Sunday, 26 April 2015

Electrical schematic design

    Electrical schematic design

  • Improved capabilities with wires New

    Apply drawing and project property for sort order to wire sequences as well as tag and wire number order. This setting provides default wire sequencing for wire networks with multiple components.

  • Auto wire numbering and component tagging

    Assign sequential or reference-based numbers on all wires and components automatically. AutoCAD Electrical assigns unique wire numbers and component tags in your electrical schematic drawings based on the chosen configuration, reducing the time spent tracking design changes and reducing errors. If no clear spot is available, the software searches for a clear spot and automatically draws a leader back to the wire.

  • Circuit design and reuse

    Dynamically generate rules-based electrical control circuits based on components, wiring, ratings, and catalog data. Circuit Builder gives you the information to make good electrical engineering decisions that are also environmentally sustainable. Create electrical schematic designs based on wire material type, ambient temperature, maximum voltage drop, and more. Improve productivity by building commonly used circuits once, and then saving them to be reused later.

  • Electrical schematic symbol libraries

    Use several hundred thousand standards-based electrical schematic symbols in AutoCAD Electrical software. A simple, menu-driven system for inserting devices enables you to quickly build standards-based electrical control designs, including pneumatic and hydraulic.

  • Real-time error checking

    Catch and remove costly errors before the build phase begins. AutoCAD Electrical monitors and alerts you to potential design errors as they occur by constantly comparing the requested changes with the current project. Duplicated wire numbers and component tags are flagged. Avoid errors related to missing or incorrect wire numbers. Alerts help to ensure a smooth design process before the electrical schematic gets passed on to manufacturing.

  • Usability improvements

    Use enhanced themes, table styles, and intelligent Cut, Copy, and Paste commands, as well as Find links. Choose a dark or light theme. Table styles control text size, style, and margins on reports. Intelligent cut and copy can place selections of objects onto the clipboard, while paste inserts the selection with automatic updates to tags and wire numbers. Within the Help documentation, the Find link points to a specific icon within the application to help you locate the command.
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Saturday, 25 April 2015

Electrical Computer-Aided Design Consulting Headquarters

Electrical Computer-Aided Design Consulting Headquarters



Tips and Tricks

Pre-paid phone/e-mail/video support contracts available (contact us with a question and receive a phone call, e-mail, or video with a detailed step-by-step answer)

This page includes some "freebies" to give you an idea of the kind of support you can expect from our pre-paid plan.
Videos
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  • The Super Project Manager add-in for AutoCAD® Electrical, available exclusively from Doug McAlexander, Inc.

  • The Dynamically Paired Source and Destination add-in feature for AutoCAD® Electrical Saved Circuits, available exclusively from Doug McAlexander, Inc.

  • Inserting a terminal strip using AutoCAD® Electrical

  • Jumper terminal blocks using AutoCAD® Electrical

  • The Terminal Strip Editor utility in AutoCAD® Electrical
  • Inserting 3-phase contacts with AutoCAD® Electrical

  • The Schematic Surfer in action

  • Representing the same device with both a front-of-door-view footprint and a rear-of-door-view footprint using AutoCAD® Electrical's WDTAGALT attribute

  • Click here to learn how to generate a Tallied Purchase List format Panel BOM with item numbers assigned on a per-part number basis

  • Click here to view a demonstration of the improvements related to item numbering in version 2013 of AutoCAD® Electrical

  • Watch the AutoCAD® Electrical Automatic Reports utility in action





    • How To's

    INDEX (click text to advance to area of interest)

    12 easy steps to creating your own custom "smart" border template for AutoCAD® Electrical

    1. Develop the basic border drawing for your company. Type ATTDEF at the command prompt to insert attributes. Insert attributes with tag names such as SHEET, TOTALSHEETS, DESC1, DESC2, DESC3, REV, DWGNO, etc., setting such properties as text height, width factor, justification etc.

    2. Create a project called Border_Template. Don't worry about putting any drawings in it. Inside the Border Template folder create a new text file named Border_Template_wdtitle.wdl. Note: AutoCAD® Electrical searches the project folder first for either _wdtitle.wdl or default_wdtitle.wdl. If neither is found in the project folder it will search the User folder for default_wdtitle.wdl. This WDL file controls the language of the prompts you get when you right click a project name in the Project Manager and select Descriptions to enter the project line label data. The default is LINE1, LINE2, etc. The syntax for this file is as follows:


    LINE1=your prompt here (i.e. Project Description:)
    LINE2=your next prompt here (i.e. Drawing No.:)
    LINE3=your next prompt here (i.e. Revision Level:)
    …etc. until you have accounted for every attribute, except SHEET, TOTALSHEETS, DESC1, DESC2, DESC3.
     3. Click the Project menu tab and select Title Block Setup. Choose method 2 and click OK. This method automatically creates a mapping attribute named WD_TB. The data for the WD_TB attribute will be filled in for you in the next step, but will be marked as invisible. The WD_TB attribute value maps the project line label data that you enter from the prompts in the Border_Template_wdtitle.wdl file to the matching attribute in the title block.

    4. Click the drop-down arrows next to each Project Line Label prompt and assign select the attribute you want the data delivered to during the Title Block Update operation. Again, do not try to assign anything to SHEET, TOTALSHEETS, DESC1, DESC2, DESC3 yet. That is covered next.

    5. Click on Drawing Values button at lower right. From this screen you match up the Sheet (%S) with the SHEET attribute and the Sheet Maximum with the TOTALSHEETS attribute. Then match up Drawing Description 1 with DESC1, Drawing Description 2 with DESC2, and Drawing Description 3 with DESC3. Note: When you perform a title block update the sheet number and total number of sheets, along with whatever text you entered into the three description lines for each drawing, are dropped into the previously determined title block attributes.

    6. Save the border drawing as something like D_border_base.dwg for a D-size border drawing. I suggest saving to the Template folder. Hint: The easiest way to find the template folder is to temporarily change the SaveAs Type setting to .dwt. This will automatically switch you to the template folder. But before you save change back to a SaveAs Type of .dwg.

    7. Click QNEW or File>New and use the acad.dwt template to start a new blank drawing.

    8. Click Insert from the pull-down menu, select Block, and browse to the Template folder. Select the previously saved base drawing and insert it at coordinates 0,0,0. Note: Do not check the box to Explode on insert. Once the base drawing is inserted the attributes you placed on the base drawing will not be visible. This is normal.

    9. Click the Drawing Properties icon from the Schematic menu tab. Accept the insertion of the WD_M block. This block stores Drawing Properties. Navigate the various tabs and assign your drawing preferences such as Tag format, Wire Number format, Cross-reference Format, default Ladder Width, etc.

    10. Click Create/Edit Wire Type from the Edit Wire menu. Enter your company's most popular wire types. Note: Don't forget to assign a layer color and line type. Hint: You cannot assign a color or line type until you click in another cell after typing in the wire type information.

    11. Insert some wires and components to create a sample circuit, so you can adjust color and line type assignments. As you insert various drawing elements, new layers will be added to the drawing by AutoCAD® Electrical. Be sure and insert a 3-phase component symbol, a location box, and wire numbers. Next click Layer Properties on the Home menu tab and adjust line types and layer colors for the new layers that have been added. For example layer LOCBOX should be set to a line type of Dash Dot to meet IEC61082. The color is usually green or blue. Layer LINK should be set to a line type of Dashed2. Type LTSCALE at the command line and press the Enter key on your keyboard to adjust the line type scale until your dashed line types appear as fine or coarse as you desire.

    Also consider the color assignment for TAGS, TAGFIXED, WIRENO, WIREFIXED, WIRECOPY, TERMS, etc. You will edit atleast one wire number and set it to fixed in order for the WIREFIXED layer to be added by AutoCAD® Electrical. Also insert a wire copy so you can assign a color for that layer. Click Configuration on the Panel menu tab and insert the WD_PNLM block. Click Balloon Setup and adjust as needed.

    12. Finally, click File>SaveAs and set the SaveAs type to .dwt for template. Save the file as something like D_border.dwt for a D-size drawing template, or IEC_A4 for an A4-size IEC border. Next save the file as type .dwg inside of the Template folder, in case you ever need to replace or update the border on existing drawings.

    When you click the New Drawing button in Project Manager set your Template path to the D_border.dwt file or whatever you named your template. Note: You will only need to set the path once. It will remain until you change it.

    Understanding the differences between AutoCAD® and AutoCAD® Electrical

    Many people get confused by the fact that AutoCAD "Electrical" has the standard AutoCAD commands available as well. This is because "Electrical", which was formerly known as an add-in program called "Wiring Diagram", installs its tools into the AutoCAD menu structure, so it can make use of the AutoCAD drafting engine. It is not wise to assume that standard AutoCAD commands will produce results that "Electrical" can interpret. Electrical must maintain control of the drafting engine so Electrical can manage the databases that run in the background. The drafting engine doesn't know how to interact with the databases. When you use standard AutoCAD commands you are going off-line and the results could be ambiguous.

