DM Electrical Release Notes

The following is a list of new and updated features in Design Master Electrical 8.7.

Point-by-Point Photometrics Upgrades

Several features have been added or expanded for point-by-point photometrics.

Vertical Calculations: Photometric calculation areas can now display vertical illuminance values along the edges of the area. Area calculation schedules can display separate ratios for vertical calculations.

Calculation lines can also include vertical values. Line calculation schedules will include vertical calculations when enabled.

Create Areas Using Existing Polylines: When drawing a new calculation area or line, you can now specify an existing polyline on the drawing, which the software will trace.

Multiple Heads on Light Fixtures: Using the new Number of Heads field in the light fixture schedule, you can specify the head configuration for a fixture. This feature lets you accurately represent your multiple-headed light fixtures without inserting multiple blocks on the drawing.

New pole-mounted light fixture blocks have been added to the default customization for use with this new setting.

Metric Units: Photometric calculations can now be displayed in foot-candles or lux. The base unit can now be based upon meters, centimeters, or millimeters, in addition to feet or inches.

New Grid Settings: When querying calculation areas, you can now use the Set Grid Origin and Set Grid Angle buttons to better control where illuminance values appear in your calculation areas.

Recalculate After Query: A Recalculate Illuminance Levels checkbox has been added to the query calculation area or line dialog box. When this box is checked, the queried calculation area or line will automatically recalculate when you press the OK button.

Smarter Calculations for Enclosed Areas: When calculating an area with a ceiling and walls, the calculation will ignore light fixtures outside the boundary. This change should lead to shorter calculation times for indoor photometrics analysis.

One-Line Diagram Upgrades

Automatic Updates: If the one-line diagram is on the currently active drawing, most changes to the distribution will automatically be reflected on the one-line.

Create and Insert Devices: Buttons in the Create Equipment and distribution equipment commands allow you to place newly created devices on the one-line diagram without running a separate command. Distribution equipment dialog boxes also now include an Insert on Plan View button.

Connect Distribution Equipment on One-Line Diagram: This new command allows you to connect devices using one-line diagram entities. Users may find this new workflow more intuitive than using the existing Connect Distribution Equipment in Database command.

“Edit Multiple” Command Improvement: The Edit Multiple commands now work on one-line diagram entities.

Circuiting

Voltage Drop for Fixed Loads: Branch circuit voltage drop can now be calculated for circuits that have loads and a circuit length defined in the Set Circuit Information dialog box of the Circuiting command.

Clear Circuit Description and Loads: The Clear Loads button now erases any changes to the Circuit Description fields as well and has been renamed to reflect the added functionality.

Other Improvements

Device Elevation Labels: The new Insert Device Elevation Label command allows for easy notation of the elevation of devices on your drawing, which will update if the elevation changes. New settings in the Options command can be used to customize the appearance of the labels.

Custom Transformer KVA: A “Custom” option has been added to the KVA list in the Transformers command.

Set Default Standards Database: You can now set a default standards database in the Manage Standards Database command. When starting new projects, the specified standards will be selected by default (but can still be changed).

Delete Multiple Recurring Panel Instances: You can now select multiple instances in the Delete Recurring Panel Instance from Database command.

New Feature Webinar

Added option to display different NEC references for NEC 2023 and earlier and NEC 2026.

Fixed crashes reported by users.

• Added support for BricsCAD V23.
• Support for BricsCAD V20 will be dropped in a future release. If you are using BricsCAD V20 and want access to new features and updates, you will need to update to a newer version.

• Added option for 3 heads at 120 degrees for light fixtures.
• Fixed a number of crashes reported by customers during photometric calculations.

• Added support for AutoCAD 2026.
• Fixed calculation of single-phase dryers on a three-phase panel.

• Added support for COMcheck-Web projects in XML format.
• Fixed an error displaying 2-pole load values in 2-pole panel schedules.

• Fixed error on enclosed breakers that prevented breaker curves from being set.
• Added support for more breaker curves.

• Fixed error calculating largest motor loads on certain dwelling units panels.

• Fixed bug in AutoCAD 2025 when breaking long circuit loops.
• Updated DIMSCALE check to happen when a command is run instead of when a drawing is opened.
• Fixed error when copying a panel that caused circuits to not be created on new panel.

• Added support for AutoCAD 2025.

• Fixed a crash when calculating photometric values.
• Fixed a crash related to breaker curves.

• Fixed a number of bugs and crashes reported by customers.

• Added support for COMcheck-Web.
• Added support for additional breaker curves.
• Fixed error related to the Break Circuit command and linetypes.
• Updated motor load calculations for multi-family dwellings.
• Added option for equipment callouts to specify whether equipment IDs are being used in callouts.

• Added support for AutoCAD 2024.
• Added more breaker curves.
• Fixed error when merging projects with differences in certain block settings.
• Fixed crash in the Text Styles command.
• Fixed error in the Equipment command when scrolling through devices using the Previous and Next buttons.

• Added more breaker curves.
• Fixed Edit Multiple Transformers to display primary voltage properly.
• Fixed display of voltage drop from equipment that is not inserted on the drawing.
• Fixed error when moving circuits that are connected to recurring panel instances.

• Updated NEC references to 2023.
• Fixed error causing breaker size to be locked when copying a panel or disconnecting a panel .
• Fixed photometric calculation error related to obstructions.

• Fixed an issue where lug load values were not properly displayed in panel schedules when units were set to amps.
• Fixed an issue with the Junction Box Project Schedule command not running properly.

• Added text style for elevation labels.
• Fixed bug that caused the equipment disconnect to not be erased when set to a disconnect type without a block.
• Fixed bugs related to photometric schedules.

• Fixed crash in the Circuiting command in some projects.
• Fixed error when creating 2-pole connections to high-leg delta panels.

The following is a list of new and updated features in Design Master Electrical 8.6.

Breaker Curves

The major new feature in this release is the ability to assign time-current curves to breakers. The curves can then be used for selective coordination and arc-flash trip times.

Selective Coordination: Multiple breaker curves can be displayed on a time-current graph to allow you to coordinate your breakers.

Arc-Flash Trip Times: The arcing time in the arc-flash calculation can be calculated automatically using the breaker curve.

Wire Length Make-up

The Feeder Make-up option has been expanded from a single project value. The additional make-up settings provide greater control of calculated wire lengths.

Wire length make-up is additional length added to calculated distances between devices.

Feeder Length Make-up: Each piece of distribution equipment can have a separate feeder length make-up assigned.

Branch Circuit Length Make-up: Branch circuits can now have make-up included in the calculated length. A default branch circuit make-up length can be set for the project. The branch circuit make-up length can be set for each circuit on a piece of distribution equipment. Finally, the branch circuit make-up length can also be set for each individual branch circuit.

Calculations

Branch Circuit Voltage Drop Calculation: Branch circuit voltage drop calculations can be performed on circuits without loops or homeruns being inserted on the drawing. The voltage drop is based on the average distance from the distribution equipment to the connected devices.

Arc-Flash Calculation: Arc-flash calculations have been updated to use IEEE Std 1584-2018.

General Lighting Calculation: Lighting loads calculated based on the area of the building can be specified as continuous or noncontinuous. This change applies to calculations using the Other row in NEC Table 220.42. It does not apply to the rows in that table related to specific building types or loads based upon light fixtures inserted on the drawing.

Distribution Equipment Attributes

Manufacturer and NEMA Fields: A manufacturer field and a NEMA rating field have been added to the list of notes available for distribution equipment. These notes can be displayed in the distribution equipment schedule header, on the distribution equipment lists, and on the one-line diagram.

Main Frame Size on Schedule Header: A main frame size can now be displayed on distribution equipment schedule headers.

New Feature Webinar

• Fixed crash when setting a breaker curve.
• Fixed error calculating voltage drop on circuits without homeruns inserted.

• Fixed recurring panel instance AIC rating to allow non-numeric values.
• Updated voltage drop calculations to better account for junction boxes on circuits without homeruns.
• Added support for additional breaker curves.
• Fixed crash related to sequential feeder IDs.
• Prevent crash when attempting to create a slide that includes a parenthesis in the name.
• Fixed crash in the "Edit Multiple Recurring Panel Instances" command.
• Fixed crash when using a specific layer for photometric contours.
• Fixed recurring panel instance homeruns to update automatically when modified.
• Fixed error when starting a new project related to loading schedule settings.
• Fixed errors in BricsCAD related to selecting folders.
• Fixed "N/A" NEMA type to not be displayed on the drawing.

• Added support for AutoCAD 2023.

• Added pole-mounted transformer blocks to default one-line diagram customization.
• Fixed error in photometric calculations that caused foot-candle values to be displayed outside the calculation area boundary.
• Added support for additional breaker type curves.

• Added support for BricsCAD V22.
• Dropped support for BricsCAD V19.
• Fixed homeruns from panels to use the correct layers.

• Fixed error in Edit Multiple Equipment that caused no changes to be saved.

• Fixed error in Edit Multiple Recurring Panel Instances that caused the feeder size to not change.
• Fixed error in Edit Multiple Equipment that caused conduit, location, and sheet values to not change.
• Fixed the residential kitchen load calculation when there are 0 kitchen devices on a phase.
• Updated the arc-flash stickers to list "Available Fault Current" in accordance with NEC 110.24.

• Selective coordination graphs list the voltage and correctly shift curves at different voltages.
• Added support for additional Square D breakers.
• Fixed feeder 2 on transfer switches to work correctly with the feeder schedule.
• Fixed an error when attempting to copy fixed loads to a circuit feeding a subpanel.
• Fixed an error when using the Match Notes command with equipment disconnects.
• Fixed an error when creating feeder tags.
• Fixed an error with recurring panel instances that have duplicate names.

• Fixed an error in the Coordinate Drawings and Database command related to alignment points.

• Added support for AutoCAD 2022.
• Added support for additional breaker curves.
• Added Input Volts as a field to the UPS list.
• Improved Indoor Lighting Level Report to list total lighting load, total area, and average lighting power density.
• Fixed error calculating voltage drop when using the option to do the calculation based upon 80% of panel load.
• Fixed error in the Array commands when using non-world UCS.
• Fixed crashes caused by corrupt alignment points.
• Fixed error updating equipment IDs on the one-line diagram.
• Fixed error related to recurring panel instances during the Coordinate Drawings and Database command.
• Fixed COMCheck output to sort light fixture types.
• Fixed UPS feeder sizing to use primary voltage instead of secondary voltage.

• Added support for additional breaker curve types.

• Added support for BricsCAD V21.
• Dropped support for BricsCAD V18.

• Fixed a number of errors related to the display of breaker curves on selective coordination graphs.
• Fixed display of motor load values on multifamily residential panel schedules.
• Adjusted display of #10 wire size when automatically upsized from #12 because of circuit length.
• Fixed error causing multiple ground wire tick marks to be displayed.
• Adjusted arc-flash stickers to print better.

• Fixed crash when trying to insert a 3D block that cannot be found.
• Fixed error in photometric calculations output that caused 0 FC levels to be displayed in some areas where they should not be shown.
• Fixed error when changing equipment callout types.
• Changed tick marks to insert nothing if the block name is left blank.
• Fixed error when updating ATS homeruns on the drawing.
• Fixed error in the one-line diagram when showing lugs on panels.
• Fixed error in the Edit Multiple Recurring Panel Instances command that caused feeder lengths to be reset to 0.
• Updated BricsCAD V18 and V19 menus to include selective coordination commands.

• Fixed errors with 2-pole circuits on high-leg delta transformers.
• Fixed error causing a second ground wire to be shown on some combined circuit homeruns.
• Fixed error when using a custom callout in an equipment group.
• Added support for some additional types of Square D and GE breakers.

• Added support for AutoCAD 2021.
• Fixed error when loading menus that would cause the wrong icons to be used for the AutoCAD theme (dark vs light).
• Fixed error in BricsCAD when loading the ribbon menus.
• Added the new hotel demand factor in the 2020 NEC 220.42.
• Fixed error in light fixture schedule that caused the "Model" values to not display correctly.
• Fixed crash when removing a photometric boundary point.
• Fixed error calculating voltage drop in some cases when no homerun is inserted on the drawing.
• Fixed the "Feeder Schedule Label" commands to work correctly with the master database.
• Fixed error in "Edit Multiple Recurring Panel Instances" command that caused the "Show in List" setting to not be saved properly.
• Fixed error with custom equipment callout blocks that caused them to rotate incorrectly.

• Fixed an error with panels being connected to recurring panel templates.
• Added a selection to the "Switch rotation" option.
• Fixed crash when attempting to display an error message related to 1-pole circuits on high-leg delta panels.
• Fixed error in panel schedules that was causing a lug load value of 0 to be displayed on panels without lugs. The correct behavior is to not display a lug load value at all.

• Fixed the "Match Note" command to work correctly with junction boxes.
• Improved how 1-pole circuits are handled on high-leg delta panels.
• Fixed a crash when updating one-line diagram labels.
• Fixed an error in the "Edit Multiple Panels" command that was incorrectly saving the feeder size when conductors were set to "N/A".
• Fixed the "Switch Project Schedule" command on the ribbons to work in BricsCAD.
• Fixed error updating equipment callout layers during the "Coordinate" command.

• Updated occupancy area demand factors to include NEC 2020 values.
• Updated selective coordination to work with GE breakers.
• Improved photometric reflection calculations.
• Fixed the "Edit Multiple Recurring Panel Instance" command to correctly display IG wires in feeders.

• Added support for BricsCAD V20.
• Added support for more types of programmable breakers.
• Fixed a bug in takeoffs related to recurring panel instance feeder lengths.

• Fixed error moving panels on multiple drawings.
• Improved accuracy of ceiling reflections in point-by-point photometric calculations.
• Fixed photometric "Insert Mask" command to work correctly with non-world UCSs.

• Added an option to the voltage drop schedule to only show voltage drop on circuits with homeruns.
• Fixed indoor lighting calculations using LED IES files to correctly use the scale factor setting.
• Changed the "Show #10 when wires upsized" option to "Show #10 on homerun when wires upsized". The #10 wire size will be show in all schedules and locations where the size is explicitly listed. The option now only controls whether a #10 is displayed next to the homerun or not.
• Fixed crash in takeoffs caused by low-voltage panels.
• Fixed error starting a new project in BricsCAD.
• Changed point-by-point calculation display to require foot-candle levels or contours to be displayed.
• Fixed error in feeder length display in takeoffs related to make-up length settings.
• Fixed errors in floating licenses caused by incorrect system configurations.

• Fixed how 240/120V 2P 3W panels are connected to 240/120V 3P 4W high-leg delta panels.
• Fixed recurring panel list to use the maximum schedule height setting correctly.
• Improved drawing load speed when attaching reactors.

The following is a list of new and updated features in Design Master Electrical 8.5.

Distribution Equipment (Panels, Transformers, etc.)

Overloaded Distribution Equipment Warning: An option was added that checks to make sure your distribution equipment is not overloaded. You will be warned if the load on the distribution equipment exceeds 80% of the size. The warning is displayed in the Circuiting command and when the distribution equipment schedules are updated.

Dynamic Panel Schedule Footers: Panel schedule footers now dynamical update based upon the load calculation method used and specific load types on the panel. Previously you had to change the footer based upon the load calculation method and load types. Selecting the wrong footer caused confusing results to be displayed on the drawing.

Current projects will continue to use the old panel schedules. You can use the new panel schedules by changing the Schedule Block in the Feeder and Service Calculation Settings dialog box. Select a schedule that has the Dynamic Footer label. The footer will be updated the next time you update your panel schedules on the drawing.

