Apparatus is a wiring item that pertains to different types of multi-purpose I/O devices. These devices accept wires and signals, for example, barriers, opto-couplers, relays, repeaters, isolators, and so forth. You also use this feature to create a fieldbus termination block whose configuration is different from an apparatus configuration.
Smart Instrumentation allows you to create a group of apparatuses or a single apparatus. An apparatus group constitutes an apparatus strip (that is, a terminal strip) with a number of apparatuses created according to a selected apparatus configuration.
Adding a new apparatus group to a panel or a wiring equipment item starts with configuring the new apparatuses: setting the number of apparatuses on an apparatus strip, defining the apparatus terminal numbering pattern, signal propagation, and the color of the terminals. After defining an apparatus configuration, you can proceed with the creation of an apparatus group. The software opens the Terminal Strip Properties dialog so that you can define an apparatus strip for the new apparatus group. After defining the apparatus strip properties in the Terminal Strip Properties dialog, the software creates the apparatus strip and the apparatuses according the selected configuration.
Smart Instrumentation also allows you to add a single apparatus to an apparatus group. For more information, see Add an Apparatus to an Apparatus Group.
After you have created a new apparatus group or a single apparatus, Smart Instrumentation displays it in the Domain Explorer showing the terminals belonging to the apparatus.
Note that an apparatus is a wiring item. Therefore, you can define apparatus properties, duplicate, or delete an apparatus, and assign it a special symbol. The software uses this symbol in the Enhanced Report Utility.