Electrical Design Software | Elecdes Design Suite by Scada Systems Ltd

Wiring Diagram Symbols and Attributes

Symbols in a wiring diagram

Each wiring diagram for a device is composed of a subset of the following symbols:

The symbols may be rotated to suit the diagram, for example when vertical wires are chosen for a diagram.

Tag, device and terminal symbols

wdtag.dwgSymbol to display the name of the device or terminal strip
wdtag101.dwgSpecial example of a tag symbol that contains the additional attributes for drawing cables in columns on a device drawn from a wiring diagram template.
wdbox.dwgRectangular box to represent the body of a device or terminal strip terminal
wdcirc.dwgCircle to represent the body of a circular device
wdlt.dwgTerminal symbol for the left or bottom side of a device
wdrt.dwgTerminal symbol for the right or top side of a device
wdAt.dwgTerminal symbol for a table of connections
wdst.dwgSymbol to display the terminal number of a terminal in a strip
wdboxhd.dwgHybrid terminal symbol to insert on a terminal of an existing "external" device wiring diagram
wdboxht.dwgHybrid terminal symbol to insert over a terminal of an existing "external" terminal strip diagram

See also How to Add Connections to Diagrams for External Equipment.

Conductor symbols for devices

wdlc1.dwgSymbol to display a single conductor connected to the left or bottom side
wdlc2.dwgSymbol to display two conductors connected to the left or bottom side
wdlc2c.dwgSymbol to display two conductors connected to the left or bottom side - centred
wdlc3.dwgSymbol to display three conductors connected to the left or bottom side
wdrc1.dwgSymbol to display a single conductor connected to the right or top side
wdrc2.dwgSymbol to display two conductors connected to the right or top side
wdrc2c.dwgSymbol to display two conductors connected to the right or top side - centred
wdrc3.dwgSymbol to display three conductors connected to the right or top side
wdAc.dwgSymbol to display a single conductor in a table of connections

Conductor symbols for devices that are drawn with a template

wdlcS1.dwgSymbol to display a single conductor connected to the left or bottom side
wdlcS2.dwgSymbol to display two conductors connected to the left or bottom side
wdlcS2c.dwgSymbol to display two conductors connected to the left or bottom side - centred
wdlcS3.dwgSymbol to display three conductors connected to the left or bottom side
wdrcS1.dwgSymbol to display a single conductor connected to the right or top side
wdrcS2.dwgSymbol to display two conductors connected to the right or top side
wdrcS2c.dwgSymbol to display two conductors connected to the right or top side - centred
wdrcS3.dwgSymbol to display three conductors connected to the right or top side
wdAcS.dwgSymbol to display a single conductor in a table of connections

Conductor symbols for terminal strips

wdlcT1.dwgSymbol to display a single conductor connected to the left or bottom side
wdlcT2.dwgSymbol to display two conductors connected to the left or bottom side
wdlcT2c.dwgSymbol to display two conductors connected to the left or bottom side - centred
wdlcT3.dwgSymbol to display three conductors connected to the left or bottom side
wdrcT1.dwgSymbol to display a single conductor connected to the right or top side
wdrcT2.dwgSymbol to display two conductors connected to the right or top side
wdrcT2c.dwgSymbol to display two conductors connected to the right or top side - centred
wdrcT3.dwgSymbol to display three conductors connected to the right or top side
wdAcT.dwgSymbol to display a single conductor in a table of connections

Other symbols for conductors

wdlcable.dwgSymbol to display the name of a cable on the left or bottom side cable line
wdrcable.dwgSymbol to display the name of a cable on the right or top side cable line
wdACable.dwgSymbol to display the name of a cable in a table of connections
wdbblob.dwgSymbol showing that a bar link is connected to a terminal via a large dot
Diamd_WD.dwg

Drawing reference symbol, used to denote a reference to the destination drawing of a WD conductor.

The drawing will be listed in the reference drawings table found at another location on the drawing.

When the Back annotate references to the Reference Drawings table setting in the cross reference settings is enabled, the drawing reference symbol will be inserted at the insertion point of the WD_DESTXRF attribute of the WD conductor symbol.

Optional graphic symbols

wd_fuse.dwgOptional fuse symbol to indicate a fused terminal
wd_swc.dwgOptional N/C switch symbol to indicate a switched terminal
wd_swo.dwgOptional N/O switch symbol to indicate a switched terminal

See also: Superimpose an Optional Symbol on a Terminal.

