid in ordering long lead time items early in the design process. Because both schematic-to-panel and panel-to-schematic workflows are supported, you can start your design with the panel orschematic drawings.

Use extracted component lists from either drawing set to add in components to the other. Virtuallyany workflow pattern is supported.

Objectives


■ Describe the uses for and differences between equipment, panel, and catalog lists.■ Insert components into a schematic drawing using equipment, panel, and catalog lists for

component selection.

Lesson: Inserting Schematic Components from Lists ■ 233

About Equipment, Panel, and Catalog Lists

At times you may want to limit your choices for inserting components. You may just want to use a listof components you have inserted from another project, or you may have customers who want onlypreapproved components used when you design and build their panels. To accomplish these tasks, youneed to understand what lists are available and how to create them.

Definition of Equipment and Panel Lists

An equipment list is a list of electrical components saved as an external file. You can use theproject database, or you can create equipment lists by saving a report to an external file. The InsertComponent (Equipment List) utility organizes the selected equipment list and presents it in a pick list.

The Insert Component (Panel List) utility creates a list of all panel components by extracting thecomponent information directly from the selected panel layout drawings.

When using either an equipment list or a panel list, you select an item from the pick list and the utilityuses the catalog number to search the schematic_lookup.mdb file for a matching schematic symbol.If a match is found, the symbol appears on your cursor and you are prompted for an insertion point inyour drawing. If a match is not found you are prompted to select a symbol for insertion.

The common tag name identifier automatically establishes a link between the schematic and panelcomponents. Using this link, bidirectional updating is supported between schematic componentsand the associated footprint blocks. If you change a component, options are provided to update anyrelated components in either the corresponding schematic or panel drawings.

Examples of equipment list files and file types


■ When selecting an equipment list, you can open a comma-delimited file,Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, or Microsoft Access database file for input.

■ The Insert Component (Equipment List) utility does not account for quantity ofcomponents or duplicate insertions.

You can find the built-in editor for the schematic_lookup.mdb file under Miscellaneous

Panel Tools. This process is the same as when you insert panel footprints from lists. Formore information see Electrical Help Topics. Enter schematic_lookup.mdb in the Searchtab.

Definition of Catalog List

A catalog list is an external database file that contains a predefined list of schematic and panelsymbols. You can select either schematic or panel components from the list, but only one type isdisplayed at a time depending on if you started the utility from the schematic or panel toolbars.

The database file is in a generic Microsoft Access format and must be in the normal AutoCADElectrical search path. You can add records to the list using Access or by using the Add and Editbuttons in the Schematic Component or Circuit dialog box. Block names are defined for each item inthe list as it is added.

To insert components from a catalog list, select the component from the list and then select theinsertion point in your drawing.

Default catalog list

Example: Using an Equipment List

You are creating a new design of a machine that you built for a customer a couple of months ago.They have requested some changes but want to use the same components used in the previousdesign. You create an equipment list by selecting the database from the previous project.

When you select and insert items from the equipment list, you are assured of using only thecomponents that were used on the previous design.


Example: Using a Panel List

You work for a job-shop company that builds panels for your customers. Your customers depend onyou for a fast turnaround of design projects.

A new order comes in requiring the fastest design and build possible. You lay out the panelcomponents, inserting longer lead-time items such as a variable frequency drive. When you have thecorrect sizing of the panel, you order all the long lead-time items.

Next, you start the schematic design. You create an equipment list from the components you insertedin the panel layout. Selecting and inserting items from the equipment list, you get a quick start on theschematic design.

Example: Using a Catalog List

One of your customers requires that only specified parts are used in their panels. The customer hassupplied you with a catalog file of the approved components and footprints in MDB format. Instead ofusing the Catalog Data: Lookup function and searching through your company's entire parts database,you insert all components using the supplied catalog list.

Inserting Components from Lists

When using an equipment list, you have to complete several steps. To execute the task efficiently, youneed to know what the steps are and how to accomplish them.

Command Access

Insert Component (Equipment List)

Ribbon: Schematic tab > Insert Components panel > Icon Menu flyout > Equipment List

Menu Bar: Components > Insert Component (Lists) > Insert Component (Equipment List)


Insert Component (Equipment List)

Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical > Insert Component > Insert Component (Lists) > Insert Component(Equipment List)

Insert Component (Panel List)

Ribbon: Schematic tab > Insert Components panel > Icon Menu flyout > Panel List

Menu Bar: Components > Insert Component (Panel List) Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical > Insert Component > Insert Component (Panel List)


Insert Component (Catalog List)

Ribbon: Schematic tab > Insert Components panel > Icon Menu flyout > Catalog List

Menu Bar: Components > Insert Component (Lists) > Insert Component (Catalog List) Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical > Insert Component > Insert Component (Lists) > Insert Component

(Catalog List)

Panel Components Dialog Box Options

The following callouts describe the Panel Components dialog box and its options.


Sort List You can sort the list using four levels of sort criteria. Use the drop-down lists to selectdifferent options for each level.

Reload In the Panel Components dialog box, click Reload to reopen the Panel Layout List -->Schematic Components Insert dialog box so that you can reextract data or select a savedexternal file to use.

MarkExisting

In the Panel Components dialog box, click Mark Existing to identify components thatmay already be in the schematic drawings included in the project. An X is placed next toany components that have already been inserted. An O placed next to a component inthe list indicates that a schematic component with a matching component tag is found,but the catalog information does not match. Marked components cannot be insertedmultiple times.

Display In the Panel Components dialog box, select one of two display options to showall extracted panel data, or to hide the panel data that has a matching schematiccomponent (marked with an X).

CatalogCheck

If the selected component contains catalog data, you can perform a bill-of-materialscheck. The part catalog database is searched and the resulting component informationis displayed.

TAGOptions

Accessed in the Panel Components dialog box, TAG options specify whether to use thepanel footprint tag or to retag the component based on the component tagging formatset in the drawing configuration settings. If a new tag is generated when inserting theschematic component, the source panel footprint is updated with the generated tag.The active drawing is automatically updated, while updates on other drawings aremaintained inside the update task file (project_name.upd). Later the panel drawings aremodified to match the new schematic component tag. If the panel footprint tag is used,the tag is set to Fixed in the schematic.


Insert You click Insert to start a search for a schematic symbol based on the cataloginformation. If a symbol match to the catalog information is found, you are prompted toselect a location for the symbol. After the symbol is inserted, the Insert/Edit Componentdialog box is displayed with attributes prefilled with information from the panelfootprint.

Multiple Insert Spacing Options

If you select multiple components and click Insert in the Panel Components dialog box, you need tospecify the locations or set the automatic spacing between each component. The Spacing for Insertiondialog box provides multiple options, as described in the callouts.

The following are options in the Spacing for Insertion dialog box.

Promptfor EachLocation

In the Spacing for Insertion dialog box, select the Prompt for Each Location optionwhen you do not have a pattern of insertions and you need to be prompted for eachinsertion point.

FenceInsertion

In the Spacing for Insertion dialog box, select the Fence Insertion option to use a fenceline to insert the components on all lines that intersect the fence line. You are notprompted with insertion options such as Keep? or Skip.

Use UniformSpacing

In the Spacing for Insertion dialog box, select the Uniform Spacing option to insertschematic components in a row or a column with equal spacing between eachcomponent. Use a negative value to move down or to the left.

Move Up/Move Down

Moves the item in the Insert Order list up or down one position in the sort order.


Reverse Reverses the sort order of all components in the Insert Order list.

Re-sort Re-sorts all of the components in the Insert Order list using an alphanumeric priority inascending order.

This is not an array with rows and columns. If you enter nonzero values for both the

X distance and Y distance, the second component is located diagonally from the firstand so on.

Procedure: Inserting Schematic Components from Equipment Lists

The following steps describe how to insert schematic components from an equipment list.