New projects will use panel schedules with the new dynamic footer automatically.

Custom Bus Sizes: The bus size of distribution equipment now includes a Custom option that allows you to specify a value not contained in the default list.

Decimal Panel Dimensions: The physical size of the panel on the plan can use decimals. Previously you were limited to whole number sizes.

Printing Improvements: Printing of panel schedules and arc-flash stickers has been improved. The print commands create a single HTML file for all of the panel schedules or arc-flash stickers that you can print from your browser. Previously each panel schedule and arc-flash sticker was a separate file and had to be printed individually.

The arc-flash sticker size has been updated so that four stickers fit on a standard 8.5x11 piece of paper.

One-Line Diagram

Distribution Equipment Order: Added an option to control the order distribution equipment is ordered during the automatic generate commands. The options are breaker size, circuit number, distance, and equipment name.

Panel Tabs: A new graphic style that we call Panel Tabs is available for panel outlines in the one-line diagram. Adding a tab to a panel adds additional linework to the outline.

New Labels: Added new labels are available on the one-line diagram. New labels on distribution equipment include connected load in amps, calculated load in amps, equipment fed from, and ground wire size. New labels on feeders include ground wire size and circuit voltage.

Feeder ID Based on Callout and Ampacity: Feeder ID values are based upon the feeder callout and ampacity, instead of just the feeder callout.

Previously, feeders that used the same size wire, such as a 125A and 150A feeder, would use the same feeder ID. This labeling was confusing.

Now the feeder ID is also based upon the ampacity so that a wire size that is used for multiple feeder ampacities can have multiple labels.

Better Feeder IDs for Equipment vs Service Grounds: Feeders that use a service ground are now labeled consistently. The ground wire size for a feeder depends upon whether it is being sized based upon NEC 250.102 or NEC 250.122. Previously, the feeder ID assigned to the wire callout was not consistent for the different ground sizes.

Voltage Drop Based upon Distribution Equipment Size: Added an option to calculate feeder voltage drop based upon 80% of the distribution equipment size instead of the calculated load on the distribution equipment.

At the start of a project, before loads have been defined, calculating the voltage drop based upon the load results in a voltage drop of 0%. A voltage drop of 0% does not give you any information about the project.

The new option will calculate the voltage drop as if the distribution equipment is fully loaded. Feeders will display a voltage drop value. In particular, you will be able to see which feeders are likely to exceed 3% voltage drop. You can then upsize those feeders at the beginning of the project instead of at the end.

Voltage Drop Calculation Distance: The calculation used for the length of feeders and branch circuits has been made more obvious and customizable.

Feeder lengths can be calculated in a straight line distance between two pieces of distribution equipment. Previously, feeders were always calculated at right angles along the axes of the building. There is a default calculation method for the project. It can be overridden for specific feeders. Of course, you can continue to manually set feeder lengths, too.

The branch circuit length calculation is now displayed in the Set Circuit Information dialog box available in the Circuiting command. Previously you could set the branch circuit length to be calculated using either a straight line or right angles, but it was a difficult feature to use and verify. The new display location makes it an easier feature to take advantage of. A new custom branch circuit length option was also added that allows you to set a specific length. The voltage drop on the branch circuit is calculated assuming the whole load is the custom distance away from the distribution equipment.

Ground Wire Upsizing: Upsizing the conductor size will upsize the ground wire size, too. Previously the ground wire did not change size and you had to manually upsize it. The ground wire is upsized based upon NEC 250.122(B).

Ground wires in existing projects will be upsized when the project is converted to the new version. A list of circuits that have new ground wire sizes will be displayed when this change happens. You can review the new sizes and confirm they are all appropriate.

Lighting Calculations

LED IES File Scaling: IES files are used to calculate point-by-point photometrics. Standard IES files include information about the lumens used when creating the IES file. The lumens value in the light fixture schedule can be used together with the IES lumens value to scale the IES file output.

IES files for LED fixtures typically do not include lumens information. The lack of this information makes it impossible to scale the output based upon the lumens in the light fixture schedule.

There is a new General Scale Factor and Egress Scale Factor value you can set in the light fixture schedule for these situations. The light output will be multiplied by the scale factor you provide.

Previously you had to set the Lamp Depreciation to a value greater than 1 to work around this limitation in the IES files.

Average Foot-candle Uniformity Ratios: The photometric schedule can include three new uniformity ratios, average foot-candles to maximum foot-candles, maximum foot-candles to average foot-candles, and minimum foot-candles to average foot-candles.

Indoor Lighting Level Columns: The indoor lighting levels schedule includes new columns for lighting power density allowed and lighting power density actual.

Equipment Connections

Fault Current and Voltage Drop: Equipment connections can be included in the voltage drop schedule and fault current schedules. The voltage drop and fault current to the equipment will be calculated and displayed. Previously you had to model the equipment disconnect as a piece of distribution equipment to get the voltage drop or fault current values. Now you can skip that step and include the equipment directly.

To display the equipment connection in the schedules, use the Schedule Information button when editing the equipment and check the Show in Fault Schedule or Show in Voltage Drop Schedule toggle.

Licensing

The technical backend for managing licenses has been upgraded in this release. You will be prompted for new license information after you install the new version. Send an email to support@designmaster.biz and ask for your new license information.

If you install the new version before getting your new license information, you can use the 30-day trial to continue working. It is a full working version of the software and gives you 30 days to get your license information from us.

Installing the license will require an active internet connection.

Single-user licenses will regularly check in with our license server on the internet. They will work when disconnected from the internet.

Floating licenses will now use our remote license servers on the internet to manage concurrent use. They will require an active internet connection to be used. One benefit of the new licensing technology is that you can more reliably share floating licenses between different office locations.

New Feature Webinar

• Improved warning messages that are displayed when there are licensing problems.
• Fixed voltage drop schedule to not display an error when the fault cannot be calculated.
• Fixed error converting one-line diagram entities to native AutoCAD entities in the "Copy Drawing and Remove Links to Database" command.
• Fixed error when copying one-line diagram feeders.
• Fixed scaling of dynamic panel footer text height.
• Fixed error that prevented the voltage on UPSs from being changed.
• Fixed "Erase Note" command to work correctly with homeruns.
• Fixed crash when setting length of second feeder on UPSs or transfer switches.
• Fixed error that included extra feeder sizes in the feeder schedule on projects with generators.

• Added support for AutoCAD 2020.
• Fixed leader insertion error that caused leaders to be inserted on circuit labels when they should not be.
• Fixed error accounting loads going through a transfer switch and a transformer.
• Fixed a one-line connection error in certain instances where distribution equipment was set to not display on the one-line diagram.
• Fixed panel overload warning to check against main breaker size and not bus size.
• Fixed motor wire sizing when breaker and wire size are both based upon FLA.
• Fixed error labeling voltage on high-leg delta panels in the one-line diagram.

• Fixed display of one-line diagram blocks when viewed by people without Design Master installed.
• Fixed the One-Line Diagram->Change Graphics command to work correctly with recurring panel instances.
• Fixed error improperly including motor loads in dwelling unit feeder and service load calculations.
• Fixed error inserting a second recurring panel instance on a drawing.
• Fixed feeders on the one-line diagram to work correctly with the AutoCAD MIRROR command.
• Fixed error changing occupancy area values in the Edit Multiple Panels command.
• Fixed crash that occured when a block file could not be found for the one-line diagram.

• Fixed crash when updating panel schedules that use certain TTF font styles.
• Updated display of dwelling unit kitchen loads on three-phase panels to not list a connected load.
• Fixed equipment disconnects to work correctly when using dynamic blocks.
• Fixed error linking feeders and panels when copying one-line diagram entities.
• Fixed crash when using the UNDO command after moving 3D conduit and cable trays.

• Fixed error that prevented recurring panel instances from being created.
• Fixed meter demand on panels to properly display values in separate phase load totals.
• Fixed BricsCAD version to work in 64-bit BricsCAD again.

• Fixed error that was causing incorrect feeder lengths to be displayed on the one-line diagram.
• Fixed an error when copying one-line diagrams items.
• Fixed error setting arc-flash settings in recurring panel instances.
• Fixed crash in the "Merge Project" command.
• Fixed ground sizing error when the breaker is sized based upon the MOCP of an equipment connection.
• Updated licensing to handle virtual machines.

• Fixed errors with floating licenses.
• Fixed display of some panel load calculations in dynamic footers.
• Fixed error changing the value of the "Share Neutral" setting in options.
• Fixed the EXPLODE command to work with one-line diagrams again.
• Fixed error displaying elevations of cable trays.
• Added a new panel load calculation method labeled "None". The dynamic footer will be blank, allowing you to provide a calculation not current supported.
• Fixed display of one-line diagram text in BricsCAD.
• Fixed equipment callouts so that when they are removed they do not come back during the "Coordinate Drawings and Database" command.
• Fixed ground wire sizing to work correctly when the breaker size is set to "None".
• Added support for BricsCAD V19.

The following is a list of new and updated features in Design Master Electrical 8.4. The requests from our public wish list are highlighted.

Improved One-Line Diagrams

The one-line diagrams have been given a thorough upgrade in this release. These changes cover a number of requests on the wish list (request 1, request 2, request 3, request 4) as well as a whole host of improvements that were not specifically requested.

If you currently use our one-line diagrams, you are in for a treat. We smoothed out all the areas that used to cause complaints. Everything related to one-line diagrams will work just a little better now.

If you do not currently use our one-line diagrams, now is the time to give them a try. The feature has been upgraded from "pretty good" to "ridiculously awesome." They even come with a whole set of video tutorials that walk you through how to use them (nearly 2 hours worth of video in all).

Renamed "One-Line Devices" to "Distribution Equipment"

We renamed One-Line Devices to Distribution Equipment in the user interface (menus, dialog boxes, and command line prompts). We feel that this is a better term and will be more understandable to new users. For existing users, we want you to be aware of the name change so you know where to look for commands you currently use. No functionality was changed with the new name, only the labels in the user interface.

Edit Multiple Distribution Equipment

We added commands to edit multiple pieces of distribution equipment such as panels and transformers. This feature finished the improvements to the edit multiple commands we started in the last release.

"Next" and "Previous" Button in "Set Fixed Loads" Dialog

We added a Next and Previous button to the Set Fixed Loads dialog box in the Circuiting command. You can use these buttons to quickly move between circuits on a panel.

Conduit Size Location in Feeder Callout

Added an option to display the conduit size at the end of the feeder callout. Previously it was limited to being displayed at the beginning of the callout. To change this option, use the DM Electrical->Customization->Options->Edit Project List command and change the Circuits, Load Types, and Wire Sizes->Conduit location option to End of wire callout. (Requested on the wish list.)

Custom Feeder Sizes for Recurring Panel Instances

Recurring panel instances can have custom feeder sizes. You can use this custom feeder size to upsize the feeder to specific instances to handle voltage drop without upsizing the feeders to all recurring panels of that type.

Print Distribution Equipment Schedule Command

We added a new Print Distribution Equipment Schedule command. This command prints a version of the schedule intended for mounting in the actual panel or switchboard. There are a number of options for the specific information to include in the schedule that is printed. (Requested on the wish list.)

BricsCAD Compatibility

Added support for BricsCAD V16. Dropped support for BricsCAD V15.

AutoCAD Compatibility

Dropped support for AutoCAD 2004, 2005, and 2006.

• Added support for AutoCAD 2017.

• Fixed one-line diagram text scale to be properly saved. Updating the one-line diagram will no longer reset all text scale factors to 1.
• Fixed AIC ratings so they save non-numeric values correctly again.
• Fixed bugs in "Edit Multiple Equipment" command causing some load values to not be saved properly.
• Branch circuit voltage drop calculations are skipped if branch circuit voltage drop values are not shown on the schedule.
• Fixed the recurring panel instance list to correctly display notes.
• Fixed "Match Graphics" error in one-line diagram when feeder has a start or end block.
• Fixed text wrapping errors in one-line diagram labels.
• Fixed low voltage device group copy error.
• Fixed "Flip Bus" command crash.
• Fixed display of lug load values on recurring panel schedules.
• Fixed printing of panel schedules to work correctly with tandem breakers.

• Added support for AutoCAD 2019.
• Added option for a dash for the default circuit description. The previous options were SPACE or SPARE.
• Fixed error in the "Edit Multiple Panels" command when setting the AIC value.
• Fixed a crash in the "Generate" one-line diagram commands when the electrical system contains a loop.
• Fixed errors related to creating and removing tandem breakers.

• Added ribbons to BricsCAD.
• Fixed copying of recurring panel instances to not copy the upstream connection.
• Fixed transformer impedance to save correctly in all cases.
• Fixed error in Edit Multiple Receptacles and Edit Multiple Equipment that caused some changes to not be saved when changing load types.
• Fixed homerun labels from panels to update properly when the upstream panel is changed.
• Changed equal heating and cooling loads to label the heating load as 100% instead of the cooling load.
• Added support for dynamic blocks to the Trace Architect's Light Fixtures and Receptacle commands.
• Fixed display of recurring panel feeder lengths in one-line diagram.
• Fixed crash when copying one-line diagram entities.
• Fixed display of feeder IDs on recurring panel instances in the one-line diagram.
• Fixed the AutoCAD Copy Multiple command to work correctly with one-line diagram entities.
• Fixed crashes in the one-line diagram Generate commands related to panels with top lug connections.

• Added support for BricsCAD V18.
• Improved arc-flash sticker format.
• Improved one-line diagram generate commands to lay out equipment better in some instances.
• Fixed error setting panel elevations in the "Edit Multiple Panels" command.
• Fixed single-phase dwelling unit range calculations.
• Fixed error with scaled text in the one-line diagram.

• Fixed some feeder ID display bugs in the one-line diagram.
• Fixed error saving AIC value in the edit multiple distribution equipment commands.
• Improved output of the "Generate One-Line" command.
• Fixed error displaying metered demand loads and future load twice in the upstream circuit.

• Fixed crash when photometric contour colors were not set correctly.
• Fixed error in the "Merge Project" command related to rooms.
• Fixed crash when drawing automatic homeruns.
• Fixed text size error in feeder IDs.
• Fixed changing circuit layer system to update the drawing automatically with the new layer setting.

• Fixed errors when editting custom feeders on recurring panel instances.
• Fixed error that caused the IG value for custom feeders to be set incorrectly on recurring panel instances after doing an edit multiple.
• Fixed error in 3D export commands that caused some custom blocks and recurring panel instances to not be exported.
• Fixed crash when importing light fixture schedules from the master database to the project database.
• Prevent circuits from being swapped when their poles do not match.

• Added support for AutoCAD 2018.
• Fixed update of files when using a network install with BricsCAD.
• The location field in panel schedules will display the room the panel is in by default.
• Fixed crash when adding one-line diagram labels to bus ducts.
• Importing a light fixture type from another project copies the IES file to the current project folder.
• Changed power density value in room labels to include 3 decimal points instead of just 1.
• Fixed display of feeder lengths to recurring panels on the one-line diagram.
• Fixed 3D export to correctly export recurring panel instances.
• Fixed error when drawing stacked cable trays.
• Fixed error that caused an extra feeder ID block to be inserted at 0,0 when the one-line diagram was updated.
• Fixed sorting of equipment in list so that the callout ID is always in order.
• Fixed panel schedule to correctly display house loads in a panel even if dwelling unit loads do not exist.
• Add trip size and frame size as fields to the equipment list.
• Added "Trace Architect's Switches" command.