Wiring Diagram anchor block

wd_anchor1.dwgBlock used to indicate the position at which a wiring diagram should be constructed.

See also How to Use Placeholders to Pre-arrange a Wiring Diagram.

Preferences block

wdPrefs.dwgBlock used to store the preferences that were used to construct a diagram. Only exists when you choose to save diagram-specific preferences for this device.

See also How to Set Preferences for Wiring Diagrams.

Devices, Templates and Terminal Strips

The Wiring Diagram Generator supports using different symbols for three types of diagrams: devices, devices drawn from templates and terminal strips. It is possible to modify the symbols such that each of these three diagrams appears substantially different from each other without affecting the other diagrams.

Symbol file locations

The symbols are stored in two different directories: <EDS>\MET_WDG for metric symbols and <EDS>\IMP_WDG for imperial symbols.

Wiring Diagram anchor blocks and drawing reference blocks (Diamd_WD.dwg) are stored in either <EDS>\MET_RFIN or <EDS>\IMP_RFIN.

Using your own symbols

You may create your own symbols and use the initialisation file settings to inform the wiring diagram program which symbols to use.

The symbols listed above are the default symbols provided with the wiring diagram program.

If you modify the symbols you may need to change the settings that specify the size of the wiring diagram symbols, particularly the settings for the Leader Construction Sizes.

Wiring diagram templates

A wiring diagram template is not an individual wiring diagram symbol. Instead it is a template for an entire wiring diagram and is created from multiple of the wiring diagram symbols described in this topic.

Templates for Wiring Diagrams

Templates for Terminal Strip Diagrams

Symbol attributes

With the exception of the anchor blocks, the TAGALIAS attribute (of the anchor and tag symbol) and the preferences block, the attributes of the wiring diagram symbols are used only for displaying information on the diagram. The diagram symbols are identified by extended entity data that is neither editable nor visible in the drawing.

You may add attributes to certain symbols to show extra information in the diagram. This capability is mentioned if applicable for each symbol below.

The supplied wiring diagram symbols may contain some attributes that are no longer used.

You can hide attributes of the tag and terminal symbols in a diagram and this change will be retained when the diagram is refreshed. Hiding of attributes is not retained for other wiring diagram symbols and blocks.

All Symbols

  • All of the symbols have a TAGNAME attribute. This attribute contains the name of the device or terminal strip.

Tag symbol

  • The tag symbol has a PNLNO attribute. This attribute contains the name of the panel in which the device or terminal strip is located.

  • The tag symbol has a TAGALIAS attribute. This attribute is used to provide an arbitrary reference for labelling connections.

  • A tag symbol used in a wiring diagram template may have a COLTOL attribute. This attribute is used to specify the tolerance for misalignment in position of terminals that are to be considered as one column or row for the purpose of drawing cables for columns of terminals.

    For more information see Templates for Wiring Diagrams.

  • A tag symbol used in a wiring diagram template may have a 1STCABDIST attribute. This attribute is used to specify the distance between the first cable line and each column or row of terminals on a template.

    For more information see Templates for Wiring Diagrams.

  • A tag symbol used in a wiring diagram template may have a CABOFFSET attribute. This attribute is used to specify the distance between cable lines when cable lines are drawn for columns of terminals on a template.

    For more information see Templates for Wiring Diagrams.

  • You may add other device attributes to the tag symbol, for example RATING1, CATDESC. This enables the wiring diagram generator to copy from the device symbols any attributes that have the same attribute tag as an attribute in the wiring diagram tag symbol.

  • If you add a REFERENCE attribute to your tag symbols then it will be filled with the reference to the schematic symbol.

The addition of attributes is also applicable to terminal strip terminal symbols wdst.dwg. This allows the attachment of unique attribute data from the schematic to each terminal in a strip.

The Wiring Diagram Generator will retain the hidden status for attributes of this block.

Terminal symbols

  • All of the terminal symbols have a TERM attribute. This contains the terminal name or number for each terminal.

  • wdAt.dwg contains an ALPHASORT attribute, which specifies the index of the terminal (in an alphanumerically sorted list of terminals for the device) that will have its information loaded into the symbols other attributes (eg TERM). This attribute should be set to an integer value (starting with 1), and increment for each terminal of this type in the template. When using this symbol, TERM should not be filled in (it will be automatically filled when the template is inserted).