1. Start the Insert Component (Equipment List) command.

2.

Select an external data file you want to use as the equipment list. Choose from XLS, CSV, or MDB fileformats. The default data files are the project databases, located in your user directory.


3.

If the data file that you selected has multiple sheets or tables, you must select the desired category.

4.

After you select the data file and category, you must tell the program how to read the formatting of thefile. Select Default Settings or Read Settings (previously saved settings). Click OK. You can change themapping of data file information to electrical categories by clicking Spreadsheet/Table Columns. Youcan save the changes for later by clicking Save Settings.


5.

Select a component from the list for insertion.

6.

If component mapping doesn't exist, select a symbol to be inserted for the selected component byclicking Icon Menu, or by selecting an existing symbol.

7.

Select an insertion point in the drawing for the symbol and enter the appropriate information in theInsert/Edit Component dialog box.


8.

(Optional) You can select multiple components for insertion. Highlight the desired items in the PanelComponents dialog box list. Click Insert. The Spacing for Insertion dialog box appears.

Procedure: Inserting Schematic Components from Panel Lists

The following steps describe how to insert schematic components from a panel list.

1. Start the Insert Component (Panel List) command.


2.

You select the source files for the extracted list in the Panel Layout List --> Schematic ComponentsInsert dialog box. You can extract a component list from the active drawing or from the entire activeproject. You can also extract a list using installation and location criteria.

3.

You can use the Select Drawings to Process dialog box to select the desired drawings to process fromthe current project.


4.

The Panel Components dialog box is displayed. It lists panel components extracted from the selecteddrawings. Select components from the list for insertion.

5.

If the query of the schematic_lookup.mdb file cannot find a matching block name or returns morethan one block name, the results are displayed in the Insert dialog box along with a short descriptionof each choice, if available. Click Icon Menu or Copy Component to select the appropriate symbol forinsertion.


6.

In the drawing, select an insertion point for the symbol.

The symbol is inserted and information is transferred from the panel symbol into the schematic symbolattributes.

7.

Edit information in the Insert/Edit Component dialog box as required.


8.

(Optional) You can choose multiple components for insertion. Highlight the desired items in the PanelComponents dialog box list. Click Insert. The Spacing for Insertion dialog box appears.


Exercise: Insert a Schematic Component from a Panel List In this exercise, you extract a panel component list from the current project. Then you insert severalcomponents from the list in your schematic drawing. After insertion, you are prompted to update thematching panel footprints.


Completing the ExerciseTo complete the exercise, follow thesteps in this book or in the onscreenexercise. In the onscreen list ofchapters and exercises, click Chapter 4:Schematic Components. Click Exercise:Insert a Schematic Component from aPanel List.

Extract Panel List 1.


2. If Schematic_Components_IEC is the activeproject, skip to step 6. If it is open butnot active, in the Project Manager, do thefollowing:■ Right-click Schematic_Components_IEC.■ Click Activate.■ Skip to step 6.


3.


4.


5.


6.


7.

Zoom in to the upper-left corner, rungs 1/A-B.

8.

On the Schematic tab, Insert Componentspanel, Icon Menu flyout, click Panel List.

9.

In the Panel Layout List dialog box, clickProject. Click OK.

10.


11.

If prompted, In the QSave dialog box, click OK. 12.

In the Panel Components dialog box, click SortList.

13.

In the Sort Fields dialog box, from the PrimarySort list, select TAGNAME. Click OK.

14.

Notice the three blank entries at the topof the Select Panel Footprint list. These arefootprints on the panel drawing that do nothave a location reference in the schematic. In the Panel Components dialog box, clickMark Existing.


Insert a Single Component from the List 1.

From the Select Panel Footprint list, selectIndexing Motor Enable. Click Insert.

2.

A mapping does not exist in theSchematic_Lookup.mdb file for this partnumber. In the Insert AB, 800MR-HH2BB dialog box,click Icon Menu.

3.

In the Insert Component: IEC SchematicSymbols dialog box, click Selector Switches(first row, second column).

4.

In the IEC: Selector Switches dialog box, click 2Position Maintain, NO.

The schematic symbol for a two-positionselector switch appears on the cursor, and youare prompted to select an insertion point.

5.

Select an insertion point on rung 1/A. Information is copied from the panelcomponent to the schematic Insert/EditComponent dialog box.

6.


Notice that the schematic symbol is insertedand the Panel Components dialog box isredisplayed. The inserted symbol now ismarked with an X. The new tag appears whenthe list is reloaded.

7.

In the Panel Components dialog box, clickClose.

8.

In the Update Other Drawings? dialog box,click OK.

9.

If prompted, in the QSave dialog box, click OK. The Schematic_Components _IEC_19.dwg fileopens and the panel footprint of the switchis updated with the information from theschematic component.


Insert Multiple Components from the List 1.

On the Schematic palette, click PreviousDrawing.

2.

Zoom in to rungs 5/A-7/B.

3.

On the Schematic tab, Insert Componentspanel, Icon Menu flyout, click Panel List. The Panel Components dialog box isredisplayed.

4.

In the Panel Components dialog box, from theSelect Panel Footprint list, select ConveyorMotor Enable and Hydraulic Motor Enable.Click Insert.

5.

In the Spacing for Insertion dialog box, clickFence Insertion. Click OK.

6.

Select the first fence point on the left side ofrung 5/A and the second point on the right sideof rung 7/A. Press ENTER.

7.

The previous insertion in this exercise used thesame part number. The corresponding blockname is now displayed.


8.

In the Insert AB, 800MR-H2BB dialog box, clickOK.

9.

In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, clickOK. The first symbol is inserted and the sequence isrepeated for the second selected symbol.

10.

In the Insert AB, 800MR-H2BB dialog box, clickOK.

11.

In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, clickOK. The multiple insertion sequence is completedand the Panel Components dialog box isredisplayed.

12.

In the Panel Components dialog box, clickClose.

13.

In the Update Other Drawings? dialog box, clickOK.

14.

If prompted, in the QSave dialog box, click OK.


Lesson: Connectors ■ 253

Lesson: Connectors

This lesson describes how to use the Connector tools to manage connector data, including pins andreceptacles, in your project drawings. With the Connector tools, you can quickly create custom connectors, add and remove pins, and editconnectors for specific applications.

Objectives


■ Define and insert connectors.■ Edit existing connector components.


Inserting Connectors

Modern control panels are beginning to use connectors instead of individual connections morefrequently as the preferred assembly practice. To efficiently insert these symbols, you need to learnabout the different types of connectors, how to define their appearance, and how to inserted them inyour drawings.

Connectors Defined

Connectors are typically used to connect a wire or group of wires at a single junction. Unlike splices,connectors are designed to enable easy separation of the wires.

Examples of each style are shown in the following illustrations.

There are two different ways to insert connectors. You can insert the individual pins with parent andchild symbols, or you can insert a single parametric connector that is built, spontaneously, based oninformation you enter or select.

Connector using parent and child symbols Connector using single parametric symbol

Parent-Child Connectors

The parent-child style of connector is inserted and has the same functionality as any other style ofparent-child symbol. You must use the Insert Component icon menu to insert this style of connector.

The individual symbols are inserted and associated together, thereby creating the parent-childrelationship. The associated symbols act as a single component in reports and other functions.


Parametric Connectors

The parametric style of connector has functions similarly to PLC parametric component insertion.With this style you can build the connector shape during the insertion process, changing pin spacing,breaking the component into separated pieces, and so on.

The individual portions of the parametric connector are associated to the parent in a parent-childrelationship.

