Panel Schedule Load Classification Not showing

[Anonymous]

I have a panelboard template set up with the load classifications I want to appear in the load summary table at the bottom. I have set the option to have "A constant set of load classifications".  I moved all of the loads I want scheduled to the pane on the right hand side to "Scheduled Loads".  One of load classifications, "X-ray" does not show up in my panelboard schedules.  Any suggestions on why that is happening?

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Whatever family(ies) you have to represent the X-ray classification probably don't have the Load Classification defined in the electrical connector.

Select one of the elements, choose "Edit Family", select the connector element, and look in the properties to find out what the load classification is.  If you have a parameter called Load Classification, make sure it's mapped to the load classification of the connector.  There's a little gray button to the right of the load class property that will let you control the connector properties via a family parameter.

[Anonymous]

I have done that several different ways.  I used a junction box and set the load classification to x-ray and input the load.  I have several types of x-ray machines on this project.  One is a small dental x-ray unit that called for a receptacle to plug it into, I edited type and duplicated the receptacle and set the load classification to x-ray. On the larger x-ray unit I fed them with a junction box and set the load classification to x-ray.

Why would that matter though if I chose to show "A constant set of load classifications". Shouldn't the load classification show up in the schedule anyway?

[Anonymous]

Take a look at the screen shot of the panelboard in the lower right of my sheet.  It is the same template as the other panelboards yet has a long load summary section at the bottom most of which are blank and colored red.  I cannot figure this out.  What causes such behavior.

Thanks to everyone that has been helping me.  I have been thrown into this because my entire electrical department consist of only me at this point.  Trying to work through my first Revit project to completion.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Well, just for everyone's knowledge I am learning more about panel schedule templates.

1. When you change a template that you've been using on a project, the change applies to new panels you create but not necessarily to the panels you've already created with that template.
2. Found out how to get rid of the new rows showing up in red on the screen shot.  Go into edit template mode for that template and delete the rows.  Don't know how they got there in the first place but I just deleted them.
3. When I edited the template all of my load classification parameters in the load summary were gone. I found out you can add the parameters back in template edit mode.

I found a lot I did not recognize was available in the edit template mode. Delete rows, insert parameters, delete columns, add columns, resize things etc.,  So I think I answered my questions.

Thanks.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

When you change a template that you've been using on a project, the change applies to new panels you create but not necessarily to the panels you've already created with that template

Yeah, if you edit a template within a project your changes will only apply to views created after you finish the edit.  To apply the changes to previously created views you have to re-apply the template.  This isn't true only of panel schedules, but any view type which is created with/has a template applied to it.

Found out how to get rid of the new rows showing up in red on the screen shot.  Go into edit template mode for that template and delete the rows.  Don't know how they got there in the first place but I just deleted them.

Be very careful with this.  Your screenshot was zoomed to far out for me to really get a good look, but I'd recommend setting your panel schedule templates so that the # of rows is equal to the Number of single pole breakers parameter in the panel properties.  At least for branch panels, distribution panel schedules can be a bit hairier if you use the switchboard schedule template as your base.  We just modified a branch panel schedule for distribution boards.

[Anonymous]

Thanks. Just opened a panel Schedule, selected change template, selected the same template I have been using but edited, and it updated the schedule. Why does it work that way and not just automatically update?

[Anonymous]

Because there's no live link between the template and the view once created.  Think of it in terms of an entire project - once you create a project from your template, any changes you make to the template won't be pushed out to existing projects.  I imagine it would be possible to code it so that the templates were constantly linked to the associated views, but it would probably involve a massive increase in minimum file size and drastically reduce performance of the model.

[Scott_D_]

Because Autodesk thought we would prefer it that way as some people, some foolish, foolish people, told them they would like to manually type EVERY SINGLE CIRCUIT NAME and keep applying panel schedule templates over, and over and pressing Update bloody Names OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, rather than it being automatic. I have soul crushing rambling nightmares about that button. We hates it, we does. It Burns! It bitses! Gollum... Gollum.....

