Molly Ayala
AutoCAD Electrical is a powerful tool for creating electrical schematics for panel design, offering a faster and more efficient alternative to regular AutoCAD. When working with AutoCAD Electrical, users can insert components in a variety of ways, including through the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, the Schematic tab, the Catalog Browser, and the Icon Menu. The process involves selecting the component category, entering search criteria, specifying the insertion point, and making any necessary annotations. Users can also determine the starting orientation (horizontal or vertical) and choose whether to include a unique component tag. This guide will explore the step-by-step process of inserting components in AutoCAD Electrical, ensuring a smooth and efficient workflow for creating electrical schematics.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Component selection | Select the component category, enter search criteria, and click a row in the results pane. |
| Symbol selection | Click on one of the symbols associated with the catalog value, or open the icon menu to select a symbol. |
| Symbol orientation | The symbol orientation matches the underlying wire. If there is no wire, the selected orientation (horizontal or vertical) is inserted. |
| Insertion point | Specify the insertion point in the drawing. |
| Wire interaction | The wire breaks automatically if the symbol lands on it. |
| Annotation | Annotate the component in the Insert/Edit Component dialog box. |
| Parent/child relationship | The parent coil symbol and child contact symbols represent a relay coil with a certain number of contacts. The child inherits the parent tag. |
| Component tag | The component tag is automatically assigned based on the Drawing Properties settings. |
| Catalog value | Assign the catalog value as needed. |
| Block creation | Select objects, the base point, and the attribute library to use. Choose the symbol's behaviour, including its parent/child relationship, orientation, and type (schematic or panel). |
| Wired connection | Select the direction of the wired connection. |
| Attribute requirements | Include all required fields in the symbol, or it will not convert into an Electrical symbol. |
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What You'll Learn
Inserting a parent component
When inserting a parent component in AutoCAD Electrical, you can follow these steps:
- Begin by selecting the objects you want in your symbol and the base point.
- Choose the attribute library you want to use, such as IEEE, IEC2, or JIS.
- Decide on the behaviour of your symbol: will it be a parent or child component? Will it be horizontal or vertical? Is it a schematic or panel component?
- Click "OK", and the block editor will open with the symbol builder attribute editor.
- For a wired connection, specify the direction of the connection in relation to the symbol (top, right, left).
- Insert the wired connection using your grid or object snap.
- A required field is the attributes that must be included for the symbol to convert into an electrical symbol.
- Once the required attributes are inserted, a green tick will appear on the left-hand side.
- In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, verify that the Component Tag is set correctly. The toolset will automatically determine a unique tag name for the new relay based on the line reference location.
- In the Catalog Data section, click "Lookup".
- On the Catalog Browser dialog box, enter your search string.
- Select the appropriate option and click "OK".
- The selected manufacturer code and catalog number will display in the Insert/Edit Component dialog box.
- Click "OK" again, and the values will transfer to the symbol.
It is important to note that you can also specify a description by entering text or selecting from a list of standard component descriptions. Additionally, the location code section in the Insert/Edit Component dialog box allows you to select a specific location code from a list of all location codes used so far.
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Specifying a description
When inserting a component in AutoCAD Electrical, you can specify a description by entering text or by selecting from a list of standard component descriptions.
To do this, open the Insert/Edit Component dialog box. Here, you can enter text in the Location code section to specify a description. The AutoCAD Electrical toolset will then read the drawing file and return a list of all location codes used so far. From this list, you can select the relevant code and click 'OK'.
You can also include an external "LOC" location list in the project "LOC" list to maintain consistency. To use this feature, create a file called 'default.loc' and place it in an AutoCAD Electrical toolset search directory. Each location should be listed in this text file, with each location on its own line and with no leading spaces. Alternatively, you can create a project-specific file by naming it the same as your project but with a '.loc' extension.
Additionally, when inserting a parent component, you can assign a description, location, and catalog value. The parent coil symbol and child contact symbols represent a relay coil with a certain number of contacts. When the parent coil symbol is inserted, it is assigned a unique component tag, and when the child contact symbols are inserted, they are related to the parent, and the parent tag is assigned to the child symbol.
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Inserting from the Catalog Browser
To insert a component from the Catalog Browser in AutoCAD Electrical, you can follow these steps:
Firstly, if you want to add a new table to the catalog database, you need to expand the Other Tools panel on the Project tab and select your catalog database .mdb file. The default catalog database file name is default_cat.mdb. After clicking OK, the table will be added to the database with the correct fields, including field order, length, and type.