Command Access

Insert Connector

Ribbon: Schematic tab > Insert Components panel > Insert Connector flyout > Insert Connector

Menu Bar: Components > Insert Connector > Insert Connector Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical > Insert Connector > Insert Connector Icon Menu: Insert Component > Terminals/Connectors > Connectors > Parametric Build


Insert Connector Dialog Box and Options

You use the Insert Connector dialog box to define the insertion of the connectors.

Defines the default spacing between pins for the new connector.

Defines the quantity of pins to be included in the connector. You can edit the connector later and addmore pins.

Forces the connector to be created with the default pin spacing, or pins are automatically placed wherethe connector crosses a wire. If wire crossings are not found, the default pin spacing is used.

Specifies the size of the connector. You select two points in the drawing for the size of the connector.The number of pins in the connector is determined by the selected size and the specified Pin Spacingvalue.

Specifies that all pins are inserted without pausing for user input, or prompts you with the CustomPin Spaces/Breaks dialog box after inserting each pin. Options in the dialog box include Insert NextConnection, Add Spacer, Break Symbol Now, and Cancel Custom.

Inserts the connector as a child component. After insertion, you need to associate the connector with aparent component.

Defines the starting pin number or letter. By default, the pin value increments by one character. You canenter a specific pin list order. Enter the pin values separated by a comma as in A,B,C,D, and so forth. Ifyou insert a connector with six pins and enter 6,1,2 for the pin list, the connector starts at the top ofthe connector with pins 6, 1, 2, and then increments by one on the last number for the remainder ofthe required pins.

Sets the orientation of the connector during insertion.

You can toggle the At Wire Crossing and Fixed Spacing options during the insertionprocess. Enter X and press ENTER to change the status.


Orientation Options

The Orientation area contains controls for editing the connector direction. The Rotate and Flip buttonsare used together to change the orientation of the connector.

Using the Rotate (upper) and Flip (lower) buttons provides the following results.

Default only, no Rotate or Flip Connector Vertical, Plug Left

Default with Rotate only Connector Horizontal, Plug Down

Default with Flip only Connector Vertical, Plug Right

Flip with Rotate Connector Horizontal, Plug Top

You can change the orientation of the connector and the pin number order during theinsertion process. Press TAB to cycle through the various options.


Insert Connector Details

Click Details to expand the Insert Connector dialog box and display more connector definition options.

Type Options

The following options are available in the Type area.

Option

Description

Plug/ReceptacleCombination

Inserts both the plug and receptacle sides of the connector.■ Wire Number Changes

Forces the wire number to change when going through the connector.■ Add Divider Line

Adds a line halfway through the connector to separate the plug andreceptacle.

Plug Only Inserts only the plug side of the connector.

Receptacle Only Inserts only the receptacle side of the connector.


Display Options

The following options are available in the Display area.

Option

Description

Connector From the list, select between Vertical and Horizontal display orientations (similar to the Rotateoption in Orientation).

Plug Sets the Plug display position. From the list, select between Top and Bottom, or Left and Right,depending on the Connector option setting (similar to the Flip option in Orientation).

Pins Determines the Pin display position. From the list, select among Both Sides, Plug Side,Receptacle Side, and Hide Both.

Size Options

The following options are available in the Size area.

Option

Description

Receptacle Width of the receptacle.

Plug Width of the plug.

Top Distance from the top of the connector to the first pin.

Bottom Distance from the bottom of the connector to the last pin.

Radius Radius of the connector, shown only on the plug side.

Procedure: Inserting a Parametric Connector

The following steps describe how to insert a parametric style connector.

1. Start the Insert Connector command.


2.

Define the layout settings for the connector.

3.

Define the orientation for the connector insertion.

4.

Click Details to expand the dialog box for more options.


5.

Change the type, display, and size options for the connector as necessary.

Editing Connectors

You can edit inserted connectors, change their orientation and breaking, and add or remove pins.

Command Access

The connector editing tools are grouped together in the same menu areas as the Insert Connectortool.

Connectors - Editing Tools

Ribbon: Schematic tab > Edit Components panel > Reverse Connector flyout

Menu Bar: Components > Insert Connector Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical > Insert Connector Icon Menu: Insert Component > Terminals/Connectors > Connectors


Add Connector Pins

Use this command to add additional pins to an existing connector. Each pin is added in line with therest of the pins at the point you select.

The selected connector is searched and the next sequential pin number is displayed. You have theoption to use the default pin number or to reset the search count at a new number.

Connector before adding pins Connector after adding pins

Delete Connector Pins

Select this command to delete pins from any connector. Start the command and select the pin to bedeleted. The command remains active until you press ENTER or start another command.

Move Connector Pins

Use this command to move pins in a connector. Start the command, select the pin, and select the newlocation point.

Connector pins before moving Connector pins after moving


Swap Connector Pins

You use this command to swap pin numbers without changing pin locations. Start the command andselect the two pin numbers to be swapped.

Pins 2 and 5 before swap Pins 2 and 5 after swap

Reverse Connector

Use this command to flip the connector direction. This operation is similar to the AutoCAD Mirrorcommand. The connector is flipped about the centerline of the connector.

Connector before reversing Connector after reversing


Stretch Connector

Use this command to stretch the connector when you need to add length to the connector. You areprompted to select the end of the connector to stretch it, and to select the new location point.

Stretching the connector does not relocate any of the pins. It changes the length of the connector. Usethe Move Connectors Pins command to change the pin locations.

Connector before stretching Connector after stretching

Split Connector

You use this command when you need to locate a portion of the connector in a different location thanthe original. The split portions are automatically linked together in a parent-child relationship.

After selecting the command, you are asked to select the block (connector) to split. After you selectthe split point, you enter the split options in the Split Block dialog box.


Split Block Options

The following are options available when splitting connectors:

Option

Description

Child Base Point Establishes the base point for placement of thechild symbol that is created when splitting theconnector.

Break Type Determines the display of the connector break withthe following options. No Lines: Does not create lines for the breakpoint.

Straight Lines: Draws a straight line at the end of

the break.

Jagged Lines: Draws jagged lines at the end of the

break.


Option

Description

Draw it: Enables you to manually draw a breaklineto meet specific needs. The drawn line is used forboth parent and child components.

Layer List: Sets the layer property for the

breaklines.

Reposition ChildBlock

Moves the child block to a new location. Withthis option cleared, the connector is split and thebreaklines are created, but the connector piecesremain in their original location.

Rotate Connector

Select this command when you want to rotate a connector. A connector is rotated in 90-degreeincrements, rotating counter-clockwise.

There is a command line option to hold the attributes to their original orientation, that is, theattributes remain in the same orientation, but their location changes as the connector is rotated.This option is activated by entering H during command execution. You are prompted for a Yes or Noresponse to hold the orientation. The setting is maintained until you change it.

Start

Hold = Yes

Hold = No


Exercise: Add Connectors and Wiring In this exercise, you add connectors and wiring.


Completing the ExerciseTo complete the exercise, follow thesteps in this book or in the onscreenexercise. In the onscreen list ofchapters and exercises, click Chapter 4:Schematic Components. Click Exercise:Add Connectors and Wiring.

Insert Connector at Wire Crossing 1.


2.

If Schematic_Components_IEC is the activeproject, skip to step 6. If it is open but

not active, in the Project Manager, do thefollowing:■ Right-click Schematic_Components_IEC.■ Click Activate.■ Skip to step 6.

3.



4.


5.


6.

Right-clickSchematic_Components_IEC_15.dwgClick Open.

7.


8.

On the Schematic tab, Insert Componentspanel, Insert Connector flyout, click InsertConnector.

9.

In the Insert Connector dialog box, do thefollowing:■ For Pin Spacing, enter 10.■ For Pin Count, enter 10.■ For Pin List, enter 1.■ Select At Wire Crossing.■ Click Insert All.■ Clear the Start Connector as Child check

box.■ Use the Rotate and Flip buttons as

necessary to change the orientation to ahorizontal connector with the plug on thetop.