See what you have done, making me press that button over and over again, pointlessly, WITHOUT END. *sobs*

Whoever the person was that said that to them..... was an ****.

And wrong. Very, totally, indescribably, horrifically, cringe-inducingly wrong.

They should make it automatic.

And also add 'in' between Load Classification and Space Number / Space Name. Because we like proper English sentence structure.

[Anonymous]

I disagree - it needs to be editable because we will often have multiple loads connected to a single circuit, and the automatic naming protocol will just grab the first one connected to the circuit.  I just avoid circuiting anything other than large (>30A) equipment until as late in design as possible.

Also, I really don't want proper sentence structure in my panel (or any other) schedules.  I might as well just be writing a systems description at that point.

[Scott_D_]

It should grab ALL of the load classifications on the circuit. That would fix your issue and mine.

For what possible reason does it not already do so, you know what I mean.

I create all my layouts, position all my equipment and then circuit everything in one go using colour fills in spaces to show me which areas are done and which still need to be done.

I think we can allow 2 extra characters for the sake of making it easier to read.....

Can you give an example of what circuits you have multiple load classifications on?

I was using things like Fridge, Freezer, Sockets, Microwave for staff kitchen loads in offices when I should really have been using 'Kitchen Fixed Power & Sockets' for everything on the circuit.

The cable sizing software that I export my Revit circuits into only has so many pre-set types of circuit configuration to choose from so using extremely granular load classifications is pointless and will only lead to you having to type out all the circuit names by hand which I would guess wastes a very large amount of time and leads to errors.

Why would you want to type out hundreds of circuit names by hand, you're just making work for yourself. Whenever you move your circuits round or change what equipment is hosted to a circuit you have to check it still has the correct name or edit it again. It must take forever.

And as if to prove my point, I've just found a board with 7 circuits referencing the wrong rooms as I haven't updated the circuit name. It's a load of crap that everything is automatic, apart from this.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like you're working in the UK, so not all of this may be transferable.

We use the "Load Classification" to derive a set of load types primarily for NEC, ASHRAE, and utility compliance - it's a pretty small list.  Lighting - Interior, Lighting - Exterior, Receptacle, HVAC, and Motor covers about 95% of what we do as far as Load Classification is concerned.  But we want more detail on the panel schedule, especially for dedicated receptacle loads.  For example, "Refrigerator" is not a load classification relevant to either the codes or the utility, but it is what the eventual building owner will want to see in the panelboard directory.  And honestly, we were already typing all of this stuff manually prior to Revit adoption, so we're not really creating more work for ourselves, we're just not eliminating all of it.  Example of multiple loads on a single circuit - 120V ckt w/20A breaker may supply power for multiple small pieces of HVAC equipment.  The Load Classification auto-naming function will just spit out "HVAC ROOM x" but I want the schedule to reflect the equipment names as shown on the HVAC plans.

I suspect a good deal of the problems people have with Revit, especially in the MEPT world, is that it is often sold as an tool for automating the design process.  While it does sometimes accomplish that, it's more accurately just a tool for improving coordination.  The automation and simplification of workflows is just a bonus.  But it can be a very helpful bonus - I built a set of schedules that monitor lighting power density against energy code requirements throughout design and essentially automate my Comcheck (energy code compliance documentation software in the US) report.  What once took 4-24 hours depending on the size of the facility now takes 1-2 hours.

[Anonymous]

Among other load classifications that we use are X-Ray and Cooking Equipment both of which have demand factors to incorporate for NEC compliance.  We also have a Miscellaneous Continuous and Miscellaneous Non-Continuous category to pick up the rest of the loads.

Yes, Revit MEP does not automate load calculations and other functions that I would like.  But there are some third party add-ons that help.

[Scott_D_]

It would seem that a solution in the middle ground would be that if the circuit name has been overwritten then leave it as it is, otherwise auto-update is as necessary.

Simple and meets both our needs.

You could also argue that Mechanical Equipment names could be handled like Electrical Panel names. It uses the name rather than the classification.