A high density of connection lines in the schematic often leads to a reduction in the readability of schematics. This can result in errors in the production or maintenance of plants or machines.
To draw connections, especially cable connections, in a clearer, more space-saving manner in the schematic, it is often normal to represent them as single-line objects - even when other schematic sections are mostly documented as multi-line objects.
When doing this, the connections or cable connections are bundled behind a source, e.g. a terminal strip, and fed into a bundle, which is drawn as a thick connection line. Before the target, e.g. a motor, the bundle is split apart and the cable connections are then again represented in multi-line form.
Example:If as report you need just a cable overview without detailed information on the cable connections, you can simply draw the cable definition line at the bundle.
If as report you want to create both a cable overview and a cable diagram with detailed information on the cable connections (source and target for the individual connections), then you draw the cable definition line over the multi-line cable connections.
Bundle connection point symbols
To implement the transition of connections or cable connections from multi- to single-line representation, and vice-versa, so-called bundle connection points are used. EPLAN provides these symbols when you follow the menu items Insert > Bundle connection point in the main menu. The following individual bundle connection point symbols can be selected:
- Straight line
- Angle
- T-node
- Double junction
- Distributor, T-node.
All symbols can be rotated on insertion, allowing access to all the different angular variations without additional menu navigation.
The lines feeding into and out of the bundle are represented with thin lines, the bundle connection side uses thick lines.
The identifying characteristic of a connection within a bundle is the bundle connection point designation. This designation always occurs in pairs in the bundle and is stored at the incoming and outgoing bundle connection point symbols.
The bundle connection point designations can be replaced with the connection numbers or colors of a cable. It is also possible to adopt the connection point designations.
Often, one connection point is the entry point of the connection or the cable connection into the bundle, and the other is the exit point out of the bundle.
Connection "1" enters the bundle at the upper left. Connection "1" leaves the bundle at the lower left.
A paired bundle connection point designation does not always mean that every connection in a bundle must have only one pair of bundle connection points. For example, it is possible to implement one entry bundle connection point and two exit bundle connection points. The designations of the connections entering the bundle must then be separated with the "/" character, entered one after each other at the appropriate bundle connection point.
Connections "1" and "2" are already bundled and enter the bundle via a bundle connection point at the upper left. Connections "1" and "2" exit the bundle via separate bundle connection points at the lower left. To ensure the paired existence of the bundle connection point designations, the value "1/2" is stored at the upper left entry bundle connection point.
EPLAN checks for the existence of paired bundle connection points. For example, if a designation is missing or more than two identical designations appear, then a message informing you of this appears in the message management.
Bundle connection point symbols and interruption points
Bundle connection point symbols and interruption points can be combined. This allows continuation of bundles over several schematic pages. The bundle passing beyond the interruption points is only displayed as a thick line after the connections have been updated (Project data > Connections > Update).
Bundle formation over two schematic pages using interruption points:
State before updating the connections
State after updating the connections
See also