Revit Panel Schedule Formulas MEP2012

[Anonymous]

I have created some new fields in my panel schedule templates with numerical results using formulas I created.  Some of the formulas are a little long.  In some of my new fields I use the result from one field to create a formula for another result.  I do this by copying the formula from one field into the formula for the new and us this to create a new formula for a different result.

Is there a better way than doing copy and past to create the new formula?  Is there a way to point to the raw result from one field and use it in another field like you would in a spread sheet?

Also, I saw in an older post an issue I was having creating formulas.  I created some new load classifications that Revit did not like when I tried to put it into a formula.  The name looked like this: "D - OTHER HVAC LOADS".  Revit seems to have not liked the "D" in the name.

Thanks.

[ToanDN · Accepted solution]

"D - OTHER HVAC LOADS"
The problem is the - sign, not the letter D. Do not use any math symbols in parameter names if you want to use them in a formula.

[Anonymous]

If you're using a formula to calculate a value for a parameter, and then using that result to calculate a value for a second parameter, don't c/p the original formula, simply substitute parameter 1 in your second formula.  For example if Parameter 1 = V*A and Parameter 2 = V*A*PF, make the second formula Parameter 1*PF instead.

And as stated above, don't use math symbols in parameter names, Revit will try to incorporate the operation into the formula and try to figure out what D minus HVAC is.

[Anonymous]

Not sure I get you on the parameters.  I click on a cell and enter a formula using numbers, math signs, IF statement, and parameters available in the drop downs and create a value used for a new parameter.  Is that parameter then saved somewhere so I can grab it and use in a formula for a new parameter.  Didn't find my new parameter in the drop downs.

[Anonymous]

Nevermind, I'm an idiot.  Your only option is to c/p the formula into your calculated values.  

What the heck are you trying to calculate in your panel schedule that requires all of this work?  Most of that can be done for you by Revit already.

[Anonymous]

I first created some parameters to take account of non-coincident loads in the panel to get the true demand.  Then I created parameters showing the demand load for each phase in order to properly size the main circuit breaker.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

You can include all of that on your schedule without calculated values, Revit already has the NEC demand calculations for most load classifications, and you can create as many new ones as you want.  To get this to show up in your schedule, edit the template, choose Set Template Options in the upper left corner, and under the Parts category check the box to show Loads Summary.

To define new Load Classifications and their demand factors, go to Manage>MEP Settings>Electrical Settings>Load Calculations>Load Classifications and play around to your heart's content.  If you're creating new LCs, after you've named it click the little square with the ellipsis (...) on the right of the Demand Factor drop down and you can adjust how the demand is calculated to suit your needs.

[Anonymous]

I have experimented with demand factors.  And maybe that would work.  I am working with heating and cooling loads.  Some times they are coincident, sometimes not.  When non-coincident, usually electric heating is higher than cooling but not always.  I need to be able to compare the two and remove the non-coincident of the two.  I will experiment with demand factors to see if I can make it work. Would make it easier than the long formulas I have to use and would be more transferrable to other panel templates.  Doing a lot of cutting and pasting the other way.