■ Click Insert.

10.

Select the insertion point for the connectoron rung 2 just below the =MACHINE-X1-1terminal.

Notice how the pin spacing adjusts for the wirecrossings and stays at the fixed value for theother pins.


Change the Orientation on Insert 1.

On the Quick Access toolbar, click NextDrawing.

2.


3.

On the Schematic tab, Insert Componentspanel, Insert Connector flyout, click InsertConnector.

4.

In the Insert Connector dialog box, do thefollowing:■ For Pin Spacing, enter 10.■ For Pin Count, enter 10.■ Click Fixed Spacing.■ Click Insert All.■ Use the Rotate and Flip buttons as

necessary to change the orientation to avertical connector with the plug on the left.

■ Click Insert.

5.

Before selecting the insertion point, press TAB. This flips the connector insertion. 6.

Press TAB again. This reverses the pin numbering on theconnector.


7.

Select the insertion point for the connector at390,150.

8.


9.

In the Multiple Wire Bus dialog box, clickComponent (Multiple Wires). Click OK.

10.

In the drawing, select the pin connectionpoints 1-6 on the plug side of connector -16X1.Press ENTER.

11.

Drag the cursor to the left and down,displaying the wire crossovers.

12.

Before selecting an insertion point, enter F.Press ENTER. This flips the wire crossovers and attachmentorder.

13.

Click the upper wire-connection point on input17 to attach the wires to the PLC. Notice how the spacing of the wires changes tomatch the component.


Lesson: Terminals, Multiple Level Terminals, and Jumpers ■ 271

Lesson: Terminals, Multiple LevelLesson: Terminals, and Jumpers

In this lesson you learn how to insert terminals and convert individual terminals into multiple levelterminals. You also learn how to create jumper assignments, linking terminals together into a singlewire network.

Terminals with associations and jumper assignments displayed

Objectives


■ Describe the various types of terminals and jumpers.■ Describe multiple level terminals and jumpers, and how they are created.■ Insert terminals, establish associations creating multiple level terminals, and create jumpers.


About Terminals and Jumpers

Terminals are one of the more frequently used and versatile types of components used in a schematic.They can be used to join multiple wires together at a single connection point, or they can act the sameas a component, forcing a wire number change as the wire passes through it.

Jumpers are used to join several of the same terminal numbers together instead of using wires, andcan greatly simplify the wiring process.

To effectively use terminals and jumpers in your schematics, you need to know what they are and thetypes or styles that are available.

Terminals Defined

Terminals are one of several different kinds of components that you can use. Similar to a wireconnection point on a standard type symbol, terminals are independent wire connection points thatcan be placed anywhere on wires. Depending on the style of terminal selected, they join several wiresinto one wire network or break a wire into two separate wire networks.

Example of a round terminal with wire connections


If you assign a Tag Strip value to the terminal, it becomes linked to a terminal strip along with all otherterminals with the same Tag Strip value. The terminal strip displays the linked terminals in reports andpanel layouts. You can think of each individual terminal as a subassembly component of the terminalstrip.

Example of terminals assigned to the same terminal strip

Terminal Types

You can choose from four different types of terminals. Each type is supplied in the following fivedifferent graphic styles or shapes:■ Square■ Round■ Hexagon■ Diamond■ Triangle

TerminalType

Description

This is a nonintelligent type. Only wire connection attributes are associated with it, andit does not appear in any reports. When you insert a terminal of this type, no Insert/EditTerminal dialog box appears.


TerminalType

Description

This terminal takes on the wire number of the wire that is connected to, or passesthrough the terminal.

This terminal carries a user-defined terminal number assigned during insertion or editingof the terminal.

This terminal type forces a new wire number to generate as the wire passes through theterminal, in effect, creating a new wire network.

As with any other symbol, you can also create your own custom terminal symbols.

Terminal Jumpers Defined

Terminal jumpers link two terminals together electronically into a single wire network.

External jumpers link two physically different terminals together. No terminal levels or otherblock properties need to be set to create external jumpers between terminals. External jumpersare displayed in the Terminal Strip Editor grid as an empty circle. You can assign catalog numberinformation to an external jumper, just like any other component.

Internal jumpers link different levels of a multilevel terminal together. Internal jumpers are establishedduring editing of the terminal block properties, or by setting internal jumpers in the terminal blockproperties table of the catalog database. Internal jumpers are displayed in the Terminal Strip Editorgrid as a solid or filled square.

In the schematic and panel drawings the physical representation of a jumper is not physicallydisplayed by the software, that is, no block symbol is inserted in the drawings. Using the TerminalStrip Editor, jumper assignments can be displayed on the drawing in either a tabular terminal striptable or in a jumper chart.


Example of Using Terminals Within Schematic Drawings

Terminals are frequently used when wiring enters or leaves a control panel. In this instance, a wirefrom a component in one panel is connected to a component in another panel. The wire runs fromthe first component to a terminal strip in the first cabinet. From there, another wire connects to theopposite side of the terminal and runs through a wire conduit to the second panel where it connectsto a terminal strip. From the opposite side of the terminal the wire runs to the second component.

On the schematic, the two components appear on a single line with the two terminals insertedbetween them. See the following image for an example. The relay contacts on the left are located inMCAB5 and have wires running to the terminal strip located in MCAB5. The terminals on the right arelocated on a terminal strip in OPSTA3 and have wires running to the lights, which are also located inOPSTA3.

About Multiple Level Terminals

The density of terminals within panels is increasing with each passing year. To accommodate this,multiple level terminals are becoming more popular. To efficiently use this style of terminal, you needto know what they are and how to manage them.

Multiple Level Terminals Defined

You create a terminal association between terminals to link individual terminal symbols into onemultiple level terminal. In reports and on panel layouts the individual schematic terminals appear as asingle item.


Example of multiple level terminals

By default a terminal has the number of levels set to zero (0). To create associations

between terminals or to set other block properties, a terminal must have at leastone level assigned to it.

Terminal Block Properties

Each terminal block can be assigned block properties that include the following:■ Number of levels■ Level Description■ Wires Per Connection■ Left Pin number■ Right Pin number■ Internal Jumpers

Terminal block properties drive the behavior of the terminal in the multiple-level environment. Forexample, a terminal has the Wires Per Connection property set to two wires, but has three wiresconnected to one side. Automatically an additional terminal, with the same properties, will be createdand inserted in the terminal strip to accommodate the extra wire.

Block properties can be assigned to the terminal catalog number and referenced automatically whenthe catalog number is assigned to a symbol. You can edit the terminal block properties database tableusing the Terminal Properties Database Editor, which is found on the Components > Terminals menu.The tables are sorted by manufacturer.


You use Block Properties in the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box to manually edit the terminalblock properties of an individual terminal. Manual settings you make override settings from theterminal properties database table.

Internal jumpers are manually added by selecting two or more different levels and clicking the AssignJumper button.

Once an association is created between two terminals, you can also break it apart

into two separate terminals. Both of the terminals are created with the same blockproperties as the original.

Use the Copy Block Properties command to copy block property settings between

terminals on the same drawing. You start the command, select the Master block to copythe settings from, and select the terminals to copy the settings to.


Example of Using Multiple Level Terminals

You are building a large panel that requires several hundred terminals, but space is becoming aproblem for all of the panel components and the terminal strips. To help alleviate crowding, youreplace all single level terminals with three level terminals. You create associations between terminals,thereby reducing the space requirements for the terminal strips by almost one-third.

Terminal strip with single-level terminals Same terminal strip with 3-level terminals


Inserting Terminals, Multiple Level Terminals, and Jumpers

Before inserting terminals, and creating associations and jumpers in your drawing, you need to knowthe procedures that are available.