    Sometimes manipulating things with standard AutoCAD commands might work but you have to be familiar enough with the inner-workings of Electrical to know how to manually manipulate the data in such a way that the Electrical data manager can interpret what you did. For example you can use ATTDEF and AutoCAD LT to create symbols that are compatible with Electrical but you must know the proper syntax for the attributes, the symbol naming conventions, etc. However, the Symbol Builder on the Schematic tab of Electrical will act as a wizard and guide you through the symbol creation process such that your symbol is sure to offer the Electrical data manager properly formatted data to work with. You may reason that the only thing that makes a line a wire is the layer name (which must be listed in the Create/Edit Wire Type table), thus you can assign a wire to a different layer by using the standard AutoCAD Layer utilities. This is true, but it will be necessary to select each and every wire segment in the node (a.k.a. wire network), since standard AutoCAD doesn't know how to treat a line segment as a wire, and will not reason that all segments make up one wire.

    Another example of the superiority of Electrical commands over standard AutoCAD commands has to do with editing a symbol that has already been inserted. A standard rule of AutoCAD is that, once a block is inserted into a drawing, another occurrence of the same block name in the drawing is merely a copy of an existing one. So the second time the same block name is inserted into a drawing, AutoCAD simply copies the one that already exists on the drawing. Why does it do this? The one on the drawing is already loaded into RAM. To load the same block from the hard drive takes additional computing time. This time difference was noticeable with older computers. (I started out with an Intel 286/12MHz computer that had 512KB of RAM.) AutoCAD functioned faster for repeat block insertions by copying the one that was already loaded into memory. So if you made changes to the block after it was inserted into a drawing, the only way to see the changes was to delete all instances of this block, purge the unused blocks, and re-insert the block. You would also need to repopulate any attribute values that were lost. AutoCAD "Electrical" makes this operation quick and easy with the SWAP/UPDATE tool.

    Competitive electrical design programs that install into AutoCAD and use the AutoCAD drafting engine, turn off all standard AutoCAD functions that they do not control, thereby preventing you from accidentally breaking your drawings or using the long way around to accomplish a task. For example, they may have an icon that looks just like AutoCAD Erase tool, but if you click it, the code is re-routed through their application. Their application prompts you to click on a circuit entity. If you click a wire segment that is left-over from a "T" intersection and is no longer needed, the Erase command trims the excess wire. If you click a wire that is complete and connected on both ends, the entire wire is erased. If you click on a component symbol, the component symbol is erased. This is all done with the same icon. In order for this economic use of menu icons to work, grips are disabled. You must select the command first and then select the drawing element you wish to affect. This is only one of many examples where the electrical add-in program takes over the command structure of the drafting engine in order to dictate a work-flow that will ensure data integrity.

    Some may not like the fact that all standard AutoCAD commands are not available with the competitive add-ons, thus they would probably prefer the Autodesk version. The makers of AutoCAD “Electrical” decided to give you full use of standard AutoCAD commands, so you have a one-package that fits all of your DWG editig needs. This allows you to edit legacy AutoCAD drawings and mechanical drawings with the same software that you use to create electrical control system wiring diagrams. However by accepting software with this much horsepower under the hood you must also accept the responsibility of knowing when to use which of its many tools.

    Proper classroom training from a qualified instructor is critical to gaining full use of "Electrical". The Ribbon menu has helped. It is a new user-interface environment that was introduced with version 2010. I was resistant to the Ribbon menu at first but, as an instructor, I quickly realized its benefits for new users. The Ribbon menu can significantly reduce the learning curve for a new user and enforce proper work-flow. For example, the Home tab on the ribbon menu is where you find standard AutoCAD commands, those which can "break" your intelligent electrical drawings if you don't know when and when-not to use them. One rule of thumb that I encourage new users to follow is to stay away from the Ribbon menu's Home tab until they have attended classroom training by a qualified instructor. The Project, Schematic, Panel, Reports, etc. tabs are for electrical functions and they go in order (left-to-right) of the typical electrical design work-flow. You start by creating a project, followed by the schematic, the panel layout, and reports.

    I also advise new users not to type commands at the command prompt. This will prevent those who are experience users of plain "vanilla" AutoCAD from using commands that might break their electrical continuity. Once they become experienced with the inner workings of AutoCAD Electrical, some manipulation from the command prompt or the Home tab can be acceptable for certain situations. Experienced users of AutoCAD tend to "go home to momma" and use commands they know. After all, the name of the software has the word AutoCAD in it, right? But remember that AutoCAD is merely the drafting engine. The real intelligence lies within the databases and how they "handshake" with the drawing data, the "Electrical" portion of the code. The drafting engine provides the user with visual feedback so the user can see what type of data is being written to the database. Consider the symbols for example. The way they look is important for the user, but not to Electrical. Electrical interprets the attribute values within the symbol blocks, but doesn't care how the symbol is shaped. The appearance of the symbol is for the user's benefit.

    Thanks to the ribbon interface, you no longer see the standard AutoCAD commands (unless you click on Home), which could damage your electrical drawings and lead to strange results or errors from the project database manager. Unless you intentionally select the Home tab, or type at the command prompt, you are working with Electrical commands that lead to a proper work-flow and provide the database engine with properly formatted data to work with for reports, error analysis, etc.

    I strongly encourage a new user of AutoCAD Electrical, including those who are intimately familiar with standard AutoCAD, to attend a hands-on, instructor-led training course in order to gain the full benefit of implementing AutoCAD Electrical. But at the very least, upgrade to version 2010 or later and use the ribbon interface, avoiding the temptation to use the Home tab or type standard AutoCAD commands. You may think you don't have the time or money to spend on proper training, but start adding up the cost of the time lost in floundering around on your own, or visiting the Electrical Discussion Group for answers, and I guarantee you that a 4-day training course will pay for itself many times over.

    Project-in-Project solutions for AutoCAD® Electrical

    Quite often I need to assign a different document number to the various types of drawings in a project. For example, the schematic must be a unique document number with unique data in the title block, including page numbering that applies only to the pages that make up the schematic. I must also have a unique Document Number, Drawn By, Checked By, etc. for the panel layout, the wire list, and the bill-of-materials. After all, on a large scale project, these might each be created by different designers.

    But I still need the intelligent connectivity between the schematic, panel layout, wire list, and BOM for editing purposes, and for a "global" view of the entire project. This can be accomplished within the Project Manager of AutoCAD® Electrical without any custom programming.

    Create your master project with all necessary drawings, as usual. Next create another project for schematic drawings only, placing its respective .WDP file inside the same folder as the master project.WDP file. Hint: Keep all drawings in the master project folder. Right click the schematic only project and select Add Drawings. Add only the schematic drawings to this project. Repeat this procedure again for the panel layout, and again for the wire list, and finally for the bill-of-materials.

    You now have one master project for performing master level edits and updates. But you also have 4 individual "sub-projects" which you can activate to perform a title block update, allowing each of these "sub-projects" to have its own unique project line label data (i.e. Document Number, Job Number, Drawn By, Checked By, Date, Revision, etc.). You can activate each "sub-project", right-click over it in Project Manager, and edit the Description lines to be unique for each "sub-project". Execute a separate Title Block Update for each "sub-project". See the screen shot below:



    If you work with sub-projects on a regular basis, you may be interested in a utility we sell, called Super Project Manager. Start the Super Project Manager and you are given a dialog that allows you to create sub-projects and select the drawings for each with one easy-to-use interface. These projects are then automatically added to the Project Manager. In the following screen shot you see the Super Project Manager interface. I have created two sub-projects and assigned their respective drawings. Drawings 1 through 22 are assigned to sub-project 1, the schematic, denoted as [SCH], while the remainder of the drawings are assigned to sub-project 2, denoted as [PNL] for panel layout. The Super Project Manager places the new project title inside brackets and appends this to the master project's name to create the sub-project name for you. For this illustration I have called my sub-projects SCH for schematic and PNL for panel layout. They could just as easily have been named for document numbers.
    In the next screen image you will see the master project that already existed and the two sub-projects that Super Project Manager added to Project Manager. I can edit the entire project using the master project, for bi-directional updates, project-wide operations, etc. But I also have a separate project for the schematic which allows me to enter different project line label information and run a separate title block update, so the schematic can have unique page numbering, a unique document number, and unique description text. The same is true for the panel layout. I can also create sub-projects for the wire list, bill-of-materials, etc. and do the same for them.

    You might also use the Super Project Manager to divide a project that contains hundreds of pages into smaller groups of drawings so the amount of data that the project manager must manage is trimmed to only the pages I need to modify. Each sub-project will have its own dedicated database which will only need to track changes to the limited number of drawings in the sub-project. Note: You can reference the same drawings in more than one project, so all sub-project drawings can also stay listed in the master project. Changes made to the sub-projects will automatically appear in the master project.

    The Super Project Manager allows you to manage very large projects efficiently without giving up the reliability of a drawing-driven electrical CAD program. The attraction of database-driven electrical programs is their speed when dealing with a large number of drawings. The drawing data is stored in a database and drawings are only refreshed when they are opened for later viewing or printing. This reduces the amount of time the program must spend updating drawing files. However if the database crashes, hours of work could be lost before it is written to the affected drawings? Of course the downside to a drawing-driven approach is that the drawings must be updated in real-time since the data is stored in the drawings themselves. Each time an edit is made that affects other drawings the user must await the real-time update, or append it to a running task list that can execute all updates at once, perhaps during a coffee break or lunch break.

