Multi-terminal channels & internally bridged terminals

Description

This tutorial is an appendix to the Block Generator tutorial.
This tutorial explains how to use the block generator to add multiple terminals to the same channel, as well as add terminals that are internally bridged (flow-through).

Topics covered

Internally bridged, internal bridge, flow-through, block generator, channel, multiple terminals

Main content

Multi-terminal channels

First, we'll cover how to add multiple terminals to the same channel, but before we do that, let's define what exactly a channel is.
A channel is essentially an IO (input or output). In a typical IO list, each row is associated to one channel. In most cases, each channel consists of only one terminal, but it is also common for a channel to consist of multiple terminals, especially in the cases of AI, AO and relay output channels.

For example, consider that we want to create a 4-channel AI module using the block generator. Each of the four channels consists of two terminals; a positive and negative. To create these channels in the block generator:

1. Hold the SHIFT key when selecting Add analog input channel
2. Enter "2" when SkyCAD prompts:
   
   
    
3. Two terminals will be created and the Channel name column will indicate they both belong to Channel 1, which is what we want
   
   

You can use this method to add multiple terminals to AI, AO, DI, DO and relay output channels.

Once you generate the graphical block, the channels will be represented by having a rectangle around its terminals:

Internally bridged (flow-through) terminals

Next, we'll cover how to use the block generator to add terminals that are internally bridged (flow-through).
For this example, we'll consider a power supply that has two positive terminals (L+) and two negative terminals (L-). The positive terminals are internally bridged, and so are the negative terminals.

1. Hold the SHIFT key when selecting Add generic terminal.
2. Enter "2" when SkyCAD prompts:
   
   
    
3. Two terminals will be created. The Channel name column will remain blank because generic terminals are not technically channels. However, both these terminals are internally bridged (flow-though).

This:

will result in a block that looks like this:

Rectangles around the generic terminals indicate that they are internally bridged (flow-through). As such, when we draw connections to these terminals and run Wire Renumbering/Processing, each set of connections carry the same connection number, because they carry the same potential and are on the same net.

Related Tutorials

• Block generator (8:22)