• Added command to create feeder IDs manually without there being a corresponding feeder in the project. You can use this command to easily populate your master feeder ID schedule. Run the DM Electrical->Customization->Feeder IDs->Edit Project List command and press the Create Feeder IDs button in the dialog box.
• Fixed errors when merging panels between projects. Removed the Import from Another Database button from Panel dialog box. The Merge Project command should be used for this purpose instead.
• Equipment connections display the correct room location in the one-line diagram.
• Added impedance as a label to transformers on one-line diagram.
• Export lighting group lengths using the proper units (feet instead of inches) to COMCheck.
• Fixed crash in the redraw rooms command.
• Room names are properly included on printed panel schedules.

• Feeder IDs will prompt less frequently to be created.
• Fixed crash when no feeder ID block is selected.
• Fixed crash when labeling elevations on cable tray.
• Fixed layout of recurring panels during the "Generate Riser" command to correctly account for elevation.
• Improved performance when drawing loops between a large number of devices.
• Fixed error setting AIC ratings in the "Edit Multiple Recurring Panels" command.

• Feeder IDs are not shown on feeders where the conductors are set to "None" or the "Show in Feeder Schedule" toggle is turned off.
• Fixed error in "Edit Multiple Recurring Panel Templates" with the "IG Bus" and "IG Conductor".
• Fixed display of transformer impedance on the one-line diagram.
• Added the ground wire size as a value that can be displayed for circuits.
• Fixed error in one-line block customization commands that caused AutoCAD to lock up when multiple blocks were deleted.
• Added "Primary Volts" as a label to UPSs on the one-line diagram.
• Removed the "Delete Feeder ID" command because it is no longer used.

• The one-line diagram "Match Labels and Graphics" command no longer resets the block used for equipment connections.
• Fixed crash when changing the number of poles of breakers on panels that include tandem breakers.
• Display feeders to distribution equipment connected to the utility when feeder IDs are not used in the one-line diagram.
• Fixed errors in the "Edit Multiple Recurring Panel Instances" command when setting custom feeder sizes.
• Feeder schedule settings are correctly copied when a new project is started.

• Improved feeder IDs.
• Fixed bugs in the "Edit Multiple Recurring Panel Instances" command.

• Fixed crash when moving a device after erasing the homerun on it.
• Fixed crash when exporting lighting information to COMCheck.
• Fixed error in display of one-line diagram blocks with leaders.
• Fixed crashes caused by one-line diagram blocks with leaders.
• Fixed display of "Explosion Proof" label in receptacle schedule.
• BricsCAD: Fixed error inserting blocks in schedules.
• BricsCAD: Fixed incorrect display of labels in one-line diagram.

• Added a toggle to turn off the feeder ID of specific feeders in the one-line diagram. Run the One-Line Diagram->Change Graphics command to use this new feature. Select a feeder. At the top of the dialog box will be a Feeder ID option that you can change to No to turn the feeder ID off.
• Rearranged the Edit Distribution Equipment command, Connect Distribution Equipment command, and Edit Multiple Distribution Equipment commands in the menus. The goal is for the new button position and icons to be more intuitive than the previous design. The icon for the Edit Distribution Equipment command was changed back to its original image (it had been changed this release because it used the same icon as the Connect comand). The Edit Multiple Distribution Equipment commands were moved to be closer to the Edit Distribution Equipment command. The icon for the Connect Distribution Equipment command was changed to a new image.
• Fixed voltage drop calculation error when multiple circuits on combined on a single homerun.
• Fixed error in RV park service load calculation.
• Added an option for 2-pole connections on high leg delta panels with a high B leg to connect to A-C on a 3-pole breaker or C-A on a 2-pole breaker.
• Fixed crash when flipping a bus on the one-line diagram.
• Fixed error in transfer switch calculation when both inputs of a transfer switch are fed from the same panel.
• Fixed sizing of custom recurring panel instance feeders.
• Changed default breaker insertion in the one-line diagram to be toward the right of the feeder line instead of to the left on vertical lines.
• Fixed error in the "Coordinate" command that caused homerun layers to be moved to the circuit layer.
• Fixed error when updating homerun callouts that caused the label to rotate.

• Added "Offset from other feeder" option when drawing a feeder. Makes it easy to draw a feeder that is parallel to a feeder already inserted on the drawing.
• Fixed error in feeder schedule that was showing equipment feeders in a separate row from distribution equipment feeders.
• Fixed display of circuit labels on switches.
• Fixed error that prevent homeruns from being drawn from LVDs.
• Fixed error that caused distribution equipment elevations to be changed when they were moved on the drawing.

• Fixed sized of recurring panel dialog boxes to fit on small screens.
• Added more labels to one-line diagrams.
• • Distribution Equipment
  • • Main Trip Amp and Poles: Size of the main breaker and number of poles.
    • Main Trip Poles: Number of poles of the main breaker.
  • Transformers
  • • Impedance: Impedance of the transformer.
  • Feeders
  • • Breaker Poles: Number of poles of the OCP on the feeder.
    • This Feeder Voltage Drop: Voltage drop on this feeder only, not the culmulative voltage drop for the system.
• Fixed error that would cause some feeder lines to be inserted at odd angles.
• Fixed error that caused wye-delta transformers to not list a neutral in the feeder size.
• Added voltage drop for the feeder only, rather than for the whole system, as a field to the voltage drop schedule.
• Fixed error causing blocks to draw with the wrong color in one-line diagrams.
• Fixed crash when inserting labels on the one-line diagram.
• Fixed error that prevented branch circuit voltage drop to update properly on some circuits.

• Fixed error setting the "Upstream OCP" value in the "Edit Multiple Distribution Equipment" commands.
• Fixed errors modifying circuits in panels that have tandem breakers.
• Made the display of equipment lists consistent across all equipment commands.
• Added option to "Redraw Feeder" command to start feeder at the default location on the upstream panel.
• Added "Main Frame Amps" as a label to one-line diagrams.
• Added custom AIC ratings to recurring panel instances.
  

The following is a list of new and updated features in Design Master Electrical 8.3. The requests from our public wish list are highlighted.

Feeder and Service Calculations

We added all of the load calculation options from NEC 220 that were previously missing from the software. You can do any type of feeder or service calculation allowed by the NEC. (Requested on the wish list.) (Requested again on the wish list.)

Load Calculation Method: Each panel or other one-line device has a setting for what load calculation method to use.

General Lighting Calculations: Lighting load can be calculated based upon the area served by the panel.

Metered Demand and Future Demand: A metered demand value can be specified for each panel or other one-line device.

A future demand value can also be specified, either as a specific value or a percentage of the panel load.

The metered demand and future demand are included in the total load on the panel, but are not shown on a specific circuit.

Occupancy Areas: The area served by each panel or other one-line device can be specified and used to calculate the general lighting load. These areas are also used in some of the other calculation methods. The areas are added together as you move up the one-line diagram, so the total area on the main service panel is the sum of the areas of the panels connected to it.

Cooling Load Type: A cooling load type was added. In general, the larger of the heating or cooling load type is used for the calculated load on the panel.

Dwelling Unit Load Types: Multiple load types to support dwelling units were added.

Panels, Circuits, and Homeruns

Recurring Panels: Recurring panels are a new type of one-line device. They allow you to create and circuit a panel, then insert multiple instances of it on your drawings. It is intended to be used for hotels and multifamily dwellings that have common room or unit layouts. You design a typical unit and connect all the devices to the recurring panel. Then you insert an instance of the recurring panels for each unit on the drawing. When you need to make changes to the unit design, you modify the typical unit and all the instances are updated automatically.

Meter Centers: Meter centers are a new type of one-line device. Their circuits are labeled sequentially (not split into an odd an even side). The circuits are all two-pole and their starting phase rotates automatically.

UPS Phase Converters: The voltage on a UPS can change from single-phase to three-phase to allow you to model phase converters.

Copy Fixed Loads When Copying a Panel: When you copy a panel or other one-line device, you will be given an option to copy the fixed loads to the new panel.

Do Not List Neutral Wire Separate from Hot Wires: For wire callouts, when the neutral and hot wires are the same size, there is now an option to combine them. Instead of a wire callout of 1/2"C,3#12,#12N,#12G, it would list 1/2"C,4#12,#12G. Use the DM Electrical->Customization->Options, Circuits Load Types, and Wire Sizes->Display neutral wire count separately from phase wire count option to change this setting.

Homeruns from Panels: Homeruns can be inserted on panels and other one-line devices. The circuit callout displays where the panel is fed from. The wire callout displays the feeder size of the panel.

Circuit Description Sorting: When multiple devices are connected to a circuit, their descriptions are sorted alphabetically.

Merge Circuits: The Swap and Copy Circuits command has been renamed to Move Circuits. It now includes a command to merge two circuits. All the devices connected to one circuit and the fixed loads on it will be transfered to the other circuit. (Requested on the wish list.)

Homeruns Wire Callouts and Tick Marks Settings: Two new options have been added for inserting wire callouts and tick marks on homeruns. Tick marks for all homeruns will insert tick marks on all homeruns regardless of the wire size. Nothing for #12, wire callouts if > #12 will insert nothing on homeruns that are #12 and will display full wire callouts for homeruns larger than that. Use the DM Electrical->Customization->Options, Homeruns and Loops->Homerun wire callouts and tick marks option to change this setting.

Multiple Homeruns on a Circuit: You can insert multiple homeruns on a circuit, rather than just one. Insert the first homerun using the normal commands. Use the Draw Additional Homerun command to add more homeruns. You will have to manually add and remove loops as necessary based upon the homeruns you insert. (Requested on the wish list.)  

Tandem Breakers: You can now create tandem breakers, also known as twin breakers or peanut breakers. Use the Create Tandem Breaker and Remove Tandem Breaker buttons in the Circuiting dialog box to create them. (Requested on the wish list.)

High C-Leg for High-Leg Delta: You can choose whether your high-leg delta panels have a high B leg or a high C leg. You make this choice when selecting the voltage, either 240/120V 3P 4W, High B or 240/120V 3P 4W, High C.

New Circuiting Dialog Box Layout: The layout of the circuiting dialog box has been updated. We tried to keep the spirit of the dialog box the same as before while improving the readability and adding support for the new features in this release.

The top-left now lists only the currently selected panel or one-line device. All of the information about the current circuit has been moved to the right. All the fixed load values are in a separate dialog box that can be accessed using the Set Fixed Loads button.

If you use keyboard shortcuts, press the ALT key to see the shortcuts available for the buttons on the dialog box. You might find these shortcuts helpful if you spend a lot of time in this dialog box.

You can compare the old circuit dialog box with the new one using the images below. Click on the image to view a full version of the dialog box. The old dialog box is on the left and the new one is on the right.

Equipment

Equipment Navigation Buttons: Three new buttons--Find, Previous, and Next--were added to the Query Equipment dialog box. These buttons can be used to navigate to other equipment in the project. (Requested on the wish list.)

Edit Multiple Equipment: A new Edit Multiple Equipment command was added. You can select multiple pieces of equipment from a list or from the drawing and then make changes to all of them at the same time. (Requested on the wish list.)

Different Equipment Callouts for Groups: An equipment callout setting was added to equipment groups. Using this setting, you can change the callout for each group to look different. (Requested on the wish list.)

New Equipment Callout Commands: Two new commands were added for modifying callouts for individual pieces of equipment. The Modify Equipment Callout command allows you to select a different callout style for a single piece of equipment. The Remove Equipment Callout command allows you to remove the callout from a piece of equipment.

Light Fixtures

New Light Fixture Schedule Columns: Added new columns related to settings for photometrics to the light fixture schedule. The new columns are Lumens / Lamp, Total Lumens, Egress Mode Lumens / Lamp, Egress Mode Total Lumens, Lamp Depreciation, IES File Name, IES File Name and Path, and Arm Length. (Requested on the wish list.)

Default Mounting Height: Added a default mounting height to light fixtures. This value can be set in the schedule. When a light fixture is inserted that has a default mounting height, the elevation setting will be set to the default value automatically. You can override the default mounting height when the light fixture is inserted or when querying it. A new Default Elevation column was added to the schedule that can display the value. (Requested on the wish list.)

Export to COMCheck: Light fixture quantities and building areas can be exported to COMCheck. (Requested on the wish list.)

Devices

Array Device Commands: Added two commands to array devices. They array command was changed in AutoCAD 2012 in a way that it no longer worked with our software. These new commands were added to allow you to continue to array devices in newer versions of AutoCAD. Both array commands are single dimension arrays. If you need to array in two dimensions, run the command twice.

Both commands work in a similar manner. You select one or more devices to array. You provide a distance and an angle. Then you enter the number of devices in the array. The difference between the two is how the distance provided is used.

• Array Devices (2 Point): The distance you provide is the total distance of the array. The distance between devices is the total distance divided by the number of devices.
• Array Devices (Distance / Angle):  The distance you provide is the distance between each devices. The total distance is the distance multiplied by the number of devices.

Improved Edit Multiple Commands: The Edit Multiple commands for all devices have been improved to be more user-friendly. When you select multiple devices, the commands will list the attributes that are the same and that vary and allow you to easily change them.

Arc-Flash

Arc-Flash Input Units: The input units for all values related to arc-flash have been changed from metric to imperial. Distances are input based upon inches. Energy is input based upon calories / cm².

Arc-Flash Schedule Display Units: New columns were added to the arc-flash schedule that allow you to display values in either metric or imperial units.

Time-Current Curve File: A file can be attached to each panel or other one-line device in the Arc-Flash dialog. The file is intended to be a way to store the time-current curve file that you used to determine the arcing time. The file is for your reference only. It is not used to calculate the arcing time and is not displayed anywhere else. There is a command to open the file to allow you to easily review it. (Requested on wish list.)

Other Changes

Project Groups: Groups were added to all schedules. Each group is a separate set of a type of device and has its own separate schedule. The most common use for the groups is to allow you to create separate schedules for different types of a device. For example, you could create a general light fixture group and an outdoor light fixture group. The outdoor light fixture group would have a separate schedule that could be inserted on the site plan to document only the fixture types that are used there. (Requested on the wish list.)

Photometric Contour Colors: The color of contours inserted during photometric calculations can be set manually to allow you to more easily differentiate between them.

Export 3D-BIM to DWG File: Three new commands were added to export the 3D model to a DWG file instead of an IFC file.

One-Line Diagram Scaling: The scale command works correctly with devices in the one-line diagram. The block size will remain the same after scaling and not be changed when the one-line diagram is updated.

One-Line Diagram Template Blocks: A new type of one-line diagram block, which we call a template block, has been added. The template block includes the location and settings for the labels in addition to the block itself.

To create a template block, insert a one-line diagram block or panel. Insert labels on the block or panel, including prefix and suffix values if desired. Once everything is set correctly, run the DM Electrical->Customization->Block Creation->Create One-Line Block for One-Line Diagram command. Select the block.

A block will be created and added to your block list. When the block is inserted, the labels will be inserted and filled out at the same time.

Utility Fault One-Line Label: Added a label to panels on the one-line diagram that is the fault from the utility that does not include any motor contributions.

Filter Takeoffs by Layer System: The takeoff quantities can be set to include or exclude specific layer systems.

• Fixed display of circuit labels on recurring panels.
• Fixed display of recurring panel instances in one-line diagram insertion.
• Fixed Edit Multiple Equipment dialog to handle custom equipment callouts correctly.
• Fixed crash when copying a panel on the drawing.
• Fixed sizes of panel dialog boxes to better fit on widescreen laptops.
• Fixed crash when trying to read in an improperly formatted IES file.
• Fixed feeder schedule to display equipment feeder sizes when breaker is set to none.
• Fixed errors causing #10 to not be displayed when upsized based upon the length of the circuit.
• Fixed feeder IDs to insert properly for equipment feeders in the one-line diagram.
• Fixed errors in COMcheck export when using the whole building method.
• Fixed fault calculation error on two-pole single-phase panels without a neutral.

