Draw to connect correctly, run to observe behavior, and check to find further faults. After each change, retest both the failed action and the stop function.
1. What do Draw, Run, and Check help you do?
In Draw, you place devices, connect wires, and arrange the drawing. In Run, you operate buttons and observe supported devices. In Check, you read the faults and warnings EleRun finds.
All three work on your drawing. If the coil fails to hold after Start is released, you can fix the KM1 branch and immediately test that same situation again.
| Step | What do you do? | What do you learn? |
|---|---|---|
| Draw — Draw the circuit | Place devices and connect wires. | The supply path to the coil. |
| Run — Test the circuit | Press Start, release it, and press Stop. | Whether the circuit behaves as intended. |
| Check — Inspect the drawing | Review faults and warnings. | Where further inspection or correction is needed. |
2. Write down the expected result before testing
For a holding circuit, begin with three statements: Start energizes the coil; releasing Start keeps it energized; Stop de-energizes it. These give your tests a purpose instead of pressing a few buttons and assuming everything works.
Add another situation: remove power, then restore it with Start released; the circuit should wait for a new command. As the circuit grows, add scenarios that match its job.
| What do you test? | Expected result |
|---|---|
| Apply power without pressing Start | KM1 remains de-energized. |
| Press Start, then release it | KM1 picks up and holds. |
| Press Stop, then release it | KM1 drops out and does not restart by itself. |
| Restore power with Start released | KM1 waits for a new Start command. |
3. Complete a draw, test, and fix cycle
Suppose the circuit runs only while you hold Start. Do not redraw it from scratch. The coil can already pick up, so focus on the path that should keep it energized after release.
After fixing the holding branch, test Stop too. A branch taking power from the wrong point may hold correctly but prevent stopping.
- Draw the smallest circuit that can test the Start–Stop requirement.
- Switch to Run, press and release Start, and compare with your expected result.
- If it fails, inspect the relevant branch, change one thing, and test again.
- Use Check, open each warning, and see where it points in the drawing.
- After fixing it, test Start and Stop again. Record what passes and what still fails.
- Wait for synchronization confirmation before closing the page or sending the drawing.
4. Where is EleRun useful?
When learning control circuits, operating Start and watching contacts change state often makes the principle clearer. A drawing that can run also makes explanations to others more concrete.
You can test a small idea before adding it to a larger circuit: add a run-permission condition, move a contact, or see how a branch affects stopping. Choose library devices with suitable simulation behavior.
A good starting point is a circuit you already know. Knowing how it should behave makes it easier to evaluate the tool and spot mistakes in your own drawing.
5. From simulation to real installation
Run shows circuit behavior in simulation. Check finds faults covered by the tool’s rules. They help you understand and correct a circuit, but do not replace device selection and installation checks.
Before building a panel, verify coil voltage, load current, conductors, protection, and the machine’s safety requirements using the appropriate project and device documentation.
Start with a Start–Stop circuit: draw it yourself, predict what happens when Start is released, then test your prediction. Explaining why the coil holds and why Stop interrupts it is worth more than a neat drawing alone.
ELERUN LAB · TRY IT YOURSELF
One edit, two ways to check it
Build a working Start–Stop holding circuit. Write two requirements: releasing Start must keep it running, and pressing Stop must stop it.
- Move only the holding branch's supply tap from after Stop to before Stop.
- Predict which requirement fails. Then record separately what Run shows and what Check actually reports.
Compare your reasoning
The holding branch can continue feeding KM1 when Stop opens because it bypasses Stop. Run tests the stopping behavior; Check reports only issues covered by its current rules. No warning from Check would not make the behavior correct.
Move the tap back after Stop before continuing. An empty warning list is not a safety certificate.
6. Frequently asked questions
Must I always follow Draw, Run, Check in that order?
You can use Check while drawing to find warnings early. After correcting them, still run the circuit to verify the behavior you need.
Do I need lengthy notes for every test?
No. A short table of action, expected result, and actual result is enough. For example: “Release Start — should hold — currently drops out.”
