Creating a Full Elec Distribution System

[bvanallen]

1. I need help creating a full electrical distribution system that includes the service transformer and building ground. I can load & place the wet type 12000v to 480/277Y service transformer but can't seem to assign it to a 12000v (Utility Company's) distribution system in the electrical settings. As such I can't assign my 480v MDP to the service transformer. Does anyone know how to do this?

2. The system browser lists my my service transformer under Electrical/ Power/ <unnamed>, SVC Trans (the name I gave it is SVC Trans). How do I change the power system from <unnamed> & actually assign it within the Electrical Circuits Ribbon/ Systems tools section/ System Selector:?

3. I haven't found anyhwere that explains how to model the grounding rod(s) & locations then assign the MDP to it (them). Can this be done?

4. I can extend conduits from my sub panels to the MDP and circuit my sub panel to the MDP, but how do you tell revit the circuits actually run inside the conduits with appropriate wire lenghts (including elevation changes) taken into account? I assume this would be the same for my MDP to SVC Trans but can't circuit it yet? Can someone please help here too?

[CoreyDaun]

I'll start off by saying that Electrical is by far the most lacking discipline of Revit MEP, so many systems and calculations may not meet your needs.

1. Have your gone to Manage tab » MEP Settings » Electrical Settings? You have to define not only a Distribution System, but you will likely have to create a Voltage Definition first. If you have done this, could you post and image or describe what you have for each?

2. I think that this depends on assigning the Primary and Secondary Distribution Systems to the transformer first.

3. Our firm just uses notes for this. Exactly what information do you want Revit to report about this? Will this appear in a schedule?

4. Scan though some of the posts in this forum search. It doesn't appear like this is a reliable part of Revit.

[bvanallen]

I too have been finding this out as I get more in dept with Revit. Nothing seems intuitive, easy, or in some cases possible.

1. Yes, however the electrical settings will not allow greater than 480V. I can add a new 4 phase system, Delta, 3 wires, but the L-L & L-G voltages only allow up to 480V, where as the service transformer primary is clearly 120000v. I've seen several Youtube videos that all ready have the service transformer hooked up so I know it can be done, I'm just not sure how.

2. Possible, not sure.

3. I though Revit was supposed to model all aspects of equipment, wires, conduits, bills of material, etc. I guess what you're saying is that it's not capable of modeling grounding systems yet (which is why you cover it in notes), correct?

4. I had done similar searches and came to the same general conclusion. I'm really not using the voltage drop and taking the set wire sizes with a grain of salt (and 6% voltage drop set in Revit). Those posts were all for 2010, 2011 though so I thought I'd touch on the question again. Apparently it is still broken in 2012 though.

[CoreyDaun]

1. Under Electrical Settings, go to Voltage Definitions. You have to tell Revit that the voltage exists before you can create a Distribution System with it.

2. ....

3. Our firm hasn't looked into incorporating that much into the Revit system, so I can't much with this one at the moment. But, it would have to do with how the family and electrical connector is configured, I imagine.

4. As far as I have heard, I think so.

[bvanallen]

Update,

1. Revit wont allow me to assign it 12000v so I cheated the service transformer & edited the family for a primary voltage of only 480. As such I was able to assign it to the default 480/277 Wye distribution system. & circuit my MDP to it. Are you able to create a 12000v distribution system?

2. Even with my transformer assigned to a distribution system my system browser still lists it under Electrical/ Power/ <unnamed>/ SVC Trans. This also appears as unnamed when I select the the transformer, click on the Electrical circuits ribbon and look at the System Selector tool. No other names are listed in the pulldown list. (see attached screen shot)

3. Yes, Revit doesn't seem to allow for a grounding connector when editing families. Plus I'd have to create a grounding rod family and then fight revit to somehow connect them with a SE grounding conductor. At this point I guess Not possible is the only solution.

4. Not possible also accepted as solution.

[CoreyDaun · Accepted solution]

1. Yes:

2. I connected a random 480V panel to the Transformer and my browser looks like:

[bvanallen]

1. Got it, thanks. I was overlooking the voltage definition so I couldnt assign it in the Distribution Systems. Once I added that, it was easy to create the 12000v distribuiton system & assign my correct wet type transformer to it.

2. I was playing around with my service transformer some more & deleted out the Power system I had connected it to (which would have been the primary feed from the utility co & is out of our scope any ways). That's what was <unnamed>, now my distribution power starts at the transformer like you have.

Thanks for explaining this to me too, you're helping me a lot lately. I wish there was a full training manual or classes I could take somewhere but alas I've checked- we appear to be pioneers in poorly or mostly uncharted teritory. 🙂

[tkendrick]

I am having trouble creating a 480 Delta / 208Y120 Distribution system. I've tried various voltages in the L-L and L-G voltage settings, one way or another I cannot connect the 208Y/120 Panel to the 480D/208Y120 Transformer because I can't set both to that distribution system, the voltages don't match L-L.

It looks like this situation is not possible, because of the limitations of the Distribution System setup. I guess I'll need to add to the Wishlist:

For Electrical Distribution Systems, setup both the Primary L-L, L-G voltages and the Secondary L-L, L-G voltages.

EDIT:

I found my trouble. Part Type was designated as a Panelboard, not Transformer, so I could not set the Primary and Secondary Distribution systems.

[CoreyDaun]

The transformers have a 'Secondary Distribution System' parameter kind of hidden under Properties. I think there should be a second pull-down next to the Primary DIstribution System.

[jeremy.colombe]

Revit stumping me again! The only way to connect the panel to the transformer was to have a 347/600 distribution system rather than 600/347 as he panel was looking for a certain L-L voltage. Not sure if this will be a wide spread fix for anyone so decided to share as this tread helped me figure it out