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Insert terminals and connectors

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    Procedures | References

    Terminal symbols on the schematic are a representation of wire connection points. The terminal symbol representation on the schematic can have associations with the physical terminal block on the panel drawing. To insert a terminal, select the Insert Component command to display the icon menu, and then select Terminals/Connectors.

    There are four types of terminal behavior that you can select from and five main terminal styles (square, round, hexagon, diamond, and triangle). Each type of terminal behavior is controlled by the terminal block name.

     

    Non-intelligent terminals. They do not show up in reports.

    *//
     

    Terminals that take on a terminal number that matches the wire number passing through or connected to the terminal.

     

    Terminals that carry a user-defined terminal number.

     

    Terminals that force a new wire number to generate as a wire passes through the terminal.

     

    Procedures

    Insert terminals

    You can select from five main terminal styles (square, round, hexagon, diamond, and triangle). Each type of terminal behavior is controlled by the terminal block name.

    1. Click Schematic tabInsert Components panelInsert Components drop-downIcon Menu.
    2. Click the Terminals/Connectors button.
    3. Select a terminal symbol to insert.
    4. Specify the insertion point.
    5. On the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box, annotate the terminal symbol including (but not limited to) the terminal number, tag strip value, and catalog information.

     

    References

    Insert/edit terminal symbol

    Annotates the terminal by tracking which terminal numbers and terminal strip ID names were used so far.

    Insert Component

     Ribbon: Schematic tabInsert Components panelInsert Components drop-downIcon Menu.
     Toolbar: Main Electrical
     Menu: ComponentsInsert Component
     Command entry: AECOMPONENT

    Select Terminals and Connectors, select the terminal to insert, and specify the insertion point on the drawing.

    Edit Component

     Ribbon: Schematic tabEdit Components panelEdit Components drop-downEdit.
     Toolbar: Main Electrical
     Menu: ComponentsEdit Component
     Command entry: AEEDITCOMPONENT

    Select the terminal to edit.

    Terminal

    These controls determine the overall tagging of the terminal block in the project. The Installation, Location, and Tag Strip values define which strip the terminal belongs to. The symbol block file name displays at the top of the Terminal group.

    Note

    Assign short installation or location codes to components like "PNL" and "FIELD" to take full advantage later of the AutoCAD Electrical ability to create installation or location-specific Bill of Materials and component lists.

    Installation

    Changes the installation codes. Click Browse to search the active drawing, entire project, and an external list (default.inst) for installation codes. Pick from the list to update the component automatically with the installation code.

    Location

    Changes the location codes. Click Browse to search the active drawing, entire project, and an external list (default.loc) for location codes. Pick from the list to update the component automatically with the location code.

    Tag Strip

    Specifies the Tag ID given to the terminal strip. If there is an existing name, it appears in the edit box; if not, you can enter a specific ID name.

    Click the < and > buttons to increment or decrement the last digit/character in the Tag Strip value.

    Number

    Specifies the terminal number. If there is not PINLIST information, the < and > buttons increment or decrement the terminal number. You can also click Pick to select a text object or an attribute on the active drawing to use for the terminal number.

    When inserting a new terminal, the highest terminal number in the strip is identified and the default terminal number for the new terminal increments by 1.

    Note

    This is unavailable when the terminal symbol does not have a TERM01 attribute or when the terminal number is the same as the wire number.

    Modify Properties/Associations

    These controls support associations between schematic terminal symbols and their panel terminal footprint or between multiple schematic terminal symbols.

    There are certain conditions that you cannot associate terminals using the Modify Properties/Associations options:

    • The drawing is not part of the active project.
    • You are using the Insert Terminal (Panel List) tool. However, once you exit the Insert Terminal (Panel List) tool and the terminal is inserted onto the drawing, you can modify the associations using these tools.
    • The terminals were inserted by the Terminal Strip Editor tool.
    • The terminals are one-line terminal symbols.

    Add/Modify

    Displays the Add/Modify Associations dialog box where you can select terminal strips and their respective blocks to make an association to the terminal symbol being inserted or edited.

    Note

    It is disabled if the active drawing is not part of the active project.

    Pick

    Selects another terminal symbol on the active drawing to associate to. You can select only one terminal symbol to make the association.

    Note

    While in selection mode, you can use Pan or Zoom to find the terminal symbol to select.

