Configuring Circuiting Options - Autodesk 235B1-05A761-1301 - AutoCAD MEP 2010 User Manual

Configuring Circuiting Options

Use the Circuiting tab of the Electrical Preferences dialog to specify circuiting options, such as a default
circuit naming convention, the type of overload protection to use when creating circuits, and the ambient
temperature to use when calculating wire sizes.
The circuit naming convention determines the naming of all circuits. You define a naming convention by
specifying a prefix, such as power, and a numbering system that can be used to sort through the circuits in
your drawing. It is possible to create circuits even if there are no panels; in this case, the circuit uses the
existing naming convention, and the circuit is designated as "unassigned."
Total load is used when checking for overloads as you create circuits. Overload protection provides warning
messages when circuits are overloaded.
NOTE Overload checks can only be used with circuits specified as Power and Lighting. Overload checks do not
work with circuits specified as General or Other. These circuit types do not have current ratings or voltages assigned
to them.
The ambient temperature that you specify is used to determine the correction factor for ampacity when
calculating wire sizes as you add or modify wire runs. For more information about calculating wire sizes, see
Wires on page 359.
To specify circuiting options
1 From
2 In the Electrical Preferences dialog, click the Circuiting tab.
3 If you want each drawing to use different names for circuits, select Require Unique Circuit Names
4 Specify a prefix and numbering convention to use for naming circuits:
5 Select a Start Number from the list. The default value is 1. The serial number is attached to the
366 | Chapter 9 Drawing Electrical Systems
the Electrical workspace,
per Drawing.
If you want to...
use no prefix
use the panel name as a prefix
create your own prefix
number circuits sequentially regardless of the
number of poles
group circuit names by even and odd poles
increase the circuit serial number when you
add poles
end of the circuit name.
click Manage tab Preferences panel
then click...
None.
Panel Name.
User defined, and enter the name in the box.
Use Sequential Numbers. Poles are created sequentially at the
start number that you specify. For example, if the start number
is set to 1, then the next pole added is assigned the number
2.
Group using Number of Poles. Select this option when creat-
ing branch circuits to group together even and odd circuits.
For example, if you are working with a 3 pole circuit, and you
have a start number of 1, then the next pole created is
numbered 3.
Increase by Number of Poles. Select this option when you
want to increase the serial number of the circuit by the num-
ber of poles. Each 1 pole needs 1 number, each 2 pole needs
2 numbers, and each 3 pole needs 3 numbers.
Electrical .