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AutoCAD Electrical 2012
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Fundamentals
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Student Guide - JIC

Cover Page
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Revision 1.0
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August 2011
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 ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge
AutoCAD Electrical 2012
Fundamentals - JIC
Revision 1.0

Prepared and produced by:

ASCENT Center for Technical Knowledge

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www.ascented.com

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ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge is a division of RAND Worldwide Inc., providing

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 Table of Contents

Table of Contents
Preface .................................................................................................. vii

Class Files .............................................................................................ix

Chapter 1 Introduction to AutoCAD Electrical ................................1-1

1.1 What is AutoCAD Electrical?................................................1-3

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1.2 Drawing Files .........................................................................1-7

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1.3 Electrical Components and Wires......................................1-10

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1.4 Design Methodologies ........................................................1-13
Practice 1a Introduction Overview ....................................... 1-14

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Chapter 2 Project Files ......................................................................2-1

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2.1 Project Files ...........................................................................2-3

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2.2 Project Manager Interface.....................................................2-4
2.3 Accessing Project Files ........................................................2-7
Practice 2a Open, Close, and Create Project Files ............. 2-13
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2.4 Opening a Drawing ..............................................................2-18
2.5 Creating a Drawing ..............................................................2-19
2.6 Add a Drawing to a Project File..........................................2-22
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2.7 Managing Drawings in Projects .........................................2-24

2.8 Project Manager Drawing List ............................................2-30
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Practice 2b Projects and Drawing Files .............................. 2-32

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Practice 2c Modifying an Existing Project File ..................... 2-36

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Chapter 3 Schematics I - Single Wires/Components......................3-1

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3.1 Referencing ............................................................................3-3

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3.2 Ladders...................................................................................3-6
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Practice 3a Ladders............................................................. 3-11

3.3 Insert Wires ..........................................................................3-15
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3.4 Edit Wires .............................................................................3-17

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3.5 Add Rungs............................................................................3-19

3.6 Wire Setup ............................................................................3-20
3.7 Wire Numbers ......................................................................3-24
3.8 Source & Destination Signal Arrows .................................3-31
Practice 3b Insert and Manage Wires.................................. 3-37
Practice 3c Insert Source and Destination Arrows .............. 3-42

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AutoCAD Electrical 2012 Fundamentals

3.9 Insert Component ................................................................3-47

3.10 Parent/Child Components...................................................3-55
Practice 3d Insert Component Symbols .............................. 3-57

Chapter 4 Schematics II - Multiwire and Circuits ............................4-1

4.1 Dashed Link Lines .................................................................4-3
Practice 4a Dashed Link Lines .............................................. 4-4
4.2 3-Phase Ladders ....................................................................4-8

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4.3 Multiple Wire Bus.................................................................4-10
4.4 3-Phase Components ..........................................................4-13

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4.5 3-Phase Wire Numbering ....................................................4-14

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Practice 4b 3-Phase Circuit ................................................. 4-16
4.6 Cable Markers ......................................................................4-25

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4.7 Fan In/Out .............................................................................4-30

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Practice 4c Cables............................................................... 4-35

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4.8 Insert Saved Circuits ...........................................................4-41

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4.9 Save Circuits to Icon Menu.................................................4-44
4.10 Wblock Circuits....................................................................4-47
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4.11 Copy Circuit .........................................................................4-49
4.12 Move Circuit .........................................................................4-51
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4.13 Circuit Builder ......................................................................4-52

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Practice 4d Reuse Circuits .................................................. 4-57

Practice 4e Circuit Builder ................................................... 4-64
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Project Exercise 1 Schematic Drawings .....................................PR1-1

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Schematic Drawings........................................................... PR1-3

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Chapter 5 Editing Commands...........................................................5-1

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5.1 Edit Component .....................................................................5-3

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5.2 Project Task List ....................................................................5-6

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5.3 Scoot ......................................................................................5-8

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5.4 Move Component ..................................................................5-9

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5.5 Copy Component ................................................................5-11

5.6 Align......................................................................................5-12
5.7 Delete Component ...............................................................5-13
Practice 5a Edit Components .............................................. 5-15
5.8 Surfer Command..................................................................5-21
Practice 5b Surfer ................................................................ 5-24
Practice 5c Additional Surfer Practice ................................. 5-28

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5.9 Copy Catalog Assignment ..................................................5-30