• Fixed error with future loads that was causing them to not transfer correctly to 3-pole breakers.
• Fixed error that caused dwelling unit counts to not be saved when the "Load Calculation Method" was set to "Default."

• Improved 3D drawing export to group faces together for better interference detection using Navisworks.
• Fixed crash when breaking a cable tray.
• Fixed error in feeder calculations that was causing future loads to be counted multiple times.
• Fixed bug when deleting a recurring panel instance.

• Added support for BricsCAD 15. Dropped support for BricsCAD 14.
• Heat pump loads are ignored in multifamily dwelling calculations.
• Corrected custom loads to calculate correctly when the demand factor is changed in the Options command.

• Fixed crash when copying and pasting equipment connections.
• Fixed error with the display of tick marks on homeruns coming from panels.
• Updated "Edit Multiple Low Voltage Devices" to allow some values to be changed if the group is not the same for all the selected low voltage devices.
• Fixed crash when connecting panels to each other.
• Fixed error selecting a conduit or cable tray when they are in a stack.
• Fixed error the occasionally caused devices to be located in the wrong room in the database.
• Fixed error when parsing incorrectly formatted IES files.
• Improved usability of "Create Plan View Block from this Drawing" command.
• Fixed error inserting tick marks on homeruns after it is moved.
• Fixed crash in the "Utilities->Copy Drawing and Remove All DM Entities" command.
• Fixed IFC export to rotate correctly when using the "Link" command in Revit.
• Fixed IFC export to work correctly when UCS is not set to world.
• Added prompt before updating old databases.

• Fixed error when moving items between groups in schedules.
• Fixed crash when printing takeoffs.
• Fixed crash when drawing a homerun from a panel.
• Fixed crash when updating wire sizes after changing the sizing option.
• Fixed error with switch subscript default locations.

• Fixed display error for switch circuits.
• Fixed error in importing low voltage devices from the master schedule.
• Fixed error when exporting the whole project to an IFC file.
• Fixed error when updating panel schedules that have tandem breakers.
• Fixed error transferring rooms from Design Master HVAC.

• Added a new "Tick marks for #12, tick marks and wire callouts if > #12" choice to the "Homerun wire callouts and tick marks" option.
• Fixed the "Merge" button in the "Move Circuits" command to correctly move switches from the circuit on the right to the circuit on the left.
• Move where lamp data imported from an IES file is stored by default.
• Fixed calculation of future load on upstream panels.
• Moving a label using grips adds and removes the leader automatically.
• Fixed copy and paste between projects to handle groups better.
• Fixed error in BricsCAD that caused devices to not be displayed during insertion.
• Added column to "Voltage Drop Schedule" to display the distance to the farthest branch circuit device.

• Removed "High B" and "High C" from one-line diagram voltage labels.
• Fixed an error when deleting panels on the drawing.
• When a High-B panel is connected to a High-C panel, the loads on the B and C phase are swapped.
• Fixed error with layer used when inserting egress light fixtures.
• Running the Coordinate Drawings with Database command will not move homerun arrows if the homerun label was previously moved manually by the user.

• Fixed error causing entities to be grouped together in new drawings.
• Added new choices to the Highlight Voltage Drop option in the voltage drop schedule.
• • Yes, Feeder or Branch Circuit > 3%, Total > 5%: Will highlight any feeders or branch circuits that exceed 3% voltage drop. Will highlight any total voltage drop (feeder + branch circuit) that exceeds 5%. These are the values required in NEC 210.19(A)(1) FPN No. 4 and NEC 215.2(A)(3) FPN No. 2.
  • Yes, Feeder > 2%, Branch Circuit > 3%: Will highlight any feeder that exceeds 2% voltage drop or any branch circuit that exceeds 3% voltage drop. These are the values required in California Title 24 2013 Nonresidential Compliance Manual 8.4.
  • No: No voltage drops will be highlighted in the schedule.
• Added new options to the Circuits to Display option in the voltage drop schedule.
• • All with Load: Any branch circuit that includes a load will be included in the schedule. This will include branch circuits with fixed loads but no circuit length that will calculate to have a voltage drop of 0%.
  • All > 0: Any branch circuit that has a voltage drop greater than 0%.
• Removed the High B and High C label from voltage labels in the panel schedule and panel list. Both choices are still available as voltage choices and will behave correctly. The only difference is in the labels on the drawing. You will need to manually add a label specifying the high leg if it is not otherwise clear in your project.
• Fixed the high-leg delta panels so you can connect a High B panel to a High C panel.

• Fixed crash when inserting some schedules.
• Fixed error that caused wrapped text to change to a single line during the Coordinate Drawings and Database command.
• The Insert Switch and Insert Junction Box commands correctly remember their settings from previous insertions again.
• Equipment loads are set correctly in the Query or Edit Multiple Equipment command.
• Fixed recurring panel instances to work correctly with the ROTATE command.
• Fixed error copying layers from the project to standards database.
• Fixed error in the Low Voltage Panel List Label Group command.

• Changed installer to work correctly with non-admin users.
• Fixed crash when editting one-line diagram labels.
• Fixed error causing doubled loads on recurring panels.
• Fixed Copy Circuits command to work correctly with tandem breakers.
• Fixed crash when drawing a homerun.
• New low voltage device groups properly create new layers.
• Using UNDO after the Insert Equipment on this Drawing puts the equipment back in the database rather than erasing it completely.

• Fixed an error that was causing homerun labels to not update automatically when changes were made to a circuit. Previously modified drawings will update automatically the next time you open them.

• Fixed error setting block correctly when importing items from other projects.
• Fixed Erase Part of Device command to work correctly with homeruns.
• Fixed error that was causing equipment to be displayed incorrectly when inserting devices in the one-line diagram.
• Restored ability to uncircuit equipment in the database using the Circuit Equipment in Database command.

The following is a list of new and updated features in Design Master Electrical 8.2. The requests from our public wish list are highlighted.

Merge Project

The new DM Electrical->Utilities->Merge Project command is used to merge panels and drawings from one project into another project. Devices that are circuited on the drawing that is merged will be transfered to the appropriate panel in the new project. (Requested on the wish list.)

Arc-Flash

The calculated fault at each panel can be used to calculate the arc-flash values. The incident energy at the working distance and the arc-flash-protection boundary values are calculated and can be displayed in a schedule on the drawing or printed as warning labels to be attached to the panels in the field. (Requested on the wish list.)

Equipment, Low Voltage Devices, UPS's, Switches

Set Equipment Load in Amps: There is a new Set Load in Amps button that can be used to set the load on a piece of equipment in amps. A second dialog will appear where you enter the load in amps. The load will be converted to kVA and set in the equipment dialog box. (Requested on the wish list.)

Subscripts on Low Voltage Devices: Low voltage devices can have subscripts included on them like receptacles. These subscripts can be displayed in the low voltage device schedule.

Primary UPS Voltage: UPS's can have a primary voltage set that is different from the secondary voltage. Setting the primary voltage directly in the UPS saves you from having to insert a separate transformer to model the transformer included in the UPS.(Requested on the wish list.)

Breaker and Conductor Sizing per NEC 440: Equipment breakers and conductors can be sized based upon NEC 440.

The options for Breaker Size are:

• Size based upon 175% of MCA & MOCP (or Loads): The breaker will be sized equal to 175% of the MCA setting. If this value exceeds the MOCP, the MOCP will be used. If no MCA is set, the breaker will be sized based upon the equipment load.
• Size based upon 225% of MCA & MOCP (or Loads): The breaker will be sized equal to 225% of the MCA setting. If this value exceeds the MOCP, the MOCP will be used. If no MCA is set, the breaker will be sized based upon the equipment load.
• Size based upon MOCP (or Loads): The breaker will be sized equal to the MOCP setting. If no MOCP is set, the breaker will be sized based upon the equipment load.

The options for Wire Size are:

• Size based upon MCA (or Loads): The conductors will be sized equal to the MCA. If no MCA is set, the conductors will be sized based upon the breaker.
• Size based upon MOCP (or Loads): The conductors will be sized equal to the MOCP. If no MOCP is set, the conductors will be sized based upon the breaker.

Switch Subscript Rotation: Added option to force switch subscripts to be drawn right-side up, even when matched to the rotation angle of the switch. Use the DM Electrical->Customizaiton->Options, Switches->Allow upside down switch subscripts option to control this setting.

Light Fixtures and Photometrics

Light Fixture Contour Overlay: Photometric contour overlays can be generated for light fixtures to help you visualize where the light from the fixture will be cast. The DM Electrical->Customization->Options, Light Fixtures->Display light fixture overlay option controls when the overlay is displayed. (Requested on the wish list.)

• Never: Light fixture overlays will never be displayed on the drawing.
• During insertion: The light fixture overlay is displayed while you are inserting the light fixture. Once the light fixture is inserted, the overlay is no longer displayed. To view the overlay again, you must insert a new fixture.
• Always: The light fixture overlay is always displayed on the drawing. It will be displayed while inserting the fixture. Once the fixture is inserted, it will inserted on the drawing as a block. It is inserted on a separate layer that defaults to not plot.

The light fixture overlay is only generated for fixtures that have sufficient photometric information defined about them. Either the General Photometrics checkbox or Egress Photometrics checkbox need to be checked. The Elevation needs to be set higher than 0. An IES file needs to be associated with the fixture callout.

The contours in the overlay are based upon the general lighting contour levels. You can change these using the DM Electrical->Customization->Options->Contour level options.

Load IES File Information into Light Fixture Schedule: The text information contained in an IES file can be used to populate the information for a light fixture type in the light fixture schedule using the new Load IES File Information into Schedule button. All of the information in the IES file will be loaded into the schedule. The information the IES file contains varies depending upon what the manufacturer provides. You will need to review the information that is loaded to confirm it is loaded in the correct field and contains useful text. (Requested on the wish list.)

Photometric Area Elevation: The elevation of photometric areas can be set. The elevation can be used to calculate the lighting level at the workspace height or at the floor elevaiton of a raised area.

Sloped Photometric Areas: Photometric areas can be sloped to model stairs.

Calculate Single Area: If more than one area is on the drawing, you will be prompted to select the area to calculate. You can also choose to calculate all of the areas on the drawing.

Rotate IES File Relative to the Fixture: The IES file can be rotated relative to the fixture for times when the light fixture block and the IES file do not point in the same direction.

IES Files Copied to Project Folder: When an IES file is selected for a fixture in a project, a copy of the file is placed in the project folder.

Schedules

Feeder Lengths on Voltage Drop Schedule: A new column that displays the feeder length is available to be inserted in the voltage drop schedule.

Feeder Schedule Tags: Each line in the feeder schedule can be assigned an ID that can then be used to label feeders on the one-line diagram. (Requested on the wishlist.)

Panel Load in VA or Amps: The loads on a panel can be displayed in VA or amps, in addition to kVA. (Requested on the wish list.)

Panel Schedule Volts and Phase: A new attribute that displays the volts and phase (as either 1-PH or 3-PH) is available to be inserted in panel schedules.

Equipment Schedule Volts and Phase: A new column that displays the volts and phase (as either 1-PH or 3-PH) is available to be inserted on the equipment schedule.

Master Schedules

Import Multiple Items: You can import multiple items from the master schedule to the project schedule when using the Import from Master Schedule button. (Requested on the wish list.)

Circuits, Homeruns, and Feeders

Conduit Fill Percentage Display: The conduit fill percentage is displayed next the Conduit Size field in the dialog boxes where it exists. Changing the conduit size will update the fill percentage.

Homerun Arrowhead: Homerun arrowheads are now drawn with a block instead of as part of a polyline. Using dashed linetypes on homeruns will no longer dash the arrowheads. You can also customize the appearance of the arrowhead if you desire.

Ignore Extra Feeder Length: The calculated distance between two panels includes an additional length of wire to account for terminating the wires. The additional wire length is not necessary on panels that are close to each other. It can now be turned off on feeders that are shorter than a certain distance using the DM Electrical->Customization->Options, One-Line Diagram->Ignore extra length on feeders shorter than this option. (Requested on the wish list.)  

Provide Neutral Wires to Switches: 2011 NEC 404.2(C) requires a neutral wire to be provided for switches. The new DM Electrical->Customization->Options, Provide neutral wires to switches option to insert these additional wires when inserting tick marks on your loops.

Rooms

Copy Room: You can now copy rooms on the drawing using standard AutoCAD commands.(Requested on the wish list.)

Schedules

Zoom to Schedule: When a schedule is inserted, a Zoom to Schedule After Insertion checkbox is included when inserting a schedule. If this box is checked and the schedule is already inserted on the drawing, you will be moved to the location of the schedule on the drawing. Never lose a schedule on a busy drawing again!

Schedule Column Justification: Each column in a schedule can have its justification individually set to left, center, or right. Previously, all columns were left-justified. To change the column justification, press the Edit Title, Column Labels, and Column Order button when inserting the schedule.

Schedule Title and Column Label Justification: The justification of schedule titles and schedule column labels can be set using the Options command. Go to DM Electrical->Customization->Options and look for the Schedule title justification and Schedule column label justification entries in the Schedules section. The justification can be set to left or center.

Project Management

Copy or Backup Project: The new Copy of Backup Project command can be used to make a complete copy or backup of the current project. When you copy or backup a project, it is important to copy all of the drawings and the DM database files. This command will take care of copying all the files necessary. Use this command if you want to make a backup of the current state of the project or if you want to make a copy to try a different design idea on.

Copy Drawing and Remove Links to Database: The new Copy Drawing and Remove Links to Database command will copy the current drawing, remove all the links between the DM entities on the drawing and the database, but will not remove any of the DM entities. The copied drawing will look exactly like the original, but will not have any DM intelligence included with it. You can then use standard AutoCAD drafting commands to modify the drawing.

Rename Database: The Rename Database command will change the name of the database file associated with the current drawing. It will change the suffix of the file when viewed in Windows Explorer. Nothing else in the project will be changed.

• Fixed error in "Install Patch" command.
• Fixed error when using the "Edit" button in schedules and when modifying schedule column layouts.
• Fixed error updating equipment circuit labels when modifying equipment from a drawing where it is not inserted.
• Fixed error that would cause occasional random crashes when copying devices.
• Fixed error when trying to use the "Find Circuit" command on a circuit with no devices connected to it.

• Added Circuit Number as a label for feeders on the one-line diagram.
• Fixed error updating 3D blocks during the Coordinate Drawings and Database command.
• Fixed IFC Export command to properly alert when blocks are missing.
• Added commas to transformer primary fault value on the one-line diagram.
• Added option to not copy IES files to the project folder.
• Fixed the Coordinate Drawings and Database command to update egress lights to the correct layer.
• Improved rotation angles of labels on switches.
• Added a blank option for motor control center starter size.

• Fixed error causing project submissions and bug reports to not send correctly.
• Fixed display of blocks in schedules to be more consistent.
• Fixed error exporting cable tray fittings to IFC files.
• Fixed error when creating new equipment blocks.

• Added support for AutoCAD 2014 and BricsCAD V14.
• Fixed errors when importing and exporting layers to Excel.
• Improved how automatically created recovery drawings were handled.
• Fixed crash in Project Explorer after deleting a device on the drawing.
• Fixed tick mark updating to not remove tick marks inserted manually.
• Fixed error that allowed you to change poles on circuit that a panel was connected to.