    Break Out

    Removes the terminal being edited out of the defined association. The properties from the original association and the levels of the terminal are maintained.

    Block Properties

    Displays the Block Properties dialog box where you can define and maintain terminal block properties.

    Note

    It is disabled if the active drawing is not part of the active project.

    Properties/Associations

    The list box displays the current status of the association of the edited terminal. It lists all associated terminal symbols from the schematic and terminal panel footprints. If the terminal symbol is being inserted for the first time, the list box only displays the reference for itself. The number of levels defined in the block properties displays at the top of the Properties/Associations group. The terminal being edited is highlighted in the list box.

    You can double-click in the list to modify the terminal association in the Add/Modify Associations dialog box.

    Label

    Lists the level description defined in the terminal block properties. This data is entered into the LnnLABEL attribute if present; otherwise, it is placed into xdata.

    Number

    Lists the terminal numbers defined in the association. Only one terminal number is allowed per level and each level displays its respective terminal number or text. Panel terminal symbols do not display terminal numbers.

    PinL

    Lists the pin numbers defined on the left side of the terminal block. This data is entered into the LnnPINL attribute if present; otherwise, it is placed into xdata.

    PinR

    Lists the pin numbers defined on the right side of the terminal block. This data is entered into the LnnPINR attribute if present; otherwise, it is placed into xdata.

    Reference

    Lists the reference location of the terminal symbol in the project. The syntax is ‘Sheet,Reference’ based on the drawing configuration.

    Note

    This area is disabled if the terminal is a one-line symbol. Multi-level or panel relationships are not supported for one-line terminals.

    Project List

    These controls allow for quick selection of terminal strips and terminal numbers used throughout the active project.

    Project List

    Shows all the previously defined terminal strips in the active project.

    When inserting a new terminal, this list is populated with the Installation, Location and TAGSTRIP values of the previously inserted terminal.

    Numbers Used

    Lists all terminal numbers found, either drawing-wide or project-wide, whose Tag Strip value matches the highlighted Tag Strip value.

    Catalog Data

    You can do a drawing-wide or project-wide listing of similar terminals with their catalog assignments. During your editing session, the last MFG / CAT / ASSYCODE assignment for each terminal type you insert into your wiring diagram is remembered. When you insert another terminal of that type, the catalog assignment of the previous terminal is set as the default (assuming a previous one was made during the current editing session).

    Manufacturer

    Lists the manufacturer name for the terminal. Enter a value or select one from the Catalog lookup.

    Catalog

    Lists the catalog number for the terminal. Enter a value or select one from the Catalog lookup.

    Assembly

    Lists the assembly code for the terminal. The Assembly code is used to link multiple part numbers together.

    Item

    Specifies a unique identifier assigned to each terminal. The value can be manually typed in the edit box.

    Catalog Lookup

    Opens the catalog database of the terminal from which you can select the Manufacturer and Catalog values. Search the database for a specific catalog item to assign to the selected terminal.

    Drawing

    Lists the part numbers used for similar terminals in the active drawing.

    Project

    Lists the part numbers used for similar terminals in the project. You can search in the active project, another project, or in an external file.

    • Active project: All the drawings in the active project are scanned and the results are listed in a dialog box. Select from the list to assign your new terminal with a catalog number that is consistent with other similar terminals in the project.
    • Other project: Scans each listed drawing in a previous project for the target terminal type and returns the catalog information in a sub-dialog box. Make your catalog assignment by picking from the list.
    • External file: You can pull catalog assignments from a generic ASCII file created by a word processor or output from a spreadsheet or database program. A dialog box displays the contents of the selected text file. Find and highlight the desired entry. AutoCAD Electrical reads the line of text from the file and breaks it into its component parts. These are displayed in the left-hand list. For each relevant item, highlight it and then pick the appropriate category button in the center column. The highlighted item is transferred to the corresponding category (and then to the Insert/Edit dialog box once OK is clicked).

    Multiple Catalog

    Inserts or edits extra catalog part numbers on to the selected terminal. You can add up to ten part numbers to any terminal. These multiple BOM part numbers appear as subassembly part numbers to the main catalog part number in the various BOM and terminal reports.

    Catalog Check

    Extracts the details from the catalog database to display what the selected item looks like in a Bill of Material template.

