Electrical receptacles with 2 circuits, second circuit isn't exposed/listed???

[Anonymous]

I'm working on a furniture floor box that can have up to  4 connectors for power logic.  I can simply add the additional connectors and everything works fine on the panel schedules.  Now on the floor plan, I need to identify the circuit numbers using the built in parameter "Circuit Number," and "Panel."  

What I'm seeing is that only the "Primary" connector values propagate to the parameters on the parts!  If I switch the active "Primary", I'll get  the new information for "Circuit Number" and "Panel", but the secondaries are no longer shown.  Piping and Duct can "Link Connectors" but I don't see that option on electrical Fixtures.

How do I get the panel name and circuits to show for all of the circuits tied to a single receptacle?

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated!  I spent many hours this weekend trying to figure it out and search google with no luck!

(I'm pretty advanced at family building, adding/defining additional parameters isn't intimidating.)

I would assume it should concatenate the values like it does for "Electrical Data"

[michael.coviello]

Hello @Anonymous ,

Thank you for posting to the forum,   happy to help.  Which version of Revit are you using?

Are you trying to use an Electrical fixture tag to display multiple circuits which are part of an overall system?

If you are able to illustrate the problem with a small rvt file, Please attach the model.   This would be very helpful.  Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I'm trying to create a tag that will list all of the circuits attached to a receptacle with more than one connector.

Using Revit 2016, trying to back build families as far as I can for compatibility reasons.

The attached test file is in 2019 though, I verified later versions still had the same performance.

In the attached file I have two different Receptacles, one with "Shared" and two nested extrusions, the other is simply a single receptacle with 2 connectors tied to both sides.  If you look at the circuits, both connectors are on a different circuit like I would expect, but I can't list the circuit number for the secondary connectors in a label.  It doesn't seem accessible, but if I switch primary connectors in the family, I get the correct circuit information for only one of the two nested circuits.

[ASCunningham]

I believe you will need to draw homeruns (wire) from the other connectors and then tag the wire to get the panel and circuit number to show up.

[michael.coviello]

Hello @Anonymous ,

Thank you for the file which was very helpful to orient me to the problem.

I understand the frustration of not having the ability to tag multiple connectors to show circuits.

This Revit Idea and discussion has been logged on this functionality.   

Tag for multiple electrical connectors - Autodesk Community

I urge you to vote and comment on this idea has as it can increase the chances of the functionality being integrated in the future. 

@Anonymous 

A workflow to allow the tagging to work correctly involves a nested 'shared' family (which contains the connectors) and a host family.

Load the nested family into the host family and then load the host family into the project.

At this point, to power the connectors, Press Tab on the keyboard to tab into the connector.

For tagging purpose, hover over each connector and tab (may need to tab a few times to select the correct one).

I've recorded a screencast of this process using your file.

https://autode.sk/2Z99h05

If this helps to answer your question, Please hit the Accept as Solution button.

[michael.coviello]

@Anonymous   I am checking back to see if my post or others helped you with your problem. Please add a post with how you decide to proceed and your results so other Community members may benefit.

Please hit the Accept as Solution button if a post or posts solves your issue or answers your question.

[Anonymous]

I've already tied nested connectors using "Shared" and it doesn't work.  Nested connectors are not available in a .RFA.  A connector has to reside parent family of both nested sub-components.  

I'm not explaining it well.  Nested connectors are not accessible in families.

[michael.coviello]

Hello @Anonymous ,

I've attached HostFamily.rfa which contains a nested family within it (with the connectors) as an example.

Please give this a try by loading into a test project and powering the connectors.   In order to pick the correct connector, Hover over the connector, Press the Tab key until the the nested family is highlighted Then Click,

This tags the circuits.  Please let me know if this helps to show the correct circuit values.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, your family gives the same result.  Nested connectors are not available in a project.  The top screenshot is your family, the second one with the connectors moved up one level to the family holding both nested shapes.  Circuiting is not available when the connectors are nested.

[michael.coviello]

@Anonymous 

I wonder if there is something I'm not fully understanding here.

Were you able to Power and circuit the connector to PNL-1 using family: HostFamily.rfa?   If so, were you able to tag the circuit numbers?

Please send me an IM and I would be glad to connect with you to better understand the problem.

[Anonymous]

@michael.coviello I'm not sure how to IM over these forums, can't seem to find the option!  

No, I can't circuit the HostFamily.RFA, nested connectors aren't available/functional.  I've asked about this previously a few years ago, and double checked it again this morning with this family.  (I even tried it originally this way in that sample project, I went as far as making Shared Parameters for all of the nested connectors, linked them in the host family, and still no result.) 

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Create a single family with Connectors included as your appropriate category Electrical Fixtures are what I used here;

Verify Shared is checked on under Family Category and Parameters

Create Shared Parameters for control of the nested connectors in your project, link them to the connector.

Now Create a new Family.  Insert the number of copies of connectors you have.  Create a pair of matching parameters for all of your connector data you need to alter.  Names of the Parameters don't matter, but you don't want to mix up your connectors 1 and 2! Be aware Voltage, # of Poles, Load Classification and other panel related information must have the Parameter Discipline, and Type of Parameter set the same for the data to work.

Note: Automatic parameters, such as Circuit Number will not show up or be available until it's been connected to power.  These built-in parameters do not need to be added to the family. (And can't be as far as I’m aware.)

Loaded in the project;

Selecting the family, we notice there's no connectors available when selected.

Now TAB-SELECT one of the two nested, shared families;

Power and connector data is available for the individual connector!!!  Let's hook it all to power, using the same TAB-SELECT process for the other nested, shared family;

With both circuits powered, to apply a TAG for the individual circuit, TAB-SELECT the individual, nested, shared family; (The single nested shape should be the only one highlighted.)  The example below uses Circuit Number for the Label.

[Anonymous]

@michael.coviello Autodesk PM's seem to fail of failed, tried sending you the original document, plus the copy/paste posted above.  Not sure what that's about.  Please holler if you need anything else