• Fixed crashes in rare cases related to alignment point areas.
• Fixed error creating layers with lineweights and plot styles set.
• Fixed crash when inserting fault schedule on projects that included a UPS or transfer switch.
• Fixed export of conduit and cable tray fittings to IFC files.
• Fixed error copying layers when a low voltage device was copied to a different project.
• Fixed error preventing wire sizing options from being deleted.

• Improved installer to allow network folders to be selected as the install folder.
• Fixed copy-and-paste crash related to layer systems.
• Updated the options for Breaker Size and Wire Size in the Equipment command to make the choices more clear.
• Fixed incorrect wire size labels in equipment schedules.
• Improved light fixture schedule to allow decimals in the Input VA and Watts / Lamp fields.
• Fixed errors generating light fixture overlays.

• Fixed error with light fixture insertion when including the photometric overlay.
• Fixed error with 2 and 3 load switched devices not getting connected to circuits correctly.
• Fixed one-line diagram copy for devices and feeders.
• Removed feeder information for generators from the fault and voltage drop schedules.
• Added columns to the arc-flash schedule to display distances in imperial units.
• Fixed merge project error.

• Fixed crash when finding a circuit when only devices on the circuit are equipment connections that are in the database but not on a drawing.
• Fixed error in Coordinate Drawings and Database that was causing labels to move in some rare cases.
• Fixed arc-flash calculations to work correctly in newly created projects.
• Fixed Indoor Lighting Level Report to display room names in uppercase.
• Fixed error with display a light fixture contour overlays.
• Added Change Volts button to Generator dialog box.
• Fixed error when copying-and-pasting rooms.
• Fixed error causing wire size to not display correctly when Show #10 when wires upsized set to Yes and Display tick marks on homeruns set to No.

• Fixed crash in AutoCAD 2013 if you submitted a second project to support.
• Fixed error inserted 3D blocks at the wrong scale.
• Fixed copy-and-paste error with mirrored devices.

• Fixed errors in Merge Project command.
• Fixed error in equipment query command that was showing incorrect circuit for the equipment connection.
• Fixed crash in Project Explorer when trying to find a panel.
• Fixed errors when creating photometric overlays for light fixtures.
• Fixed error with cable tray drafting in 3D.
• Improved one-line diagram to keep feeders between devices when they are copied.
• Significant changes to how MCA and MOCP are used to size equipment conductors and breakers.

The new options for equipment are described below. A new field, FLA / BCSC, was added. New choices for Breaker Size and Wire Size were added. These new features were added to better support NEC 430 and NEC 440.

FLA / BCSC: Full load current or branch-circuit selection current. It is used to size the breaker according to NEC 430.52 and 440.22, depending upon the Breaker Size selection. It is also used in one of the Wire Size options. (This field is new in this release.)

MCA: Minimum circuit amps. This is used to size the conductors. It is not used in any of the calculations for the breaker size. (This field previously existed.)

MOCP: Maximum overcurrent protection. Use when sizing motor-compressor breakers, but not when sizing motor breakers. (This field previously existed.)

Breaker Size: How the breaker for the equipment is sized. (This field previously existed but now has more choices.)

• Motor-Compressor, MOCP (or loads if no MOCP). Breaker will be sized to match the MOCP. The FLA / BCSC value will be ignored. If no MOCP value is specified, the breaker is sized based upon the connected load of the device.
• Motor-Compressor, 175% of FLA / BCSC, not to exceed MOCP. Breaker will be sized based upon 175% of the FLA / BCSC value. If that is larger than the MOCP, the MOCP value will be used. This is for NEC 440.22(A).
• Motor-Compressor, 225% of FLA / BCSC, not to exceed MOCP. Breaker will be sized based upon 225% of the FLA / BCSC value. If that is larger than the MOCP, the MOCP value will be used. This is for NEC 440.22(A).
• Motor, Dual Element Fuse, 175% of FLA. Breaker will be sized based upon 175% of the FLA / BCSC value. This is for NEC 430.52 dual element fuse breakers.
• Motor, Dual Element Fuse, 225% of FLA. Breaker will be sized based upon 225% of the FLA / BCSC value. This is for NEC 430.52 dual element fuse breakers exception no. 2 (b).
• Motor, Inverse Time Breaker, 250% of FLA. Breaker will be sized based upon 250% of the FLA / BCSC value. This is for NEC 430.52 inverse time breakers.
• Size based upon loads. Breaker will be sized based upon the connected load of the device.
• Specific breaker sizes. A list of all the possible breaker sizes for manually setting the breaker size.

Wire Size: How the conductors for the equipment are sized. (This field previously existed but now has more choices.)

• Motor-Compressor, MCA (or loads in no MCA). Conductors will be sized based upon the MCA. This is for NEC 440.33 and 440.35. If no MCA value is specified, the conductors are sized based upon the connected load of the device.
• Single Motor-Compressor, 125% of BCSC. Conductors will be sized based upon 125% of the FLA / BCSC value. This is for NEC 440.32.
• MOCP. Conductors will be sized based upon the MCA.
• Size based upon loads. Conductors will be sized based upon the connected load of the device.
• Specific wire sizes. A list of all possible conductor sizes for manually setting the conductor size.

• Fixed crash when modifying devices reported by some users.

• Made the "Please Wait" dialog box less noticable when making changes to the drawing.
• Fixed error when copying devices on certain drawings.

The following is a list of new and updated features in Design Master Electrical 8.1. This release is a minor one focusing on adding specific requests from our users. Most of the requests came directly to use through emails and phone calls. The requests from our public wish list are highlighted.

Panels

• Panel, Transformer, and Other One-Line Device Schedules
• Starting Circuit for All One-Line Devices
• Transformer Primary OCP Sizing(Requested on wish list)

One-Line Diagram

• Default One-Line Diagram Graphics
• Change One-Line Diagram Graphic
• Spaces in Feeder Callouts on One-Line Diagram

Circuiting

• Wrapped Circuit Descriptions(Requested on wish list)
• Remove Circuit
• Flip Between Circuiting and Edit One-Line Device Dialogs
• Standard Conduits
• Device Counts on Circuits
• Panel and Circuit Label Updates

Devices

• Project Explorer
• Maximum Schedule Height(Requested on wish list)
• Blocks Update When Schedule Changes
• Device Switch Subscript Text Style

Light Fixtures

• Universal Light Fixture Voltage(Requested on wish list)
• Automatically Update Light Fixture Callouts
• Photometrics Using Feet

Utilities

• User Options
• Delete Drawing
• Automatic Drawing Update
• Save Support Emails to Desktop
• AutoCAD 2007 or Later Required

Panels

Panel, Transformer, and Other One-Line Device Schedules: A schedule listing all of the panels, transformers, or other one-line devices in the project can be inserted on the drawing. This schedule will list all of the devices of a single type.

Starting Circuit for All One-Line Devices: The starting circuit number can be set for all one-line devices, such as transformers, switchboards, and motor control centers.

Transformer Primary OCP Sizing: (Requested on wish list) A new Size to Match kVA selection has been added to the Primary OCP setting for transformers. When this selection is used, the transformer OCP and feeder size will be sized based upon the kVA of the transformer.

One-Line Diagram

Default One-Line Diagram Graphics: New options to set default selections for the one-line diagram were added. These options specify the defaults for these graphics. You still have the option to override the graphics later if necessary.

• Include Breaker Graphics on Feeder Wires: This option controls whether breakers are included on feeder wires automatically.
• Include Bus in Default Panel Graphic: This option controls whether panels include a bus bar when inserted or not.

Change One-Line Diagram Graphic: A new command to change the graphic used for a device on the one-line diagram was added.

Feeder Callouts Can Wrap in One-Line Diagram:Feeder callouts in the one-line diagram have spaces added to them to allow them to wrap if the text width is reduced.

Circuiting

Wrapped Circuit Descriptions: (Requested on wish list) Long circuit descriptions in the panel schedules will now wrap to multiple lines. For this to work, the blocks used for the circuits need to have the Circuit: Description End attribute insted in them. This attribute is used to determine the width of the circuit description area.

Remove Circuit: The Circuiting and Swap and Copy Circuits commands now include a button to remove a circuit from a panel. The circuit that is removed must be empty, with no devices connected to it. When it is removed, all the circuits below it are shifted up one space in the panel. A new empty circuit is added to the bottom of the panel. Together with the Insert Circuit button, this new button makes reorganizing your panel schedules faster and easier.

Flip Between Circuiting and Edit One-Line Device Dialogs: A Circuiting button has been added to all one-line device dialogs that will open the Circuiting dialog with the current one-line device selected. There is a corresponding Edit button in the Circuiting dialog that can be used to go back to the one-line device dialog.

Standard Conduits: In the Wire Sizing dialog, conduits can be specified as standard sizes for branch circuits and feeders. Conduits that are standard will be used when the conduit is automatically sized. The other conduit sizes will be available for use when manually sizing the conduit, but will not be chosen automatically.

Device Counts on Circuits: The total number of light fixtures, receptacles, and pieces of equipment on a circuit can be displayed in the panel schedule.

Panel and Circuit Label Updates: When the name of a panel is changed or the order of circuits on a panel is changed, the panel and circuit labels already inserted on the drawing are updated. It is no longer necessary to update these labels manually.

Devices

Project Explorer: The new Project Explorer command displays all the devices in your database in a single dialog box. You can use this view to browse the items in your project, find them on your drawings, and modify them if necessary.

Maximum Schedule Height: (Requested on wish list) Schedules can have a maximum height set. If the maximum height for the schedule is exceeded, the schedule is continued to the right of the insertion location.

Blocks Update When Schedule Changed: When a new block is selected for a device in the schedule, the devices of that type that are already inserted on the drawing are automatically updated.

Device Switch Subscript Text Style: A new text style has been added for the switch subscripts on devices and subscripts.

Light Fixtures

Universal Light Fixture Voltage: (Requested on wish list) Light fixtures have a new Universal option for their voltage. Light fixtures with this voltage can be connected to any voltage panel.

In the light fixture schedule on the drawing, the voltages of the circuits that the light is connected to are listed in the Voltage column.

Automatically Update Light Fixture Callouts: When the name of a light fixture callout is changed, callouts that already exist on the drawing are updated with the new name.

Photometrics Using Feet: The point-by-point photometric calculations can use a foot as the base unit of a drawing, rather than an inch.

MEP engineers typically use an inch as their base unit. Civil engineers typically use a foot as their base unit. Previously, when our calculations were run on civil drawings, they needed to be scale up by 12 so that the base unit was an inch. This adjustment is no longer necessary.

Utilities

User Options: There is a new User Options command. This command is used to set options that are specific to an individual user. Previously, all options were set and stored in the project or master database and were shared among users.

Delete Drawing: There is a new Delete Drawing command, similar to the existing Copy Drawing and Rename Drawing commands. This command will delete a drawing from your computer, and remove all the associated Design Master Plumbing pipes and symbols from it.

It automates the process of opening the drawing, erasing all the items on it, and then deleted the drawing.

Automatic Drawing Update: A new option that is specific to each user is Automatically open drawings the need to be updated. When you make a change on one drawing that requires a change on another, such as moving a panel that is inserted on multiple drawings, the other drawing is automatically updated the next time it is opened.

If this option is set to Yes, Design Master Electrical will open the other drawing for you. This guarantees that the drawing has been opend and the changes to it are made.

If this option is set to No, Design Master Electrical will not open the other drawing for you. The changes will not be made until you or someone else open the drawing.

The choice is a tradeoff between always having your drawing and database immediately synchronized and not having to wait while other drawings are opened in the background while you are working.

Save Support Emails to Desktop: Design Master Electrical can send the current project to our support team when the software crashes or if you have a question. Some networks block the outgoing email protocols that we use. In these cases, the project is saved to your desktop and you have to send it manually.

Determining that the email cannot be sent can take a moment or two. If you know that you cannot send us email directly, you can enable this setting to bypass attempting to send the email and immediately saving it to your desktop.

AutoCAD 2007 or Later Required: This release of Design Master Electrical will require AutoCAD 2007 or later. AutoCAD 2006 and earlier will no longer be supported.

• Fixed error that prevented the Copy Drawing and Rename Drawing commands from working.
• Added support for Bricscad 12.
• Fixed error saving the maximum height for equipment schedules.
• Fixed error with the Insert Receptacle dialog not remembering the elevation.
• The Coordinate Drawings and Database command will not rotate switch subscripts that were manually rotated.
• Fixed 11 miscellaneous crashes reported by users.

• Fixed crashes in AutoCAD 2013.
• Fixed IFC export error when exporting multiple floors.
• Added 240V 3P 4W as a voltage option for equipment connections.
  

• Updated user manual. 
• • View it online
  • Download and view it locally
• Added support for AutoCAD 2013.
• Restored support for AutoCAD 2044, 2005, and 2006.
• Dropped support for Bricscad 11 and 12.Unofficial support for Bricscad 11 is still available for anyone using it.
• Fixed IFC export to set units correctly to handle scaling errors in other programs.
• Fixed an error with the IFC export that would leave extra entities on the drawing when it was finished.
• Subscript locations are specified by the user when switches are inserted.
• Fixed "Volts Only" column on the light fixture schedule to work correctly with universal voltages.
• Fixed one-line panel blocks to not insert dashes at corners.
• Fixed UPS and motor control center dialog boxes to fit on small screens.
• Added 690V as a voltage option.
• Added "NONE" as an option to the Ballast pulldown in the Light Fixture Schedule dialog box.

• Projects updated using DM Electrical 8.1.2 were automatically displaying the two new columns that were added as options to the light fixture schedule: "Total Input Watts" and "Volts Only." These columns should have been added as choices, but not automatically displayed. This patch fixes the project conversion so that those two columns are not displayed.
  
  Any projects converted prior to installing this patch will need to have those two columns manually turned off. You can do this by pressing the Edit Title, Column Labels, and Column Order button when inserting the light fixture schedule on the drawing.

• Fixed error inserting wall points on rooms when UCS not set to world.
• Fixed error that would allow the user to delete the last equipment group.
• Removed extra height from panel schedules when commas are used in circuit descriptions.
• Fixed error when inserting conduit elevation labels.
• Fixed crash in photometrics calculation caused by error in IES file.
• Added two new columns as options for light fixture schedules: "Total Input Watts" and "Volts Only."
• Fixed error creating 3d elbows for conduits.

The following is a list of new and updated features in Design Master Electrical 8.0. The major new feature in this release is 3D-BIM compatibility with Revit. The other changes are small improvements to existing features or fixes to bugs reported by customers. If you have any suggestions for features for future releases, you can share them with us on our new wish list.

3D-BIM Compatibility with Revit

This release adds 3D-BIM compatibility with Revit, a feature many of our customers have been asking for. It is not a single feature, but multiple smaller features that together allow you to work with architects on 3D-BIM projects. Together, the features put you in the position of being able to offer 3D coordination on every project you do with Design Master Electrical.

IFC Export Commands

The key to 3D coordination is being able to produce a 3D model that can be checked against the other systems in the project. IFC is a vendor-neutral file format that is intended for specifically this type of BIM collaboration. Using this format allows you to design the 3D model in Design Master Electrical and AutoCAD and check it against the architect's model designed in Revit.

You have the option to export the whole project, the current drawing, or a single area from the current drawing.

Conduits and Cable Trays

Conduits and cable trays can be drawn in 2D and 3D. The drafting tools for these items are based upon our HVAC ductwork drafting tools and will be familiar to anyone who has used that software in the past.