    Descriptions

    Specifies the optional description attribute text to assign to the terminal block (up to three lines of text can be specified). Click Browse to search for all terminal descriptions in the project or active drawing. Select the description you want to copy to the edited terminal block by selecting it in the list and clicking OK.

    Note

    These edit boxes are disabled if the terminal does not carry the attributes (such as ratings).

    Defaults

    Opens an ASCII text file (wd_desc.wdd or <project>.wdd) from which you can select standard descriptions.

    Pick

    Picks a description from a component on the current drawing.

    Ratings

    You can enter up to 12 ratings attributes on a component. The View/Edit Rating Values dialog box lets you enter values for each ratings attribute. Select the Defaults button next to the edit box to display a list of default values.

    Note

    If this button is unavailable, the component you are editing does not carry any rating attributes.

    Show/Edit Miscellaneous

    View or edit any attributes that are not predefined AutoCAD Electrical attributes.

    Add/modify associations Add/modify associations

    This tool searches project terminal strips for existing terminal blocks, allowing you to associate a terminal symbol to an existing association or terminal.

    Insert Component

     Ribbon: Schematic tabInsert Components panelInsert Components drop-downIcon Menu.
     Toolbar: Main Electrical
     Menu: ComponentsInsert Component
     Command entry: AECOMPONENT

    Select Terminals and Connectors from the dialog box and specify the insertion point on the drawing. In the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box, Modify Properties/Associations section, click Add/Modify.

    Edit Component

     Ribbon: Schematic tabEdit Components panelEdit Components drop-downEdit.
     Toolbar: Main Electrical
     Menu: ComponentsEdit Component
     Command entry: AEEDITCOMPONENT

    Select the terminal to edit. In the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box, Modify Properties/Associations section, click Add/Modify.

    Note

    This option is also available from the Panel Layout - Insert/Edit Terminal Footprint dialog box.

    Modifications to the terminal symbol associations affect every terminal symbol in the association so all drawings must be available for editing. You cannot edit other terminal associations from this dialog box; only the associations of the selected terminal symbol can be edited.

    Active Association

    Use this section to modify the terminal number. The Installation, Location, and Tag Strip values are not editable.

    Installation

    Displays the Installation value defined for the edited terminal symbol.

    Location

    Displays the Location value defined for the edited terminal symbol.

    Tag Strip

    Displays the tag strip value defined for the edited terminal symbol.

    Number

    (Unavailable for panel terminals) Specifies the terminal number. The displayed value is defined in the TERM01 attribute on the terminal symbol.

    Note

    If this value is the wire number defined in the WIRENO attribute on the terminal symbol, you cannot change the value.

    Active Associations grid

    Displays all terminal symbols that are currently associated to the terminal being edited. The terminal symbol that is being edited is highlighted in light blue. Right-click on a terminal symbol to move it up or down one level or select a terminal symbol and drag it to a new level location. Label and Pin information do not move with the terminal symbol number and reference since it is part of the terminal block property definition.

    Note

    The panel symbol association is always at the bottom and cannot be selected for movement.

    • Level numbering: Displays a level number for each level that is defined in the terminal properties. The level numbering for the panel symbol is “#.”
    • Label: Lists the level description defined in the terminal block properties.
    • Number: Lists the terminal numbers defined in the association. Only one terminal number is allowed per level and each level displays its respective terminal number or text. Panel terminal symbols do not display terminal numbers. Terminal levels with an assignment and a terminal that has not been assigned a terminal number display a “???” in this column.
    • PinL: Lists the pin numbers defined on the left side of the terminal block. This data is entered into the LnnPINL attribute if present; otherwise, it is placed into Xdata.
    • PinR: Lists the pin numbers defined on the right side of the terminal block. This data is entered into the LnnPINR attribute if present; otherwise, it is placed into Xdata

      Pin numbering is related to the terminal level and not the terminal tag number instance.

    • Reference: Lists the reference location for the terminal symbol in the project. The syntax is “Sheet,Reference” based on the drawing configuration.

    Select Association

    Terminal Strips

    Displays all terminal strips inside of the active project. The tree contains three nodes to aid in finding a specific terminal block in the project. The nodes are: active project name, Tag Strip value (Installation and Location included) and terminal blocks.

