SpotlightDrawing cables

Tool

Tool set

Cable

Lighting

The Cable tool places cables in the drawing by following a cable path object, following a rigging object like a truss or pipe, or inserting them independently.

Normally, the tool connects distributors to one or more electrical devices, creating a “cable object.” A cable object can also be called a cable run, since it consists of cable parts connected end-to-end to create a length of cable as drawn. The cable parts used in the cable run depend on the selections in the cable inventory (when managing cable parts) and the cable preferences. The cable style determines the type of cable (multi, feeder, jumper, or data) and its connectors. A cable is considered a load, and can be included in load calculations (Braceworks required).

The truss path behavior depends on whether the cable connects to a distributor object on the truss. If you click on a truss and then click on a distributor object on the same truss system, the cables will automatically follow the truss system path, using the most efficient route to reach the distributor object.

The drawn cable assumes the height of connected objects, such as rigging objects and distributors; a vertical segment is automatically added if needed. When drawing in a 3D view, a cable can be created with a height without requiring existing geometry; the cable height is taken directly from the cable path object, the rigging object (the trim height of the top of the truss), or edges and vertices of other 3D geometry. When drawing in Top/Plan view, snapping from the ground plane to connecting, elevated geometry is required to create a cable jump.

Cables can be labeled with data tag objects at insertion; see the Data Tags pane in Cable settings.

Mode

Description

Polyline creation options

Selects the method for drawing the polyline upon which the object is based; see Polyline tool

Fillet Radius

For Arc Vertex polyline mode, enter the fillet radius

Cable Style

Opens the Resource Selector to select a cable resource for placement; double-click a resource to activate it

Single Connection

Connects a distributor to an electrical device with a single cable

Distributor

Connects a distributor to one or more electrical devices following a drawn path, creating a cable for each output connection

Schematic Distributor

Connects a distributor to one or more electrical devices, displaying a direct, schematic route that illustrates the connections between the distributor outputs and the devices

Daisy Chain

Connects a distributor object to one or more electrical devices in a chain configuration, all using the same distributor output

Automatic Numbering

Enables automatic numbering of cables as they are placed

Numbering Preferences

Set the default parameters for automatic numbering of cables

Selecting the output

Regardless of the cable mode, when inserting a cable on a distributor object, choose the output for the cable connection. Only Single Connection mode does not require a distributor in the connection; the other modes do require a distributor.

To select the output for the cable:

When using the Cable tool to place a cable, click on a distributor object (or in Daisy Chain mode, on a lighting device).

The Select Output dialog box opens.

Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter

Description

Use Output

Select the distributor output to use for the connection. Occupied and free outputs are listed in numerical order.

Always use next free output

Automatically assigns the cable connection to the first free output. The Select Output dialog box no longer opens.

Insert distributor before each lighting device

Select a distributor resource from the Resource Selector. When placing cables in Daisy Chain mode, the selected distributor (normally, a twofer) is placed every time a lighting device is clicked. The cable connects to the first output on the twofer, and the cable run continues with the new cable starting at the second twofer output, continuing to the next twofer to create the chain.

When no outputs are free, an error message displays. Select a different distributor with free outputs to create the cable run.

Single cable connection

Multi cable connections

Daisy chain connections

Editing cables

Placing distributors

Drawing cable paths

Managing cable parts

Setting cable preferences

Creating a cable report

Spotlight and ConnectCAD terminology

 

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