5.10 Copy Installation/Location Code Values ...........................5-33
5.11 Attribute Editing Commands ..............................................5-35
Practice 5d Copy AutoCAD Electrical Data ......................... 5-36
Practice 5e Attribute Editing Tools....................................... 5-41

Project Exercise 2 Editing Commands .......................................PR2-1

Editing Commands ............................................................. PR2-3

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Chapter 6 Panel Drawings.................................................................6-1

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6.1 Insert Footprint (Icon Menu) .................................................6-3
6.2 Insert Footprint (Schematic List) .........................................6-8

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6.3 Insert Component (Panel List)............................................6-14

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6.4 Edit Footprint .......................................................................6-20
Practice 6a Insert Footprint (Icon Menu) ............................. 6-22

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Practice 6b Insert Footprint (Schematic List)....................... 6-30

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Practice 6c Insert Component (Panel List) .......................... 6-36

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6.5 Assign Item Numbers..........................................................6-41
6.6 Add Balloons........................................................................6-44
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Practice 6d Item Numbers and Balloons ............................ 6-46

Project Exercise 3 Panel Drawings .............................................PR3-1

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Panel Drawings .................................................................. PR3-3

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Chapter 7 Terminals...........................................................................7-1
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7.1 Insert Terminal Symbols .......................................................7-3

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7.2 Multiple Level Terminals .......................................................7-6

7.3 Multiple Insert Component Command...............................7-10
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7.4 Insert Jumpers .....................................................................7-12

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Practice 7a Insert Terminal Symbols ................................... 7-16

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7.5 Terminal Strip Editor ...........................................................7-24

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7.6 DIN Rail Command ..............................................................7-29

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Practice 7b Insert Terminal Footprints................................. 7-31

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Chapter 8 PLC Symbols ....................................................................8-1

8.1 Insert PLC (Parametric).........................................................8-3
8.2 Insert PLC (Full Units) ........................................................8-10
8.3 Insert Individual PLC I/O Points .........................................8-13

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AutoCAD Electrical 2012 Fundamentals

8.4 PLC Based Tagging.............................................................8-16

Practice 8a Insert Parametric PLC Module.......................... 8-18
Practice 8b Insert Full Units PLC Module ............................ 8-27
8.5 Spreadsheet to PLC I/O Utility............................................8-31
Practice 8c Spreadsheet to PLC I/O Utility .......................... 8-36

Project Exercise 4 PLC Symbols .................................................PR4-1

PLC Symbols...................................................................... PR4-3

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Chapter 9 Point-to-Point Wiring Drawings ......................................9-1
9.1 Insert Connectors ..................................................................9-3

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9.2 Edit Connectors .....................................................................9-6

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9.3 Insert Splices .........................................................................9-8
Practice 9a Insert and Modify Connectors............................. 9-9

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9.4 Insert Multiple Wires............................................................9-14

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9.5 Bend Wires ...........................................................................9-16

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Practice 9b Wiring Tools...................................................... 9-17

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Project Exercise 5 Point-to-Point Wiring Drawings ...................PR5-1
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Point-to-Point Wiring Drawings .......................................... PR5-3

Chapter 10 Symbol Creation ...........................................................10-1

10.1 Schematic Symbols.............................................................10-3
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10.2 Naming Convention...........................................................10-12

Practice 10a Create Custom Symbol................................. 10-16
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10.3 Icon Menu Wizard ..............................................................10-25

Practice 10b Customize the Icon Menu ............................. 10-30
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10.4 AutoCAD Electrical Databases.........................................10-36

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10.5 Project Database................................................................10-37

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10.6 Catalog Database...............................................................10-38

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10.7 Footprint Lookup Database ..............................................10-44

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10.8 PLC Database.....................................................................10-49

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10.9 Pin List Database...............................................................10-55

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10.10Terminal Properties Database .........................................10-58

Practice 10c Catalog Database ......................................... 10-61
Practice 10d Footprint Database ....................................... 10-70
Practice 10e Pin List Database.......................................... 10-76

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Chapter 11 Titleblocks.....................................................................11-1
11.1 Update Titleblocks...............................................................11-3
Practice 11a Update Titleblocks .......................................... 11-6
11.2 Titleblock Setup .................................................................11-10
Practice 11b Titleblock Setup ............................................ 11-16

Chapter 12 Reporting Tools ............................................................12-1

12.1 Create Reports .....................................................................12-3

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12.2 Save to External File............................................................12-8
12.3 Put on Drawing ....................................................................12-9

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Practice 12a Create Reports ............................................. 12-10

