In working with devices, the device is the starting point. You need a device to perform a particular task (i.e. a particular device), from which you would like to place functions.
Designing with devices begins with the management of devices. The device management is integrated into the parts management; this contains both commercial and technical data. A part can be allocated a part number, type number, and an ordering number. These numbers offer different ways to access the part. If you use (e.g.) type numbers more frequently than part numbers, then you can simply select a device using the type number.
In the construction phase, you use the existing functions of this device. This helps to avoid mistakes and in turn makes plausibility tests possible.
When selecting devices, the types matching the function are selected. This can occur after the design process in the schematic, or as preselection after which the design occurs in the schematic in a second step.
Modules
A module is a collection of parts that belong to a number of commonly nested devices. In parts management, for every part in a module it is specified as to which device the part belongs to for that module. The module has an own part number. It can contain parts, assemblies and further modules.
Function templates
Function templates are entered in the parts. They have no graphical representation in the circuit diagram and serve to define devices.
Function templates can be overridden by "unplaced" or "placed" functions, if the identifying properties of the function templates are identical with those of the functions. The function template is thus assigned to the function. No additional data may be added at the function templates. This is only possible at the function itself. Function templates are therefore not a part of the project but rather belong to the part.
Device definition
In EPLAN, it is possible to create a "Function pool" for a device. You create a traceable function pool using the part or device selection. You can select and place functions from this pool when designing. A function can only be tested for errors when it is allocated to a device definition.
Devices are predefined in the parts management; there you can define a device definition for every part. The identifying properties (i.e. the electrotechnical functions and the technical data) for every device function are defined by function templates. Alternatively, you can allocate a symbol or macro to the part that is placed when the part is inserted.
A device definition is composed of a set of x function templates. In addition to the function definition, the identifying properties of the function are also stored in each of these function templates (e.g., the connection point designations).
The device definition is fundamentally stored in the main function of the part. This is (e.g.) for a contactor, coil, or for plugs in the plug definition text etc. If the main function (or the part) is deleted, then the device definition is also deleted. If the main function is copied, then the device definition is also copied, etc.
See also