    The Super Project Manager will allow you to work at sub-project level, dealing with fewer drawings and speeding up the real-time processing. Changes made in the sub-project(s) are automatically visible in the master project. Since the data is stored at drawing level, the master project's database will detect the changes made to the drawings at sub-project level. So the Super Project Manager allows for a best-of-both-worlds approach to electrical CAD.

    Creating a preferred vendor parts catalog for AutoCAD® Electrical

    When you share the vendor catalog (default_cat.mdb) across a network it is normal to experience a slower response time when performing a part number Lookup. This is due to network traffic/latency. The search-interval, or seek-time, for a part Lookup is also affected by the size of the default_cat.mdb file. The more manufacturers you select during the installation process, the larger the default_cat.mdb file, resulting in a slower seek-time.

    There is an alternate method you can use if you would like to have access to all manufacturers from time to time but would also like to work from a smaller "preferred" list of manufacturer parts. First, make a copy of the default_cat.mdb file (normally located in the Catalogs folder) and rename the copy to complete_cat.mdb. Next use MS Access® to edit the default_cat.mdb and remove all manufacturers and/or part numbers you will never use. If you never use AB, then remove AB parts from all component tables (i.e. CR, LT, SS, PB, etc.). Note: If you know you will never us AB parts, do not select the AB checkbox from the manufacturer's list when installing AutoCAD® Electrical. Only check the boxes for the manufacturers you will actually use.

    Once the catalog database is trimmed down to only your preferred manufacturer parts the seek-time for a Lookup will be less. The next thing to do is to right-click on your project name and select Properties. Click the button labeled "Other", then click on the radio button labeled "Optional: Define a secondary catalog lookup file for this project." Browse to the complete_cat.mdb file. OK out of all the dialog boxes.

    With the "trimmed down" default_cat.mdb you should experience a faster response when performing a part number Lookup. Anytime you need a part number from the complete catalog, click the "Other" button from within the Lookup dialog (version 2010 and previous) and follow the prompts to temporarily switch to the complete catalog. For version 2011 or later click the arrow in the field labeled as Database and select the Secondary File.



    Understanding the enhanced catalog number Lookup capabilities of AutoCAD® Electrical version 2011

    Version 2011 of AutoCAD® Electrical includes significant enhancements to the part number (a.k.a. catalog) Lookup tool. When you click Lookup you will see that the top left box under Catalog is blank. Click in this box and start typing a part number. The results in the window below will begin to narrow down according to what you type in. You can perform similar filtering for other columns, such as Description, Miscellaneous, etc. You can drag and drop fields left or right to order them according to your needs. You can also right-click above any field name and uncheck the box for any fields you wish to hide.

    Hint: You can also type a portion of a part number into the Search Database field using an asterisk (*) for a wildcard. Then click the magnifier icon to begin the search. This will search across family tables so it is possible to select a part from the TRMS (terminals) table and assign it to a fuse, for example a fuse holder style terminal.


    Understanding some of the various support files used by AutoCAD® Electrical

    AutoCAD® Electrical obtains some of its functional rules from simple text files called support files. Most of the files are discussed in detail in the Help system built into AutoCAD® Electrical. The fact is that some files can be located in more than one location, depending upon the user. For example, the main parts catalog is the default_cat.mdb file, located by default at My Documents\AcadE 2008\Catalogs. You could copy this file to a specific project folder and rename it to _cat.mdb, then make modifications as necessary for the specific project. For example, let's say you want to delete all but the preferred suppliers for each type of component.

    You could take a similar approach with the default.wdw file, normally located at C:\Documents and Settings\Doug McAlexander\Application Data\Autodesk\AutoCAD Electrical 2008\R17.1\enu\Support\User. Move this file to a specific project folder and modify as necessary to force the naming convention for wire color/gauge labels.

    Another file in the User folder that might be modified for use with a specific project is the default_wdtitle.wdl file. This file controls the project line label prompts that you see when you right-click on a project name and select Descriptions. The one that installs by default will most likely need to be modified to meet your needs. If you use different title blocks, perhaps customer-specific, you may need to place a _wdtitle.wdl file in the specific project folder so the project line label prompts coincide with the title block for that project.

    If you choose to use the User Defined Attributes functionality AutoCAD® Electrical will create a .wda file in the folder of the active project. The WDA file stores a list of custom attributes you may have added to some blocks and that you wish to make available for reports.

    The bottom line is that AutoCAD® Electrical looks first inside the project folder for these files before it will use a default file from the User folder. During a project copy you will see a list of support files that AutoCAD® Electrical will search for. If any are found they are checked by default, assuming that you will want to copy them as well. You can uncheck if you wish not to copy the project specific support files.

    There is one particular support file that I find particularly useful. You create this one yourself. It is a simple text file that you create and name wd_fam.dat. This file, if found in the project folder, will cause AutoCAD® Electrical to ignore the standard component tag designation found in the default field of the TAG1 attribute of a component symbol file. Instead it will use an alternate tag designation, as listed in the wd_fam.dat file. For example, if you are using JIC symbols but wish to have switches tagged with their IEC/ISO-81346 equivalent, you might have entries in the wd_fam.dat file like this:

    SS,S
    PB,S
    LS,S
    TS,S
    PWS,G
    CR,K
    etc.

    According to the list above, selector switches (SS), push-buttons (PB), limit switches (LS), and thermal switches (TS), will all be tagged as S, in complaince with IEC/ISO-81346.

    Note: The wd_fam.dat file is functional during component insertion and during retag operations.

    Understanding some of the optional symbol attributes used by AutoCAD® Electrical

    AutoCAD® Electrical does not interpret the graphical appearance of a symbol. The data stored in various attributes within the symbol gives AutoCAD® Electrical the information it needs to interpret what kind of symbol it is and what to do with it.

    The CONTACT attribute may have a value of NO, NC, or NCNO for example. This tells AutoCAD® Electrical whether the contact is to be treated as a normally-open (NO), normally-closed (NC), or Form-C (NCNO a.k.a. change-over contact). See example below:



    The POSITION attributes hold the text value that you can assign to the various positions of a selector switch. Position 1, POS1, might be designated as Manual while Position 2, POS2, might be designated as Auto. When you insert a selector switch you will see the fields to type the text into at the lower right, near the pin assignment fields. The STATE attribute allows you to enter the text string that indicates the state of the switch in various positions. The letter "O" indicates open while the "X" indicates closed or connected.

    The PINLIST attribute can be filled automatically from the Pin List Database (provided there exists an entry for the particular MFG and CAT combination). You can optionally click the NO/NC Setup button while editing the parent or coil of a relay or contactor and enter the pin list. The syntax is explained on the dialog. Basically you enter the contact type (i.e. 0 for convertible, 1 for NO, 2 for NC, or 3 for Form-C), followed by a comma followed by the first contact terminal or pin assignment (i.e. A1X), followed by the second contact terminal or pin assignment (i.e. A1Y), followed by a a semicolon as a delimiter to start the next group. So a syntax of 0,A1X,A1Y;0,A4X,A4Y indicates the relay has two convertible contacts with one designated as terminals A1X and A1Y while the other is designated as A4X and A4Y.

    The WDTAGALT attribute is used to connect symbols that appear on two different design peers. For example the solenoid symbol for a schematic looks different than the solenoid symbol for a pneumatic drawing.
    In the example screen image the solenoid symbol on the schematic has a TAG value of SOL2501 and a WDTAGALT value of FV100B. This signifies that the solenoid has a cross-peer symbol tagged as FV100B that is the pneumatic equivalent symbol representing the same solenoid. The pneumatic symbol would have a TAG value of FV100B and a WDTAGALT value of SOL2501.
    This peer-to-peer relationship tagging indicates that two different symbols represent the same device. There is a method for creating these peer-to-peer tags in the Electrical Helps under Advanced Productivity, but you can simply click the Show/Edit Miscellaneous button on the Insert/Edit dialog of a solenoid or pneumatic valve symbol and enter the tag name for the related symbol directly if you wish.

    Understanding the WDBLKNAM attribute in AutoCAD® Electrical

    Allow me to clarify one issue that has confused many of us. It involves the WDBLKNAM attribute. You don't normally need a WDBLKNAM attribute to send the Lookup command to the appropriate table for schematic symbols, such as the CR table for a control relay. The Lookup operation looks at the 2nd and 3rd character in the symbol file name to determine what table to look in. If you wish to override this and direct the Lookup to open a different table, you can enter the alternate table name in the WDBLKNAM attribute, preceded by an underscore. Note: AutoCAD® Electrical ignores the first character in the WDBLKNAM attribute value so you must enter some value as a placeholder. I use the underscore character.

