Create connectors on the fly with the Insert Connector tool.
Transcript
00:03
In AutoCAD Electrical, you can use the Insert Connector tool to insert connectors on an as-needed basis.
00:11
Based on the parameters you specify, such as the number of pins, pin spacing, and pin values,
00:16
the connector symbol is automatically inserted into the active drawing file as a block insert.
00:23
To open the Insert Connector tool, from the ribbon, click the Schematic tab,
00:28
and on the Insert Components panel, click the Insert Connector tool.
00:31
The Insert Connector dialog opens.
00:34
In the Layout group box, the Pin Spacing value is the space between pins if the connector uses fixed spacing,
00:41
and Pin Count is the total number for the connector.
00:45
Selecting Fixed Spacing sets the pin spacing to the value entered in the Layout group box,
00:51
whether or not the wires are crossed.
00:54
If you select At Wire Crossing, AutoCAD Electrical stretches
00:58
or compresses the connector to match the pins up with underlying wires as they are inserted.
01:04
If there are more pins than underlying wires, the excess pins are added at the end using default spacing.
01:10
The Pin List instructs the program to increment automatically for each pin number.
01:15
Here, you can enter a value, such as 1 or A, or you can specify a pin list.
01:22
For this exercise, enter “1, 1A, 2, 2A” into the text field,
01:28
which inserts the first four pins accordingly
01:31
and any remaining pins with an incremented last digit.
01:35
If you want to insert all pins automatically, based on the Pin Spacing and At Wire Spacing options,
01:41
select Insert All.
01:43
Allow Spacers/Breaks gives you manual control over the insertion of the connector,
01:48
prompting you at each pin insertion.
01:50
The Start Connector as Child option defines the connector as the child of a parent connector—for example,
01:57
when you break connectors.
01:59
In the Orientation group box, a preview of the connector appears, based on the selected options.
02:05
Similar to photo editing apps on your phone, there are Rotate and Flip buttons to rotate the connector 90 degrees at a time,
02:12
either horizontally or vertically,
02:15
or to flip it over and reverse its orientation by 180 degrees.
02:20
For this example, click Rotate so the connector appears horizontal.
02:24
Expand the Details options to display additional tools.
02:29
The Type group box has three options—Plug/Receptacle Combination, Plug Only, and Receptacle Only.
02:37
Initially, it is set to the Plug Only option.
02:40
Switch to Plug/Receptacle Combination, and you see the preview update.
02:45
For this option, you can also select Wire Number Change and Add Divider Line.
02:50
Choose Receptacle Only, and the preview updates again to display only the receptacle.
02:56
In this case, select Plug/Receptacle Combination and Add Divider Line.
03:01
The Display group box mirrors the Orientation group.
03:04
Here, you can choose whether the Connector is horizontal or vertical and the orientation of the Plug.
03:10
Select Horizontal.
03:12
In this case, since the connector is horizontal, it can be either top or bottom.
03:17
You can also choose whether the pins come from Both Sides, Plug Side, Receptacle Side, or whether to hide all pins.
03:25
For this exercise, select Bottom and Both Sides.
03:29
Finally, the Size group box allows you to configure the size of the connector.
03:34
Even though the actual shape of the connector is generic and cannot be changed,
03:39
there are five different Size values that you can adjust.
03:43
For now, leave them set to the defaults.
03:46
In the Layout group box, choose Allows Spacers/Breaks,
03:50
and then click Insert to insert the connector.
03:53
Back on the drawing, AutoCAD Electrical waits for you to click the insertion point of the connector.
03:59
For this example, pick the first wire.
04:03
Notice that, because the connector is set to At Wire Crossing and not Fixed Spacing,
04:08
the connector spans four wires.
04:11
Because you selected Allow Breaks/Spacers, the Custom Pins/Breaks dialog appears,
04:16
giving you the choice to Insert Next Connection,
04:19
Add Spacer, Break Symbol Now, or Cancel Custom and move on.
04:23
In this case, click Insert Next Connection.
04:26
Then click the same option two more times to insert the third and fourth connections.
04:32
Once the connector is placed and the wire is labelled, the Insert/Edit Component dialog opens.
04:38
Here, you can add additional information, including the manufacturer, references, descriptions, and more.
04:46
Click OK to accept the information.
04:49
Zoom in to the drawn connector.
04:52
Notice that the numbers represent the pin list entered in the Insert Connector dialog.
