Auto-connect

The auto-connect feature automatically creates electrical connections when you drop components near compatible existing components. This accelerates diagram building and reduces manual connection effort.

How proximity detection works

Auto-connect looks for a component directly above or below the drop point: within about 200 px vertically and about 75 px sideways (for a bus, anywhere along its length).

1. You drag a component from the toolbar, or move a component that has no connections yet.
2. As you move it over the canvas, the system checks for nearby components.
3. Drop the component. If a compatible component is within that range, EKX connects them.
4. The connection appears immediately without manual handle dragging.

The threshold provides a generous range while preventing unwanted connections to distant components.

When auto-connect triggers

Auto-connect activates when all these conditions are met:

• Component dragged from the toolbar, or moved while it has no connections. Moving a connected component never adds connections.
• Drop location is within range above or below an existing component
• Target component is electrically compatible
• Target component has available connection handles
• Shift key is not held during drop

If any condition fails, no automatic connection occurs.

Disabling auto-connect (Shift key)

Override auto-connect for precise placement:

1. Start dragging component from toolbar.
2. Hold Shift key before releasing the mouse button.
3. Drop the component.
4. Component places without creating connections.
5. Manually connect later if needed.

Use Shift when:

• Placing components near buses without connecting yet
• Building dense diagram sections
• You want exact control over connection sequence
• Testing component placement before committing to connections

Smart connection logic

Auto-connect validates electrical compatibility before connecting:

Validates:

• Component type compatibility (source to bus, bus to load, etc.)
• Voltage level compatibility
• Connection direction (upstream vs downstream)
• Handle availability

Prevents:

• Invalid connections (load to load)
• Voltage mismatches without transformers
• Reverse polarity connections
• Connections to fully-connected handles

The system only auto-connects when the connection makes electrical sense.

Auto-connect for different components

Buses:

• Most common auto-connect target
• Creates dynamic handle aligned with dropped component
• Vertical connection line
• See Buses

Transformers:

• Auto-connects to primary (top) if component dropped above
• Auto-connects to secondary (bottom) if dropped below
• Prevents both sides connecting simultaneously

Breakers and fuses:

• Auto-connects to line side (top) from upstream
• Auto-connects to load side (bottom) from downstream
• Maintains correct polarity

Loads and motors:

• Auto-connects to top handle only (power input)
• Downstream endpoint in power flow

Handling multiple nearby components

When multiple components are within range:

1. System calculates distance to each component center.
2. Closest compatible component gets priority.
3. Only one component auto-connects per drop.

If it connects to the wrong component, undo, then drop closer to the intended target, or hold Shift while dropping and connect manually.

Building typical configurations

Auto-connect excels at standard electrical configurations:

Utility to load:

1. Drop utility feed on blank canvas.
2. Drop breaker below utility (within range).
3. Auto-connects utility → breaker.
4. Drop transformer below breaker.
5. Auto-connects breaker → transformer.
6. Drop bus below transformer.
7. Auto-connects transformer → bus.
8. Drop loads near bus.
9. Each load auto-connects to bus.

Result: Complete distribution system with minimal manual connections.

Troubleshooting auto-connect

Nothing connects on drop:

• Move closer, directly above or below the target
• Check component compatibility
• Ensure target has available handles

Wrong component connects:

• Undo, then drop closer to the intended target
• Competing components may be nearer
• Use Shift to disable auto-connect and connect manually

Connection doesn't form after drop:

• Electrical validation rejected the connection
• Review connection rules and check that the target has an available handle
• Manually connect after fixing compatibility issues

Don't want auto-connect:

• Hold Shift key during drop
• Prevents all automatic connections
• Full manual control

Advantages of auto-connect

Speed:

• 10× faster than manual handle dragging
• Build complete systems in minutes
• Reduces repetitive clicking

Accuracy:

• System enforces electrical rules
• Prevents invalid connections
• Maintains proper polarities

Consistency:

• Connections always align correctly
• No crooked or misaligned connections
• Professional appearance

When to use manual connections

Prefer manual connections when:

• Building complex topologies
• Precise connection sequence matters
• Components too far apart for auto-connect
• Testing alternative configurations
• Learning system for first time

Auto-connect and manual connections work together - use auto-connect for speed and manual for precision.

Related topics

• Connections - Manual connection methods
• Buses - Bus dynamic handle behavior
• Pre-analysis validation - Issues shown before a study runs