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Conventional help symbols are connected to conventional main symbols. The two most common examples are contacts and cabinet layout symbols for conventional devices.

 

A help symbol does in most cases not represent a device by itself. Typically, the device is defined by a main symbol, with an index. The help symbol supplies additional information about this device. For example, a help contact symbol gives detailed information about one of the contacts of a contactor, but it is not a separate device with a separate item designation.

 

Help symbols should always have a cross-reference attribute. That attribute will contain a reference to the main symbol, a reference that is created and maintained automatically.

 

A help symbol is connected to a main symbol with a common item designation.

 

Help symbols can be mirrored by contact mirrors, which is a powerful functionality with multiple advantages.

 

A help symbol without reference to a main symbol constitutes an error.

 

Distinguishing properties of a conventional help symbol include the following:

 

•It connects to conventional main symbols.

•It can be mirrored by a conventional contact mirror.

•Typically, it does not have an index, but it can have one.

•It typically have connection points, but it does not have to.

•It does not have a component type letter code.

•It must have a function code, which is used for mirror booking or to prevent mirror booking.

•It has a cross-reference attribute.

•The Resource Category typically starts with a digit, but it does not have to.

 

Advice how to create the most common conventional help symbol types are provided in separate subtopics listed below.

 

•Contacts

•Help symbols for multiple contacts

•Help symbols that are not contacts

•Cabinet layout symbols for conventional devices

 

The figure below shows a typical help symbol. It is a make help contact from the standard IEC1082 symbol library. It is named S070202, and you can find it under resource category 2.