    • Active Project node: Displays the name of the active project.
    • Tag Strip Value node: Displays the entire Installation, Location, and Tag Strip values for all terminal strips in the active project. The terminal block quantity displays at the end of the node string in parenthesis.
    • or Terminal Block node: Displays the terminal numbers defined on the block (separated by commas). The number of levels defined in the block properties displays at the end of the node string in parenthesis. For example, 1,21,GND (3).

      If a level is not represented on the schematic, an empty space represents it: 1, , GND (3). If a terminal has been assigned to the level, but the terminal does not have a number assignment, a ‘???’ represents it: 1,???,GND (3).

    Select Association grid

    Displays all levels of the terminal selected in the tree. Select the level to place the edited terminal in and right-click to run the associate command (or click Associate).

    Associate

    Adds the edited terminal symbol to the terminal association. A terminal number is then inserted into the Number column and the Reference column is updated with the terminal reference defined in the drawing properties.

    Note

    The grid row must be selected before you can perform the association.

    This option is unavailable until you select a level in the grid control when editing a schematic terminal or until you select a terminal from the tree control when editing a panel footprint. A grid selection is not required for panel footprints since the footprint is associated to the entire terminal, not an individual level.

    Terminal block properties Terminal block properties

    Use this dialog box to control the number of levels assigned to a multiple level terminal block. You can control the level description, number of wires per connection, pins right, pins left and internal jumpers. The terminal block properties are maintained on every terminal symbol in its association.

    Insert Component

     Ribbon: Schematic tabInsert Components panelInsert Components drop-downIcon Menu.
     Toolbar: Main Electrical
     Menu: ComponentsInsert Component
     Command entry: AECOMPONENT

    Select Terminals and Connectors from the dialog box and specify the insertion point on the drawing. In the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box, click Block Properties.

    Edit Component

     Ribbon: Schematic tabEdit Components panelEdit Components drop-downEdit.
     Toolbar: Main Electrical
     Menu: ComponentsEdit Component
     Command entry: AEEDITCOMPONENT

    Select the terminal to edit. In the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box, click Block Properties.

    Note

    You can also access this dialog box by clicking Edit Terminal Block Properties on the Terminal Strip Editor dialog box.

    The default level for any terminal symbol that is placed into the project that is not associated to another is 0.

    Manufacturer

    Displays the Manufacturer value that is currently assigned to the terminal being edited.

    Catalog Number

    Displays the Catalog Number value that is currently assigned to the terminal being edited.

    Assembly Code

    Displays the Assembly Code value that is currently assigned to the terminal being edited.

    Levels

    Specifies the number of levels for the terminal. The grid expands for editing based on the number of levels specified. You can then define the level description, wires per connection and pins.

    Terminal Block Property Definition grid

    Displays the terminal levels. You can edit and maintain properties of the terminal block here.

    • Level Description: Specifies the description for the levels of the terminal block. Text you enter here displays in the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol and Terminal Block Properties dialog boxes. This value is a terminal property that is maintained on every symbol in its association.
    • Wires per Connection: Specifies the number of wires allowed per connection for the terminal connection point.
      Note

      These properties do not limit the number of connections allowed on the schematic.

    • Pin Left/Pin Right: Specifies labels for pin numbers associated to the terminal destinations. These fill in the LnnPINL and LnnPINR attributes on the terminal block when its level is selected. This value is a terminal property that is maintained on every symbol in its association.
    • Internal Jumper: Graphically indicates internal jumpers assigned between levels.
     

    Internally jumper the levels currently selected in the grid.

     

    Delete the internal jumper currently assigned to the levels selected in the grid

    Clear

    Clears all terminal block properties.

    Note

    Properties for a level cannot be cleared if there is a schematic terminal representing that level (other than the terminal being edited), or there is an external jumper on that level.

    Terminal block property attributes

    The values in the grid are stored as follows. The “nn” represents the level number and is always stored as two digits (that is, 01, 02, and so on):

    Data

    Attribute

    Level Description (60 characters maximum)

    LnnLABEL

    Wires Per Connection (three characters maximum)

    LnnWIREPERC

    Pin Left (12 characters maximum)

    LnnPINL

    Pin Right (12 characters maximum)

    LnnPINR

    Internal Jumper

    (255 characters maximum)

    LnnINJUMP

    Note

    If these attributes are not present, the data is placed into Xdata with the same name, only with a “VIA_WD_” prefix.

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