To Work With Terminals

Insert schematic terminals, copy terminal properties, and manage relationships between terminals.

Insert from Catalog Browser

1. If the Catalog Browser is not visible, click Schematic tabInsert Components panelInsert Components drop-downCatalog Browser. Find
2. Select the TRMS category, or any category with terminals.
3. Enter a search criteria and click .
4. Click a row in the results pane.
5. Do one of the following:
   • Click one of the symbols associated to the catalog value.
   • Click Browse to locate the symbol on disk. The symbol selected is automatically associated to that catalog value for future insertions.
   Note: Double-click the row in the results pane to insert the default or only symbol associated to the catalog value.
6. Specify the insertion point in the drawing.

   The symbol orientation matches the underlying wire. If there is no underlying wire, the selected orientation is inserted. The wire breaks automatically if the symbol lands on it.

7. Annotate the component.
8. Click OK.

Insert Schematic Terminals

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

Define a Multi-Level Terminal by Catalog Value

1. Insert or edit a terminal.
2. Click Detail >>.
3. Select Catalog Lookup in the Catalog Data list to define a multi-level terminal.
4. Search for and select a catalog with a multi-level type from the list in the Catalog Browser dialog box.
   Note: The catalog value maps to values in the terminal properties database table. The terminal properties define it as multi-level.
5. Click OK.
Note: You can edit the terminal block properties database table using the Terminal Properties Database Editor.

Define a Multi-Level Terminal by Terminal Block Properties

1. Insert or edit a terminal.
2. Click Block Properties in the Modify Properties/Associations list.
3. Enter the number of desired levels in the Terminal Block Properties dialog box.
4. Enter the terminal block properties for each level.
5. Click OK.

   The terminal block now shows the number of levels and its properties in the Properties/Associations list.

6. In the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box. Click OK.

Copy Terminal Block Properties

1. Click Schematic tabEdit Components panelCopy Terminal Block Properties. Find
2. Select the master terminal to copy properties from.
3. Select the terminals to apply the properties to.
4. Press Enter.

Note: If the application of the terminal properties reduces the number of levels and the number of schematic terminal symbols in the association exceeds the total allowed, an alert displays and the properties are not copied.

Associate Terminals on the Same Drawing

Use the Associate Terminals tool to associate two or more terminal symbols together. Associating schematic terminals combines the terminals into a single terminal block property definition. The number of schematic terminals that can be combined is limited to the number of levels defined for the block properties.

Associating a panel terminal provides a way to define a particular panel footprint to represent a schematic block property definition.

1. Click Schematic tabEdit Components panelAssociate Terminals. Find
2. Select a terminal symbol to use as the master. It is used as the basis for any terminal property definition.
   Note: Your terminal symbol must have block properties defined. To define block properties, right-click on the symbol and select Edit Component. In the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box, click Block Properties.
3. Select additional terminal symbols to add to the association of the master terminal.
4. Press Enter to associate the terminals.

   The catalog data, block properties, Tagstrip value, Installation code and Location code are copied from the master terminal and added to the terminals in the association.

Note: If the number of selected terminals exceeds the total number of levels defined in the block properties, an alert displays and the extra terminals are not added to the association.

Tips and Hints

• This tool works on terminal symbols on the same drawing only.
• If the master terminal is already part of another association, the existing association is maintained and the newly selected terminal symbols join the association.
• If the selected terminals are part of their own association, they are removed from the association and added to the new association with the selected master terminal.
• Terminals placed onto the drawing using the Terminal Strip Editor cannot be added to an association using this tool.

Associate Terminals Across Drawings

1. Insert or edit a terminal.
2. In the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box, select Add/Modify in the Modify Properties/Associations list.
3. In the Add/Modify Association dialog box, in the Select Association: Terminal Strips tree, select the terminal you want to associate the active terminal with.
4. In the Select Association grid, select the level to push the active terminal into.
5. Click Associate.
6. Click OK to close the Add/Modify Association dialog box.
7. Click OK to close the Insert/Edit Terminal Symbol dialog box.

Show Terminal Associations

Use the Show Terminal Associations tool to display the current associations for the selected terminals. AutoCAD Electrical toolset draws temporary lines between the associated terminals. These graphics disappear the next time you do a Regen.

1. Click Schematic tabEdit Components panelShow Terminal Associations. Find
2. Select the terminals you want to view the associations of.

   Red dashed lines are drawn between the terminals that are associated to the selected terminal. A list of the associated terminals also displays at the command prompt.

Break Apart Terminal Associations

Use the Break Apart Terminal Associations tool to break a terminal symbol out of an existing association. Schematic terminals are removed from any multi-tier relationship and any schematic-panel relationships. Panel terminals are removed from any schematic-panel relationships.

Note: The properties of the existing terminal association are maintained on each symbol.

1. Click Schematic tabEdit Components panelBreak Apart Terminal Associations. Find
2. Select the terminal to remove from the association. Repeat for each terminal you want to break out of its associations.
3. Press Enter.