How do I incorporate an automatic transfer switch (ATS) into my electrical distribution model? Revit doesn’t have a family category for transfer switch, nor does it have a transfer switch part type for the Electrical Equipment category. Nonetheless, you can... Martin Schmid

How do I incorporate an automatic transfer switch (ATS) into my electrical distribution model? Revit doesn’t have a family category for transfer switch, nor does it have a transfer switch part type for the Electrical Equipment category. Nonetheless, you can... Martin Schmid

How do I incorporate an automatic transfer switch (ATS) into my electrical distribution model? Revit doesn’t have a family category for transfer switch, nor does it have a transfer switch part type for the Electrical Equipment category. Nonetheless, you can... Martin Schmid

How do I incorporate an automatic transfer switch (ATS) into my electrical distribution model?  Revit doesn’t have a family category for transfer switch, nor does it have a transfer switch part type for the Electrical Equipment category.  Nonetheless, you can modify the provided “Automatic Transfer Switch.rfa” family that ships with Revit MEP 2010 to allow you to connect an emergency panel to both a normal power branch and an emergency power branch. 

Say, for example, you have emergency loads, such as certain receptacles, connected to a panel EP1.  You want to connect EP1 to an ATS, and then connect the ATS to an emergency distribution panel EDP, and a normal distribution panel MDP.  Follow the steps below to make the necessary changes to the ATS family.

1. Open the “Automatic Transfer Switch.rfa” family in family editor.
2. Add an additional electrical connector.  What surface you place it on does not matter.
3. In the Instance Properties for the new connector, set the following properties (basically, copying the settings from the existing connector):
4. Number of Poles > map to Number of Poles
5. Load Classification: set to Other
6. System Type: set to Power – Unbalanced
7. Voltage > map to Switch Voltage
8. Apparent Load Phase 1 > map to Apparent Load Phase A
9. Apparent Load Phase 2 > map to Apparent Load Phase B
10. Apparent Load Phase 3 > map to Apparent Load Phase C
11. Load the family into your project, overwriting the existing family if applicable.

Make sure to check the voltage settings are consistent between the ATS and the panels you are connecting.

Now, you can connect EP1 to the ATS, and connect the ATS to both EDP and MDP.  When you inspect the load information on EDP and MDP, you should see that the load information from EP1 feeds into both.  The ATS doesn't actually 'switch' from normal to emergency in Revit, however, it should provide you with the connected load information you are looking for.

Martin Schmid, P.E.  - MEP Customer Success Engineer

Autodesk and the Green Building XML (gbXML) Advisory Board invites you to attend a free webcast titled "Using Green Building XML (gbXML) for Sustainable Building Design - Part II" on January 21, 2010 at 10:00 to 11:00 am PST.

 

Presented by gbXML stakeholders, this webcast will demonstrate how tools for Building Information Modeling (BIM) can integrate with various analyses software, using the interoperability of gbXML to help create more sustainable building designs. Presentations and product demos will include the following:

 

Autodesk Revit Architecture, Autodesk Ecotect Analysis with Autodesk Green Building Studio

 

Graphisoft with Encina plug-in for gbXML

 

IES VE (Integrated Environmental Solutions Virtual Environment)

 

Trane Trace

 

Stephen Roth, Administrator of the gbXML Advisory Board and President of Carmelsoft will also discuss the current status of the gbXML and related activities.

 

Please Attend - Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 10:00 am PST

 

Teleconference info and webcast links are provided below (Registration is not required).

 

Attendee URL:

https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/autodesklearning/join?id=6679SC&role=attend

 

Meeting ID:  6679SC

 

Toll free: +1 (866) 803-2146

 

Toll: +1 (517) 466-2380

 

Participant code: 5010128

Autodesk and the Green Building XML (gbXML) Advisory Board invites you to attend a free webcast titled "Using Green Building XML (gbXML) for Sustainable Building Design - Part II" on January 21, 2010 at 10:00 to 11:00 am PST. Presented... Sarah Hodges

Autodesk and the Green Building XML (gbXML) Advisory Board invites you to attend a free webcast titled "Using Green Building XML (gbXML) for Sustainable Building Design - Part II" on January 21, 2010 at 10:00 to 11:00 am PST. Presented... Sarah Hodges

I am pleased to announce that new US content is now available for Revit MEP customers that are on subscription on the subscription center. The download is called the "US Content Extension for Autodesk Revit MEP 2010"

The US Content Extension for Autodesk® Revit® MEP 2010 software provides new content to help electrical engineers, drafters, and contractors create electrical designs and layouts for projects in the US and elsewhere. Contents include electrical devices for nurse call systems, fire safety, communications, security, and power.

Content is available in both imperial and metric units.

I am pleased to announce that new US content is now available for Revit MEP customers that are on subscription on the subscription center. The download is called the "US Content Extension for Autodesk Revit MEP 2010" The US Content... Poth

I am pleased to announce that new content based on UK industry standards is now available to Revit MEP customers on the subscription center. The download is called the "UK Content Extension for Autodesk Revit MEP 2010"

The UK Content Extension for Autodesk® Revit® MEP 2010 software provides new content to help mechanical and electrical engineers, drafters, and contractors create mechanical and electrical designs and layouts for projects in the United Kingdom. Contents include mechanical and electrical devices based on UK industry standard symbology; pipe fittings based on common British and European standards; and additional duct fittings based on DW144 and revised UK templates. This extension provides both UK users and those adhering to UK standards with new content based on these industry standards.

I am pleased to announce that new content based on UK industry standards is now available to Revit MEP customers on the subscription center. The download is called the "UK Content Extension for Autodesk Revit MEP 2010" The UK Content... Poth

Are you looking for additional resources to learn AutoCAD MEP?

Paul Aubin (author of several books for Autodesk products) has just created a new book titled, “Mastering AutoCAD MEP 2010”. Paul wrote this book in conjunction with current and former Autodesk employees. Here’s the link for the book on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-AutoCAD-2010-Paul-Aubin/dp/1439057664/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259710063&sr=8-1

Product Description
MASTERING AUTOCAD® MEP 2010 is the ideal book to provide readers with the skills needed to create construction documents with AutoCAD MEP that are reflective of industry standards and expectations. This book focuses on the rationale and practicality of the AutoCAD MEP process and emphasizes the process of creating projects in MEP, rather than a series of independent commands and tools. Tools are introduced together in a focused process, with a strong emphasis on "why" as well as "how". Both the book and the exercises will provide readers with a clear sense of the value of the tools and a clear indication of each tool's potential. MASTERING AUTOCAD 2010 MEP is a resource designed to shorten readers' learning curve, raise their comfort level and, most importantly, give them real life tested practical advice on using the software to create mechanical, electrical and plumbing designs and calculations.
If you’re at Autodesk University this year, Paul and the rest of the authors are also presenting an “Ask the Experts” session.

Regards,

Toby Smith, PE, LEED AP
AutoCAD MEP Product Manager

Are you looking for additional resources to learn AutoCAD MEP? Paul Aubin (author of several books for Autodesk products) has just created a new book titled, “Mastering AutoCAD MEP 2010”. Paul wrote this book in conjunction with current and former... Toby Smith