You may add attributes to the terminal strip terminal symbols wdst.dwg. This allows the attachment of unique attribute data from the schematic to each terminal in a strip.

The Wiring Diagram Generator will retain the hidden status for attributes of this block.

If you add a REFERENCE attribute to your terminal strip terminal symbols then it will be filled with the reference to the schematic symbol.

Hybrid terminal symbols

  • The two hybrid terminal symbols have a TERM attribute. This contains the terminal name or number for each terminal.

  • The two hybrid terminal symbols have a TAGALIAS attribute. This attribute is used to provide an arbitrary reference for labelling connections.

Conductor symbols

  • Conductor symbols have the DEVA, B & C, FERRA, B & C, WIREA, B & C and USERA, B & C attributes. These attributes store the conductor annotation for the three conductor lines.

    A, B & C relate to the first, second and third conductors that the symbol represents.

    Options on the wiring diagram dialog box enable you to choose which annotation will be displayed on your wiring diagram. See Wire and Termination Annotation.

Cable symbols

  • You may add other attributes to the two cable symbols, for example CATDESC.

    The Wiring Diagram Generator will copy from the cable schedule any fields that have the same name as an attribute tag in the two wiring diagram cable symbols.

  • Cable symbols should have a WD_DESTXRF attribute if drawing reference symbols are required (the reference symbol will be positioned at the insert point of the attribute).

Anchor blocks

The attributes of the anchor block are used to specify the device or terminal strip for which a wiring diagram should be drawn. Anchor blocks are not linked by extended entity data.

  • The anchor block has a PNLNO attribute. This attribute contains the name of the panel in which the device or terminal strip is located.

  • The anchor block can have a TAGALIAS attribute which allows you to pre-program a template with a TAGALIAS alternate name for each device and use these aliases in references of your wiring diagram.

  • The anchor block contains attributes to specify the orientation of wiring diagrams: ROTATION and MIRROR. These attributes are equivalent to the orientation choices that can be made in the Wiring Diagram main window.

  • The anchor block contains a TAGPART attribute to specify the numbered part of a split terminal strip that this anchor block represents.

  • An anchor block for a terminal strip can contain a list of the terminals in that strip in one or more of its MODC_TAGS_n attributes. These attributes are used for split terminal strips where only part of the strip is shown in each diagram.

    Each MODC_TAGS_n attribute can contain 255 characters. Long terminal lists overflow from one MODC_TAGS_n attribute into the next MODC_TAGS_n attribute in sequential order as required.

    The MODC_TAGS_n attributes are on the frozen layer WDPREFS.

  • The anchor block may also contain the attributes of the Wiring Diagram preferences block, wdPrefs.dwg, described below. When a wiring diagram that has diagram-specific preferences is reduced to a placeholder (an anchor block) its diagram-specific preferences are copied into the anchor block and the preferences block is erased. These preferences attributes are on the frozen layer WDPREFS.

See also How to Use Placeholders to Pre-arrange a Wiring Diagram.

Drawing Reference symbols

Drawing reference symbols will have the following attributes loaded with reference information:

  • TAGNAME: The tagname of the destination device.

  • PNLNO: The destination panel number or location of the remote device.

  • REF_NUMBER: The index of the reference drawing from the Reference Drawings table of that sheet. This number is visible.

  • DRAWING: The file name of the reference drawing.

Preferences block

The attributes of the preferences block are used to restore the wiring diagram preferences for refreshing an existing wiring diagram or terminal strip to ensure that the diagram will be regenerated with the same preferences as when it was originally constructed. If you erase the preferences block then the diagram will resort to the current preferences of the Wiring Diagram Generator.

Each attribute in the preferences block has a prompt that matches a Wiring Diagram Generator setting in the initialisation file, EL32.INI.

If you are editing the supplied wdPrefs block, you will find that the attribute definitions are not immediately visible. The attribute definitions are on the WDPREFS layer, which is frozen in the supplied symbol.

By default, diagrams use the current preferences of the Wiring Diagram Generator and do not save the preferences with which they were originally generated. Diagram-specific preferences will only be saved for a wiring diagram if you use the button [Preferences for device] in Wirediag.

See also How to Set Preferences for Wiring Diagrams.