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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Error Checking
Provide a simple error checking routine that will look at panel loads and compare them to wire sizes and ratings of upstream breakers. This could be a simple table like voltage drop and fault currents where out of range values are shown in a different font type.
2 votes -
Use Branch Circuit as Main Breaker for Panel
need a way for a branch breaker to serve as the main in a panelboard and allow it to connect on the oneline
2 votes -
Support feeder calcs for track lighting
See NEC 220.43(B). The connected load for the branch circuit is the sum of the wattage of the connected light fixtures. The demand load is an additional 150VA per foot. I would like a place to enter the number of feet of track on a branch circuit so the demand load is calculated correctly in the load summary. We currently accomplish this through a 'Variable Caclulated Load', but it might be more intuitive if there is a 'Length Variable Demand' option. Thank you.
2 votes -
Equipment and Receptacle Short Circuit Calculations
Add the ability to select a checkbox for receptacles and equipment so that short circuit calculations are included for that device.
2 votes -
Copy distribution panels from job to job in multi-story buildings to serve lease space panels.
We do a lot of design work in multi-story buildings that require us to show distribution panels on one-lines with load info. Right now I have to create the DPin each job. I would like to be able to copy from job to job with existing loads.
2 votes -
Allow the option to add circuiting to fixture callout
Allow the option to put the circuit number or control designation in the bottom of the fixture callout in place of the lamp info.
2 votes -
Circuit and Move Note in one step
Often when circuiting I find the location DM puts the label is very poor. It would be nice if after inserting the circuit I could move the circuit text without having to stop the circuiting action, move the text, then start the circuiting action again.
2 votes -
Excel Add In
Can we change the way that the low voltage devices, switches, and equipment are handled so that they can be exported in the same manner as the light fixtures and receptacles?
2 votes -
Support UCS coordinate systems for Labels
On large campus jobs the ability to support UCSs is needed. Autodesk Parallels like Plant3D do not allow for backgrounds to have different rotations. Common coordinate system must be used.
Seems like an easy tweak to the software as the North Arrow frameworks you already have built should be able to support this.1 vote -
Count up or down from starting circuit number.
About 3 out of 10 times when I get an as built of mine or someone else’s drawings, the EC flips the panel so that 42 is at the top left and 1 is at the bottom right. I understand from other EC that it is perfectly legal. But it drives me crazy as I have to export the drawing and then manually update the circuits numbers in the schedule. Hoping it never comes back again for another As-built update. Many years ago, you added the feature of letting us start on a different number. Would really be helpful to…
1 vote -
Allow export to 64-bit Excel
The title says it all. Excel integration is currently not compatible with the 64-bit version of Excel.
1 vote -
Improve Dynamic Load Calculations
Make several modifications to fine tune the dynamic load calculations at the bottom of a panel schedule.
- Add the units of 'KVA' to the 'TOTAL LOAD'
- Change the units of the BALANCED LOAD line from 'A' to 'AMPS'
- Place the units for those two lines in the same column as the demand percentages of the rows above to make more room for the TOTAL LOAD and BALANCED LOAD sums to display without wrapping the units to the next line.
- Change the lines under CONN KVA and CALC KVA to the SCHEDULE-MEDIUM layer instead of the SCHEDULE-HEAVY…1 vote -
Printing One Line Blocks
Suggest new feature to print all one line diagram blocks (distribution, feeder, equipment, etc) used in a project's block schedule. Would be a great tool when setting up the master template.
1 vote -
multiple site alignment points
Support for multiple alignment points on a site plan for a campus with more than one building so each building can have its unique alignment point but the distance to a shared transformer can be easily maintained.
1 vote -
Add capability to adjust Target Conduit fill at Panel Level and in options + Warning when exceeded
Sometimes I prefer to over-size conduit for various reasons. However, if this is done manually at the panel level and then the feeder / ampacity changes, its very easy to have a feeder that exceeds 40% fill. Proving an option to adjust the maximum fill from 40% would allow the user to over-size conduits without manually selecting a size.
Also, adding an alert that warns you when a feeder exceeds 40% (Similar to the panel threshold warning) would be a great add.
1 vote -
Ability to Adjust Distribution Equipment Schedule
Currently the "Print Distribution Equipment Schedule" does not allow the option to adjust the column widths. The default column widths are too small for the circuit number and breaker and too large for the description. As a result when the schedules are printed they are often illegible or too wide to fit in the sleeves that come standard in panels.
1 vote -
Inverter with Multiple Voltages
Allow the creation of UPS (or central inverter) to have multiple output voltages. We do a lot of tornado shelters where the backup power source is a central inverter. When using 277V lighting, we often need 120V backup power for other loads such as ventilation/exhaust fans and some plumbing loads to provide water for sinks/lavs. There is currently no good way to model an inverter with both 277V and 120V output capabilities.
1 voteOur recommended workaround is to model the single inverter as multiple inverters in DM.
Getting the total load on the inverter will require a little work with a main piece of equipment feeding the different inverters and likely some transformers to properly tie everything together.
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Change default circuit callout
Add an option for the default circuit callout inserted on the drawing when connecting a device to a panel. Currently it always lists the full circuit callout of panel name and circuit number (P-1).
1 voteThe solution in the current software is to circuit the device then use the “Modify Circuit Label” command to change the callout.
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I would like to be able to select a circuit number and highlight a device and draw a homerun, i.e. dedicated circuits, equipment, etc.
This would avoid the more cumbersome 2 step process
1. circuit device
2. draw homerunDepending on the job there are can be lots of dedicated circuits and/or pieces of equipment...
1 vote -
Cut and paste devices between drawings and keep circuited
When cutting devices from one drawing file to another that is in the same DM database it will keep the devices circuited.
1 vote
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