Creating custom electrical devices

Tool	Tool set
Electrical Component	Cable/Power Planning

The Electrical Component tool and the Distributor tool share the same position in the Cable/Power Planning tool set in the Spotlight workspace. Click and hold the mouse on the visible tool to open the Pop-out tools list and select the desired tool. 

Electrical component objects are plug-in objects that define the internal components of an electrical device. They determine what type of connections the device can make so it can be power patched correctly within the electrical system. There are five types of electrical components: power sources, inputs, overcurrent protectors, outputs, and consumers. By using the Electrical Component tool to place component objects within a symbol definition, advanced users can create a custom electrical device that participates in power calculations. 

Custom distributor symbol with five output components

Electrical component objects define the internal wiring of an electrical device, which determines how the device symbol connects to other devices. Place electrical components inside the device symbol definition at the specific connection points. The visibility of the components is controlled by the Power class.

When a symbol contains an electrical component object, Power Information parameters display on the symbol's Object Info palette to enable power patching; see Power patching from the Object Info palette for more information. The order of the input and output fields is determined by the electrical components' stacking order; see Changing object stacking order. The distributor and lighting device symbols in the Vectorworks libraries are pre-defined electrical devices, so they display Power Information parameters by default.

Pay special attention when naming an electrical component. This name identifies the component in the container device's Object Info palette and in the power schematic (see Concept: Power schematics). If a name is not provided, a generic name is assigned with an incrementing number. For example, if a distributor with an ID of DistroA has two output sockets, the device symbol requires two output components. By default, these will be named Output and Output 1. The components will display as DistroA.Output and DistroA.Output1 in the power schematic.

Mode	Description
Power Source	Places a power source electrical component
Input	Places an input electrical component
Overcurrent	Places an overcurrent protector electrical component
Output	Places an output electrical component
Consumer	Places a consumer electrical component

Placing a power source component

Mode	Tool	Tool set
Power Source	Electrical Component	Cable/Power Planning

A power source component enables a device to generate power.

When a power source component is placed in a custom electrical device symbol, it generates an output field on the Object Info palette of the device. When power patching the device, this output can be connected to another device's input; multiple connections can be made. See Power patching from the Object Info palette and Concept: Power schematics.

The power source component cannot be power patched from its Object Info palette.

To place a power source component in a symbol definition:

Select a symbol instance in the drawing, and select Edit 3D Component from the context menu.

Alternatively, right-click on the symbol in the Resource Manager, and select Edit 3D Component from the context menu.

The symbol's 3D component displays in Object editing mode.

Click the tool and mode.

Place the component in the desired location.

Set the parameters on the Object Info palette.

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

Click Exit Symbol to return to the drawing. An output field displays on the Object Info palette of the symbol, which now functions as a patchable electrical device. The output field is labeled with the component Name.

Placing an input component

Mode	Tool	Tool set
Electrical Input	Electrical Component	Cable/Power Planning

An input component enables a device to receive power.

When an input component is placed in a custom electrical device symbol, it generates an Input field on the Object Info palette of the device. When power patching the device, this input can be connected to another device's output; a single connection can be made.

The input component can also be power patched from its Object Info palette. Each socket of the input component can be connected to an output socket or an overcurrent protector in-socket. See Power patching from the Object Info palette and Concept: Power schematics.

To place an input component in a symbol definition: 

Select a symbol instance in the drawing, and select Edit 3D Component from the context menu.

Alternatively, right-click on the symbol in the Resource Manager, and select Edit 3D Component from the context menu.

The symbol's 3D component displays in Object editing mode.

Click the tool and mode.

Place the component in the desired location.

Set the parameters on the Object Info palette.

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

Click Exit Symbol to return to the drawing. An input field displays on the Object Info palette of the symbol, which now functions as a patchable electrical device. The input field is labeled with the component Name.

Placing an overcurrent protector component

Mode	Tool	Tool set
Overcurrent	Electrical Component	Cable/Power Planning

An overcurrent protector component defines the breakers (of the type MCB: miniature circuit breakers) that limit the current running through the wires of a device.

The overcurrent protector component can be power patched from its Object Info palette. The sockets of an overcurrent protector component can be connected to an output socket or an input socket. See Power patching from the Object Info palette and Concept: Power schematics.

An overcurrent protector component does not enable connections from the container device's Object Info palette.

To place an overcurrent protector component in a symbol definition:

Select a symbol instance in the drawing, and select Edit 3D Component from the context menu.

Alternatively, right-click on the symbol in the Resource Manager, and select Edit 3D Component from the context menu.

The symbol's 3D component displays in Object editing mode.

Click the tool and mode.

Place the component in the desired location.

Set the parameters on the Object Info palette.

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

Click Exit Symbol to return to the drawing. The component does not generate Power Information fields on the Object Info palette.

Placing an output component

Mode	Tool	Tool set
Electrical Output	Electrical Component	Cable/Power Planning

An output component enables a device to transfer power.

When an output component is placed in a custom electrical device symbol, it generates an Output field on the Object Info palette of the device. When power patching the device, this output can be connected to another device's input; multiple connections can be made.

The output component can also be power patched from its Object Info palette. Each socket of the output component can be connected to an input socket or an overcurrent protector out-socket. See Power patching from the Object Info palette and Concept: Power schematics.

To place an output component in a symbol definition:

Select a symbol instance in the drawing, and select Edit 3D Component from the context menu.

Alternatively, right-click on the symbol in the Resource Manager, and select Edit 3D Component from the context menu.

The symbol's 3D component displays in Object editing mode.

Click the tool and mode.

Place the component in the desired location.

Set the parameters on the Object Info palette.

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

Click Exit Symbol to return to the drawing. An output field displays on the Object Info palette of the symbol, which now functions as a patchable electrical device. The output field is labeled with the component Name.

Placing a consumer component

Mode	Tool	Tool set
Consumer	Electrical Component	Cable/Power Planning

A consumer component defines a device as a power consumer.

When a consumer component is placed in a custom electrical device symbol, it generates an input field on the Object Info palette of the device. When power patching the device, this input can be connected to another device's output; a single connection can be made. See Power patching from the Object Info palette and Concept: Power schematics.

The consumer component cannot be power patched from its Object Info palette.

To place a consumer component in a symbol definition:

Select a symbol instance in the drawing, and select Edit 3D Component from the context menu.

Alternatively, right-click on the symbol in the Resource Manager, and select Edit 3D Component from the context menu.

The symbol's 3D component displays in Object editing mode.

Click the tool and mode.

Place the component in the desired location.

Set the parameters on the Object Info palette.

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

Click Exit Symbol to return to the drawing. An input field displays on the Object Info palette of the symbol, which now functions as a patchable electrical device. The input field is labeled with the component Name.

Cables and power planning

Editing symbol definitions

Placing distributors

Lighting device properties