    To further illustrate this let's consider the terminal-block-style SPDT relays as an example. The catalog data might actually be located in the TRMS table, along with other similar devices from the same supplier, like terminal blocks, fuse holders, etc. You could add a WDBLKNAM attribute to the HCR1 and VCR1 relay symbol blocks and enter a value of _TRMS to redirect the Lookup to the TRMS table. I would prefer to create an alternate relay coil symbol and add _TRMS to the symbol file name in order to differentiate it from the standard relay symbols. This way I only look into the TRMS table when the relay coil is a terminal block style relay. So I would copy HCR1.dwg, rename it to HCR1_TRMS.dwg, and add the WDBLKNAM attribute with a value of _TRMS. I would also copy VCR1, rename it to VCR1_TRMS, and add the WDBLKNAM attribute with a value of _TRMS. See illustration below:




    Hint: The WDBLKNAM attribute is very helpful for the footprint symbols because their symbol file names don't coincide with the same naming convention as the ones for schematic symbols. Footprint file names can be just about anything that makes sense to you. I tend to name them for the manufacturer and part number, but it is your decision. If you insert footprints from the schematic list, the catalog assignment comes from the schematic symbol. If the catalog data was not assigned at schematic level, or if you are laying out your panel first, the WDBLKNAM attribute value can redirect the Lookup to the appropriate table for that type of device. The illustration below shows a terminal block style control relay footprint that I created:



    Note: Don't get the WDBLKNAM attribute in symbols confused with the WDBLKNAM field in the catalog database records. The WDBLKNAM field in the catalog database is used by the Symbol Name Filtering function. With the Symbol Name Filtering box checked on the Lookup dialog (default setting) AutoCAD® Electrical searches the catalog records for WDBLKNAM entries that match the symbol file name, minus the first character and minus the file extension. If found, AutoCAD® Electrical offers only the record or records that match the symbol name, minus the leading H or V and minus the file extension. For example, let's say your favorite control relay is AB 700-P200A1. Click Lookup and find the AB 700-P200A1 record. Click in the WDBLKNAM field and enter CR1, which is the last portion of the file name for the standard control relay coil symbols (i.e. HCR1 and VCR1). The reason you do not need to enter the H or V is because the first character in a symbol file name indicates vertical or horizontal wire connections, which has no bearing on part number searches and assignments. So by entering CR1 into the WDBLKNAM field of the AB 700-P200A1 record you instruct the AutoCAD® Electrical Symbol Name Filtering to jump straight to the AB 700-P200A1 when you click Lookup from the Insert/Edit Component menu for either symbol block HCR1 or VCR1. You could use this feature to zero in on your favorites for all types of symbols. Try this: Insert a Green Pilot Light (block HLT1G or VLT1G) and click Lookup. You will notice that all of the records displayed as choices are associated with part numbers for green pilot lights only. Click on any record and press the Edit button on the Lookup dialog. Notice that the WDBLKNAM field has an entry of LT1G. All of the green pilot lights from the various suppliers have LT1G entered into their WDBLKNAM field, as a courtesy from Autodesk. See illustration below:



    Managing auxiliary contacts with AutoCAD® Electrical

    Suppose you have a contactor that is available with or without aux contacts. There are two ways to approach this. You can simply enter the L1/T1, L2/T2, and L3/T3 pins in the Pin List Database and consider the auxiliary contact pin numbers as something you assign manually when used. Or you might permanently add the aux pins to the end of the Pin List for the contactor, making them automatically available as needed, as illustrated in the following screen shot of the Pin List Database edit dialog.


    If you wish you can just wait until you insert the coil and click the NO/NC Setup button to add the pins on-the-fly. If you insert the main contacts first, using the 3-phase contact from the component menu, AutoCAD® Electrical will serve the pins in order as L1/T1, L2/T2, L3/T3, etc. The auxiliary pins will be next available after the main contacts are inserted. When you insert the normally-open auxiliary contact symbol, the pin assignments will be filled in automatically from the Pin List Database. The syntax for the pin list is 1,L1,T1;1,L2,T2;1,L3,T3;1,13,14 with ;1,13,14 denoting the auxiliary normally-open contact. If you have added more than one set of N.O. auxiliary contact pin assignment choices to the pin list you can click the List button below the pins area of the Insert/Edit Component dialog and select a specific pin set for the contact. See the screen capture below:

    But let's just say I only use the auxiliary contacts infrequently and thus I only have the main contact pin assignments entered into in the pin list database. Later I decide I must add a N.O. aux contact designated as pins 13 and 14. First I edit the coil symbol and add the part number for the auxiliary contact to the Multiple Catalog list, so it would be included in the BOM. I then click the NO/NC Setup button and add ;1,13,14 to the end of the pin list. That is a semicolon followed by the number 1 for N.O. then a comma with no space and a 13 followed by another comma with no space and a 14. The complete NO/NC Setup then appears as follows: 1,L1,T1;1,L2,T2;1,L3,T3;1,13,14.

    I am now ready to insert the N.O. auxliary contact and pin numbers 13 and 14 will be available.

    Note: The syntax for a N.C. aux contact with pin numbers 11 and 12 would be ;2,11,12 with the number 2 designating normally-closed.

    Adding auxiliary contacts to the BOM on an as-needed basis with the ASSEMBLYCODE

    Suppose you have a contactor that you sometimes add a normally-open auxiliary contact to, or a normally-closed contact, or both, on an as-needed basis. Enter an assembly list value of NOAUX in the record for the NO aux contact. Enter NCAUX for the assembly list value of the NC aux contact. Don't add the assembly code to the main part in the catalog database. You will enter it "on-the-fly" as needed. When you insert or edit the main part, type in NOAUX in the ASSEMBLYCODE field if you want a NO aux contact added, type NCAUX if you want a NC aux contact added. Type NOAUX;NCAUX into the ASSEMBLYCODE field for the main part if you want both. You can even add a quantity if you prefer more than one of either. For example, NOAUX;2,NCAUX will get one NO aux contact and 2 NC aux contacts. I like playing with assembly codes. We explore all options in my training to cover the various scenarios, such as with this contactor scenario. A sample screen shot from my training course is attached.



    Using the Fan-in/Fan-out feature to document cables and cable cores

    I have my own way of using Fan-in/Fan-out to document cables and cable cores. I document the cable cores and then sum into one line, passing the cable to another page and breaking it back out again into individual cable cores. The Fan-in/Fan-out supports my method, but my particular workflow isn't covered in Help. First, insert the wires that will be summed into one line. You can assign them to a specific wire type layer as desired, but if they will be summed into a cable, I recommend creating a wire type called Cable Conductor and assign the wires to this layer/type. When you insert cable markers, they will define the cable core color or number. You can insert the cable markers either before of after you insert the fan-in/fan-out source or destination. After the fan-in/fan-out symbols are inserted, the wire type on the side that will be summed into one line will be assigned to layer _MULTI_WIRE. Connect these _MULTI_WIRE segments to one plain drafting line and assign this line to layer _MULTI_WIRE. You can use a Fillet at the join point if you wish. Hint: You can use Match Properties to copy the layer assignment from one of the _MULTI_WIRE segments. If the _MULTI_WIRE must break and continue at another location, use Stand-alone Cross-references at the break points, because standard Source and Destination arrows will not function with the _MULTI_WIRE layer. The attached screen shots, from my advanced training course, illustrate my method.





    AutoCAD® Electrical allows the Schematic to also serve as a Wiring Diagram

    I like it when the same documentation that was used to build it can be used to troubleshoot it. When the schematic is also a wiring diagram it is easier to understand the route a wire takes. For example, think of a 14AWG wire branching off from a main circuit breaker to feed a control circuit. There is also a 10AWG wire connected to the breaker from a main disconnect on the door. If I use a dot (the typical schematic only approach) I am only showing the panel shop, or the troubleshooting technician, that the branch wire is connected to the same node as the wire from the disconnect to the breaker. That's fine if I only want to know the electrical potential on the wire, or if I am analyzing the logic of the circuit. (see example below)

    But what if my production line is down and I am trying to trace the wires during troubleshooting? Did they use a wire-nut, or is the dot a solder joint? Maybe it's a terminal block? Which wire-ways do I uncover to trace the wire? Does the wire cross the door hinge and connect to the main disconnect or does it connect to the circuit breaker on the mounting plate? Our European friends would use an angled wire symbol on the schematic to make it clear that the branch wire is connected to the breaker, along with the wire from the main disconnect. (see example below)

    The angled wire tee symbol in AutoCAD Electrical serves two purposes. Starting with version 2008 the angled wire symbol orientation clears up the ambiguity on the print and also dictates the wiring sequence on the wire from/to list. The orientation you select by pressing the spacebar on your keyboard when inserting or toggling an angled wire symbol also tells the wire from/to list generator exactly how you want the wires at this node connected.