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12.4 Configure Report Templates ............................................12-20
12.5 Running Automatic Reports .............................................12-23

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Practice 12b Automatic Reports ........................................ 12-26

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12.6 Electrical Audit...................................................................12-38

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Practice 12c Electrical Audit .............................................. 12-41

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Chapter 13 Settings and Templates ...............................................13-1
13.1 Project Properties................................................................13-3
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13.2 Drawing Properties............................................................13-10
13.3 Panel Drawing Configuration ...........................................13-18
Practice 13a Drawing and Project Properties .................... 13-20
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13.4 Template Files....................................................................13-24

Practice 13b Template File ................................................ 13-27
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13.5 Sharing Symbol Libraries and Databases.......................13-34

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Chapter 14 Drawing Update Tools..................................................14-1

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14.1 Project-Wide Update/Retag.................................................14-3

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14.2 Project-Wide Utilities...........................................................14-8

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Practice 14a Project-Wide Update/Retag and Utilities ...... 14-10

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14.3 Plot Project.........................................................................14-18

Practice 14b Plot Project ................................................... 14-21
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14.4 Export to Spreadsheet ......................................................14-24

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14.5 Update from Spreadsheet .................................................14-27

Practice 14c Export to and Update from Spreadsheet ...... 14-29
14.6 Copy Project.......................................................................14-35
Practice 14d Copy Project ................................................. 14-38
14.7 Swap/Update Block ...........................................................14-42
Practice 14e Swap/Update Block Option A ...................... 14-48
Practice 14f Swap/Update Block Option B ........................ 14-54

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14.8 Mark Drawings ...................................................................14-57

14.9 Verify Drawings..................................................................14-59
Practice 14g Mark and Verify Drawing .............................. 14-61

Appendix A Skills Assessment........................................................ A-1

A.1 Skills Assessment ................................................................ A-3

Index............................................................................................. Index-1

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 Preface

Preface

AutoCAD Electrical 2012 Fundamentals (three days) covers the

indispensable core topics for working with AutoCAD Electrical. In this
training guide, students learn how to use many of the powerful electrical
drawing creation tools in AutoCAD Electrical. Students create schematic
drawings (ladder logic and point to point), panel drawings, and PLC-I/O
circuits using automated commands for symbol insertion, component

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tagging, wire numbering, and drawing modification. In addition, students
are introduced to methods of customizing AutoCAD Electrical symbols,

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circuits, and databases. Other topics covered include titleblock linking,
reporting tools, templates, and project files.

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The main topics covered in this training guide include:

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Understanding project files.

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Creating and editing schematic and panel drawings.

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Working with PLC symbols.
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Creating custom symbols.

Generating reports.
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Pre-requisites:
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A working knowledge of AutoCAD.

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Chapter 1

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Introduction to AutoCAD Electrical
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In this chapter you are introduced to the basic layout of the AutoCAD Electrical
interface, how files are organized, what types of symbols are used, and the typical
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workflow.
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This chapter introduces:

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9What is AutoCAD Electrical?

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9Drawing Files
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9Electrical Components and Wires

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9Design Methodologies
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 Introduction to AutoCAD Electrical

1.1 What is AutoCAD Electrical?

The AutoCAD Electrical software is a purpose built controls
design tool that is used to automate the creation of electrical
schematic and panel drawings. It also tracks component
information between drawings and can create reports containing
this information. Electrical symbols carry the intelligence of
AutoCAD Electrical drawings and are the foundation of the

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functionality in AutoCAD Electrical software. Symbols are simply
AutoCAD blocks with attributes. Several standard symbol

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libraries are installed with AutoCAD Electrical, including JIC,
IEC, IEEE, JIS, and GB.

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AutoCAD Electrical contains all of the standard AutoCAD

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commands and many automated commands for controls design.
It is recommended that you use the AutoCAD Electrical

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commands when possible rather than the AutoCAD commands.

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Typically, AutoCAD Electrical commands have additional

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functionality that helps when designing. For example, the
AutoCAD Erase command versus the AutoCAD Electrical
Delete Component command. The Erase command erases the
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component. The Delete Component command erases the
component, attempts to heal the wires, and updates any
references.
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AutoCAD Electrical 2012 Fundamentals

Interface The AutoCAD Electrical interface, as shown in Figure 11,

contains three main areas in which to access commands.

