This isn't quite dealing with any API, but notable nonetheless...
Perhaps one of the biggest reasons for electrical designers to upgrade to Revit MEP 2011 is the introduction of a fully customizable panel schedule management system. This may not sound like much, but in previous versions of Revit it wasn't even possible to show load classifications as well as several other information required by various jurisdictions. Those days are over...
Not only can you create and manage custom load classifications, but you can show them in your panel schedules if you choose! It is also possible to manage several different panel schedule templates and apply the one you choose to whatever panel schedule you want in your project independently!!
Panel Schedule Templates are managed from the "Panel Schedule Templates" button in the "Manage" tab of the ribbon.This is where you get access to edit the format of the templates as well as apply the templates to the panels that live in your current project.
Selecting the "Manage Templates" button takes me to a dialog that I can duplicate, edit, create a new, or delete a panel schedule template. As you can see in the image to the right, there are various options for template type, configuration and along the top there is another tab to apply certain templates to panels that exist in my project.Launching the edit mode for a panel schedule template will present a new mode for Revit where you can edit the arrangement and inclusions for your panel schedule data. You can actually control the font (type, size, style, and color) for each cell individually!
It is possible to add and remove columns and rows wherever you want them. You can also manage the display of the load cells by phase by picking the "Set Template Options" button while in the "Modify Panel Schedule Template" mode.
The options to set include the overall panel schedule width, quantity of circuit slots shown, display of header/load summary/footer, and the border styles used. There are also options under the "Circuit Table" options to control the display of the phase load cells per circuit. When a single-phase panel is active, there is an option to hide the third phase columns as well.It is also possible to merge and unmerge cells, postcalculated values to a cell, adjust unit formats for a cell, individually manage borders for cells... the list goes on...
It is finally possible to display and document panel schedule information in a useful manner in Revit MEP!!
6 comments:
"a fully customizable panel" is a stretch of the truth if not a lie all together. not only are you limited to what your phasing and loads look like to the few selection options they have, Columns must be mirrored across the middle phases. If your try to add columns they go all crazy and your stuck messing with them trying to fight the column sizes and the column headings and not getting them to mirror. Once you try to put certain columns in order such as Breaker size followed by number of poles, you get poles then breaker size on the other side! not very professional looking. Before you go and say "well you can add parameters together in one cell using 'combine parameters' ", well you can, but you cannot over ride those parameters once you do. In the case of breakers you may need a larger size then the one Revit calculates for. However, you only want to change one not ALL of them as would happen if you change the sizing criteria in the settings. There's no GOOD way to do both. So that throws the "fully customizable" idea right out the window.
You have a good point!
This isn't the last version of Revit MEP... and there will inevitably be improvements.
Most typical layouts for electrical panels that the industry uses are achievable with the current functionality. After all... it's really only the data that engineers need to be correct and not the aesthetics, right?
Right, but what about the Standards, regulations and format that are to be maintained as per the local authorities.
Engineers will not do calculation as per Revit MEP way, but Revit MEP is required do the calculation as per Engineers way....
RME2011 Panel schedules support calculated fields... it just takes a little setup. You can also build up your own demand factors... I've had no problem getting an NEC compliant schedule...
I have an updated post coming soon that will go into GREAT detail on how this all works
Hi. I have an encounter with the Panel Schedules particularly with the column for phases. I have a single-phase panel with single-phase circuits, however the panel schedule still shows column A and B. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks
The Electrical engineers here want to stack the Phases vertically in a single column instead of A B C beside each other. Any tips ?
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