    There is an occasional issue with both dots and angled wire symbols that is common with all Electrical CAD software that I have seen in my travels. The wire type cannot be different for the branch wire or the main wire in the node when using dots or angled wire symbols. So your branch wire, and all wires at that node, must all be the same size and color. AutoCAD Electrical had this problem solved back in the 1990s. You can mimic the real world and actually connect two wires to the breaker terminal. AutoCAD Electrical will automatically angle the second wire off at a 45-degree angle. Optionally you can fly-out the Insert Wire menu and select 22.5 or 67.5 degree angles instead. The branch wire can be any size and color of your choosing. (see example below)

    Using AutoCAD® Electrical to create a power bus from terminal blocks

    So you wish to create a power bus by installing a jumper-bar down the middle a terminal strip. The following is the method I have used since 1997 and it works perfectly. It has been further enhanced since the introduction of the Terminal Strip Editor (a.k.a. TSE). This method applies to either vertical or horizontal power rails. In this example I will use a standard ladder diagram. Insert the ladder and rungs as usual. Replace the ambiguous node dots with terminal block symbols, since your power rail is actually made up of terminal blocks; not solder joints, wire-nuts, or a daisy-chain of wire. Open the Create/Edit Wire Type dialog and add a new wire type named JUMPER or JUMPER-BAR if you prefer. Use Change/Convert Wire Type to assign all segments of wire between the terminal block symbols to the layer named JUMPER or JUMPER-BAR. This takes care of the schematic portion of the power bus. Easy isn't it? The JUMPER or JUMPER-BAR layer will still be considered a current carrying conductor, as it truly is, and will even pass along the wire number (a.k.a. node number) to other connected devices. But it will not appear in the From/To List as a wire that must be connected. Note: AutoCAD® Electrical is programmed not to include a wire type (layer) with the word JUMPER anywhere in its name when it creates a wire From/To List. The illustration below shows the JUMPER-BAR layer assigned to the vertical rails (shown in magenta color). Use any color that would not be confused with your wiring standard. I chose magenta since I have no magenta wires in the system.


    Now to the panel layout. Use the Terminal Strip Editor (a.k.a. TSE) to insert the terminal strip. Hint: I don't even both assign MFG and CAT in the schematic. I wait and do that with TSE because I can highlight all termihnals and assign at once. Also, I may not yet be sure what type of terminal block I will be using. I may find a space constraint in the panel layout and decide to use multi-level terminals. So I just wait until I am laying out the panel to decide the exact vendor and part number for my terminal blocks. So go ahead and insert the terminal strip using TSE, and do not worry about the jumper-bar yet. Use the Symbol Builder to create a footprint for each jumper-bar you are likely to need. I have 2-point, 3-point, 4-point, 5-point, 10-point, etc. Hint: You could download a DXF or DWG from the vendor's web site and convert it to a footprint using Symbol Builder. I go ahead and pre-load the MFG and CAT attributes with the vendor data since these jumper-bars are usually a unique spacing and form factor according to the vendor. I also prefer to use the WIPEOUT command and trace around the edges of the jumper-bar symbol so, once inserted, the jumper-bar footprint will hide the portions of the terminal footprint symbol that should not be visible. I save these jumper-bar footprint files in the same folder as the supplier of the terminal blocks, under the Libs/Panel path. After you insert the terminal strip, TSE will perform a bi-directional update to fill in the MFG and CAT fields with the part numbers you assigned. If you chose to install multi-level terminals, once you got to the panel layout, TSE will also update the schematic symbols with their level assignments. Once the terminal strip is inserted and TSE has updated the affected schematic drawings, click the Insert Footprint button on the Panel Layout menu. Click Browse and navigate to the appropriate jumper-bar footprint. Insert the jumper-bar footprint over the terminal strip so it looks the way it will in the real world. See illustration below:

    There you have it. The terminal strip in your panel layout appears the way it will appear in the actual panel. You can insert balloons as needed and since the jumper-bar symbol has an ITEM attribute it will be reported on the parts list (a.k.a. BOM) as a separate device.



    How to get AutoCAD® Electrical subassembly parts into the BOM with unique item numbers

    Starting with version 2009 of AutoCAD® Electrical you can assign an item number to parts listed in the Multiple Catalog list for a component symbol. Take for example a 1794-TB3 terminal board for A-B Flex I/O modules. This part may appear as a multiple catalog item under several "master parts", such as 1794-IB16, 1794-IR8, etc. AutoCAD® Electrical 2009 normally displays all Multiple Catalog items beneath each master part they are associated with. This is because AutoCAD® Electrical is reasoning that you want to see all components associated with each unique component Tag. But with a Tallied Purchase List Format you prefer a simple sum total tally of all parts, according to item number. You would not want to see 1794-TB3 listed in the BOM more than once, under each Flex I/O module. In fact you only want to see each Item number listed once on the BOM. AutoCAD® Electrical 2009 and 2010 will list each subassembly part beneath its master, even if you select a Tallied Purchase List Format. For example if the 1794-IB16 is item number 76 and the 1794-TB3 is item number 77, entered into the Multiple Catalog list for the 1794-IB16, you would see them listed together, and that would seem right. But then your 1794-IR8 might be item number 78 and in its Multiple Catalog list would be item number 77 again, because the 1794-TB3 is listed as a Multiple Catalog part under the 1794-IR8 as well as under the 1794-IB16.

    I will share with you how I have gotten around this issue during the years that I have been using AutoCAD® Electrical. I have had this scenario with fuses and fuse holders, control relays and their bases and clips, and with such parts as the 1794-TB3 Flex I/O terminal board.

    Forget using Assembly Codes or Multiple Catalog. These will not provide the report format you seek. There are two alternative approaches:

    1. Insert a Generic Marker from the Panel Layout>Insert Footprint>Manual menu.


    A Generic Marker is basically a footprint with attributes, but no geometry. You will see the MFG and CAT attributes that you assign, but no geometry. Hint: You can manually type in the tag of the master part this item goes with if you want it to be a "surf-able" entity associated with the master part. I place the Generic Marker above or below by Flex I/O footprint. The footprint looks like a Flex I/O module plugged into a 1794-TB3 terminal board. So the master part number is assigned to the footprint. I then insert a Generic Marker above or below the Flex I/O footprint and assign MFG as AB and CAT as 1794-TB3. I manually type in the Tag assignment of the master that this 1794-TB3 is associated with. The quantity should be 1. Be sure to assign an Item Number. I will insert a Generic Marker next to each of the Flex I/O footprints. Each will have a different Tag assignment but will carry the same MFG, CAT, and ITEM assignment. This will result in one sum total listing for all 1794-TB3 boards, regardless of the master part they are associated to. In the image below you see a Generic Marker located directly above the Flex I/O module. What appears to be simple text is a fully functional, non-graphic, footprint which captures the MFG and CAT to order the 1794-TB3 terminal board for the Flex I/O module directly beneath it.


    2. This method is "real-world". You think of your panel footprints in pieces. For example, the 1794-TB3 is installed in the panel and the 1794-IB16 is then plugged into it. In the case of a control relay, you install the relay base, then the relay, and finally the clips. So with this method I actually create multiple footprints, each with a complete set of Panel Footprint Attributes. They are inserted one on top of the other, as if I were the panel shop technician installing the components. So in the case of the Flex I/O and its terminal board I split the Flex I/O footprint into two separate blocks, one to represent the 1794-TB3 terminal board and the other to represent the module. I use a common base point for each footprint block so I can overlay them accurately. I usually insert the base device using the Browse feature on the Panel Layout>Insert Footprint menu. I list the Flex I/O module in the footprint lookup database so it is inserted using the Insert Footprint from Schematic List function on the Panel Layout toolbar. In other words, the actual part number that is common to both the schematic and the panel layout is the 1794-IB16 so this is the one I enter into the Footprint Lookup database. But the terminal board will only appear in the panel layout, so it gets inserted as a separate footprint using the Browse button. You can insert the terminal boards before inserting the modules (if you know how many you need), or you can insert the terminal board after you have inserted the module footprints.

    Below is an example using method 2 to insert the three parts that make up a control relay, each with its own set of attributes, so each can be assigned a separate item number. In this scenario, the bases were inserted first, then the retainer clips, using a common insertion point. Finally the relay coil was inserted from the Schematic List. To link the relay with the base and retainer clips I just copy and paste the relay coil's TAG into the TAG field of the base footprint and retainer clips footprint, either using the Edit Footprint tool or Enhanced Attribute Editor.

    How to use Footprints created with plain "vanilla" AutoCAD®

    You can use existing "dumb" footprint blocks "as-is" if you wish. AutoCAD® Electrical has a group of blocks at the root level of the Panel folder that contain various types of attributes, according to the type of component the footprint represents. Use the Footprint Database File Editor to associate your footprint with the MFG, CAT, and optional ASSYCODE combination that should trigger insertion of this footprint. When you choose this component using the Insert Footprint from Schematic List method AutoCAD® Electrical will merge the appropriate block from the Panel folder into the footprint on insert, so the attribute data from the schematic symbol will have a bucket to be dumped into. When AutoCAD® Electrical resorts to this "merge-in" method the attributes are inserted at the base point of the footprint. You can use the Move/Show Attribute command to reposition the attribute(s). Below is an example of a contactor footprint block that has no attributes. During the Insert Footprint from Schematic List process AutoCAD® Electrical added the needed attributes using the "merge-in" blocks from the Panel folder.



    If you want to avoid the merge-in method, use the Symbol Builder to pre-load and pre-position the attributes. The Symbol Builder will provide a list of appropriate attributes commonly used in footprint blocks. The footprints in the image below were created or modified with Symbol Builder and contain the appropriate AutoCAD® Electrical compliant attributes, each in a predetermined location.