• Hangers: Hangers for conduits and cable trays can be drawn in 2D and 3D. The hangers will be included in the IFC file you export for your architect.
• Elevation Labels: Elevation labels can be used to document the top and bottom elevations of the conduits and cable trays.

Offsetting 3D Blocks

The new  "Offset 3D Device Block" command allows you to shift the location of a 3D device. Often, the location of the device in the actual building does not match where the symbol is inserted on the 2D plan. You can use this command to adjust the location and have it appear in the right place in both views.

Panel Access Size

Panels and other one-line devices now have three new distances that can be specified:

• Distance to Left
• Distance to Right
• Distance above One-Line Device

You can use these distances to create clearances that are wider than the device they are for and that extend above them.

In 2D, the left and right distances will be displayed. You can take advantage of this feature even if you are not modeling the building in 3D.

In 3D, the clearance area is exported as a solid. Any other systems that run through the solid will be flagged as a conflict. The clearance will extend to the left and right as specified and also be extended vertically based upon the distance above.

Alignment Point Elevation

Each alignment point area will now have an elevation associated with it. You can use this to stack floors on different drawings appropriately. When the complete IFC model is exported, these elevations are used to put the ductwork and equipment in the right place.

Other Changes

Equipment MCA and MOCP: The branch circuit breaker and wires connected to equipment can be sized in the equipment dialog.

• If the MCA and MOCP are not set, the breaker and wires are sized normally.
• If MCA and MOCP are set, the largest breaker and wire that is smaller than the MOCP is chosen.
• If "Breaker Size" or "Wire Size" are set to specific values, those are used.

In the "Wire Sizing" dialog, there is a new "Equipment Branch Circuit" column for each wire size. This column controls the breaker and wire sizes that will be chosen when sizing based upon the MOCP.

Takeoffs: The takeoff features are now available to all users. These were originally included in Electrical Contractor for an additional cost. Sales of this version did not meet our expectations. Rather than keep this feature limited to a small number of customers, we are opening it up to everyone.

All customers who subscribed to Electrical Contractor will receive an appropriate credit on their next renewal.

Improved Voltage Drop Schedule: The voltage drop schedule has some new features to make the important information in it more accessible.

• Device are arranged in the order they are connected, not alphabetically.
• The two feeder columns are combined into one column.
• Columns that list the feeder and branch circuit wire sizes were added.
• You can specify which circuits you want to list for each device.
• • None: This will display no circuits. This is the same behavior as the previous release.
  • Too High: This will list all the circuits that are over 3% voltage drop. This way you know all of the circuits you need to upsize or redesign. If all of the circuits are under 3%, this schedule will be the same as the one created with the None setting.
  • All: This will list all the circuits and the corresponding voltage drop.

This screenshot demonstrates the new features of the voltage drop schedule:

Update All Schedules on the Drawing: We added a new command that will update all the schedules and the one-line diagram on your drawing. One click, and you can be confident that everything is up-to-date! This was a wishlist request.

Hide Devices in One-Line Diagram: There is a new "Insert in One-Line Diagram" toggle for all one-line devices. If this is unchecked, the device will not be displayed in the one-line. This feature is useful when you need to create a device for the purpose of your electrical model but you do not want to show it on the one-line.

Photometric Decimal Places: When calculating outdoor point-by-point photometrics, there are now two decimal place options. The first controls the number of decimal places displayed on the drawing. The second controls the number of decimal places in the schedule.

Join Circuit Command: Broken circuits can be "unbroken" using the new "DM Electrical->Circuiting and Homeruns->Join Circuit" command. Select the circuit that was previously broken and it will be restored to a full loop. This was a wishlist request.

Medium Voltage Motors: Voltage options for equipment above 600V were added. This was a wishlist request.

Organized Electrical Options: The list of options has been reorganized. This list expands with every release and most new options were ending up in the "Miscellaneous" section. It is now organized better. Hopefully you can more easily find the option you are looking for.

No "Read-Only" Warning: The warning that is displayed on read-only drawings has an option to turn it off in the future. Be careful when turning this off, because you do not want to work in read-only drawings. This is intended mainly for computers running plotting scripts or other batch update commands.

• Improved project creation speed over networks.
• Rotated text in one-line diagrams is no longer reset when moved.

• Added 4500 kVA transformers.
• Fixed error copying switch and junction box blocks from master schedule.
• Fixed error displaying elevations of conduits and cable trays.
• Fixed error with array command in AutoCAD 2012.
• Fixed default circuit layer for switches not connected to any devices.
• Added fuse size and fuse type as labels for equipment on the one-line diagram.

• Fixed error exporting hangers and panel clearances to IFC files.
• Changed default transformer breaker size to be 125% of the transformers kVA, not 100%.
• Fixed error with the GROUPDISPLAYMODE system variable in AutoCAD 2012.
• Fixed AIC rating to not be displayed in fault schedule for generators.
• Added option to set AIC rating for UPS bypass breakers.
• Fixed crashes related to opening other drawings to update.
• Fixed crashes related to elevation labels.
• Added "POLE" as a default mounting option for light fixtures.
• Fixed panel load calculation to not double-count loads from transfer switches.
• Fixed point-by-point photometrics to display values below obstructions that do not touch the ground.

The following is a list of new and updated features in Design Master Electrical 7.3.

64-bit Compatibility

This version of Design Master Electrical is compatible with all 64-bit versions of Windows.

This release also works in 32-bit versions of Windows and in AutoCAD 2004 to AutoCAD 2010.

AutoCAD 2010 Ribbon Panels

We included Design Master Electrical ribbon tabs in this release.

Voltage Drop Sort Order

The order that panels are displayed in the voltage drop schedule was changed in this release. They are now listed as they are connected in your one-line diagram. It is the same order that the panels are listed in the fault calculation schedule. This makes tracking the voltage drop through the system much easier.

"Room" Label in Circuit Descriptions

Added the option to include room names in circuit descriptions, but not the word "Room."

• Added automatic backup of the Design Master database file.
• Fixed error when using the Export command in AutoCAD MEP 2010.
• Fixed the pulldown in customization grids to not crash AutoCAD.
• Fixed voltage drop calculation error that caused it to not work correctly the first time the command was run in a project.

• Fixes the automatic loader to work correctly with next release of Design Master Electrical.
• Fixes multiple minor bugs reported by users.

• Fixed sort order of LVD's in layer dialog.
• Fixed crash caused by pressing ESC when connecting a switch to a device that is already circuited.
• Fixed MCC to display main breaker in one line diagram.
• Fixed UPS dialog crash when some inputs are set to 0.
• Fixed error when inserting an equipment schedule that includes an equipment connection that uses a block that does not exist.
• Fixed crash in circuiting dialog when panel cannot be found in the database.
• Fixed crash when copying and pasting rooms.
• Added attribute to display total balanced connected amps in panel schedule footer.
• Updated "Insert One Line Device Schedule Attribute" command to list attribute description and attribute name.
• Fixed error calculating amps on unbalanced 208/120V 2P 3W panels.
• Added command to match note locations, but not note values.
• • The DM Electrical->Modify Devices->Match Device Note Locations was renamed to DM Electrical->Modify Devices->Match Device Note Locations and Values.
  • The new DM Electrical->Modify Devices->Match Device Note Locations command does not update values.
• Fixed block creation error when UCS was not set to world.
• Fixed error when drawing a combined homerun that caused the circuit label to not be displayed.
• Fixed tick marks on multi-pole breakers feeder single-pole devices.
• Fixed error when connecting 2-pole devices to a 1-pole tap.

• Fixed error that caused the AutoCAD OPEN command to not work correctly in some instances.

• Fixed crash in layer customization dialog box.
• Fixed room display in AutoCAD 2011.
• Fixed progress spinner to work in AutoCAD 2011.
• Circuit labels are now removed in all cases from device that has a homerun drawn from it.
• Fixed error that caused equipment in some rare instances to be erased when modified.
• Added transformer kVA and k-rated options to transformer schedule header block.

Released July 6, 2009

The following is a list of new and updated features and bugs that were fixed in Design Master Electrical 7.2. The highlights in this release include equipment groups, better ability to handle aluminum wire sizes, copy fixed circuit command, circuiting to individual poles of a breaker, and support for AutoCAD 2010. It also includes the usual collection ofsmall improvements to existing features or fixes to bugs reported by customers.

Circuiting

Circuiting to Individual Phases of Breakers: It is now possible to circuit to the individual phases of breakers. There are two common requests that this feature addresses.

• Shared Neutrals on Multiwire Branch Circuits: The 2008 NEC changed 210.4b to require multiwire branch circuits that share a neutral to have the breakers all trip at the same time. This is now handled by taking three single pole breakers and combining them into a three pole breaker. The single pole loads will all be connected to the individual phases of the three pole breaker.
• 208 and 480 Volt Site Lighting on Three Phase Circuits: It is common to connect two pole site lights to three pole circuits, rotating the phases that are connected to keep the load balanced. This common configuration is now supported by Design Master Electrical.

Copy Circuit: The Swap Circuit command now has a Copy button. The command has been renamed to Swap and Copy Circuits to include its additional functionality. The Copy button takes the fixed load settings from the circuit on the left and copies them to the circuit on the right. It does not copy any of the circuited devices. This function is to be used when you have a number of fixed loads in a project that are all the same.

Equipment

Equipment Groups: Equipment can be separated into different groups. When you print an equipment schedule, it only includes equipment connections from the specific group. The appearance of the schedule can be customized for each different group.

This feature allows you to create separate schedules for your kitchen equipment, mechanical equipment, elevators, and whatever other types of equipment the projects you work on require.

Equipment Schedule Sorting: The equipment schedule can be sorted on fields other than the equipment callout, such as the panel board or location.

Breaker and Wire Sizing

Improved Wire Sizing Options: The Sizing Options in the Wire Sizing dialog have been completely redone to allow you better control of how the wires in your project are sized.In particular, this improvement makes it much easier to handle aluminum wires in Design Master Electrical.

The list of breakers available is now shared between all of the different sizing options. The Sizing Option that is selected controls whether the Standard Branch Circuit and Standard Feeder toggles are checked for each breaker. If it is checked, wires and breakers will automatically size to that breaker if appropriate. If it is not checked, it will be ignored.

You can now include multiple breakers of the same size with different definitions. This can either be different combinations of wire sizes, or different wire materials (copper versus aluminum). The new Description field is displayed in lists of breakers to allow you to differentiate between breakers of the same size.

Wires Without Conduits: Wire callouts can be displayed without a conduit size.

In the Wire Sizing dialog, an Include Conduit checkbox has been added to breakers. If this box is checked, the wire callout associated with that breaker size will include a conduit. If it is not checked, the conduit will be left off. You can use this feature to automatically set conduits to not be included.

In the Circuiting dialog, you can set the Conduit Size to None. This allows you to manually set specific wires to not have a conduit size included.

Wires Without Grounds: Wire callouts can be set to not include a ground wire by default. In the Wire Sizing dialog, both the Service Ground and the Equipment Ground lists include None as an option.

Breaker Sizing for Noncontinuous Loads: Breakers can be sized to 100% of noncontinuous loads and 125% of continuous loads (NEC 210.19 and 210.20). Previously, breakers were sized to 125% of the total load. This feature is turned off by default in current projects to prevent confusion caused by breakers being sized differently. Use the Customization->Options->Edit Project List command to manually turn this feature on. It is turned on by default in new projects.

Looping

Smarter Automatic Looping: The path that loops that are automatically inserted take is a little smarter now.

Switches connect to the nearest device that they control, instead of the nearest device on the circuit. The one exception to this is switches that are next to each other. They will automatically be connected, even if they are controlling separate devices.

On combined homeruns, you have the option to first loop to devices on the same circuit, or to loop to the closest device. You can set this option separately for light fixtures and other devices.

Voltage Drop Calculations Without Showing Loops: In order to calculate the voltage drop in a circuit, it is necessary for Design Master Electrical to know the path of the wires between devices. This is still necessary, however it is now possible to set them to a non-plotting layer separate from the homerun and to turn the circuit callouts on when drawing loops.

• Separate Homerun and Loop Layers: The homeruns and other loops can now be assigned to separate layers. To calculate voltage drop without showing loops, you will want to assign the loops to a separate layer that is defined as non-plotting.
• Draw Loops and Include Circuit Callouts: The Set Looping Options command includes a number of new Draw Loops Between Circuited Devices options. You can specify whether or not loops are drawn between devices. You can specify whether circuit callouts are included, with or without the panel name. You can also specify whether or not switches should have circuit callouts on them. To calculate voltage drop without showing loops, you will want to choose one of the Yes options that includes a circuit callout

Photometrics

Light Fixture Aiming: There is a new Aim Light Fixture command that will rotate and tilt a light fixture so that it is pointing at a specific location on the ground. This is useful for aiming emergency lights when designing egress lighting systems.

General

One Line Device Dialog Fault: The fault displayed in one line device dialogs (panels, switchboards, etc) is the total fault including motor contributions, not the utility fault.

Update Drawing When Dimscale Changes: If you change the dimscale on your drawing, run the Coordinate Drawings and Database command to automatically update all of the graphics to match the new scale factor.

3D Block Names: All blocks can have an explicit 3D block associated with it. Previously, the 3D block name was fixed. This change will make it easier to reuse common 3D blocks.

AutoCAD 2010 Support: AutoCAD 2010 is now supported.

Version Checking: Design Master Electrical will automatically check for a newer versions on the internet and alert you if one is available. There is also a new command, DM Electrical->Help->Check for Updates, which you can use to force Design Master Electrical to check for an update.

To turn this feature off, use the DM Electrical->Help->Check for Updates command and uncheck the Alert me when updates are available toggle.

• The panel description on equipment connections can be set to be nothing.
• Fixed bug that prevented LVD's with no load from being connected to an LVD panel.
• Fixed error when copying and pasting equipment from one project to another.
• Fixed tick marks to not include a neutral tick mark on homeruns that do not have a neutral wire.
• Fixed error when connecting a switch to a one line device other than a panel.
• Fixed conversion error that was setting all of the breakers in a project to not be standard.
• Fixed errors in commands to copy wire sizes to and from the master database.
• Fixed error when setting the number of poles on a one line devices other than a panel.

Released February 16, 2010 

• Fixed error when selecting breaker with more than one option.
• Fixed error when drawing a homerun from a junction box.
• Fixed motor contribution to fault calculations when going through some types of transformers.
• Fixed bug in equipment that caused circuit labels to reappear when equipment is modified while working on a different drawing from where it is inserted.
• Updated database format to match Design Master Electrical 7.3 Release Candidate 1.
  

• Reconnects receptacles that were disconnected by database update in Design Master Electrical 7.2.7.

• Fixed database conversion error that would cause receptacles to become uncircuited in some instances.
• Fixed fault calculation when fault at transformer secondary is fixed.
• Fixed bug that did not allow low voltage devices with no load to be circuited.
• Fixed fault calculation crash when the X and R values were fixed on generators.
• Fixed voltage drop distance display error.

• Fixed error when coordinating 3D panels and clearances.
• Fixed fault calculation when connected to a transformer and the primary fault is fixed.
• Fixed one-line takeoff error.
• Fixed light fixture aim error.
• Increased speed when drawing loops on circuits with lots of devices.
• Fixed tick marks on circuits with multiple single-phase loads on a multiple-phase breaker.
• Fixed copy project layers to standards error.

• Updated database version to match 64-bit beta release.