Command Access

Insert Component > Terminals/Connectors

The terminal components are located on the Insert Component icon menu. Access them by usingthe Insert Component command and selecting Terminals/Connectors in the preview window.

Associate Terminals

Ribbon: Schematic tab > Edit Components expansion panel > Associate Terminals

Menu Bar: Components > Terminals > Associate Terminals Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical 2 > Miscellaneous > Associate Terminals


Break Apart Terminal Associations

Ribbon: Schematic tab > Edit Components expansion panel > Break Apart Terminal Associations

Menu Bar: Components > Terminals > Break Apart Terminal Associations Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical 2 > Miscellaneous > Break Apart Terminal Associations

Edit Jumper (External)

Ribbon: Schematic tab > Edit Components expansion panel > Edit Jumper

Menu Bar: Components > Terminals > Edit Jumper


Assign Jumper (Internal)

The Assign Jumper function for internal jumpers is only available from the Block Properties dialogbox. The Block Properties function is only available from the Edit Component dialog box, or withinthe Terminal Strip Editor. Menu Bar: Components > Components Miscellaneous > Add/Edit Internal Jumper

Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box: Block Properties > Assign Jumper

Delete Jumper (Internal)

The Delete Jumper function for internal jumpers is only available from the Block Properties dialogbox. The Block Properties function is only available from the Edit Component dialog box, or withinthe Terminal Strip Editor. Menu Bar: Components > Components Miscellaneous > Add/Edit Internal Jumper

Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box: Block Properties > Delete Jumper

The Internal Jumper command is located at Schematic tab > Edit Components panel> Edit flyout > Internal Jumper.

This command is NOT used for terminals.It is used to add internal jumpers to components containing multiple terminals, suchas a motor drive or PLC component.


Procedure: Inserting and Editing Terminals

The following steps describe how to perform the basic insertion and editing of terminals.

1. If you are inserting one or more terminals, do the following:■ Start the Insert Component command.■ Select Terminals/Connectors to display the available terminal types.■ Select the desired terminal type.■ Select the insertion point.

2.

If you are editing a terminal, do the following:■ Start the Edit Component command.■ Select the terminal for editing.


3.

In the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box, enter the required information.

4.

For the Terminal Number and Wire Change types, enter a terminal number. Note: If you are using the Multiple Insert command, this is the starting number. The remainingterminal numbers will be incremented automatically.


5.

To add catalog data, descriptions, ratings, and other miscellaneous data, click Details.

Procedure: Manually Editing Terminal Block Properties

The following steps describe how to manually edit the block properties of a terminal.

1. Start the Edit Component command and select a terminal to edit, or right-click a terminal and selectEdit Component.


2.

In the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box, click Block Properties.

3.

In the Terminal Block Properties dialog box, enter the number of desired levels.

4.

Enter other block properties as desired.


Adding or Modifying Terminal Associations

You can create terminal associations in two different workflows. If the terminals are on the samedrawing, you can start the Associate Terminals command and simply select all terminals that are to beassociated, up to the number of levels set on the master terminal.

If the terminals are on different drawings, you must use the Add/Modify option in the EditComponent command. You can also use this method if the terminals are on the same drawing, butyou can only create one association at a time, regardless. You must repeat the association procedurefor each level.

Procedure: Adding or Editing Terminal Associations on the Same Drawing

The following steps describe how to add or edit a terminal association with the terminals on the samedrawing.

1.

Start the Associate Terminal command.

2.

Select the master terminal.


3.

Select the terminals that will be associated with the master. Press ENTER.

Procedure: Adding or Editing Terminal Associations on Different Drawings

The following steps describe how to add or edit a terminal association with the terminals on differentdrawings.

1.

In the drawing, select the terminal that you want to associate with another terminal. Start the EditComponent command.


2.

In the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box, under Modify Properties/Associations, click Add/Modify.

3.

In the Add/Modify Association dialog box, under Select Association, select the terminal that you wantto associate the active terminal with.

4.

In the Select Association grid, select the level to push the active terminal into. Click Associate.


5.

In the Active Association grid, reorder the terminal positions as desired.

Creating External Terminal Jumpers

You can create external terminal jumpers in two different workflows. If the terminals to be jumperedare on the same drawing, you can start the Edit Jumper command and simply select all terminals thatare to be jumpered together.

If the terminals are on different drawings, you start the Edit Jumper command, select the firstterminal, and use the Browse option to select from a terminal list of all terminals in your project. Youcan also use this method if the terminals are on the same drawing. In either case, you can link multipleterminals together with jumpers in a single operation.

Procedure: Creating Terminal Jumpers on the Same Drawing

The following steps describe how to add or edit terminal jumpers on the same drawing.

1. Start the Edit Jumper command.


2.

In the drawing, select the first terminal to be jumpered.

3.

Select other terminals to be jumpered together.You must use the Pick method; window and crossing selections are not supported. Note: You must usethe Pick method; window and crossing selections are not supported.

4.

Add catalog data for the jumper.


Procedure: Creating Terminal Jumpers on Different Drawings

The following steps describe how to add or edit terminal jumpers on different drawings.

1. Start the Edit Jumper command.

2.

In the drawing, select the first terminal to be jumpered.

3.

At the Command prompt, enter B to browse for terminals in the project.


4.

In the Select Terminals to Jumper dialog box, expand the desired terminal strip. Select the terminal tobe jumpered to the first terminal.

5.

Add the terminal to the Jumper Terminals list. Press ENTER to end the Browse option.

6.

Add catalog data for the jumper.


Managing Internal Terminal Jumpers

You can manage internal terminal jumpers in two different workflows. You can manually modifyinternal jumpers by editing the block properties of a terminal. When the Terminal Block Propertiesdialog box is displayed, you select two or more levels of a multilevel terminal and select Assign Jumperor Delete Jumper.

Internal jumpers can also be assigned automatically based on the catalog number selected for theterminal. Internal jumper assignments are added in the catalog database _TERMPROPS table. Thisfunctionality is similar to the pin list assignments for other types of components. For each jumper tobe created, enter the levels, separated by commas, that will be jumpered together. For example 1,2assigns a jumper between levels one and two of the terminal.

Procedure: Manually Assigning or Deleting Internal Jumpers

The following steps describe how to manually assign or delete internal jumpers in a multilevelterminal.

1.

Start the Edit Component command.

2.

In the drawing, select a terminal to be edited.


3.

In the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box, click Block Properties.

4.

In the Terminal Block Properties dialog box, to add an internal jumper assignment, select two or morelevels of the terminal to be jumpered together. Click Assign Jumper.

5.

To delete an internal jumper assignment, select any level that has the existing jumper assignment youwant to delete. Click Delete Jumper.


Exercise: Create Terminal Jumpers and Associations In this exercise, you insert terminals with wire number assignments. Then you add jumpers between terminalson the same wire networks. Finally, you associate terminals together by creating multiple level terminals.


Completing the ExerciseTo complete the exercise, follow thesteps in this book or in the onscreenexercise. In the onscreen list ofchapters and exercises, click Chapter4: Schematic Components. ClickExercise: Create Terminal Jumpers andAssociations.

Insert Terminals 1.


2.

If Schematic_Components_IEC is the activeproject, skip to step 6. If it is open but notactive in the Project Manager, do the following:■ Right-click Schematic_Components_IEC.■ Click Activate.■ Skip to step 6.


3.


4.


5.

From the Projects list, double-clickSchematic_Components_IEC to expand thedrawing list.

6.


7.


8.

On the Schematic tab, Insert Componentspanel, Multiple Insert (Icon Menu) flyout, clickMultiple Insert (Icon Menu).

9.

In the Insert Component dialog box, in theIEC: Schematic Symbols preview area, clickTerminals/Connectors.

10.

In the IEC: Terminals and Connectors previewarea, click Round with Terminal Number.