    There are two ways to manage sub-assemblies. The first is to edit the main part in the default_cat.mdb and assign an Assembly Code. Click the checkbox next to Assembly Code and enter a string of text of your choosing. Next find the parts that will be sub-assembly parts of the main part and edit their record in the default_cat.mdb, clicking on the checkbox next to Assembly List and entering the same string of text you entered into the Assembly Code field of the main part. From now on when you click Lookup and select the main part, the Assembly Code will cause the BOM reports to include the sub-assembly parts. See screen images below:


    Another approach to sub-assembly parts is the Multiple Catalog method. Click Multiple Catalog while on the Insert/Edit dialog. There is a drop-down arrow at the top right of the dialog that steps you through up to 99 pages for entering sub-assembly parts. You will find a Catalog Lookup button that allows you to look up sub-assembly parts. Each sub-assembly part you assign is stored as XDATA values ending in MFG01 and CAT01 for the first entry, MFG02 and CAT02 for the second part, etc. Hint: You can pre-load these sub-assembly parts by adding attributes into the footprint block named MFG01 and CAT01 for the first part, MFG02 and CAT02 for the second part, and so forth and so on up to MFG99 and CAT99. Enter the manufacturer's name into the default value field of MFG01, MFG02, etc. attributes and enter the appropriate catalog number into the default value of the CAT01, CAT02, etc. attributes. Be sure to enter the MFG and CAT data just as it appears in the default_cat.mdb. See screen image below:


    Note: If you use the Assembly Code method, parts checked as Assembly List parts will not appear during the Catalog Lookup unless you check the boxes labeled "All" at the top of the Lookup dialog. So it is best to choose either the Assembly Code method or the Multiple Catalog method but not both. I teach both methods in my AutoCAD® Electrical training course but I suggest only using one or the other. There is an advantage to the Multiple Catalog method as it allows you to assign item numbers to the Multiple Catalog parts. See screen image below:

    Representing 1-pole and 3-pole fuses with the same Footprint

    3-pole fuse symbols inserted from the Icon Menu use a special command trigger called wd_3unit. This command trigger actually inserts a "parent" fuse symbol (i.e. HFU1) followed by two "child" fuse symbols (i.e. HFU2, adapting to virtually any wire spacing. Electrical then automatically joins the three separate fuse symbols together with a dashed link line to give the appearance of a 3-pole fuse. Disconnect Switches and Circuit Breakers are handled much the same way. This is appropriate because the other two poles of a circuit breaker or disconnect are actually molded into the same package as the first pole. However, the difference between a 1-pole fuse and a 3-pole fuse is the fuse holder. Each of the 3 fuses are therefore represented by a parent symbol, which includes the MFG and CAT attributes needed to store the catalog data.

    We cannot edit the Footprint Database and create a permanent relationship between one fuse part number and separate 1-pole, 2-pole, and 3-pole footprints. So how do I handle this? The following is a brief expanation of how I teach this in my Admin-level Training course. I have the class use one fuseholder footprint that includes the graphic for a single fuse and its fuse holder, just as they would appear together in the panel. In the Footprint Database, I have the class create an entry for the fuse part number that calls up this single pole footprint. What I teach the class to do is select all 3 fuses at once when they insert from the Schematic List to their panel layout. Next I have the class use the Uniform Spacing option and specify the left-to-right spacing between each footprint symbol so the three fuse holder footprints insert next to one another, yet appear as though they are one 3-pole fuse holder. With this approach one footprint suffices for all three fuses, yet it appears as though it is a 3-pole fuse holder. This same approach will work for 2-pole fuses.

    So how do we enter the part number for the 3-pole fuse holder? In our class project we add the 3-pole fuse holder as a Multiple Catalog entry for the first fuse symbol only and we do not allow the update to update the other two fuses. Bonus: Set the Project Properties for per-part-basis and you can assign a separate Item number to the fuse holder. The balloon insertion tool will detect the fuse holder and its Item number assignment and insert an additional balloon. Note: Be sure and select the first fuse footprint for balloon, the one with the fuse holder entry, so both item numbers are detected.

    The image below illustrates the final result of my approach:

    Adding a 4-Pole Circuit Breaker to the Icon Menu

    3-pole device symbols inserted from the Icon Menu use a special command trigger called wd_3unit. This actually inserts a "parent" symbol (i.e. HCB1) and two "child" symbols (i.e. HCB2, adapting to virtually any wire spacing. Electrical then automatically joins the three separate symbols together with a dashed link line to give the appearance of a 3-pole device. Disconnect Switches and multi-pole Fuses are handled much the same way.

    You can use the wd_3unit command trigger to create 4-pole, 5-pole, etc. symbols, but you must enter the parent name and each necessary child. The wd_3unit command trigger only needs the name of the parent symbol to insert a 3-pole device symbol. It then searches the active library for the same symbol name as the parent symbol, but with a "2" as the 4th character of the symbol name, instead of "1". It inserts two of these child symbols onto the next available wires or rungs in the direction specified by the user, thus dynamically adjusting for virtually any wire or rung spacing. If you want to add a 4-pole circuit breaker to the menu, click on Icon Menu Wizard from the Other Tools panel of the Schematic menu tab. Select the library you wish to edit. Navigate to the Circuit Breakers and Disconnects submenu. Click on the button labeled Add at the top right-hand side of the Icon Menu Wizard dialog and choose the Command option. Type in a name (i.e. 4 Pole Circuit Breaker). Hint: You can create an icon image from a previously inserted 4-Pole Circuit Breaker that was perhaps inserted as a 3-pole with a 2nd+ child symbol added afterwards. You might also just leave the icon image field blank and wait until you insert your new 4-pole symbol. You can always come back to the Icon Menu Wizard, right-click on your 4 Pole Circuit Breaker symbol, select Properties, and edit it to add an icon image by zooming to the inserted symbol on your drawing.

    Finally, you need to enter the wd_3unit command trigger code. If you want the wd_3unit command trigger to insert anything other than one parent and two children, you will need to specify the parent and each child. In the field labeled Command type in wd_3unit HCB1 HCB2 HCB2 HCB2 (see image below). Click OK to save and exit the Icon Menu Wizard. Insert your new 4 Pole Circuit Breaker. The wd_3unit command trigger will prompt you for the insertion point of symbol HCB1 (VCB1 if on vertical wires), then it will prompt you for the direction in which it should look for wires for the child symbols. It will insert the 3 child symbols (HCB2 or VCB2) onto the next available wires, and all 4 symbols will ultimately be joined by a dashed link line.





    Toggling between Standard Footprints and Wiring-Diagram-Style Footprints

    You can toggle between standard footprints and wiring diagram style footprints by clicking the arrow at the bottom of the Insert Footprint from Schematic List dialog. This instructs Electrical to look for a table named for the manufacturer, but ending in _WD. You have to create these tables yourself. Simply Add a new Manufacturer to the Footprint Database and type _WD after their name. When you select to Use Wiring Diagram Tables, Electrical will look for a table in the Footprint Database named for the manufacturer but ending in _WD. You already have an AB table for standard footprints. You can Create a New Table named AB_WD and store the path to wiring-diagram-style footprints in this table. We do a complete exercise for setting this up as part of my Advanced Training Course. It's a nice but often overlooked feature of Electrical. The image below illustrates me adding AB_WD to the Footprint Database



    After you create the new MFG_WD table in the Footprint Database, add the Catalog Number and path for each wiring-diagram-style footprint you have created for this particular manufacturer. When you Insert Footprints from the Schematic List, choose to Use Wiring Diagram Tables, as shown below:


    How to add more DIN rails and wireways to the AutoCAD® Electrical DIN rail menu

    The parameters for inserting dynamically built DIN rails and wireways are stored in a spreadsheet file located in the Catalogs subfolder. The file is named wddinrl.xls. Autodesk, Inc. ships the software with a few preloaded DIN rails and wireways, but you can add your favorites to the list. To add a new wireway, copy an existing one and change the value of the MFG, CAT, ASSYCODE, DESC, and RAILWID cells. The screen image below shows where I added two Thomas and Betts wireways. HINT: Add additional DIN rails using the same method but be sure to edit the extra cells for rail length, rail center, slot locations, etc.


    Sharing AutoCAD® Electrical across a network

    To share AutoCAD® Electrical design files with other users over a network simply move the AeData folder, and all its subfolders, from My Documents\Acade 2011 (or whatever version you have) to your network drive. Next, right-click at the command line prompt and select Options. Add the network path to the Support File Search path and move it to the top. When AutoCAD® Electrical finds AeData it will then be able to locate Catalogs, PLCs, Proj (projects), and the WD.ENV file, so everyone will be sharing the same design environment. Note: Starting with release 2014, there is an extra folder in the AeData path for the language. The folder for the United States of America is en-us. In order for the databases and PLC content to be available, you will need to add the path for the Catalogs folder and the PLC folder. These are located below the AeData folder you moved to your network. Position them as shown below:




    What about the symbol library folders? You could copy the Libs folder and all subfolders (i.e. JIC125, IEC2, Panel, etc.) to the network. The key is your project properties. Right-click on project properties and set the library paths for schematic symbols and panel footprints to your network path. AutoCAD® Electrical will then find everything it needs. I prefer to keep the stock symbols on my local drive for faster access.