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Figure 11

1. Project Manager Palette

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The Project Manager enables you to access project files,

drawing files, and the settings for the active project. It enables
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you to open, close, activate, and edit project files, as well as

update and print drawing files.
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2. Ribbon
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In AutoCAD Electrical, you use the Ribbon to access the

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commands. The Ribbon consists of a series of tabs and panels

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that contain a variety of tools grouped by function.

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3. Right-click Menus
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The AutoCAD Electrical interface contains context sensitive

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right-click menus. When you right-click on different objects, the

menus that open contain commands specific to the selected
object. These menus are very effective when editing or adding to
electrical drawings.

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 Introduction to AutoCAD Electrical

Getting Started The Getting Started Launchpad, as shown in Figure 12,

contains links to the AutoCAD Electrical help system and areas
Launchpad of Autodesk website. It is a good place to start for students
learning AutoCAD Electrical and those more experienced who
are upgrading to the latest release.

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Figure 12
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The Getting Started Launchpad is displayed when AutoCAD

Electrical software is started. You can turn this option off in
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the lower-right corner of the dialog box.

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The launchpad can be opened at any time by expanding

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(Help) and selecting Learning Tools>Launchpad.

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The launchpad contains links to tutorials to help you learn the

commands.
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Select the Whats New in AutoCAD Electrical 2012 link to

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open the AutoCAD Electrical help system to the page that

highlights the new features in the current release, with
additional links to new features from previous releases.

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AutoCAD Electrical 2012 Fundamentals

Electrical Help In addition to the AutoCAD help files, there are AutoCAD
Electrical help files. These can be accessed by expanding

(Help) and selecting Electrical Help Topics, as shown in

Figure 13. The two help systems have the same interface, but
contain different information.

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Information for AutoCAD software is contained in AutoCAD
Help. Electrical Help Topics only contains information about
AutoCAD Electrical commands.
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You can also press <F1> to open the AutoCAD help system.
There is no shortcut key to launch the AutoCAD Electrical
help system.
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1.2 Drawing Files

AutoCAD Electrical software uses the DWG files. They can be
opened and modified in AutoCAD, AutoCAD WS, AutoCAD
LT, DWG TrueViewTM, or any software that supports DWG files.

AutoCAD Electrical has different types of drawing files. These

include schematic drawings, panel drawings, and reference

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drawings.

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Schematic Schematic drawings, such as the example shown in Figure 14,

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contain ladder logic documentation. This includes schematic
Drawings symbols, wires, reports, and any other documentation required

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for the design.

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Figure 14
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AutoCAD Electrical 2012 Fundamentals

Panel Drawings Panel drawings, such as the example shown in Figure 15, are
used to document the physical location of components in the
panel. They can contain footprints for components, nameplates,
balloons, and reports.

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Figure 15

Reference Reference drawings, such as the example shown in Figure 16,

are drawings used to document designs, including table of
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Drawings contents or customer drawings. Reference drawings are

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included in the project but not in the tagging, cross-referencing,

or reporting processes.
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Figure 16

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 Introduction to AutoCAD Electrical

Hint: Project Files

Project files organize all of your drawings for a single design
and also contain settings for the active project. They are
managed in the Project Manager palette, as shown in
Figure 17.

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AutoCAD Electrical 2012 Fundamentals

1.3 Electrical Components and

Wires
AutoCAD Electrical uses symbols to represent components and
lines to represent wires. It contains several commands for
inserting and maintaining them.

Schematic symbols are used to document the electrical logic

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of a system.

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Also available are symbols and commands for building PLC
drawings.

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Panel drawings represent the physical components in the

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panel or elsewhere in the system.

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for creating and managing wires.

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Schematic symbols, including push buttons, relays, and
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switches, are shown in the example in Figure 18. They are
Symbols used to represent components in the electrical logic drawings of
this system. Schematic symbols are AutoCAD blocks with
attributes. AutoCAD Electrical software has several different
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libraries of symbols that support different standards. These

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include JIC, IEC, IEEE, JIS, and GB, among others.

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Figure 18
The Symbol Builder utility can be used to create custom
symbols.

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PLC Modules AutoCAD Electrical contains a library of PLC modules from

different manufacturers, and are displayed in a schematic
drawing, as shown in Figure 19. This library can be customized
to add manufacturers or modules. The modules are AutoCAD
blocks with attributes. AutoCAD Electrical has automated
commands for inserting the modules into a drawing.