Once you have your desired table selected, you can start editing. To do this, simply select the table and click. You will then be able to add catalog data to the table. Most fields are straightforward, but there are some that require a little more explanation. For example, you can set up sub-assemblies in the catalog so that when you assign the main catalog value, extra parts are included when you run a Bill of Material report.
When you are editing the catalog record and want to update existing components, run Project tab > Other Tools panel > Component Update from the Catalog. The values you assign will be written back to the correct table in the catalog database.
To insert a component from the catalog database, you can use the lookup mode to assign the catalog value to a component. The category is based on the selected component. You can also specify the search criteria to narrow down your results. For example, if you search for "Red Illuminated", the records with the exact phrase in any of the displayed fields will be shown.
Finally, select a record in the results pane to open the insertion mode submenu. Here, you will see the symbols associated with the catalog, and you can simply click to insert the block. SYMBOL2D is used in AutoCAD Electrical, while SYMBOL3D is used when inserting parts in Inventor when your project is linked to an Inventor assembly.
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Selecting a symbol
Choosing the Right Symbol:
Before selecting a symbol, it's essential to understand the component you want to insert and its specific function within the schematic. Common electrical symbols include resistors, capacitors, switches, diodes, and connectors. Each symbol has a unique representation, and selecting the correct one ensures that your schematic accurately communicates the circuit's functionality.
Navigating the Symbol Library:
The AutoCAD Electrical symbol library can be accessed through the Insert Components pane. From there, you can either use the Icon Menu or the Catalog Browser to locate your desired symbol. The Icon Menu provides a graphical interface, making it easier to visually identify symbols. On the other hand, the Catalog Browser allows for text-based searches, enabling you to find symbols by their names or keywords.
Inserting the Symbol:
Once you've located the symbol you want to use, simply select it. The symbol will be attached to your cursor, and you can then specify the insertion point in your drawing. The software will try to match the symbol's orientation with the underlying wire, and if there is no wire, you can choose the starting orientation (horizontal or vertical). After confirming the insertion point, the selected symbol will be placed in your schematic.
Assigning Catalog Values:
After inserting the symbol, you may need to assign catalog values. This involves providing additional information, such as the manufacturer code and catalog number. In the Insert/Edit Component dialog box, you can specify these values, ensuring that the symbol is linked to the correct component information.
Annotating the Symbol:
Annotations provide additional details about the symbol and its function within the circuit. You can annotate a symbol by including text or labels that describe its purpose, voltage, current, or any other relevant information. Annotations enhance the clarity of your schematic and make it easier for others to understand the functionality of the circuit.
By following these steps and selecting the appropriate symbol, you can effectively represent electrical components in your AutoCAD Electrical schematics, facilitating better communication and understanding of the circuit design.
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Assigning a unique tag
When inserting a component in AutoCAD Electrical, you can assign a unique tag to it. This unique tag is automatically determined by the AutoCAD Electrical toolset, based on the line reference location where you inserted the symbol. For example, if you insert a symbol on line reference 403, the tag name would be "CR403", where "CR" indicates a control relay and "403" is the line reference number.
To assign a unique tag, follow these steps:
- Open the Insert/Edit Component dialog box.
- Verify that the Component Tag is set to the correct reference number.
- In the Location code section, click "Drawing". The AutoCAD Electrical toolset will read the drawing file and provide a list of all location codes used.
- In the All Locations - Drawing dialog box, select the desired location code and click "OK".
- Make any necessary changes in the Insert/Edit Component dialog box and click "OK" again.
You can also specify a description for the component by entering text or selecting from a list of standard component descriptions. This will help identify the component and ensure it has a unique tag.
Additionally, when working with schematic components, AutoCAD Electrical uses a parent/child relationship. When a parent coil symbol is inserted, it is automatically assigned a unique component tag. When child contact symbols are added, they are related to the parent, and the parent tag is passed down to the child symbol.
For wire tags, there is an option to use a default %N format (sequential or reference-based number). However, this can result in multiple wires with the same tag. To avoid this, you might need to manually assign wire tags with unique suffixes.
Overall, the process of assigning unique tags in AutoCAD Electrical is straightforward and largely automated. However, in some cases, such as with wire tags, manual adjustments may be required to ensure each component has a distinct identifier.
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