    For custom schematic symbols create a network folder called Custom Symbols or something similar. If you moved the JIC1, JIC125, IEC2, IEC4, panel, etc. library folders to the network I suggest placing your Custom Symbols folder in the same location as the others. Otherwise, just store it at any desired network location. Store any schematic symbols that you create or modify in the Custom Symbols folder.

    Hint: If you are complelled to modify any of the stock AutoCAD® Electrical symbols, the ones in the JIC1, JIC125, IEC2, IEC4, etc. folders, do not change the original symbol file. Copy the original symbol file to your Custom Symbols folder and change it there. DO NOT rename it. Keep the name the same but always put your Custom Symbols folder at the top of the project's schematic library path. That way if you have a modified version of a stock schematic symbol, AutoCAD® Electrical will find the one in your Custom Symbols folder before it looks in the JIC125, IEC2, etc. When you copy projects, the library path statements copy with them, so you will only need to set this up once if you always start a new project from an existing one.

    For custom footprints, create a folder inside the Libs\Panel folder called Custom Footprints. When you create a new footprint, store it in this custom folder. Go to the Footprint Database File Editor and simply enter the path to your footprint under the MFG and CAT entry for an existing part, or add a new MFG and CAT entry with the path to your footprint. Hint: You can use existing footprints that you have made with plain AutoCAD if you wish. Even if they do not have the proper attributes for AutoCAD® Electrical compliance, AutoCAD® Electrical will merge some blocks it has stored in the panel folder to add the attributes it needs, on-the-fly. These attribute blocks insert at the base point so you may need to move some of the attributes around after insertion, using the Edit Attributes tool. If you want a permanent location for attributes in footprints you use repeatedly, consider using the Symbol Builder to add the appropriate footprint attributes permanently to the blocks.

    As a bonus you can edit the WD.ENV file to automatically point to your Custom Symbols and Custom Footprints folders when clicking the Browse button in the Insert Component or Insert Footprint dialog boxes. Also, by setting this path, the Symbol Builder will default to these locations when saving a new symbol that you create.

    Here is an example of the schematic symbol re-direct in a WD.ENV file:
    WD_INSCOMPDLG,S:\Libs\CustomSymbols,to override starting path for INS SCHEM COMP browse button

    Here is the one for Panel Footprints:
    WD_INSFPDLG,S:\Libs\panel\My Footprints,to override starting path for INS PNL COMP browse button

    List of Family Codes used by AutoCAD® Electrical

    These Family Codes correspond to the table names found in the default_cat.mdb database file. When you click Lookup to assign a part number to a component, AutoCAD® Electrical looks at the 2nd and 3rd character in the edited symbol's file name (a.k.a. block name) and opens the corresponding table inside the catalog database. This is the first level of filtering used during a part number assignment Lookup.


    Family Code = Description
    AM = Amp Meters
    AN = Annunciation (Bells / Buzzers / Horns)
    BA = Batteries
    C0 = Connectors/Pins
    CA = Capacitor
    CB = Circuit Breakers
    CN = Receptacles/Plugs-Pins That Break Wire Number
    CR = Control Relays
    DB = Distribution Blocks
    DI = Diodes
    DN = Device NET
    DR = Drives
    DS - Disconnect Switches
    DV = Generic Device
    EN = Enclosures / Hardware
    FL = Float Switches
    FM = Frequency Meters
    FS = Flow Switches
    FT = Foot Switches
    FU = Fuses
    GN = Ground
    HT = Heaters
    LR = Latching Relays
    LS = Limit Switches
    LT = Lights
    MO = Motors
    MS = Motor Starters/Contactors
    NP = Name Plates
    OL = Overloads
    PB = Push Buttons
    PC = Pull Cord Switches
    PE = Photo Eye Switches/photo electric sensors
    PG = A-Plug Switches
    PLCIO = Programmable Logic Controllers
    PS = Pressure Switches
    PW = Power Supplies
    PX = Proximity Switches/proximity sensors
    RE = Resistors
    SS = Selector Switches
    SU = Suppressor/surge suppressor
    SV = Solenoid Valves
    SW = Generic Switches
    TC = Thermocouple
    TD = Timer Relays
    TG = Toggle Switches
    TRMS = Terminal Blocks
    TS = Temperature Switches
    VM = Volt Meters
    VR = Variable Resistors
    WO = Cables
    XF = Transformers

    AutoCAD® Electrical IEC tag mode (Combined Installation/Location tag mode) explained

    IEC tag mode (Combined Installation/Location tag mode) causes AutoCAD® Electrical to view the Installation code and Location code as part of the overall component tag. There is no need for IEC tag mode with ladder diagrams and JIC symbols if you are not going to utilize the Installation and Location code fields. However, I happen to prefer IEC tag mode even for ladder diagrams and JIC symbols, for two main reasons:
    1. The Insert/Edit Components dialog makes more sense with the project set for IEC tag mode. The layout of the Insert/Edit Component dialog normally has the Installation and Location codes at the bottom middle of the dialog, away from the Tag field. However, the installation and location concept originated in Europe and is common in DIN/IEC drawings in order to differentiate between components that might have the same tag but are located in a different panel. Thus the hierarchy is Installation-Location-Component Tag. The Insert/Edit Component dialog for IEC tag mode is laid out as shown in the illustration below:
    To set up IEC tag mode simply right-click over the project name in the Project Manager and select Properties. Click on the Components tab and set the check boxes as shown below:
    2. The second reason I prefer IEC tag mode is to differentiate between components in field panels that are tagged the same. For example, let's say you have a common junction box that you use for each of your motors. The junction box is mass produced for you and contains a terminal strip tagged as TB1 and a disconnect switch tagged as DS1. See the illustration below:
    Without the IEC tag mode (Combined Installation/Location tag mode) engaged the Electrical Audit routine in AutoCAD® Electrical would detect two terminal strips tagged as TB1 and two disconnect switches tagged as DS1 and report an error. But with IEC tag mode engaged Electrical Audit correctly interprets these as two separate terminal strips and two separate disconnect switches because it considers the Installation and Location values as part of the component tag.


    Hint: Check the box next to the option labeled "Format Installation/Location into tag" if you wish to have the Installation and Location codes appear in line with the tag. If so I suggest using brief abbreviations for the INST and LOC codes. For example =LINE1+MAIN-1K1 indicates an Installation of LINE1, a location of MAIN, and relay K1 on sheet 1. This is typical IEC tagging. The equal sign (=) denotes Installation code, the plus sign (+) denotes Location code, and the dash (-) denotes component tag. Typical IEC drawings are assigned a default Installation and Location code that appears in the title block of each drawing/page. It is understood that all components on the drawing are in this Installation/Location unless otherwise noted. The exceptions are usually surrounded by a dashed box called a Location Box in AutoCAD® Electrical. If you prefer to suppress the Installation/Location portion of the component tags that match the drawing/page defaults, check the box labeled "Suppress Installation/Location in tag when match drawing default".


    The origin of the JIC symbols that ship with AutoCAD® Electrical

    I travel across America and other parts of the world teaching AutoCAD® Electrical. I can tell you that, in general, the standard is no standard. I wish that were not the case. In Europe they follow an established standard called IEC almost to the letter, no matter where you go. However in America, it is as if no standards exist. I have seen control relays tagged as CR, MCR, R, RC, and a unique tag for each relay, according to its function in that particular machine. I've been using AutoCAD® Electrical since 1997. The JIC symbols in AutoCAD® Electrical appeared to inherit the most common tagging schemes seen around the U.S., most of which do match published standards, the chief being JIC. The Joint Industrial Council (JIC) dissolved by the 1980s so the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) was asked to take over. The NFPA released NFPA-79 which incorporated the JIC standards with some updates. Note: AutoCAD Electrical release 2013 includes an NFPA symbol library.

    First let us understand that there was never an intention to supply an exhaustive symbol library with AutoCAD® Electrical or its predecessors. The JIC symbol set that shipped with the program was intended to serve as a sample of simple symbols in common use at the time. The developers never expected the sample symbols to be perfect for everyone. In fact it was expected that customers would add to and/or modify them according to their own preferences. The "Black Box Builder", later renamed to "Symbol Builder" was intended to be used for this purpose. The JIC symbol set is mostly limited to 2-wire devices, similar to the list of common symbols referenced in the standards. The user was expected to create their own application specific symbols, especially symbols with numerous wire connections, since the preferred orientation and location of the wire connections could vary from user to user.

