Passive pins of component become Bidirectional when part added to schematic

[leef_me]

I am trying to do an ERC and I find several errors, unexpected because I thought connector pins would be "passive".

Error: Connecting 'Power to Bidirectional'; 

Error: Connecting 'Bidirectional to Power';

Try this example:

On a new schematic, place an LM7805CT and a HDR1X3

Wire 1 to 1 the three pins of the 7805 to the pins of the HDR

Tools> electrical rules check

You'll get at least one error, if you leave the ERC rules table unchanged:

     Error: Connecting 'Power to Bidirectional';   [U1 pin OUT, Circuit2]  to  [J1 pin P3, Circuit2]

Funny thing is that it seems when I edit HDR1X3, component 7700 in the Master Database

The pin parameters tab shows the part as Component type Analog with all three pins labeled "passive".

[lacy]

Once you have editted it then you need to delete the current one and place the new one from the user database.

ERC rules check has no real bearing in whether or not your circuit is correct. It is user adjustable. It is mainly a guide for you to examine the error and see if it is a problem. Most of the time I don't even use it (except for looking for unconnected pins) since pins of components are usually labeled  generically and can be hooked up diferently for different applications. Case in point: I get ERC errors when hooking up diodes to an AC power source. This is because the diode pins are labeled as bi-directional therefore based upon the default ERC settings this gets flagged as an error when it really isn't.

If you wish to run an ERC check on your circuit, then just examine the error and use your judgement as to whether or not is is something to be concerned about. If it is nothing to be concerned about then you can go into the ERC and edit this out so that particualr error doesn't keep popping up in this particular circuit. The rule of thumb I use: If your circuit simulates without error and you get the results you expect, then ERC makes no difference.

I hope this helps you understand this.

[lacy]

I made a mis-statement in my last post. It wasn't when I hooked the diodes to the AC Souce. What it was was when I wired up a DC power supply and hooked another component to the output of the diodes. The componet had its power pin labeled as PWR and I hooked this to the diodes and did an ERC check and that what was flagged as an error. "Bi-directional hooked  to PWR" or somethuing to that effect.. My circuit worked as I expected it to so I just ignored it and adjusted it out in the ERC Table. I thought I would correct my statement so as not to cause any confusion on the point I was trying to get across.