Contacts, relays and protection

Attributes for parts lists

Every block has a visible TAG attribute and the key parameter next to the symbol: the resistance of a resistor, the rated current of a breaker, the type of a transistor, the rated power of a motor. The other parameters (voltage, tolerance, breaking capacity, speed, frequency, contact numbers and so on) are attributes that do not show on the sheet.

Nearly all blocks also have MANUFACTURER and PART_NO, and every block has a DESC attribute holding the name of the symbol. Fill them in with the attribute editor, or export them from many drawings to Excel for a bill of materials and write the changes back with BlockSync. Many symbols also carry the entry number of IEC 60617 (STD_CLAUSE, for example 07-13-06) and the number in the standard's database (STD_REF, for example S00288) as invisible attributes, so a symbol can be found in the standard and listed in a schedule.

How to use the library

1. Unzip the file and open the DWG. Copy the symbols you need into your drawing, or drag the blocks in from DesignCenter (ADCENTER).
2. Insert a block and snap to the 5 mm grid. The insertion point is terminal 1, so the symbol lands exactly on the end of the wire.
3. Fill in the tag, then double-click the block (or run EATTEDIT) to enter the rating, the type and the part number.
4. To count symbols or list the attributes of many drawings, export the blocks to Excel with BlockSync and write corrected values back.