When creating a terminal strip, you are required to use a basic repeating numbering pattern (configuration) to enable logical numbering of terminals. A numbering pattern identifies the basic numbering system, or stepping method used for terminals in a terminal strip. Set +1,-1,+2,-2, for example, has a pattern of two, while the Set 1,2,3SH,4,5,6SH has a pattern of three.
You can label the terminals on a terminal strip according to any numbering system that you require (up to ten characters in length). To facilitate logical terminal numbering, Smart Instrumentation requires you to configure the basic repeating numbering pattern (configuration) for the terminals in the new terminal strip before defining that terminal strip.
When creating a strip in an I/O card or I/O termination, you use configurations that include channels. If you want to create a terminal strip without channels in one of these panels, set the number of terminals per channel to zero.
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In the Domain Explorer or Reference Explorer, right-click a panel.
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On the short-cut menu, select New > Terminal Strip.
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On the Terminal Strip Configuration dialog, select New.
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On the Number of Terminals in Pattern dialog, type or select a number to define the number of terminals to be repeated in the pattern and select OK.
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This number determines the number of rows (terminals) that will constitute the basic repeating numbering (naming) pattern.
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This numbering pattern is shown in the Terminal Numbering Pattern data grid on the Terminal Strip Configuration dialog.
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Under Configuration name, type the name of the new configuration.
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Under Configuration description, type an optional description of the new configuration.
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Type or select the total number of terminals required in the terminal strip.
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Select the starting number for the first terminal in the terminal strip.
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Select the required number of terminals per channel or segment.
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Select the first channel.
If the new configuration is to be used to create I/O cards, the value in the Number of terminals per channel and First channel fields must be larger than zero. Otherwise, the terminals on the terminal strip are
created without channels and you will not be able to create an I/O card.
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In the Terminal Numbering Pattern data grid, select and type in the Prefix field, select and type a value if you want to prefix the names of the terminals.
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Select the Incremented check box if you want the terminal number to be incremented within the pattern.
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Select the Numbered check box if you want the number of the terminal to appear between the prefix and the suffix.
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In the Suffix field, select and type a value if you want a suffix for the names of the terminals.
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From the Orientation list, select the connection orientation to the terminal:
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Regular — a conventional terminal that functions as a single unit.
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Left — a terminal that has wires on the left side only.
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Right — a terminal that has wires on the right side only.
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Left / Right — a terminal that has wires on the left side only.
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Select Save.
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If the required number of terminals is not exactly divisible by the number of terminals in a pattern, the remaining terminals are labeled SPARE.
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For examples of possible terminal strip configurations, see Terminal Strip Configuration Examples.