Smart Wiring Application to simplify control cabinet wiring
24 March 2017
Wiring a control cabinet requires a lot of time and expertise, however EPLAN has unveiled its Smart Wiring Application alongside the release of EPLAN Version 2.6.
The app visualises the control cabinet wiring and provides the necessary production data digitally which completely eliminates the need to work from schematic diagrams when wiring control panels – a time-consuming and error-prone process that requires a great deal of knowhow, as research has shown that 43 percent of all design time is spent wiring a cabinet!
A key benefit of the application is that it memorises previously used control system elements, which are then available whenever they are needed for future use. This enables engineers to benefit from substantial time-savings, especially for last-minute changes, because the software also handles the frequently complex task of project comparison.
Whether it’s the source/target description, terminal point handling, cross sections, colour, wire length, end procedures or exact cable routing, the software provides a visual representation together with the necessary wiring information and engineering data for mounting and assembly within the control cabinet.
The Smart Wiring Application refers to the virtual model’s 3D layout in EPLAN Pro Panel. Yet the new application can be utilised to enhance productivity even without a 3D layout.
The app is designed with simplicity and ease of use in mind. It offers step-by-step directions for the user, and through its clearly designed menu, it describes every single connection. This information is augmented with the equipment visualisation, including terminal points and the planned cable routing for the wires within the control cabinet.
In addition, the software also provides information about the required wire diameter, the colour to be used and the defined terminal point handling such as crimped or ultrasonic welding. Bundle affiliation is also shown clearly, which means that every connection as well as every working step, is clearly understandable and transparent.
As soon as a connection is completely wired, it’s shown in green. This is tremendously helpful if several shifts are necessary to complete the work: colleagues can start wiring exactly where their predecessors left off.
The Smart Wiring Application really demonstrates its strength with last-minute changes to the project, which are simply registered in EPLAN Pro Panel and then updated. Through the Smart Wiring Application, the two project statuses are compared to one another and the software documents all the differences, saving enormous amounts of time as compared to doing this manually.
The software shows all the obsolete connections, those which have already been wired but must be removed, and which additional connections are required. This means that the times when wirers had to search and think about how the changes affect the entire wiring and manufacturing process have come to an end.
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