11.

Draw a fence line as shown, starting right ofrung 4, and then moving left, down, and tothe right across rungs 1-6, nearer to PLC. PressENTER.

12.

In the Keep? dialog box, select Keep This One.Click OK.

13.

In the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box,under Terminal, for Location, click Browse.

14.

In the Location Codes dialog box, from theDrawing list, select =MCAB5. Click OK.

15.

In the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box,under Terminal, do the following:■ For Tag Strip, enter X1-3.■ For Number, enter 10.

16.

If necessary, click Details to expand the dialogbox and display the Catalog Data area.

17.

Under Catalog Data, Click Catalog Lookup.


18.

In the Parts Catalog dialog box, do thefollowing:■ For Manufacturer, select Entrelec.■ For Type, select Multi-Level.■ For Rating, select 20AMPS.■ Select Show List Sorted by Catalog Part

Number.■ Select 0115 126.01.■ Click OK.

19.

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

20.

In the Keep? dialog box, do the following:■ Click Keep All, Don’t Ask.■ Clear Show Edit Dialog After Each.■ Click OK.

Notice that terminals are inserted on allcrossing locations.

Create External Terminal Jumpers In this exercise you first use the Browse option toselect two terminals to be jumpered together. Thenyou create a second jumper between two terminalsby selecting them in the drawing. 1.

On the Schematic tab, Edit Componentsexpansion panel, Edit Components flyout, clickEdit Jumper.

2.

In the drawing, select terminal 13 on rung 1.

3.

On the command line, enter B. Press ENTER.


4. In the Select Terminals to Jumper dialog box,under Schematic Terminals, expand MCAB5-X1-3.

5.

Select 12(11,2/B) 01.

6.

Click the > button to create the jumper. ClickOK to close the Select Terminals to Jumperdialog box.

7.

At the Command prompt, press ENTER. 8.

In Edit Terminal Jumpers dialog box, click OK. 9.

On the Schematic tab, Edit Components tab,Edit Components flyout, click Edit Jumper.

10.


11.

Select terminal 10 on rung 4. Press ENTER.

12.

In the Edit Terminal Jumpers dialog box, noticethat a new jumper is created between theterminals 10 and 11. Click OK.

Create and Delete Internal TerminalJumpers In this exercise, you edit the block properties of aterminal to add an internal jumper between twolevels of a multilevel terminal. Then you edit the blockproperties to delete an internal jumper. 1.

In the drawing, right-click terminal 18 on rung5. Select Edit Component.

2.

In the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box,click Block Properties.


3.

In the Terminal Block Properties dialog box,resize the dialog box to display all columns,including the Internal Jumper column.

4.

Select the upper and lower levels. Tip: Use the CTRL selection option. 5.

Click Assign Jumper. Click OK.

6.


7.

Repeat steps 1 through 6 on terminal 19 onrung 6.

8.

Zoom in to terminal 20 on rung 7.

9.

Right-click terminal 20. Select Edit Component.

10.

In the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box,click Block Properties.

11.

In the Terminal Block Properties dialog box,select either one of the levels.

12.

Click Delete Jumper. Click OK.

13.



Create Terminal Associations In this exercise, you create terminal associationsusing the following three different workflows:■ You simply pick terminals in the drawing to be

associated. This provides no visual feedback.■ You use the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog

box to select the first terminal and pick theterminals to be associated.

■ You use the Add/Modify dialog box to selecta terminal to be associated from a list of allterminals in the project.

1.

Right-click terminal 13 on rung 1. ClickTerminals > Associate Terminals.

2.

Reselect terminal 13 as the mastercomponent.

3.

Select terminal 14 on rung 1. Press ENTER.

The terminal association is created.

4.

Repeat steps 1 through 3 using terminals 12and 15 on rung 2.

5.

On the Schematic tab, Edit Components panel,click Edit.

6.


7.

In the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box,under Modify Properties/Associations, clickPick.


8.


9.

In the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box,under Modify Properties/Associations, clickAdd/Modify.

10.

Under Active Association, in the grid, selectLOWER, 11. Click Move Up. Click OK.

11.


12.

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

13.

On the Schematic tab, Edit Components panel,click Edit.

14.


15.

In the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box,under Modify Properties/Associations, clickAdd/Modify.

16.

Under Select Association, from the TerminalStrips list, select terminal 17.

17.

In the terminal strips grid, select the LOWERrow. Click Associate.


18.

Under Active Association, in the grid, selectLOWER, 10.

19.

Click Move Up. Click OK.

20.


21.

In the Update Related Components? dialogbox, click Yes-Update.

22.

Use any of the three workflows and associateterminals 18 and 19 on rungs 5 and 6,respectively.


Lesson: Circuits ■ 303

Lesson: Circuits

This lesson describes how to save assemblies or groupings of components, wires, ladders, and so on ascircuits. Similar to blocks, saved circuits are inserted as a single object. Saved circuits save time whenyour projects require common arrangements of components, such as motor starters or control circuits.

Sample of 3 Phase circuit

Objectives


■ Describe what comprises a circuit and how to create, insert, and manage circuits in an electricalschematic.

■ Move and copy circuits to different locations, automatically retagging components.■ Insert predrawn circuits not included on the Saved User Circuits icon menu.■ Save a circuit to the Saved User Circuits icon menu.■ Insert a saved circuit from the Saved User Circuits icon menu.


About Circuits

To better create your own custom circuits, it is helpful to understand what circuits are and how theyare processed.

Definition of Circuits

After a circuit is moved, copied, or inserted, the circuit is processed and the component tags andother information is updated where possible. To prevent duplication errors some data may be erased.

A circuit is any collection of electrical objects that you manage as one group. A circuit may containladders, wires, components, or entire sections of your schematic drawing.

Example Circuits

Your company uses several standard circuits in its machine schematics. Rather than re-creating thecircuits each time they are required, you save the circuits as blocks, and insert them when needed. The following illustration shows a motor control circuit.


The following illustration shows a system reset circuit.

The following illustration shows a power circuit with power supplies, ladder, and circuit breakers.


Moving and Copying Circuits

The Move Circuit and Copy Circuit commands are similar to the AutoCAD Move and Copy commandsbut have added functionality with electrical automation intelligence.

Command Access

Move Circuit

Ribbon: Schematic tab > Edit Components panel > Copy Circuit flyout > Move Circuit

Menu Bar: Components > Move Circuit Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical > Circuit Builder > Move Circuit

Copy Circuit

Ribbon: Schematic tab > Edit Components panel > Copy Circuit flyout > Copy Circuit

Menu Bar: Components > Copy Circuit Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical > Circuit Builder > Copy Circuit


Procedure: Moving Circuits

The following steps describe how to move a circuit.

1. Start the Move Circuit command.

2.

Select the objects to be moved using any of the Select Object options.

3.

Select a base point or displacement.


4.

Select a new circuit location point.

Procedure: Copying Circuits

The following steps describe how to copy a circuit.

1. Start the Copy Circuit command.

2.

Select the objects to be copied using the standard Select Object options.


3.

Select a base point or displacement.

4.

Select a new circuit location point.

5.

Select the wire number and component retag options.


6.

Select the signal arrow options.

After you move or copy a circuit, AutoCAD Electrical attempts to update componentsand cross-references based on the drawing properties reference settings.

Be sure to use a Snap or Object Snap option to select the base and destination points.

Inserting Wblocked Circuits

Depending on the frequency of use, or your company's standards, you may want to store and insertcircuits without using the icon menu interface. To insert circuits in this manner, you need to learn howto insert circuits saved with the AutoCAD Wblock command.

