Design Master Wish List
Welcome to the Design Master Wish List, where you can submit your ideas for improvements to the software.
90 results found
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Fault in Equipment Schedule
Add a column to the equipment schedule to show the available fault.
Currently equipment fault can only be seen in the full fault schedule for the entire project.
0 votes -
Update the Excel Add-in to work in Recent Version of Excel
The Excel Add-in is two pieces: functions in Excel for pulling information from the DM database, and a set of pulldown menus and dialog boxes for inserting these functions.
The functions still work and can be used manually.
The pulldown menus and dialog boxes no longer work in newer versions of Excel.
This wish list item is for us to fix the menus and dialog boxes to work again.
0 votes -
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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Balance Loads on Panels
Add a command to automatically balance the loads on a panel.
2 votes -
Load by Phase in "Circuiting" Dialog Box
Display the phase that loads are on in the dialog box to make balancing panels easier.
0 votes -
Display Single Equipment Instance in List for Each Equipment Callout
The equipment list currently displays all equipment in a group. The list can be longer than necessary if there are multiple similar pieces of equipment in the list.
Add a "Display one row per unique equipment callout" toggle to the "Insert Equipment List". If multiple pieces of equipment have the same callout, they would be collapsed to a single row.
For the columns, if the information is same for all the equipment, the common information would be listed. If the information was different, the different values would somehow all be included in the column so that no information was lost.
3 votesThere are two workarounds currently.
1. Use “Edit Multiple” to uncheck the “Show in List” toggle for all but one of each type of equipment.
2. Create a group and move a single instance of each type of equipment to that group. Insert the list for that group.
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Importing panel schedules from previous projects
We do a lot of repeat projects for clients and it would be nice to be able to import panel schedules (including circuiting and loading) from previous projects into a new project. These loads could be converted to fixed loads since the two projects would use different databases. This way we could better keep track of circuiting/loads and when the latter project are completed, the panel schedules would be more accurate.
3 votes -
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 -
1 vote
Here’s the best workaround with the current features that exist in the software:
Set the default to the option you will use on most panels in the project.
In the other panels, change the circuit description to the other value. Then use the “Move Circuits” command. Use the “Copy” button in that dialog to copy the description to the other circuits. When you copy, the selected circuit will increment down one each time. You can press the button multiple times to fill in multiple circuits.
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Fan coils and splits that are electrically fed via heat pump.
It would be nice if we could define a heat pump as a piece of equipment but have a second piece of equipment like a ductless split or fan coil either as a secondary part of that equipment that can be placed on a separate drawing (or a different part of the same drawing) or if we could link them in some way. The goal would be that once you circuit the heat pump, the same circuit would automatically be assigned to the fan coil which may or may not have an additional load. Then when drawing a homerun from…
2 votes -
Add a 'Find All Circuits on Drawing' command similar to the 'Find Circuit on Drawing'
This command would be invoked from the panel circuiting dialog box, and would highlight all circuits fed from a particular panel.
1 vote -
Import/Export Electrical Equipment Schedule Excel
It would be a huge time saver to be able to Export a project electrical equipment schedule into excel for quick data entry and then import back into DM/Autocad. Entering a large list of kitchen equipment can be tedious. Being able to do this in excel would be quicker. The import/export functionality could be similar to how DM handles the layers for the standards database. Alternatively, listing the equipment as a table with aligned rows/columns would be equally efficient.
2 votes -
Erase Note - multiple
Select multiple devices and delete all custom notes (not fixture callouts) attached to them.
The "Match Device Label Locations" command can add many callouts at once, but there does not seem to be a way to easily delete multiple callouts.
This would be especially useful when adding lights to a circuit that already contains lights. Running “Draw Homerun And Loops" would erase a lot of my work, so I usually delete all the circuit callouts manually before drawing loops manually.
If this feature already exists, please make it easier to find.1 vote -
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 -
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 -
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
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