00:03
In AutoCAD Electrical, you can use the Insert Connector tool to insert connectors on an as-needed basis.
00:11
Based on the parameters you specify, such as the number of pins, pin spacing, and pin values,
00:16
the connector symbol is automatically inserted into the active drawing file as a block insert.
00:23
To open the Insert Connector tool, from the ribbon, click the Schematic tab,
00:28
and on the Insert Components panel, click the Insert Connector tool.
00:31
The Insert Connector dialog opens.
00:34
In the Layout group box, the Pin Spacing value is the space between pins if the connector uses fixed spacing,
00:41
and Pin Count is the total number for the connector.
00:45
Selecting Fixed Spacing sets the pin spacing to the value entered in the Layout group box,
00:51
whether or not the wires are crossed.
00:54
If you select At Wire Crossing, AutoCAD Electrical stretches
00:58
or compresses the connector to match the pins up with underlying wires as they are inserted.
01:04
If there are more pins than underlying wires, the excess pins are added at the end using default spacing.
01:10
The Pin List instructs the program to increment automatically for each pin number.
01:15
Here, you can enter a value, such as 1 or A, or you can specify a pin list.
01:22
For this exercise, enter “1, 1A, 2, 2A” into the text field,
01:28
which inserts the first four pins accordingly
01:31
and any remaining pins with an incremented last digit.
01:35
If you want to insert all pins automatically, based on the Pin Spacing and At Wire Spacing options,
01:41
select Insert All.
01:43
Allow Spacers/Breaks gives you manual control over the insertion of the connector,
01:48
prompting you at each pin insertion.
01:50
The Start Connector as Child option defines the connector as the child of a parent connector—for example,
01:57
when you break connectors.
01:59
In the Orientation group box, a preview of the connector appears, based on the selected options.
02:05
Similar to photo editing apps on your phone, there are Rotate and Flip buttons to rotate the connector 90 degrees at a time,
02:12
either horizontally or vertically,
02:15
or to flip it over and reverse its orientation by 180 degrees.
02:20
For this example, click Rotate so the connector appears horizontal.
02:24
Expand the Details options to display additional tools.
02:29
The Type group box has three options—Plug/Receptacle Combination, Plug Only, and Receptacle Only.
02:37
Initially, it is set to the Plug Only option.
02:40
Switch to Plug/Receptacle Combination, and you see the preview update.
02:45
For this option, you can also select Wire Number Change and Add Divider Line.
02:50
Choose Receptacle Only, and the preview updates again to display only the receptacle.
02:56
In this case, select Plug/Receptacle Combination and Add Divider Line.
03:01
The Display group box mirrors the Orientation group.
03:04
Here, you can choose whether the Connector is horizontal or vertical and the orientation of the Plug.
03:10
Select Horizontal.
03:12
In this case, since the connector is horizontal, it can be either top or bottom.
03:17
You can also choose whether the pins come from Both Sides, Plug Side, Receptacle Side, or whether to hide all pins.
03:25
For this exercise, select Bottom and Both Sides.
03:29
Finally, the Size group box allows you to configure the size of the connector.
03:34
Even though the actual shape of the connector is generic and cannot be changed,
03:39
there are five different Size values that you can adjust.
03:43
For now, leave them set to the defaults.
03:46
In the Layout group box, choose Allows Spacers/Breaks,
03:50
and then click Insert to insert the connector.
03:53
Back on the drawing, AutoCAD Electrical waits for you to click the insertion point of the connector.
03:59
For this example, pick the first wire.
04:03
Notice that, because the connector is set to At Wire Crossing and not Fixed Spacing,
04:08
the connector spans four wires.
04:11
Because you selected Allow Breaks/Spacers, the Custom Pins/Breaks dialog appears,
04:16
giving you the choice to Insert Next Connection,
04:19
Add Spacer, Break Symbol Now, or Cancel Custom and move on.
04:23
In this case, click Insert Next Connection.
04:26
Then click the same option two more times to insert the third and fourth connections.
04:32
Once the connector is placed and the wire is labelled, the Insert/Edit Component dialog opens.
04:38
Here, you can add additional information, including the manufacturer, references, descriptions, and more.
04:46
Click OK to accept the information.
04:49
Zoom in to the drawn connector.
04:52
Notice that the numbers represent the pin list entered in the Insert Connector dialog.