• Fixed error in light fixture circuit load calculations introduced in DM Electrical 7.2.4.To fix the loads on projects you worked on with 7.2.4, run the DM Electrical->Utilities->Calculate All Circuit Loads command.

• Fixed single-phase transformer load transfer.
• Fixed long project database update caused by Electrical 7.2.3.

• Fixed crash when database connection is lost.
• Fixed crash during fault calculations.
• Added support for IES files with absolute photometry.
• Fixed multi-pole breakers to work correctly with devices with multiple loads.

• Fixed equipment copy bugs.
• Fixed motor fault calculation error.
• Fixed Import Equipment from Another Project bug related to equipment groups.
• Fixed Update One Line Diagram to change text style if it has changed.
• Fixed Swap Circuit to work correctly with LVD panels.
• Added upstream feeder size as a field that can be displayed in panel schedule headers.
• Conduit sizes no long have "C added to them automatically.
• Fixed Edit Multiple Switches to correctly handle subscripts.
• Fixed error when running the Coordinate command on devices that had been mirrored.
• Added END OSNAP point to one-line diagram text to make lining up text easier.
• Fixed receptacle count limit check to work correctly with multi-pole circuits.
• Added one-line diagram layer keys for each type of one-line device
• Fixed circuiting bug causing some devices to not get connected to the panel.

• Fixed error when saving certain types of light fixtures.
• Added field to display total fault in panel schedules.
• Fixed error when circuiting switched and unswitched loads at the same time.
• Fixed copy and paste when copying devices from multiple Design Master programs at the same time.
• Circuit labels are now shown on switches when loops are not drawn.
• Voltage on circuits now checked properly when swapping circuits.
• Fixed voltage drop calculation error when breaker size is fixed.

• Compatibility with Design Master Plumbing 1.0.5 and Design Master HVAC 6.1.5.

• Fixed panel save error that was not updating the number of circuits in a panel.
• Fixed equipment callout rotation error.
• Fixed crash when changing panel voltage.

• Fixed crash related to alignment points.
• Fixed crash in the Copy and Increment command.
• Fixed crash in One Line Device Connections command.
• Switches that are uncircuited will have their circuit label deleted.
• Fixed equipment layer error in the equimpent schedule.
• Neutral size displays correctly in the Circuiting dialog.
• Databases are automatically repaired if possible.

• Fixed low voltage devices to not rotate text when appropriate.
• Fixed bug when importing an entry from the Low Voltage Devices Master Schedule to Project Schedule that caused "(Copy 1)" to always be appended to the name.
• Fixed bug when using the "Import Entire Group" button in the Low Voltage Device Project Schedule.
• The "Query Light Fixture" dialog now shows the correct number of egress lumens.
• Fixed crash when printing takeoffs.
• Fixed crash when editing tilt and roll on multiple light fixtures.
• Fixed "Circuiting" dialog to display correctly in Windows Vista.
• Fixed crash caused by selecting a toolbar button while moving an equipment callout.
• Fixed crash when updating low voltage device panels.
• Fixed "Disconnect from Junction Box" command to correctly disconnect device and junction box.
• Custom load types are displayed in the Receptacle Master Schedule.
• Improved speed when importing schedules from master to project when starting a new project.
• Fixed crash when inserting block with commas in the name.
• Fixed cut-and-paste to insert new items correctly.
• Added new network and laptop install options.

Fixed an "Out of Memory" crash in AutoCAD 2004, 2005, and 2006.

The following is a list of new and updated features and bugs that were fixed in Design Master Electrical 7.1. The major new feature in this release is improved fault calculations. The other changes are small improvements to existing features or fixes to bugs reported by customers.

Starting with this release, there is now a upgraded version of Design Master Electrical called Design Master Electrical Contractor. This upgraded version includes the new quantity takeoff feature.

There is one manual step required when upgrading existing projects.

Fault Calculations

The fault calculations were refined in this release. There are two major changes:

• The calculations use reactance (X) and resistance (R) to calculate the fault, rather than just using impedance (Z).
• Motor contributions are included.

Our previous calculations were correct, but included a number of assumptions in order to simplify the calculation. The new calculation removes these assumptions, allowing a wider range of situations to be calculated. These changes were in response to requests by our customers, both to us directly and in our forums. You can read this forum post for more background.

Using X and R for the fault calculations changes some of the values that you provide to DM Electrical.

• Wires are required to have X and R values set. These can be found using NEC Table 9.
• When locking the fault at a one line device, you have the option to set the X and R values, but it is not required that you do so. If you do not set it, a default X/R ratio of 5 is used.
• Motors are assumed to have an X/R ratio of 4. This ratio cannot be changed.

Takeoffs (Design Master Electrical Contractor Only)

Takeoffs listing quantities of devices, branch circuit lengths, and feeder lengths can now be automatically generated for the Design Master Electrical Database. The takeoffs are to be used as the starting point for a cost estimate for your project. It is not intended to be a complete estimating tool. The level of detail required for an accurate cost estimate is different than the detail required for an accurate engineering design. Adding details needed only for a cost estimate would make engineering design with Design Master Electrical more difficult. We chose not to do that because we do not want to burden the design process with these details. Instead, we output quantities and lengths that you can then transfer to your current electrical estimating software.

More information about using the new takeoff features can be found in this Takeoffs section of the Design Master Electrical User Manual.

The takeoffs feature is free during this beta testing period. It will be available for an additional cost once the final version is released. Pricing for this feature has not yet been finalized.

Plumbing Compatibility

This version of Design Master Electrical is compatible with the new Design Master Plumbing software. It is required to upgrade to this version of DM Electrical before installing DM Plumbing.

One Line Devices

Default AIC: The Default AIC rating for one line devices can be changed by going to DM Electrical->Customization->Options and setting the Default One Line Device AIC value at the bottom of the Miscellaneous section.

Deleting One Line Devices:  The Uncircuit All Connected Devices button has been removed from the circuiting dialog. This button was necessary to delete a one line device, but was too easy to accidentally press. You can now delete a one line device without uncircuiting everything from it. In this case, you will be warned that there are devices circuited and that they will be uncircuited if you delete the one line device.

Multiple Alignment Points: One line devices can be inserted in each alignment point area on a drawing.

Voltages: Additional voltage options were added.

Circuit Compress: Circuit compress now works on low voltage device panels.

Copy Switchboard: Copying a single pole switchboard will create taps with 2 poles, rather than 3.

Transformer KVA Options: More KVA options were included for transformers.

Highlighting AIC Ratings: When inserting the fault current schedule, you are now given the option to turn off the highlight of AIC ratings that are too low.

Circuits and looping

Circuits Changes Automatically Saved: Any changes made to circuits in the Circuit Loads and Fixed Loads Input section of the Circuiting dialog are automatically saved. The Save Fixed button still exists, but does not need to be pressed. The changes will be saved automatically when you select a new circuit.

The Undo Changes button is a new button that resets the current circuit back to its current state in the database. If you make a change to a circuit and decide you do not want to keep it, you must press this button. Previously, moving away from the circuit without pressing the Saved Fixed button would reset the circuit to its current state. In this release, moving away will save the changes instead.

Isometric Ground Tick Mark: The correct tick mark is inserted for isometric grounds when they are inserted at the back of the tick marks.

Changing Custom Load Types: When the custom load types are changed in a project, the values in existing circuits are updated automatically. You no longer have to manually run the Calculate All Circuit Loads command

After changing a custom load type, the schedules are automatically updated.

240/120V 3P 4W One Line Device Changes: Two changes were made to one line devices set to 240/120V 3P 4W. These devices are assumed to have a high B-leg, which makes handling this voltage different from other voltages.

• Two-pole circuits can include the B-phase, but they cannot include a neutral. Previously we restricted 2-pole circuits to C-A phase circuits.
• The Compress Circuits button on the Circuiting dialog can no longer be used with these one line devices. They must be reorganized manually using the Swap Circuits command instead. This was necessary to prevent single pole circuits from ending upon the B phase of the one line device.

Ground Tick Mark: On grounded circuits, a ground tick mark is now added to loops connected to switches.

Devices

Removed Change Device Layer System: The Change Device Layer System command has been removed from the Modify Devices section of the DM Electrical menu. Use the device specific Edit Multiple functions instead.

Light fixtures

Edit Multiple Light Fixtures: The Edit Multiple Light Fixtures command was not applying all of the requested changes to the selected fixtures. This command has been significantly rewritten to prevent these problems. There were particular problems related to layers not being set correctly that are included in this fix.

Receptacles

Receptacle Project Schedule: The load types for loads 2, 3, and 4 are no longer changed to Receptacle if they are set to Lighting.

Switches

Edit Multiple Switches: An Edit Multiple Switches command has been added.

Drawing Notes: The Query Device updates drawing notes correctly in all instances now.

Copying Switched Devices: If you copy a device connected to a switch, but not the switch, the copied device is not automatically connected to the switch.

LVD's

Edit Multiple LVD's: An Edit Multiple Low Voltage Devices command has been added.

Import from Schedule: You can import a single item from a LVD schedule.

Schedules

Automatic Insertion: The first time you insert a schedule, you must specify an insertion location. After that, the schedule is automatically inserted in the current location when it is updated. You no longer have to press ENTER to have it insert in its current location.

To move a schedule that is already on the drawing, use the AutoCAD move command.

Dialog Box Usability

Keyboard Shortcuts: Keyboard shortcuts have been added to buttons on most dialogs. Pressing ALT plus the underlined letter on the button will act the same as pressing that button.

Project Submission

Project Submission: There is a new command on the menu, DM Electrical->Help->Send Project to Design Master Support. This command will zip up the current drawing and database and email it directly to us. You have option to include a message with the file. We often request that you send your project to us so that we can troubleshoot difficult problems. This command will make it easier for you to send us the files that we need.

Bug Submission: When Design Master Electrical crashes, you will be given the opportunity to send the project and crash information to us. This works the same as the Project Submission command. We encourage you to send in these crash reports. We read every crash report that comes in and can typically solve the problem and send you a fix for it the next day. At the very least, we will send you an email acknowledging the problem and help you find a way to work around it.

Coordinate Drawing and Database

Coordinate Backup: The Coordinate Drawing and Database command now creates a backup of the current drawing and database before it is run.

Speed Improvements: The Coordinate Drawing and Database command run significantly faster and now works on very large drawings.

Switch Subscript Rotation: The Coordinate Drawing and Database command no long rotates switch subscripts, ever.

Master and Standards Databases

Read-Only Support: Read-only files are supported for master and standards database. You no longer need read-write access to the master and standards databases to start or work in a project. You can use this feature to limit access to the master and standards databases.

Copying and Importing: Various bugs related to copying information between the project database and the master and standards databases have been fixed. These functions should no longer crash or fail to import data.

Block and Slide Creation

Slide Creation: Creating a slide now works when osnaps are turned on.

3D Blocks: When creating a 3D block, selecting One Line Device for the type of block now works.

3D Electrical: The new release is fully 3D, allowing you to coordinate your electrical plans with architects using 3D building information modeling (BIM) software. Our 3D is compatible with all of the leading architectural BIM programs, including AutoCAD Architecture, Revit, Archicad, and Microstation. For projects where your architect is not designing in 3D, you can ignore the new 3D features.

All devices have a new elevation value. Each device also has a 3D block associated with it. The 3D block is separate from the 2D block, allowing you to represent your devices differently depending upon how you are viewing them.

To share your 3D design with your architect, you use the Export 3D Blocks command. It creates a drawing file with only the 3D blocks in it that can be imported into an architectural BIM program. Your design can then be coordinated with the architect's and with the other engineering disciplines.

Drawing Notes: Generic notes can be added to any device on the drawing. These notes are not stored in the database. They can be inserted and modified using the Note commands in the Devices submenu or toolbar.

Notes with Multiple Lines: Notes can be adjusted to have multiple lines. The Coordinate command will not reset the notes to a single line.

Erasing Notes: Notes erased from the drawing are not reinserted by the Coordinate command.

Non-world UCS: Non-world UCS's work properly.

Separate Low Voltage Device Layers: Each low voltage device group has a separate set of layers. The new layer keys can be set in the Layers command.

Previous: Photometrics - Next: Circuiting

• Fixed equipment schedule to display starter NEMA values.
• Fixed rotation angle of some blocks when schedule is inserted on drawing.
• Fixed crash when selecting a one line device before any have been created.
• Fixed crash when converting projects from DM Electrical 5.2.
• Switch subscript rotation is no longer reset during the coordinate command.
• One line device, circuit, and equipment dialogs display in Vista when screen resolution is set to 1024x768.
• Fixed block selection error in Vista.
• Fixed error when circuiting a load on a device when other loads are switched.
• Switch groups and circuits are copied correctly when using the Copy Drawing command.
• Fixed light fixture schedule conversion from DM Electrical 5.0.2 projects.
• Light fixture schedule row height is smaller if the symbol column is not being used.
• PLINETYPE system variable is no longer forced to 0.
• Fixed photometric calculation errors.
• Added option to control number of decimals displayed in photometric foot candle values.

• Fixed breaker sizing for medium-voltage transformers
• Fixed junction box database updates.
• Fixed note rotation in AutoCAD 2008.
• Equipment disconnect columns are always accessible, even if no disconnect block exists.
• Fixed custom equipment callout insertion error.
• Fixed Match Note Locations command to work correctly with rotated notes.
• Fixed Coordinate Drawing and Database command to work correctly with rotated circuit callouts.
• Fixed errors where Delete Extra Devices would not delete all devices.
• Recreate Missing Customization adds new light fixture notes layers.
• Fixed error when drawing tick marks on combined homeruns with junction boxes.
• Fixed photometric calculation error when including a single reflection.
• Fixed error when creating blocks.
• Fixed error that caused photometric contours to not display in some instances.
• Fixed error with leader length when it is to the left of text with multiple lines.
• Fixed error when upgrading drawings from version 6.0.

The following is a list of new and updated features and bug that were fixed in Design Master Electrical 7.0. The main areas of change are:

• Design Master Electrical 7.0
• Usability: Copy and paste support, dialog box improvements
• Equipment Connections and Schedule
• Photometrics: Egress photometrics, reflections, footcandle ratios, total watts
• Drafting: 3D BIM compatability, improved notes, UCS support, and separate layers for each low-voltage device group
• Circuiting: SPARE as default circuit description, swap circuit command, fixed copy and increment command
• One Line Devices: New voltages, updated schedules, improvements to transformers, transfer switches, UPS's, and generators
• Schedules Updates: More schedules, more columns, option to exclude specific items
• Project Drawing and Database Maintenance

Space vs Spare: The default unused circuit settings can be changed. The description can either be SPACE or SPARE. The breaker can either be the smallest standard breaker, typically 20A, or none. There are four possible settings:

• Space with Breaker Size Listed
• Space with No Breaker Size Listed
• Spare with Breaker Size Listed
• Spare with No Breaker Size Listed

To change this value, go to DM Electrical->Customization->Options->Edit Project List, scroll down to the the Miscellaneous section, and set the Unused Circuit Description value. After you have changed the value, use the Update One Line Device Schedules command to update your schedules with the new value.

Default Circuit Layer Systems: You can choose what the default layer system for your circuits will be. You can choose a specific layer system, or have it use the same layer system as the one line device that the circuit is on.

To change the default value, go to DM Electrical->Customization->Options->Edit Project List, scroll down to the Homerun Options section, and set the Default Circuit Layer System value.

Swap Circuit Command: The new Swap Circuit command allows you to swap two circuits from any two one line devices. In order for the swap to be allowed, the voltage and number of poles of the circuits must match. This command can be used to balance the load on a panel during the design of a project or to update circuits to create an as-built after a project is finished.

