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Electrical Connectors

You can use electrical connector parts supplied with the software, or create your own parts. Follow these steps to make connectors.

Connection Points for Electrical Connectors

A connection point is a point in an electrical connector where a cable begins or ends. Electrical connectors are required to have at least one connection point with the route type set to Electrical. This defines the part as an electrical connector and provides information about the route.

In connectors that have multiple or single pins, there are several approaches for defining connection points:

  • You can use one connection point to represent all of the connector's pins, and route all wires or cables to that connection point. The pin connectivity data is held as internal data.
  • You can model each pin individually, with a separate connection point for each pin. Then you can route individual wires to each pin. This should be done only where it is absolutely necessary, because it adds complexity to the model.
  • In the Connection Point Property Manager, you can set individual or all numbers by separating the IDs with double quotes and a comma (",") in the 2D Schematic pin id field.

Creating Electrical Connectors

  1. Create a model of the connector.
  2. Add mate references needed to position the connector in an assembly.
  3. Create a sketch point to use for locating the connection point.
    1. Add dimensions and relations as needed to ensure that the point location is fully defined.
    2. Position the point where you want the cable to begin or end.
  4. Click Create Connection Point (Routing Tools toolbar) and make selections in the Connection Point PropertyManager.

Placing Electrical Connectors

You can place electrical connectors in either the top-level assembly or the route subassembly. Where you decide to place them depends on how you intend to assemble the actual hardware.

Top-level Assembly

To place connectors in the top-level assembly, make sure Automatically route on drop of flanges/connectors is not selected in Routing Options.

If open-ended wires are attached to the connector as the harness is installed, you should place the connector in the top-level assembly rather than the route subsassembly.

The connector does not appear on the harness drawing or bill of materials.

If you import a from-to list, the software detects connectors that already exist in the top-level assembly and does not insert duplicate connectors into the route subassembly.

Route Subassembly

To manually place connectors in the route subassembly, make sure Automatically route on drop of flanges/connectors is selected in Routing Options.

If a connector is crimped or sealed to the harness during the manufacture of the harness, you should place the connector in the route subassembly rather than the top-level assembly.

The connector appears on the harness drawing and bill of materials.

If you import a from-to list and the connectors are not in the top-level assembly, the software automatically places the connectors in the route subassembly.

Assigning Connector Accessories

You can assign connector accessories such as terminals, seals, plugs, and miscellaneous accessories, to a specific connector or to all the connectors in a route. You can further customize the parameters of a connector accessory for an individual pin.

You can define connector accessories in the Component Library of the Routing Library Manager, the From-To List wizard, and the Edit Connector PropertyManager.

You can assign either a terminal or a plug for a connector, but not both a terminal and a plug. However, you can select a seal for a terminal and a seal for a plug.

Data about connector accessories display in connector tables and circuit summaries for flattened routes, BOMs and drawings.

To define a connector accessory, right-click the route assembly in the FeatureManager design tree and click Edit Connectors (Electrical toolbar) or click Tools > Routing > Electrical > Edit Connectors.

Edit Connectors PropertyManager

Use this PropertyManager to define terminals, plugs, seals and miscellaneous accessories to connectors in a route.

To open the Edit Connectors PropertyManager, do one of the following:

  • In an existing electrical route, click Tools > Routing > Electrical > Edit Route > Edit Connectors .
  • Right-click the connector in the graphics area and select Edit Connectors.
  • Or right-click the route assembly in the FeatureManager design tree and select Edit Connectors.

Edit Context

There are two modes to applying connector accessories:

  Global Defines accessories to all connectors in a route.
  Connector Defines accessories to individual pins and connectors in a route.

Connector List

Applies to connector mode. Displays tree view of all connectors in a route.

You can expand or collapse a connector to view its pins by clicking beside the connector name. Click Connector detail to display the wire names, terminals, plugs, seals and miscellaneous data associated with the pins in a BOM style connector table.

Properties

Applies to connector mode. Displays data for a specific pin that you selected in the Connector List, such as Name, Terminal ID, and Seal ID.

Also displays attached wires for a selected pin. Click beside the wire name to view related wires.

Accessories

  Name Displays accessory name. Select one of the following for global mode only:

Terminals

Click Terminate all wires to apply terminals to all wire connections with a pin number.

Seals

Click Auto seal wires to apply seals where terminals are allocated on the pins.

Plugs

Click Auto Plug Connectors to apply plugs to all connectors having empty pins. This button only applies to connection locations with no wires.

All

Click Apply All Accessories to define all plugs, seals or miscellaneous accessories to all connector types in route.

  Value Displays value for accessory.
  Assigned Displays the numbers of terminals, plugs, and seals which are already used in a connector.
  Unassigned Displays the number of terminals, plugs, and seals which are not yet used in a connector but want to display in BOM.
The BOM displays the addition of assigned and unassigned values.

Library Properties

Displays library data on the selected accessory. This group box is blank if you selected to apply all accessories.

Additional Properties

Allows you to add specific information in the Name and Value fields for a connector or pin.



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