Define electrical distribution systems

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Revit provides electrical engineering load estimating workflows that allow for decision making

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to be done early on in the design process.

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Capturing the area-based loads and other electrical requirements natively within Revit

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allows users to determine what the preliminary building load will be.

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There are two parts to the electrical analysis workflow.

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First, you define the electrical analytical loads,

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and then you define the electrical analytical system components.

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In this example, an area-based load named LTG has already been applied to this plan for the lighting.

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Now, using the System Browser, you can define a conceptual analytical distribution system and electrical elements for it.

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First, add an electrical analytical power source, such as a utility or a generator.

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In the System Browser toolbar, click Add Electrical Analytical Power Source.

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Then rename the power source in the hierarchy to match your project needs.

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In this example, “Utility Power” is entered.

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With the power source still selected, click Add Electrical Analytical Bus.

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These may be used to represent any type of bus in concept, such as a panel, switchboard, busway, motor control center, and so on.

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Rename the bus, in this case to “Main SwitchGear”.

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Then click Add Electrical Analytical Transformer.

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Continue adding electrical analytical distribution elements until the basic infrastructure for the building is complete.

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As you do, keep in mind that, except for power sources,

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when a new electrical element is created, it will be supplied by the currently selected element.

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For specific loads, you can define an Equipment Load.

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In the System Browser, with one of your elements selected, click Add Equipment Load.

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Rename the equipment load, such as “Shop Eqpt” in this example.

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Again, continue adding equipment loads until your specific loads are complete.

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Once you have finished creating the hierarchy of elements, you need to ensure they are being supplied with power.

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In this example, the LTG area-based load is still unconnected.

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To adjust the power supply, select the element, such as the Area Based Load.

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Then, in the Properties palette, under Electrical – Circuiting, expand the Supply From drop-down to access the available power supply.

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This is also available from the Modify tab.

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Again, expand the Supply From drop-down and choose the element the selected component is to be fed from.

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In this example, select the Building Electrical Panel to power the lighting.

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As soon as you do, the System Browser hierarchy updates.

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You can further describe these electrical elements from the System Browser.

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Select an element such as an Equipment Load.

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Then in the Properties palette, specify the Load Classification, Voltage, Power Factor, or Apparent Load.

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For instance, to define the Apparent Load, under Electrical – Loads, select the Apparent Load text field and enter a value,

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such as, “80,000”

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Continue modifying your electrical elements as needed.

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Notice that, as you define the elements, the System Browser updates accordingly,

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which keeps all your analytical electrical system elements directly within the Revit environment.

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This makes it much easier to determine preliminary building load

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and load on main equipment components directly within the model.