

There are five wires tied to the four wire connection points carried on the terminal symbol. Key characteristics: it carries an assigned terminal number value it triggers a wire number change from one side of the terminal to the other it carries a “terminal strip” assignment it can carry a part number assignment.īelow is a “worst case” version of this second type of terminal. The type 1 terminal simply maintained its attached wire number through it – wire number coming in was the same leaving. Same as type 1 but this one triggers AutoCAD Electrical to generate a wire number change through it.

Here is an example of the second type of schematic terminal. Type 2 – same as type 1 but forces wire number change through it Key characteristics of this “Type 1” terminal symbol: it carries an assigned terminal number value it maintains the wire number through the terminal it carries a “terminal strip” assignment it can carry a part number assignment. These terminal symbols can be of various shapes… but they are all just simple AutoCAD blocks with certain key attributes. Here is the first type of schematic terminal symbol… shown here as a round symbol with text.

Type 1 – Terminal with fixed, assigned number There are three different types of schematic terminal behaviors supported by AutoCAD Electrical. Let’s start at the top and look at terminal behavior and terminal numbering supported by AutoCAD Electrical. How can this be complicated?Īt least seven complicating factors… not to mention the sheer number of terminals that may end up in an electrical controls design. That’s the physical part and it doesn’t look too complicated…Īnd above, on the electrical schematic, wire coming in, wire coming out, terminal label in the middle. Looks simple enough. Put a number on the little label between the two screws.

The above looks simple enough, right? Wire goes in. Hopefully this posting can serve as a simple overview / tutorial of this AutoCAD Electrical feature. The second part (to be posted soon), deals more with the panel layout end of things and focuses on the AutoCAD Electrical “Terminal Strip Editor” tool. This part deals with the “schematic” end of things… inserting and tracking terminal assignments in electrical schematics. This posting is a brief summary of what Nathan covered in the first half of the hour-long webcast. I helped put the demo together and was responsible for real-time Q & A support while Nathan was “on stage”.Īlso thanks to Doug McAlexander for some of the images and samples. Autodesk’s Nathan Eliason hosted a webcast earlier this week that focused on AutoCAD Electrical’s ability to insert, track, and manage terminal blocks / terminal strips in a project drawing set.