    What you see with AutoCAD® Electrical, and its predecessors, is an attempt to supply the common building blocks of any control system, such as pilot lights, push-buttons, selector switches, fuses, circuits breakers, control transformers, terminal blocks, etc. With such common symbols the most commonly accepted tagging formats in use at the time were incorporated into the predecessor of AutoCAD® Electrical. While most of these class designations (a.k.a Tags or Device IDs) match the JIC standards there are some variations. I have coined the term technical colloquialisms when referring to these variances. For example, back in the JIC days some designers would designate a disconnect switch as "DS" while others would use "DISC", in accordance with the JIC standard. Some designers used "TD" to designate a time-delay relay while others would use the JIC designation of "TR". The class designation "D" was often used to designate a rectifier diode while the JIC standard called for a designation of "REC". Another example of a technical colloquialism is the term "wire number". It is actually an electrical "node" number or "potential" number. We have a colloquialism associated with ladders as well. Is it really a 1-phase ladder when you use L1 and L2? The term single-phase technically refers to a power source derived from a single "hot" phase and neutral.

    The developers were tasked with creating an electrical design tool that allows us to design highly sophisticated machinery, yet the tool itself must be as intuitive as possible so the designer doesn't lose himself/herself in learning the tool. Thus it appears that the developers chose to incorporate common terminology and common practices into the software, not an absolute adherence to a certain standard. Again, back in the days when AutoCAD® Electrical was created the standard practice in the U.S. was more of an "every man for himself" standard.

    Consider this: Where did we get the standard for using blue wire for D.C. control voltage? It is a “defacto” standard derived from the common practices at automobile manufacturers. Since automobile manufacturers were among the first to incorporate sophisticated control systems, their common practices became a “defacto” standard. Once in a while I run across someone who uses red for DC(+) and black for DC(-).

    Don't assume that the major corporations are following standards to a proverbial “t”. One of the oldest and most recognizable electrical companies, known throughout the world, uses component tags on a "circuit-function" basis. Note: This practice is actually allowed according to Annex E.1 of the NFPA-79 standard. Each time this customer inserts a symbol they manually enter its tag, according to the component’s use within the machine. Thus no two relays will necessarily have the same tagging format. One may be RM12 while another is TM42, and another is KC14. This approach makes use of NFPA-79 Annex E.1, where the class designation of the relay indicates its specific function within the circuit, and not the generic classification of control relay. I recommend including a legend page to define the component class designations for your circuit diagram, when you choose to deviate from the component class designations and opt for circuit function designations instead.

    In summation, I do not fault the developers of AutoCAD® Electrical with regard to symbol libraries. They could have chosen to release a common design tool and let us create our own symbols. They gave us the symbol builder tool just for that purpose. But they were also kind enough to give us over 1500 symbols in various orientations as a sort of “starter set” that we could use and tweak as desired. With this starter set of symbols they had to choose some default tagging scheme from the various ones that existed at the time. What they chose was mostly from the JIC standards but with a few variations, based upon common practices of the time. But we have the option to modify to our delight, either by changing the default in the TAG1 attribute of the symbol files or by using the     wd_fam.dat ASCII file method. If you prefer, you can use the Symbol Builder to create your own symbol(s), just the way you want them to look, but be aware that deviating from established standards may create confusion for technicians who may one day need to troubleshoot your control system, and may also put you at odds with machine safety directives.

    The world is becoming more interested in not only national but international standards. For example the IEC library that ships with AutoCAD® Electrical was developed a few years ago in accordance with IEC-60617, which governs the appearance of the symbols, and IEC/ISO-81346 (replaced IEC-61346), which governs the tagging format. But two owners ago, when AutoCAD® Electrical was developed, there were various published standards and even more common practice "defacto" standards in use in the U.S. I think If AutoCAD® Electrical had been developed in this decade we might have seen a more strict adherence to the most current U.S. symbol standards, like we see with the IEC symbols. It's funny to note that today, with the published ANSI-Y32.2 and IEEE-315 symbol standards clearly in place alongside the NFPA-79 and UL-508A safety standards, I can visit 5 companies and find 4 or maybe even 5 different "standards" in use in America. It seems to me that the "standards" are still in somewhat of a state of flux, with personal opinions or just plain "that's the way we've always done it" syndrome getting in the way.

    A General Overview of Global Electrical Standards

    This is a general overview of various electrical design standards currently in use in the United States of America and other parts of the world. In the U.S.A. ANSI-Y32.2 and IEEE-315 address the schematic symbols used for electronic circuits and general electrical design, while NFPA-79 and UL-508A deal with the safety requirements for industrial machinery, which involves a different set of component class designations for the symbols, more closely resembling the JIC standard from the 1960s and 1970s. UL-508A deals directly with Industrial Control Panels while NFPA-79 addresses the entire machine.

    The Joint Industrial Council (JIC) dissolved in the 1980s so the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) was invited to take over. The NFPA released NFPA-79 which incorporated the JIC standards with some updates. Your design must meet the safety requirements of NFPA-79 and UL-508A in order to obtain UL approval, just the same as CE approval will require adherence to IEC-60617, IEC-81346, IEC-60757, IEC-60445, IEC-60204, etc. IEC-60617, IEC-81346, IEC-60757, IEC-60445, and IEC-60204 cover industrial machinery design in Europe and other regions that now adhere to IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) standards. IEC-60204 deals specifically with machinery safety directives, IEC-60617 governs the graphical appearance of the schematic symbols. IEC-81346 governs component class designations (i.e. K for relay, P for indicator lamp, etc.). IEC-60757 governs wire color abbreviations (i.e. RD for red, BN for brown, BU for blue, etc.). IEC-60445 specifies the wire colors used to denote L1, L2, L3, N, PE, AC control, and DC control. NFPA-79 and UL-508A are similar to IEC-60204 with respect to machine safety and control panel design. Additionally NFPA-79, along with its subsequent updates, includes a list of component class designations, which happen to be very similar to those used in the JIC standard that preceded it, but with some minor updates.

    ANSI-Y32.2 and IEEE-315 are similar to IEC-60617, dealing with the graphical look of schematic symbols, however they also cover the class designations for component tagging, a.k.a. device identification. ANSY Y32.2 and IEEE-315 have been slowly migrating toward a closer synchronization with IEC-61346 (now replaced by IEC/ISO-81346) for component class designations and IEC-60617 for symbol appearance, but significant differences still exist. The traditional ladder diagrams used to document industrial control systems in North America continue to favor the JIC/NFPA-79 symbols and component class designations. In my opinion, a complete adoption of ANSI/IEEE component class designations for industrial control panels in North America would lead to confusion for designers and technician who have a long history with ladder diagrams. As of today, the JIC/NFPA-79 standard is still very dominant in ladder diagrams and ladder diagrams are still very much the the "norm" for control schematics in North America.

    The latest IEC standard for component class identification, IEC81346-2, has introduced an optional 2-letter device class identification. The first letter comes from the main category (broad in scope), while the optional second letter serves as a type of "sub-classification" further defining the device. IEC81346-2 supersedes IEC61346-2, which superseded IEC61346-1. IEC61346-1 was based on the DIN standard from Germany.

    IEC61346-2 introduced changes such that devices, whether mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, or otherwise are classified, based more so on their physical properties rather than their function. IEC81346-2 includes a group of optional tables in case you wish to use the 2-letter classification. For example, instead of plain "Q" for a disconnect switch or main circuit breaker, it is "QB" for the disconnect switch (fused or non-fused) and "QA" for the circuit breaker. A motor starter or contactor is also "QA", as is a power transistor or thyristor. There are other sub-classes for "Q" but that is a sample of the more common ones. Pilot lights were "H" in DIN and early IEC but are now under the broad class of "P", for "presenting information." To use the two-letter code to further qualify the pilot light (signaling device) you would use "PF". Protective fuses still fall under the main category of "F", as do protective circuit breakers (i.e. branch protection). The two letter code would be "FC". Believe it or not, a microprocessor or PLC processor is "KF" under IEC81346-2, along with control relay, analog or binary circuit, optocoupler, electronic tube, safety logic module, and more.

    I personally prefer IEC61346-1, based upon the DIN standard. It is a well established standard with widespread use and it clearly defines the function of a device with only one letter. I think the International Electrotechnical Commission has outlived its usefulness and continues to make changes for the sake of change - just to appear busy. That is my humble opinion. I still see many, many drawings from Europe using the old DIN standard or IEC61346-1 component class identifiers. But even with IEC81346-2, I prefer to stick with one letter identifiers.

    If you use AutoCAD® Electrical and wish to follow IEC81346-2 without the second letter, just reference IEC2 (2mm text height) or IEC4 (4mm text height) for your project library, instead of IEC60617, and employ a wd_fam.dat file in your project folder to alter the few symbols that still match IEC61346-1. We cover this in my IEC training course.

    Keep in mind that the electrical CAD software isn't the designer. We are responsible for designing to meet the required safety standards where the machinery will be installed. Compare AutoCAD® Electrical to a carpenter's hammer. The carpenter must know where and how to nail, but without the hammer the job would be more difficult and would take longer. Programs like AutoCAD® Electrical will support our design by offering appropriate symbols for either the U.S. or International markets. The JIC library in AutoCAD® Electrical is an appropriate symbol set to use for ladder diagrams, the dominant control schematic method in North America, while the included IEC library would have more International appeal.

    Get on the fast-track to productivity with training by a 20+ year veteran of electrical controls design using intelligent CAD

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     Training and Implementation Services offered:
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