Basic tasks for electrical engineering and analysis

Autodesk Support

Nov 1, 2022

In this section, you will gain an understanding of the fundamentals of analyzing electric loads, placing equipment and components, and creating circuits.  

Part one includes: Specifying electrical load calculation settings

Part two includes: Calculating building electrical loads

Part three includes: Placing electrical equipment

Part four includes: Placing light fixtures

Part five includes: Placing electrical devices

Part six includes: Creating circuits

Part seven includes: Using the system browser

Part eight includes: Adding wires to circuits

Part nine includes: Creating panel schedules

 

Specifying electrical load calculation settings 

First, you will learn how to specify electrical load calculation settings before beginning electrical design. 

Exercise files:  

RME_basic_sample_project.rvt (Provided Revit sample file) 

Estimated time to complete topic:  

5 minutes  

Topic steps:  

8 

1. To open the Electrical Settings dialog, on the Systems ribbon, in the Electrical panel, click the dialog box launcher.

2. In the Electrical Settings dialog, in the Load Calculations options, the Apparent load calculation method can be specified. There are two options: Sum true load and reactive load and Sum apparent load. Select Sum true load and reactive load.  

3. Click Load Classifications to open the Load Classifications dialog to define Load classification types. Here, the Demand Factor for the Motor: Load classification type is being set to the “Demand Factor: Motor”. There is more on defining specific settings for Demand Factors in the next step. Load classification types are defined by:

Name 

Abbreviation 

Demand factor 

Load class for use with spaces 

4. Click the More button next to Demand factor to open the Demand Factors dialog. There are three calculation methods that can be used to define a demand factor: constant, By quantity, and By load. Select Constant from the drop-down.

5. With Constant selected, a constant Demand factor can be specified. An additional load can also be added to the calculated result. The Additional load option is available for each calculation method.

6. When By quantity is selected, a table appears to define the demand factor for various quantities of items. You can specify several quantity ranges for connected objects and apply a different demand factor to each range or apply the same demand factor to all objects depending on how many objects are connected. Greater Than specifies the lower limit of a range of objects. It always starts with 0. Less Than or Equal To specifies the upper limit of a range of objects. Demand Factor (%) specifies the percentage of full rated load that will exist at any given time for the specified connected objects.

7. First, select Total at one percentage or Incrementally for each range. You can then specify the quantities and demand factors for each row. Rows can be added and removed. Also, pay attention to the fact that the second column is Less Than or Equal To whereas the first is Greater Than.

8. The By load method is similar to By quantity, but the difference is that instead of specifying the quantities, the Load is specified. Assign a demand factor based on total load. You can assign a demand factor based on the total number of objects attached to a panel. Total load calculates the entire load at that demand factor.  Apply a demand factor based on ranges of loads. You can assign demand factors that are calculated incrementally for different ranges of loads.

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Ready for more? Head to Basic tasks for electrical engineering and analysis part two for: Calculating building electrical loads

Or go back to the AEC Collection Quick Start Guide for Building Engineers


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