Terminal connection points can be shown distributed with the aid of distributed terminals. This applies both to potential and also general terminals. This is how, for example, you can insert the connection points of potential terminals directly into the locations where they are required for the project. This makes it easier to read the schematic as terminal connection points no longer need to be searched via interruption points.
- One or more terminal connection points can be depicted on each distributed terminal. The number of connection points is selected by the choice of function definition. How many connection points (0 to n) for any terminal function are depicted with a component depends on the assigned connection point designations and can be defined freely between 0 and n.
- Terminal targets are only analyzed on connection points that have a connection point designation. Which connection point is entered for which connection point designation is therefore important. Saddle jumper connection points and connection points for internal jumpers do not require a connection point designation.
- Distributed terminals belong to the same terminal function if they have the same function definition, the same identifying DT, the same terminal designation, and the same level number. The distributed terminals for a terminal function all override the same function template.
- The connection point designations of the terminal function have to be alphanumerically ascending.
- In addition, distributed terminals can also be differentiated by the Distributed terminal index property. This is necessary if you want to use identical designations for several distributed terminals (e.g., because terminals within a signal are to have the same terminal designation). If the distributed terminals share the same terminal designation, they must differ in their Distributed terminal index property. Distributed terminals with the same distributed terminal index are recognized as belonging together. The value of the Distributed terminal index property can be entered manually, or be assigned automatically during the optimization of the distributed terminals.
- The Edit terminal strip dialog summarizes associated distributed terminals and displays them as one terminal.
- In the navigators, distributed terminals are indicated by a special icon (
). - When copying and pasting distributed terminals there is no search for and re-use of free function templates, but the distributed terminals are automatically numbered according to the settings for online numbering.
Global Editing
Data that was entered on the same terminal function on the distributed terminal is summarized. For multi-level terminals represented in a distributed manner, the data is combined for each level. If common properties of the distributed terminals have different data, the properties are considered during global processing and when analyzing in the following order:
- The distributed terminal data with the smallest connection point designation is considered.
- The distributed terminals are initially summarized for each representation type. Then the various representation types of the terminal functions are summarized (as per the sequence of the representation types for global editing).
Restoring the connection point properties
If the connection point designations and / or connection point descriptions are modified during global editing, the new values are restored to all of the distributed terminals. The connection point properties are restored to their original locations, e.g. only fields that have already been filled are updated but no values are entered into a field that was previously empty.
Distributed representation of potential terminals
Potential terminals are used to distribute a potential. They are usually multi-level terminals in which the levels are connected with one another and which can be assigned to any potential. However, the levels of the potential terminals are not planned in EPLAN. A potential terminal consists of just one terminal function or function template with n connection points and the level "0".
If you want to show potential terminal connection points that are connected with each other in a distributed manner, you use distributed terminals. A potential terminal is depicted here using distributed terminals in succession with the same terminal designation and different connection point designations.
Example:A potential terminal X1:1 with the connection points a, b, c, d, e, f, g and h, which are all connected to each other is to be displayed more than once. Eight distributed terminals are inserted into the schematic to this purpose: X1:1:a[0], X1:1:b[0], X1:1:c[0], X1:1:d[0], X1:1:e[0], X1:1:f[0], X1:1:g[0] and X1:1:h[0]. ([0] refers here to the level; this is always "0" because it is only a template with a terminal function with eight connection points and only one level information. There is no level information on the connection point.)
For the sake of simplicity we assume that the logical order matches the graphical order. The distributed depiction with the connections drawn may look like this in the graphical editor:
If the Connect associated distributed terminals automatically project setting has been activated, the distributed terminals are connected with each other when updating the connections even if no drawn connections are available. (The automatically generated connections are shown here by green arcs.)
Generating reports of distributed terminals
In reports distributed terminals from the same terminal function are summarized and the properties of the summarized terminal are output.
Cross-references between distributed terminals
To facilitate finding associated distributed terminals, the Distributed terminals cross-reference (ID 20252) property allows for displaying cross-references between these distributed terminals.
The distributed terminals cross-reference refers from the first distributed terminal to all other distributed terminals with the same terminal designation. The first distributed terminal is either the main terminal, or if no main terminal exists, the distributed terminal with the smallest connection point designation that is not empty. For all other distributed terminals, this cross-reference refers back to the first distributed terminal.
Per default, the distributed terminals cross-reference is displayed on the separate layer EPLAN444, Property placement.Distributed terminals cross-reference and can be shown or hidden by means of the layer settings.
Terminals with variable number of connection points
Terminals with any number of connection points can be defined by using the "Terminal, variable" function definition. This method can be used to configure, for example, distributed terminals. If you want to represent these terminals as distributed terminals, the connection points of the distributed terminals have to be connected with each other. This happens automatically if you have activated the setting Connect associated distributed terminals automatically (in the dialog Settings: Distributed terminals).
To ensure that the potential is also transferred equally to all the connection points the Transfer potential to property has to be filled out for the first and last connection point in the connection point logic of the terminal. Here you enter the value of the last connection point at the first connection point and the value of the first connection point at the last connection point.
You have defined a terminal with 20 connection points. To this purpose you have selected the "Terminal, variable" function definition in the Symbol / function data tab of the property dialog and have entered the value 20 in the Connection points field. In the dialog Connection point logic enter the value 20 for the first connection point and the value 1 for the last connection point in the Transfer potential to property. The property remains empty for the remaining connection points.
For the distributed terminals here symbols with only one connection point are used.
|
Function connection point |
1 |
2 |
... |
19 |
20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Connection point type |
Conductor / wire |
Conductor / wire |
Conductor / wire |
Conductor / wire |
Conductor / wire |
|
Transfer potential to |
20 |
1 |
If symbols with multiple connection points are used for distributed terminals, you enter the value of all connection points between which there is a transfer in the Transfer potential to property. In this example a symbol with five connection points is used and one transfer is specified between the connection points 5 and 13.
|
Function connection point |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
... |
13 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Connection point type |
Conductor / wire |
Conductor / wire |
Conductor / wire |
Conductor / wire |
Conductor / wire |
Conductor / wire |
Conductor / wire |
|
Transfer potential to |
2,3,4,5,13 |
1,3,4,5,13 |
1,2,4,5,13 |
1,2,3,5,13 |
1,2,3,4,13 |
1,2,3,4,5 |
See also