Editing distributors

Tool	Tool set
Device Component	Device Component Edit

Editing the symbol definition of a distributor allows advanced users to customize how the device participates in power calculations, create custom devices, and facilitate efficient tracking of power and signals through connected systems. 

As described in Editing the device definition data, you can specify the type of device, parameters, sockets, and external signals for a device. However, advanced users may need to edit the internal connections and wiring of a device for proper power flow, or need to create a custom device and specify all of its internal wiring and components. A special tool set opens when in the editing mode.

Internal device editing mode visualizes the wiring inside a distributor as a schematic, allowing edits and customization of the internal connectivity. Device components define the sources, destinations, and connections of the internal wiring within a distributor, which determines how the distributor connects to other devices. In editing mode, you can place electrical components inside the device symbol definition at specific connection points, and make or edit the connections.

While in editing mode, the Device Component tool is available, with the following modes.

Mode	Description
Input	Represents an IN type of socket, which receives a load or signal from upstream devices connected externally to the device socket. The load originates from connected device output sockets and from the device as it consumes power. The pins of an input socket can receive multiple connections from other device components.
IO	Represents an IN/OUT (IO) type of socket which can connect to sources or other IO pins
Fuse	Represents internal circuit breakers with an input and an output pin
Bus	Busbars are common connection points used for gathering neutral and earth conductors, with an input and an output pin
Output	Represents an OUT type of socket, which sends power or a signal to externally connected devices and passes it to an input though connections, or, if not connected, can act as a power source. The pins of an output device can connect to the source pins of other device components.

When editing a distributor's internal wiring, the device is displayed schematically, as a "device component" rectangle with the device inputs on the left, device outputs on the right, and two columns of circuit breakers in the middle (input and output breakers). Since the device is viewed from the inside, input sockets become outputs, and vice-versa.

Each socket displays as an object consisting of multiple pins; the number of individual pins depends on the type of connector. Each pin is a connection point—either a source or a destination. Destination pins have control points that can be dragged onto the source pins of other sockets to create internal connections; a polyline shows the connection, in specific colored classes that correspond to local codes.

In addition to sockets, internal elements such as circuit breakers (or fuses) provide a useful common connection point for multiple power destinations that are fed from a single source. These are, like the sockets, represented by device component objects. Busbars, which are common connection points primarily used for gathering neutral and earth conductors, are also represented by device components. 

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.

To edit a distributor's internal connectivity, customize an existing distributor, or create a custom distributor:

Do one of the following:

Locate the symbol definition of an existing distributor in the Resource Manager. Proceed to Step 2.

If the distributor you need does not already exist in the file, use the Distributor tool to place a distributor similar to the one you wish to edit or customize. Proceed to Step 2.

Create a symbol out of a custom 3D object that you have designed; attach the Distro record and the ConnectCAD Device Definition record to the symbol definition (see Attaching record formats to a symbol definition); the Category to select in the record is Power. Edit the symbol definition's device properties by right-clicking and selecting Edit Device Definition from the context menu. See Editing the device definition data for information on how to define the device's parameters and sockets. From the Edit Device Definition dialog box, click Save and Enter Internal Wiring, and proceed to Step 3. Alternatively, in the Resource Manager, locate the symbol definition of the custom distributor, and proceed to Step 2.

Copy the internal wiring from one distributor symbol definition to another one or to several others. In the Resource Manager, select the distributor symbol definition (or definitions) to be customized. Right-click and select Copy Internal Wiring from from the context menu. The Select Symbol dialog box opens; select the symbol definition that serves as the source of the internal wiring settings. Click OK to copy its internal wiring properties to the previous Resource Manager symbol definition selection.

Right-click on the symbol definition and select Edit Internal Wiring. In object editing mode, available tools display in a special Device Component Edit palette. This palette is only available within the editing mode.

 If the command is not available, the symbol doesn't include the proper records and has no internal editing functionality.

Click the Device Component tool to add a socket, fuse, or busbar to the wiring. Click the mode that matches the orientation for the socket or the type of component; this can be changed later from the Object Info palette.

Click to insert the device component. Distributor outputs are placed on the right, and distributor inputs are placed on the left. Fuses and busbars are typically in the center, between the sockets.

The device component parameters can be edited from the Object Info palette. 

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

Use the Selection tool to connect the output pin of a device component to an input socket (or to an inline fuse or bus) by clicking and dragging the control point, or by specifying the connection from the Object Info palette (enter text in the search box to filter the list). When multiple device components are selected, you can connect many destination pins to a common source pin, for example when connecting neutral and earth which all normally have the same pin names.

Connecting a live phase 1 pin from output to input

Standard regionally-specific colors are used for the connections so that they are easily recognizable. The colors are set by class, in case an adjustment is needed for local or international standards. By default, the colors age:

Pin	Usage	Color
L1	Live Phase1	Black
L2	Live Phase 2	Red
L3	Live Phase 3	Blue
N	Neutral	White
PE	Protective Earth	Green

Other edits include changing connections, removing device components, and otherwise reconfiguring the device to customize it as needed.

When the distributor has been edited, exit object editing mode to return to the drawing.

Any existing distributors in the file that are based on the edited symbol definition update to reflect the changes.

Copying internal wiring to several devices

You can copy the internal wiring connection settings from one device symbol definition to another, or to several others, through the Resource Manager.

To copy the internal wiring from one device definition to another:

Select the symbol definition (or multiple symbol definitions) from the Resource Manager.

Right click, and select Copy Internal Wiring from from the context menu.

The Select Symbol dialog box opens. Select the symbol to use as the source of the internal wiring connections.

Click OK to apply the wiring to the originally selected symbol definition.

Placing distributors

Editing symbol definitions

Workflow: Power patching

Numbering existing objects

Concept: Power schematics