Creating Your Own Schematic Symbol

If you are a beginner in creating electrical symbols for your schematic diagrams, the first thing you need to do is learn what the symbols are and the differences between electrical and electronic symbols.

What are electrical symbols?

An electrical symbol is a graphical image used to represent electrical components or devices in schematic diagrams. These symbols are standardised and universally recognised to make it easy for engineers, technicians, and electricians to understand and interpret them.

What are electronic symbols?

An electronic symbol is a graphical image used to represent electronic components or devices in electronic circuits. It is similar to electrical symbols but is more specifically used to depict electronic components such as transistors, diodes, integrated circuits, and other devices.

Creating electrical and electronic symbols can be daunting, but fortunately, Capital X Panel Designer electrical CAD software makes this process quick and simple, as shown below.

Symbol creation process

Creating your own intelligent schematic symbol is an easy and automated process:

• Draw symbols using lines, circles, arcs and text.
• Group all shapes and add connection points.
• Select a shape and click on menu Create Symbol.

The anatomy of a schematic symbol

The create symbol window

The Create Symbol window is used to automatically insert intelligence and data into your custom symbol for it to be correctly identified and processed by Capital X Panel Designer.

All schematic symbols in Capital X Panel Designer have a link to a default component. This link is used by Capital X Panel Designer to automatically match symbols to components during panel layout and reports.

All symbols with connection points can have a set of pin names assigned to the connection points.

To manually control the width and height of the description textbox, use the width and height text box.

After setting all the options on the Create Symbol window, click the OK button and Create Symbol will:

• Insert intelligence and data into your custom symbol.
• Open the selected stencil and add your custom symbol onto the stencil.
• Delete the custom symbol from your drawing (for Capital X Panel Designer to identify your custom symbol, it must originate from a stencil).

Editing existing symbols

To modify and edit symbols on drawing:

• Drop symbols onto drawing.
• Modify symbols as required and click on menu Create Symbol to add it back into a stencil.

To delete a graphic on an existing symbol:

• Drop symbols onto drawing.
• Click on the symbol, then click on a graphic.
• Right click on the selected graphic, click on Tools | Unlock shape(s).
• With the graphic now unlocked, simply press the Delete key to remove the graphic.
• After graphics has been removed, select the symbol and use menu Create Symbol to add it back onto a stencil.

To add a graphic to an existing symbol:

• Drop symbols onto drawing.
• Draw and place graphics as required.
• Select both the existing symbol and also the newly drawn graphics, then click on menu Create Symbol.
• Capital X Panel Designer will automatically detect an existing symbol in your selection and will ask if you wanted to combine them.
• Once combined, Capital X Panel Designer will add the new graphic into the existing symbol while still preserving the symbol's information.

Viewing components of a symbol

To view the components of a symbol:

• Hover over the symbol in the Stencils.

Importing manufacturer components

To import manufacturer-specific components via 3Dfindit (by CADENAS):

• Click on menu Component Database.
• Select a category if you wish to import the component to a specific category.
• Click on Import from 3Dfindit.

• Ensure you have login to 3Dfindit.
• Browse and select the component from 3Dfindit.
• Click on the Send to CAD button to import the selected component.

• Select the stencil to import the layout

FAQs

What’s the difference between a symbol and a block?

In Capital X Panel Designer, symbols are a graphic representation of the real-world electrical or electronic component with associated metadata and electrical properties.

Blocks are usually a simple graphical element without any intelligence.

What are the basic electrical symbols?

The basic electrical symbols used for every schematic diagram are the Switch, Wire, Contactor, Motor, Circuit breaker, and Transformer.

What is an electrical schematic diagram?

An electrical schematic diagram is a graphical representation of an electrical circuit. It shows the components and interconnections within the circuit using standardised symbols of electrical and electronic devices.

Why is an electrical schematic diagram important?

A schematic diagram provides electricians and engineers with an easy means of understanding the wiring, components, and interconnections involved in a circuit. This is especially important in troubleshooting, as having a schematic drawing makes it easier to find the problem.

What is the purpose of creating my own symbol in Capital X Panel Designer?

Creating your own symbol allows you to design custom components that may not be available in the default stencil. This is helpful when working with unique parts or manufacturer-specific components, ensuring your projects stay accurate and complete.

Next step: Wires

• A variety of wires
• Difference between a line and a wire
• Connecting and manipulating wires
• Editing wire name
• The wire window
• Customizing wires
• Automatic wire name detection
• Wire name propagation
• Automatic wire connection
• Wire links
• Wire buses
• Assigning Cables
• Assigning Cable to Multiple Wires
• Managing Cables
• Selecting A Cable
• Arranging Cable Cores
• The Cable Database
• The Cable Tag Symbol
• Assigning Components To Wire
• Add custom fields for a cable