Confused about pin properties

Hey!

So I loaded a symbol … in this case a transformer.

I even figured out how to draw the footprint .

I am just confused as to the definition of the pin properties.

This is a transformer … simple A/C … two sets of winding on both the primary and secondary.

When I go to “electrical type” … what is it?

I read the online manual but am still confused …

Is it a power input and power out put (there is a fuse and connector before the transformer) …

Or bi directional since it is AC and doesn’t care

or just input and output as it will always be 115 to 10 volts

Or ???

Thanks!

Looking at the existing transformers in the Library . . . perhaps Passive

image

In my opinion, the pin properties are most useful for things like power distribution and digital logic. For your specific case, I would argue all pins of a transformer should be labeled passive, as the component itself does not care about inputs or outputs (though the designer does!).

Schematic Editor | 7.0 | English | Documentation | KiCad and search for “Pin Creation” for more details (though you may have already found this).

Thanks!

First time using this program and trying to figure out what everything means.

I agree … since the description in the manual said passive if for things like connectors and resistors

I did figure out since posting this that the “passive” does not show up on the schematic and editing the symbol lets me put the wire numbers (1 - 8) …

Lucky for me a good manual and lots of videos … plus some help from you guys :grinning:

Thanks!

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Although an argument could be made for labelling the input winding Power Inputs and the output windings Power Outputs. Whether this is useful for detecting errors is doubtful. And you’d probably end up putting a PWR_FLAG after the fuse and/or connector. The pins are passive in the library because the symbol doesn’t distinguish between the windings, or in fact between power transformers and audio transformerts; it’s just a generic transformer.

Got it!

Thanks for the explination!

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