Command Access

Insert Wblocked Circuit

Ribbon: Schematic tab > Insert Components panel > Insert Wblocked Circuit flyout > InsertWblocked Circuit

Menu Bar: Components > Insert Wblocked Circuit Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical > Circuit Builder > Insert Wblocked Circuit


Saving Circuits Using the Wblock Command

Use the AutoCAD Wblock command to save circuits without using the icon menu system.

■ You can save the circuit to any file location.■ Any external drawing file containing AutoCAD Electrical components can be inserted as a circuit.

Procedure: Inserting a WBlocked Circuit

The following steps describe how to insert a circuit saved using the Wblock command.

1. Start the Insert WBlocked Circuit command.

2.

Browse to and select the circuit drawing.


3.

Select the desired options and settings in the Circuit Scale dialog box.

4.

Select an insertion point for the circuit in the drawing.

When you use any of the AutoCAD Electrical Insert Circuit commands to insert

a circuit, the circuit (block) is exploded. Wire numbers and component tags areupdated according to the current drawing property settings. Fixed tags are notupdated.


Saving Circuits to an Icon Menu

Many times during a design process you require quick and easy methods of storing circuits fortemporary use. The use of these circuits may only be for your own short-term design needs. SavingCircuits to an icon menu is one method of providing this functionality and speeding up your designprocess.


Command Access

Save Circuit to Icon Menu

Ribbon: Schematics tab > Edit Components panel > Copy Circuit flyout > Save Circuit to IconMenu

Menu Bar: Components > Save Circuit to Icon Menu Circuit Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical > Insert Circuit > Save Circuit to Icon Menu

Procedure: Saving Circuits to an Icon Menu

The following steps describe how to save a circuit to the User Circuits icon menu.

1. Start the Save Circuit to Icon Menu command.

2.

In the Save Circuit to Icon Menu dialog box, Add menu, select New Circuit.


3.

In the Create New Circuit dialog box, enter the name.

4.

To select an existing image file or create a new one, use one of the following options:■ Option 1: Click Browse to select an existing image file.


■ Option 2: Click Pick to select an existing block. The name of the block will be entered into the Namebox.

■ Option 3: Click Active to enter the name of the current drawing into the Name box.

■ Option 4: Manually enter an image name.


■ Option 5a: Create an image from the current screen image. Click Create PNG from Current ScreenImage.

■ Option 5b: Click Zoom to return to the drawing, and zoom and pan the image to make it as large as

possible.

5.

Enter a file name. By default, the file is saved in the current user directory.


6.

Select a base point for your circuit. Be sure to use a Snap mode.

7.

Select all of the objects to be included in the circuit. The new circuit is added to the User Circuit icon menu.


Guidelines

Follow these guidelines when saving circuits to an icon menu.

■ The Save Circuit to Icon Menu and Insert Saved Circuit commands provide shortcuts to the User

Circuits submenu in the icon menu system.You can also use the Insert Component command to achieve the same results. Select InsertComponent > ...Schematic Symbols > Miscellaneous > User Circuits for circuit selection.

■ The Name field is displayed as the text in the icon with text and list views. Be very detailed whennaming your circuit. This is an important step that enables you to identify your circuit when youwant to insert it. The circuits are often too large and complicated to identify them clearly by usingthe icon alone.

■ When creating the icon from the current screen image, you must zoom in to the circuit you wantto save. Try to make the view as large and as clean as possible, showing only graphics necessary toidentify the circuit.

■ The advantage of the Save Circuit to Icon Menu command is that it provides a shortcut to the UserCircuits menu. The disadvantage is that, because the circuits are automatically saved in the localUser directory, they are not available to other users. To share a circuit saved in the User directory,you must copy or move the circuit to a shared folder.

Inserting Saved Circuits

There are several ways to access the user circuits saved in the icon menu. To be most efficient, you canuse shortcuts such as the Insert Saved Circuit command.

Command Access

Insert Saved Circuit

Ribbon: Schematic tab > Edit Components panel > Insert WBlocked Circuit flyout > Insert SavedCircuit

Menu Bar: Components > Insert Saved Circuit Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical > Circuit Builder > Insert Saved Circuit


Procedure: Inserting Saved Circuits

The following steps describe how to insert circuits from the icon menu.

1. Start the Insert Saved Circuit command.

2.

Select a circuit from the User Circuits icon menu.


3.

In the Circuit Scale dialog box, select options for circuit insertion and updating.

4.

Select the insertion point for the circuit.


Circuit Scale Options

Circuit Scale Options

Setting

Description

Custom Scale Specifies the insertion scale.

Move All Lines toWire Layers

When selected, all nonlayer "0" line objects are moved to a valid wire layer.

Keep All Fixed WireNumbers

When selected, all fixed wire numbers are retained, and not erased or updated.

Keep All SourceArrows

When selected, the circuit's source arrows are retained.

Update Circuit's TextLayers as Required

When selected, the circuit's layers are updated per AutoCAD Electrical drawingconfiguration settings.

Don't Blank OutOrphan Contacts

When selected, does not change the tag ID alone if the parent is not found.


Exercise: Copy, Save, and Insert a Circuit In this exercise, you use AutoCAD Electrical commands to manipulate circuits. You copy an existing circuit, savea circuit to the Saved User Circuits icon menu, and insert the saved circuit you created.


Completing the ExerciseTo complete the exercise, follow thesteps in this book or in the onscreenexercise. In the onscreen list ofchapters and exercises, click Chapter 4:Schematic Components. Click Exercise:Copy, Save, and Insert a Circuit.


Copy Circuit 1.


2.


3.


4.


5.


6.


7.

Zoom in on the left side of the drawing.

8.

On the Schematic tab, Edit Components panel,Copy Circuit flyout, click Copy Circuit.

9.

Select all objects that make up the circuiton rung 1. Press ENTER when selection iscomplete.


10.

For the Base point, click the endpoint ofthe leftmost rung of the circuit on the tophorizontal bus. Note: Use a Snap command to be sure thatyou click the endpoint.

11.

Click the second point of displacement at rung2 on the top horizontal bus.

12. In the Copy Circuit Options dialog box, clickOK. Notice how AutoCAD Electrical updatesthe component tags to match the insertedlocations.

Save Circuit to Menu 1.

On the Quick Access toolbar, clickPrevious Project Drawing to move toSchematic_Components_IEC_02.dwg.

2.


3.

On the Schematic tab, Edit Components panel,Copy Circuit flyout, click Save Circuit to IconMenu.


4.

In the Save Circuit to Icon Menu dialog box,click Add > New Circuit.

5.

For Name, enter Schematic Wiring Circuit. 6.

For Image File, enter Schematic Wiring Circuit. 7.

Select Create PNG from Current Screen Image.

8.

Click Zoom. In the drawing, make the image ofthe circuit as large as possible. Exit the Real-time Zoom command to return tothe Create New Circuit dialog box.

9.

For File Name, enter Schematic Wiring Circuit.Click OK.

10.

For the Base point, click the endpoint of theleftmost circuit rung at the intersection the tophorizontal bus. Note: Use the Snap or an Osnap command toensure that you click the endpoint.

11.

Select all objects that make up the circuit onrungs 2-4. Press ENTER.

An icon for the saved circuit is added to themenu.

12.

Click OK to close the menu.

Insert Circuit from Menu 1.

On the Quick Access toolbar, click Next ProjectDrawing.

This opens Schematic_Wiring_JIC_03.dwg. 2.

On the Schematic_Components_IEC_03.dwgdrawing, zoom in to rungs 3-6.


3.

On the Schematic tab, Insert Componentspanel, Insert WBlocked Circuit flyout, clickInsert Saved Circuit.

4.

In the IEC: Saved User Circuits dialog box, clickSchematic Wiring Circuit.

5.

In the Circuit Scale dialog box, click OK. 6.

Click to select the insertion point at rung 4 onthe top horizontal bus.

The circuit is inserted and component tags areupdated. This completes the exercise.