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Figure 19
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Panel Panel footprints are used to represent components in the design,

and schematic symbols are used to document the electrical logic
Footprints
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of the system. AutoCAD Electrical contains a library of panel

footprints based on manufacturer information, and are displayed
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in a panel drawing, as shown in Figure 110. The library is

customizable to enable you to add new footprints.
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Figure 110

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AutoCAD Electrical 2012 Fundamentals

Wires Wires are an integral part of any electrical design, as shown in

Figure 111. AutoCAD Electrical contains commands for
inserting, trimming, and numbering wires, which are AutoCAD
line objects on special layers.

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Figure 111

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Cable Markers Wires can be linked to create cables using cable marker

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symbols, as shown in Figure 112. Cable markers carry
information about the cable manufacturer, color, and other
attributes. AutoCAD Electrical software contains commands for
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inserting, deleting, and modifying cable markers as well as
creating reports containing information about the cables.
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Figure 112
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1.4 Design Methodologies

AutoCAD Electrical software is a flexible and customizable
system. A typical workflow includes:

1. Creating a new project file or copying an existing project file.

2. Configuring the settings for the project.

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3. Building the schematic drawings.

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4. Building panel drawings based on components in the
schematic drawings.

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5. Creating reports from the panel or schematic drawings.

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AutoCAD Electrical enables you to have variations of the
workflow. You can create panel drawings first, and then create

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schematic drawings based on components in the panel. Both

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workflows can be used: schematic to panel or panel to
schematic.
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AutoCAD Electrical 2012 Fundamentals

Practice 1a Introduction Overview

Estimated time for In this practice you will open a schematic drawing as shown in
completion: 10 minutes. Figure 113, and then edit two components to see the
information attached to the symbols. You will then open a panel
drawing and edit a panel footprint to see its attached information.

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Figure 113
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1. In your class folder, in the Module 01 folder, open

Control.dwg.
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2. Zoom to different areas of the drawing to investigate the

different symbols. This is a schematic drawing containing two
motor control circuits and two PLCs.

3. Zoom to the top half of the ladder on the right side of the
drawing. This is the input PLC for this design.

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 Introduction to AutoCAD Electrical

4. Zoom to the lower half of the ladder on the right side of the
drawing. This is the output PLC for this design.

5. Zoom to the top portion of the ladder on the left side of the
drawing.

6. Right-click on the relay coil symbol labeled CR201 and select

Edit Component, as shown in Figure 114. The Insert/Edit
Component dialog box opens, as shown in Figure 115. The
data attached to the symbol includes its component tag,

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manufacturer, descriptions, and pin numbers.

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Figure 114
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Figure 115

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AutoCAD Electrical 2012 Fundamentals

7. Click to close the dialog box.

8. Right-click on the push button symbol labeled PB201A and

select Edit Component, as shown in Figure 116. The
Insert/Edit Component dialog box opens, as shown in
Figure 117. The same data fields are available, but they
contain values pertaining to the push button.

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Figure 116

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Figure 117

9. Click to close the dialog box.

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 Introduction to AutoCAD Electrical

10. Close Control.dwg. When prompted to save changes, click

.

11. In the Module 01 folder, open Operator Station.dwg. The

drawing represents the operator panel drawing and a bill of
materials for the panel drawings.

12. Zoom in to the three push buttons near the middle of the
panel, as shown in Figure 118. They are labeled PB201A,
PB207, and PB201.

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Figure 118

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Right-click on the 13. Right-click on the push button on the left, labeled PB201A
octagonal shape labeled and select Edit Footprint, as shown in Figure 119.
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PB201A, and not on the
square labeled PB201A
START FORWARD.
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Figure 119
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AutoCAD Electrical 2012 Fundamentals

14. The Panel Layout Component Insert/Edit dialog box opens,

as shown in Figure 120. The panel footprint symbol
represents the push button that was edited in the schematic
drawing.

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Figure 120
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15. Click to close the dialog box.

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16. Close Operator Station.dwg. When prompted to save

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changes, click .
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17. If time permits, open and investigate the other drawings in the
6

Module 01 folder. Contents.dwg contains a list of the

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drawings that are part of the project. BOM.dwg contains the

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bill of materials report for the project. Power.dwg contains

the schematic symbols for the power circuit for the project.
Cabinet.dwg contains the panel footprints for the cabinet
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components in the project.

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 Introduction to AutoCAD Electrical

Chapter Review Questions

1. What are the three main components of the AutoCAD
Electrical interface?

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2. How do you access the AutoCAD Electrical Help system?

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3. AutoCAD Electrical symbols are composed of what object
type(s)?

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4. Where in the interface can you access AutoCAD Electrical
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commands?
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