Design Master Wish List
Welcome to the Design Master Wish List, where you can submit your ideas for improvements to the software.
191 results found
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Paralleling Switchgear Support
Would be very helpful to be able to be able to have multiple sources connect to the same bus. We have had numerous situations where we have had Geneva type switches, multiple kirk-key input as well as paralleling switchgear situations where we were unable to find a "work-around" using this software. This is becoming especially common with ConEdison now permitting the paralleling of electrical sources.
1 vote -
Multiple Fault Schedules
I would like the ability to break out individual fault current schedule entries into separate groups based on the service connection or other arbitrary criteria. For example, in a project with three electrical services, the distribution equipment fault current associated with one service could be scheduled separately from the other two services. Design Master currently schedules all fault current schedule entries together. On projects with multiple services and dozens of distribution equipment entries, a method of showing specific fault current calculations in separate schedules would be invaluable.
2 votes -
A copy function for identical floor plans in multi-level buildings would be a time saving idea to speed up drawing.
So that when I am working on a multilevel building all I would have to do is copy the floor plan from one identical level and placing it on the other matching levels then just rename the panels and circuit names, without duplicating the copied information on the original panels. Breaking its connection with the parent panel and giving a notification to reassign panel names.
4 votes -
Better default panel clearances
Have better default values for panel clearances, including options to have it vary upon the panel defition.
1 vote -
Separate column in the feeder schedule for the service grounding electrode conductor.
The service ground does not get installed in the conduit with the service entrance conductors, so why is it shown just like all the other feeders where the equipment grounding conductor is installed with the feeder conductors. If you want the feature to show the GEC size, show it in a different column and show the feeder with no ground listed with the feeder conductors so its clear it is not in the conduit.
4 votes -
Add a hatch pattern to room definitions
When defining rooms, it is often difficult to determine which rooms have been defined and which have not, if an area gets surrounded. Adding a hatch pattern on its own layer would make it much easier to determine if you've included all room definition areas.
2 votes -
Label homeruns with feeder IDs
Label homeruns using feeder IDs like those used in the one-line diagram instead of full text wire callouts.
2 votes -
Copy panel and loads to new project
Be able to copy panels and other distribution from one project to another. The loads on the panel will be created as fixed loads in the new project.
3 votes -
Show schedule notes on last column when schedule is split
Currently if a schedule has a "Maximum Schedule Height" set the schedule notes are placed at the bottom of the first column. It would be better to place them at the bottom of the last column (or at least have an option to place them there) since the last column is often shorter than the others.
1 vote -
Voltage Drop Based upon Connected or Other Load
Be able to specify that the voltage drop on a feeder should be based upon the connected or other load, rather than the calculated load.
One example of a use for this feature is a piece of equipment that serves a single motor. You want the voltage drop for the connected load of the motor, rather than the calculate load, which will be 125% of the motor load.
6 votes -
Reset panel "Fixed Loads".
Often, I need to "start over" on a panel that I've assigned fixed loads. It would be handy to have a button that would clear every fixed load on the panel. Or even be able to select several circuits and clear those circuit's fixed loads.
5 votes -
On a one-line diagram, a vertical bus panel should have horizontal branch breakers--NOT vertical!
When you generate a one-line diagram, if you have panels that have a vertical bus, their branch breakers end up at the bottom of the bus and are vertical. The look like main breakers--not branch breakers. A work around for this is for every vertical bus panel, generate a riser diagram starting with that panel. Even this work around is not perfect, as you have to resize the vertical bus and fiddle with the branch breaker.
3 votes -
Equipment Panel Description
In the Panel Description dropdown, add "Equipment Callout + Description" to the list, in addition to "Same as Equipment Callout" and "Custom".
1 vote -
Improve combined homeruns
Be able to combine homeruns with different wire sizes.
Be able to combine homeruns from separate panels.
Be able to display a full wire callout for combined circuit homeruns, including calculating the conduit size required for all the wires.
14 votes -
Default Groups
Have the ability to define a default device group name. In multi-phase projects it would be helpful to be able to set a group name as the default instead of having DM go to the "General" group.
1 vote -
Low-voltage looping
Be able to draw loops between devices for low-voltage lines, for connecting items like sensors and power packs.
6 votes -
Subfeed breakers
Add specific support for subfeed breakers.
Be able to set the number of subfeed breakers on a panel (similar to how the number of poles is currently set on a panel).
Have the panel schedule update to document which breakers are subfeed. We likely would add a separator block between the branch circuit and subfeed breakers that you could customize. The default block would have a line across the schedule plus some text indicating branch circuit breakers above and subfeed below. You could then modify that as desired for your documentation purposes.
56 votes -
Backfeed Breakers
Be able to use a branch breaker on the panel as the main breaker.
1 vote -
Circuiting layer dependent on device layer system
DM's default circuit layer system can be determined by three different options: (1) same as distribution equipment, (2) new, and (3) existing. We'd like a fourth option that makes the circuit layer system match the circuit layer system of the device that's being circuited.
For example, we're currently designing a job where we are installing new receptacles that are being fed from an existing panel. Our receptacle circuit callouts are coming up under the existing layer system (based off of the panel) instead of the new layer system (based off of the new receptacles). To address this, we changed the…
1 vote -
Add load column to receptacle schedule
Add a column to the receptacle schedule to show the load on the receptacle.
1 vote
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