Lesson: Multiple Phase Circuits

In this lesson you learn what three-phase circuits are and how to insert three-phase wires andcomponents in your schematic drawings. The main power supply, especially for machine control designs, is usually in the form of a highervoltage three-phase power supply such as 460V.

Objectives


■ Add multiple-phase ladders and wires to your schematic drawings.■ Add three-phase components to a multiple-phase circuit.

Lesson: Multiple Phase Circuits ■ 329

Adding Multiple-Phase Wires

Three-phase circuits are typically represented in drawings as three parallel wires grouped together.Using the Add Wire command to insert three separate wires to represent the circuit is highlyrepetitive. To increase your efficiency, you need to learn how to use the Multiple Wire Bus tool.

Multiple Wire Bus Tool

The Multiple Wire Bus tool creates wires that are AutoCAD line objects with wire layer assignments,just as the Insert Wire command does. You can use the Multiple Wire Bus tool to draw any number ofbus wires at one time. Defaults of two, three, and four wires are provided for you.

All of the wires are managed as a group during the insertion process. Wires are drawn parallel to oneanother, and even corners and connections are completed in a single operation. After the commandis completed, the group of wires are separated into individual entities and edited and managed asseparate wires.

Three-phase wiring with corners and wire crossing loops


Multiple Wire Bus

Ribbon: Schematic tab > Insert Wires/Wire Numbers panel > Multiple Bus

Menu Bar: Wires > Multiple Wire Bus Toolbar: ACE: Main Electrical > Insert Wire > Multiple Wire Bus

Procedure: Adding Multiple-Phase Wires

The following steps describe how to add multiple-phase wires to your drawings.

1. Start the Multiple Wire Bus command.

2.

In the Multiple Wire Bus dialog box, select your desired options, including the spacing, type ofinsertion, and number of wires.


3.

Draw unattached multiple-phase wires by selecting the start points and endpoints, similar to the AddWire command.

Note: Selecting an endpoint ends the Wiring command. 4.

To connect to an existing bus, click the Another Bus (Multiple Wires) option.

5.

To use the default phase sequence, select the start point on the bus farthest from the desireddirection. For example, if you are drawing a vertical circuit from top to bottom, select the topmosthorizontal bus.


6.

Slowly drag your cursor down over the other bus wires, connecting the new multiple-phase wires tothe existing bus wires.

7.

To use the reverse the phase sequence, select the start point on the bus closest to the desireddirection. For example, if you are drawing a vertical circuit from top to bottom, select the bottommosthorizontal bus.

8.

Drag the cursor slowly across the other bus wires away from the desired direction, connecting newmultiple wires to the buses.


9.

When all the wires are connected to the existing buses, drag your cursor back to the correct side of thebus for placement of the wires.

10.

To lock or fix an endpoint but continue with the bus wiring, enter C at the Command prompt.

11.

To reverse or flip the phase sequence of the wires when turning a corner, enter F at the Commandprompt. The phase sequences are shown normal and flipped.


Adding Three-Phase Components

Typically, components inserted on three-phase wires come in groups of three, one for each phase. Toefficiently create this type of drawing, you need to learn what three-phase components are and howto insert them.

Three-phase circuit with multiple examples of three-phase components


Definition of Three-Phase Components

Just like single-phase components, three-phase components are AutoCAD blocks with attributes.You insert three-phase components as a parent with two children. AutoCAD Electrical automaticallyinserts all of these components in a single operation, establishes the parent and child relationships,and creates the dashed link lines between the components.

Example of three-phase fuse

Procedure: Inserting Three-Phase Components

The following steps describe how to insert a three-phase component.

1. Select a three-phase component for insertion.


2.

You select one of the outermost buses for insertion of the parent symbol.

3.

You are prompted for the build direction. Click Up or Down for horizontal symbols, and Left or Right forvertical symbols.

4.

Select a build direction. The symbols are inserted and connected with dashed link lines.


5.

Enter the component information in the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, as you would for a single-phase component.

When inserting a three-phase motor, select an insertion point on the middle rung

of the three-phase power. Be sure to slightly overlap the rung endpoint. The three-phase motor symbol automatically connects to all three rungs.

If the three-phase motor insertion and wire connection does not work properly, make

sure your drawing does not already have an older three-phase motor block definition.If it does, you can use the Swap/Update block command to redefine the existing blockdefinition.


Exercise: Create a Three-Phase Circuit In this exercise, you create a complete three-phasecircuit. You will be able to do the following:■ Insert a three-phase ladder.■ Insert three-phase wiring and fuses.■ Insert motor starter, overloads, and motor.

Completing the ExerciseTo complete the exercise, follow thesteps in this book or in the onscreenexercise. In the onscreen list ofchapters and exercises, click Chapter 4:Schematic Components. Click Exercise:Create a Three-Phase Circuit.

Insert a Three-Phase Ladder 1.


2.


3.


4.

Browse to where you installedthe exercise files and selectSchematic_Components_IEC.wdp. Click Open.

5.


6.



7.

On the Schematic tab, Insert Wires/WireNumbers panel, Insert Ladder flyout, clickInsert Ladder.

8.

In the Insert Ladder dialog box, do thefollowing:■ Click 3 Phase.■ For Phase Spacing, enter 10.■ For Length, enter 300. (Notice that

the number of rungs is calculatedautomatically, and the length is adjusted tothe next half-spacing increment.)

■ Click OK.

9.

Select an insertion point at approximately40,260.

Insert Three-Phase Wiring and Fuses 1.

Zoom in to area 1-2.

2.


3.

In the Multiple Wire Bus dialog box, do thefollowing:■ For Vertical Spacing, enter 10.■ Under Starting At, click Another Bus

(Multiple Wires).■ Click OK.


4.

Select a start point on the first (top) horizontalbus at reference 1. Drag the cursor down andselect the endpoint at approximately 70,140.

5.


6.

In the Insert Component: IEC SchematicSymbols dialog box, select Fuses/Transformers/Reactors.

7.

In the IEC: Fuses/Transforms/Reactors dialogbox, select Fuses.

8.

In the IEC: Fuses dialog box, click Fuse, 3 pole.

9.

Select the insertion point for the fuses on theleft rung, just below the three-phase bus.

10.

In the Build to Left or Right? dialog box, clickRight.


11.


This completes the insertion.

Insert the Motor Starter, Overloads, andMotor 1.


2.

In the Insert Component: IEC SchematicSymbols dialog box, select Motor Control.

3.

In the IEC: Motor Control dialog box, selectMotor Starter.

4.

In the IEC: Motor Starter dialog box, clickMotor Starter 3 Pole NO (Power).

5.

Select the insertion point for the motorstarters on the left rung, just below the three-pole fuses.

6.


7.

In the Insert/Edit Child Component dialog box,click OK. This completes the insertion.


8.


9.


10.

In the IEC: Motor Control dialog box, selectOverload, 3 Pole.

11.

Select the insertion point on the left rung justbelow the motor starter contacts.

12.


13.

In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, clickOK. This completed the overload insertion.

14.


15.


16.

In the IEC: Motor Control dialog box, select 3Phase Motor.

17.

In the IEC: 3 Phase Motors dialog box, select 3Phase Motor.

18.

Select the insertion point on the middle three-phase wire. Be sure to overlap the end of thewire slightly.


19.

In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, clickOK. This completes the three-phase motorinsertion.



Chapter Summary

In this chapter you learned how to use schematic components in your drawings. Several methods areavailable to insert schematic components. When starting with an empty project, you use the IconMenu system to select and insert the component symbols. When panel or schematic drawings exist,you can extract component lists to aid the insertion process. You can also use an external componentlist as an insertion tool. Some tools, such as the Circuit tools and the Multiple Wire Bus tool, provideintelligence and automation to otherwise repetitive tasks.

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