Bus Topology
Build the same bus topology two different ways. Four 2-pin components (X1, X2, X3, X4) connected through two branch points (BP1, BP2) with splices at each junction. Both demos produce the same result — two nets running from X1 through the branch points to all three load connectors.
Demo 1: Build from Scratch
Build the bus topology by placing components and branch points, connecting pins, creating splices at branch points, then connecting the remaining endpoints.
Place Components and Branch Points
Place four 2-pin components (X1, X2, X3, X4) and two branch points (BP1, BP2). Draw bundles to establish the bus topology: X1 → BP1 → BP2 → X4, with X2 branching from BP1 and X3 branching from BP2. Connect X1 to X2 via Bulk Connect to create the initial conductors.
Create First Splice at BP1
Select BP1 and convert the pass-through conductors to splices. This exposes SP1 and SP2 as connection targets — other components can now connect to these splice points.
Create Second Splice at BP2
Repeat at BP2 — convert pass-throughs to splices. SP3 and SP4 are now available for X3 and X4 to connect to.
Connect Remaining Endpoints
Connect X3 and X4 to the splices at BP2. Each component’s pins connect to the corresponding splice, completing the bus.
Verify Nets
Open the Nets panel to verify — two nets, each spanning all four components through the splices. Clicking a net highlights all its conductors across the schematic.
Demo 2: Hub and Spoke to Bus
Start with a hub-and-spoke topology — X1 directly connected to X2, X3, and X4 with 6 pins — then consolidate into the same bus by inserting branch points and redirecting conductors into splices.
Starting Topology
Starting point: X1 has 6 pins — two per spoke, directly connected to X2, X3, and X4 with no branch points.
Review Hub Connections
The Bulk Editor shows all bundles radiating from X1 — each with 2 conductors. The goal is to consolidate these into a bus with shared branch points.
Add Branch Point to Bundle
Right-click a bundle and select Add Branch Point to insert BP1 directly onto an existing bundle. The bundle splits at the insertion point — one segment on each side of BP1. No need to delete and redraw; the conductors stay intact and now pass through the new branch point.
Create Splices
Convert the conductors at BP1 to splices, merging the common conductors from the hub spokes into shared splice points.
Add Second Branch Point and Redirect X3
Insert BP2 onto the X1 → X3 bundle using Add Branch Point, then redirect the bundle endpoint from X1 to BP2. Right-click the bundle endpoint on X1 and select Redirect to change where it terminates. When a bundle already connects the old and new endpoints, conductors automatically maintain their connectivity through that existing path. The conductors now route from X3 through BP2 into the bus — the spoke is removed from X1 and its pins are freed.
Redirect X4 Bundle Endpoint
Redirect the X1 → X4 bundle endpoint the same way — detach from X1 and reattach to BP2. Connectivity is preserved automatically through the existing bundle. Both X3 and X4 now connect through the second branch point instead of directly to X1. To break connectivity instead, expand the submenu for isolate options.
Complete Bus
The same bus topology as Demo 1 — arrived at by consolidating a hub and spoke. X1 is reduced from 6 pins to 2, and all conductors route through splices at BP1 and BP2.