To reduce wiring expenditure, devices in the 3D mounting layout are generally connected to each other by single or multi-phase phase busbars. Instead of wiring, an electro-mechanical item is used here, which is cut to size manually by the fitter and mounted depending on the use case. Phase busbars are available from the device manufacturers as accessories for devices. The connections created by the use of phase busbars are identified in EPLAN by the Phase busbar connection function definition.
Phase busbar connections can be generated by using two different methods:
- Conversion of existing connections: Whether the connection between devices is realized by means of a wiring or a phase busbar depends on the mounting layout, i.e., on the position of the components relative to each other. Phase busbar connections are often not defined in the schematic. For such planning situations it is possible to convert the connections defined in the schematic with the representation types "Multi-line" and "3D mounting layout" into phase busbar connections in order to exclude them from the calculation of the wiring. In addition, such converted phase busbar connections can be used as a device for placement in the mounting layout by assigning a DT and a part.
- Inserting in schematic: Phase busbars can, however, also be inserting during designing in the schematic as a definition line in order to combine existing connections into phase busbar connections. A DT and a part are assigned to the phase busbar so that it can be placed from the 3D mounting layout navigator in the layout space.
Phase busbar connections generated through conversion and insertion are no longer considered when calculating the wiring and during wire fabrication.
See also