Fixed Copy and Increment: There were a number of bugs in the copy and increment command that have been fixed.

Branch Circuit Wire Sizing: The branch circuit wire size is automatically sized to be at least as large as the branch circuit breaker. It is possible to override this by setting the branch circuit wire size directly.

Ground Tick Mark at Back: The ground tick mark can be in the back of the tick mark groups. The Ground Location setting can be found in the Options command under the Homerun Options section.

Previous: Drafting - Next: One Line Devices

Copy and Paste: Design Master supports all forms of copy, cut, and paste.To use this new feature, use standard Windows copy, cut, and paste functions.

Copy and Paste Between Projects: Entities can be copied from drawings in one project to drawings in another. The schedule entry for the device is also copied to the new project. If a callout already exists that exactly matches the device that is being copied, it is used. Otherwise, a new entry is created in the schedule.

One line diagram entities that are copied to another project do not create a new one line device. You should use the Change One Line Device command to point the copied one line diagram entity to an already existing one line device in the new project.

Enter to Close All Dialogs: Pressing ENTER in any dialog will close it as if you pressed the OK button. This feature only works on dialogs that have an OK button.To use this feature, press ENTER when you are in a dialog to close it instead of clicking OK.

Resizable Dialog Boxes: Some dialog boxes can now be resized. Look for the Design Master icon in the top-left of the dialog. If it appears, the dialog can be resized.  

Next: Equipment Connections and Schedule

Not Display Entries in Schedules: All schedule records have a toggle that can be used to remove the item from the schedule that is printed to the drawing. To use this feature, uncheck the Include in Schedule toggle in the schedule dialog. When you reinsert the schedule, the selected schedule entries will not be displayed.

Import Single Records from Other Databases: You have the option to import a single entry from a schedule in another database. Previously, all entries in the schedule from the other database were imported.

To use this, click the Import from Another Database button in any schedule dialog. After selecting the database to import from, you are presented with the option to choose which entries to import. You can select one or multiple records from the list, or click the Import All Records button to import all the records as before.

Switch and Junction Box Schedules: Switches and junction boxes can be scheduled like light fixtures or receptacles. A schedule of different types can be created in the database. The schedule can be printed to the drawing.

Receptacle and Light Fixture Schedule Notes: Three new schedule note fields exist in the light fixture schedule and receptacle schedule. These fields can be used to include information in the schedule that we do not already have a field for. You can consistenly schedule the custom information in one of the notes, and change the label of the column to match the information you are storing in the field.

Light Fixture Schedule Model Columns: There are three model fields in the light fixture dialog. The Model column in the light fixture schedule displays the values of all three of these fields in a single column. The three new columns, Model 1, Model 2, and Model 3, display a single model field in each column. The schedule below demonstrates the difference between these four columns:

Previous: One Line Devices - Next: Project Drawing and Database Maintenance

Multiple Alignment Points: You can insert multiple alignment points in a single drawing.

The first alignment point in a drawing is the default alignment point. All other alignment points are associated with an area. All devices in the area use that alignment point.

To insert additional alignment points, use the Insert Alignment Point command. If there is already an alignment point in the drawing, you will be prompted for the area for the additional alignment point.

Recover Drawings are Handled Automatically: When Design Master detects AutoCAD has crashed and you are using a recover drawing, it takes steps to make sure that the new drawing and the database are kept in-sync.

Automatic Project Backup: Design Master automatically makes a backup of your project in two situations:

• When your project is upgraded to a new version
• When the name of a drawing in the project has changed

These backups can be safely deleted if your project is working.

Projects Work When Master Database is Corrupted: When the master database is corrupted, commands that involve only the current project continue to work. Commands involving the master database will not. This improvement allows you to continue working on existing projects while we help you recover your master database.

The Alignment Point Can be Removed from Non-Design Master Drawings: The new command DM Electrical->Utilities->Remove All Alignment Points will remove all of the Design Master alignment points from the current drawing. This command is useful when an alignment point has accidentaly been inserted on a drawing that does not have any Design Master Electrical entities on it. Previously, it was difficult to remove the alignment point from these drawings.  

Previous: Schedules Updates

Point-by-Point Photometrics

The outdoor point-by-point photometric calculations were improved in a number of ways. They can now be used indoors for both general photometric calculations and for egress photometric calculations.

Reflections

Reflections from buildings and walls can be included in the calculation. Each wall has a reflectance value that is used to calculate the amount of light that it reflects. For outdoor photometrics, this reflection results in slightly higher values near buildings. For indoor photometrics, wall reflections are an important component of the calculation.

Reflections from the ceiling can also be included in the calcluation. Each area can have a ceiling height and reflectance specified. These values are set when an area is first inserted. They can be modified using the Query Photometric Boundary or Light-Obstructing Object command.

General vs. Egress Calculations

There are two types of point-by-point photmetric calculations available: general and egress. Each calculation uses separate fixtures, separate fixture lumens, and separate layers.

Separate Fixtures: Each calculation uses a separate set of light fixtures. Each light fixture on the drawing can be marked as being included in either the general lighting calcluation, egress lighting calculation, both calculations, or neither. This is important for egress calcluations, where only certain light fixtures will be on in an emergency situation.

Separate Fixture Lumens: In the light fixture schedule, the total lumens for the fixture can be set differently for the general calculation and egress calculation. This is important for egress calculations for fixtures where only certain lamps will be on in an emergency situation.

Separate Layers: Light fixtures included in the egress calculation can be inserted on a separate layer from other light fixtures. The separate layer allows you to create a view of the drawing with only the egress light fixtures included.

Multiple Areas

You can insert as many general calcluation and egress calculation areas as you want on the drawing. The general areas include the light from all general lights on the drawing. The egress areas include the light from all the egress lights on the drawing.

Schedule

A schedule for each area can be inserted on the drawing. The schedule can list the average footcandles (FC) in the area, maximum FC, minimum FC, minimum to maximum FC ratio, maximum to minimum FC ratio, and average to minimum FC ratio. You can customize the schedule to list only the values you are required to show.

Total Watts in Indoor Lighting Level Report

A new Total Watts column is included in the Indoor Lighting Levels schedule. It displays the total watts for each room in the project, plus the total watts for the entire project.

Previous: Equipment Connections and Schedule - Next: Drafting

New Voltages: The list of available voltages has been expanded to include international low voltages, US medium voltages, and under 50V voltages.

Transfer switches and UPS taps: The number of taps on transfer switches and UPS's can be set. Previously, it was fixed at one for both of these types of devices.

Generator and UPS AIC: The AIC Rating column in the fault schedule is left blank for generators and UPS's. Previously, a default value of 22,000 was being displayed.

Exclude One Line Device from Fault, Feeder, or Voltage Drop Schedules: All one line devices have checkboxes that can be used to toggle whether or not the device is displayed in the fault, feeder, or voltage drop schedules.

Transformer Sizes: The following transformer sizes are now available: 3, 5, and 7.5 kva.

One Line Device Schedules: A schedule similar to a panel schedule can be inserted for all one line devices. Like a panel schedule, it lists the one line device description, what is connected to it, and the total load.

Previous: Circuiting - Next: Schedules Updates

Equipment connections have been given a major upgrade in this release. A schedule of all the equipment in a project can be printed to a drawing. Equipment can be created in the database but not inserted on a drawing. The equipment commands have been updated and expanded to support this new functionality.

  Create Equipment: The Create Equipment dialog is significantly larger than before. All of the new values you can store in equipment is used for scheduling purposes only. Values such as MCA, MOCP, and FLA are not used for calculations yet. None of the new information is required. You can leave the values that you do not use blank.

There are two buttons you can use to create the equipment:

• Create on Drawing: This button creates the equipment in the database and inserts it on the drawing. This is the same behavior that equipment creation had in the previous version of Design Master Electrical.
• Create in Database: This button creates the equipment in the database and does not insert it on the drawing. This new behavior allows you to create equipment in the database that can be displayed in the schedule and circuited, but does not have a graphic on a drawing.

  Query Equipment in Database: This command displays a list of all the equipment in the database and allows you to select one to query and edit. This is how you can query equipment that is in the database but not on a drawing.

  Circuit Equipment in Database: This command displays a list of all the equipment in the database and allows you to circuit them. This is how you circuit equipment that is in the database but not on the drawing.

  Insert Equipment on this Drawing: This command displays a list of all the equipment in the database but not on a drawing. You can select equipment from the list to insert on a drawing.

  Remove Equipment from this Drawing: This command allows you to select a piece of equipment from a drawing and remove it from the drawing, but keep it in the database. You can use this command together with the Insert Equipment on this Drawing command to move an equipment connection from one drawing to another while preserving the circuiting.

  Find Equipment on this Drawing: This command works the same as before. It finds a specific piece of equipment on a drawing for you.

  Insert Equipment Project Schedule: This command inserts a schedule of all the equipment in a project. We asked our current customers to provide us with sample equipment schedules while we were developing this feature. Over 30 customers shared what their current equipment schedules look like, and no two of them were the same.

The large number of columns available in this schedule exists to allow all of these different equipment schedules to be created using Design Master Electrical. You will not want to use them all. You should choose the ones necessary to create a schedule that matches your current equipment schedule. There should be enough variety in the columns available to match most schedules.

The equipment, disconnect, and starter each have three schedule notes available. You can use these as notes or to include information that we do not have a specific field for. When you insert the schedule on the drawing, you can change the label of the column header to match the information you have inserted in that note.

This dialog box shows all of the columns that are available to be included in the equipment schedule:

This is a sample equipment schedule with a limited number of fields included:

Custom Equipment Callout Blocks:Callouts on equipment can be customized to use a block. The block can display either the actual callout of the equipment, or an ID that can be displayed in the equipment schedule. The ID is number assigned automatically to each equipment connection. These numbers are updated and mainted by the software as equipment connections are added and removed.

There are three blocks that are included with Design Master Electrical that can be used as a callout. These blocks can be customized to match your existing equipment callout appearance.

• dm_elec-equCallout-callout: Displays callout only
• dm_elec-equCallout-id: Displays ID only
• dm_elec-equCallout-idAndCallout: Displays ID and callout

Previous: Usability - Next: Photometrics

Design Master Electrical 6.3 is a minor upgrade from Design Master Electrical 6.2.

Compatible with Design Master HVAC 5.0

Design Master Electrical can once again be run in the same profile as Design Master HVAC. For customers who use both programs, it is no longer necessary to juggle multiple profiles.

New File Extension

The extension on Design Master databases has been changed from MDB to DM. When you backup your projects, make sure that this new extension is included.

The change provides improved compatibility with Windows Briefcases.

Light Fixture Query Layer System

When a light fixture is queried, the current layer system is show in the dialog.

One Line Device Connections

120V 1P 2W one line devices can be connected to any other one line device, not just transformers.

Drawing Load Time

The reactor load sequence has been updated and now loads up to twice as fast as before.

Toolbars

The toolbar icons has been improved to be more consistent. Buttons were added for almost every command found on the DM Electrical pulldown menu.

Some new toolbars will automatically appear in AutoCAD. These can be docked or removed, depending upon your needs.

The Circuiting and Homeruns toolbar is an example of an existing toolbar that has been updated:

The Device Schedules toolbar is an example of a new toolbar that includes commands previously found only on the pulldown menu:

Excel Link

The Excel Link has been updated to look for DM files instead of MDB files when selecting a Design Master database.

The database name needs to be manually updated in existing workbooks that link to Design Master.

1. Open your workbook in Excel.
2. Select the DM Elec tab.
3. Select the cell where the database path is listed. This is typically B1.
4. Change the MDB at the end of the path to DM.

Third Load on Light Fixtures

A third load has been added to light fixtures to handle lights with three ballasts.

Circuit Starting Phase

The starting phase on one and two pole circuits in one line devices other than panels can be changed from the A phase. This feature allows you to properly balance the load on these one line devices.

Customization Folder

A new folder called "Electrical Customization" now exists in your Design Master folder. All of the default customization is stored there. Any customization from the previous release was moved there.

To backup your customizations to Design Master, you only need to backup this folder. The files in the main Design Master folder can all be restored by reinstalling Design Master.

Install Folder

A new folder called "Install" now exists in your Design Master folder. It contains an install drawing, plus a number of VLX files. These VLX files automatically configure AutoCAD to work with Design Master.

Design Master Electrical 6.3.2 fixes a number of bugs reported to us by our customers in the last few months.

• Coordinate Drawing and Database: A number of improvements were made to improve that ability of this command to recover drawings and databases.
• Saving Down to AutoCAD 2000 or 2004: There is a bug in AutoCAD related to saving files down to either 2000 or 2004 format drawings. The bug causes Design Master to record modifications to every device on the drawing every time it is saved. A workaround in our code has been implemented to avoid this AutoCAD bug.
• Circuiting: Some bugs related to the "Insert Circuit" and "Compress Circuit" commands have been fixed.
• Trace Architect's Blocks: Bugs related to the "Trace Architect's Blocks" commands have been fixed.
• Room Update: In some instances, redrawing room outlines would crash. This bug has been fixed.
• Lighting Group Insertion: In some instances, inserting lighting group schedules and labels would crash. This bug has been fixed.

• Alignment Point: If the alignment point does not exist on a Design Master drawing when it is loaded, it is automatically inserted at 0,0.
• One Line Device: Deleting a one line device delete works correctly when switches are circuited to it.
• Transformers: Transformer sizing based upon KVA works correctly on edge cases.
• Equipment: It is now possible to insert equipment with a load of 0 on the drawing.
• Devices: When a device is erased, any parts of the device that are frozen or off are also erased.
• Tick Marks: The manual tick mark setting is persistent within a drawing. It does not change if another users changes it in a different drawing.
• Trace Architect's Devices: Mirrored blocks are traced correctly.

Design Master Electrical 6.2 adds a new feature called "Low Voltage Devices," or "LVD" for short. There are a lot of systems that Design Master previously did not model, such as fire alarm or nurse calls. LVD's are intended to be used for all of the devices that do not fall under the headings of equipment, receptacle, or light fixture.

The screen shot below shows the menu items that you will most commonly use when dealing with LVD's. They have a menu directly below Switches and a button to insert them on the same toolbar that is used for inserting receptacles, equipment, and light fixtures. All of the LVD commands have a corresponding command in the Receptacles menu that they are based upon. We hope that they are similar enough that you can begin using them without too much difficulty. Because of their similarity to receptacles, we will use them as our basis for comparison.

LVD Groups

One difference between LVD's and receptacles is that LVD's contain groups in the project. DM Elec 6.1 added the concept of groups to the Receptacle Master Schedule. The master groups were intended to be used to make it easier to import the right receptacles from the master when creating a project or updating the schedule. LVD groups exist in the project as well as in the master.

When inserting an LVD, you first select the LVD group at the top of the dialog, then you select the specific callout from that group to insert. You can have as many different groups and as many different items in each group as you want.

When a project is first started, you now have the option of selecting with LVD groups to copy from the master database to the project.

Low Voltage Panels

There is a new type of one line device called a Low Voltage Panel in DM Elec 6.2. Instead of having a voltage, low voltage panels are assigned to a specific LVD group. Only LVD's from that same group can be circuited to that panel. Only fire alarm devices can be circuited to a fire alarm panel. Both data devices and receptacles cannot be circuited to a fire alarm panel. Likewise, a fire alarm device cannot be circuited to a regular panel.

LVD groups have two settings that are related to devices being circuited to a low voltage panel.

The first setting is the demand factor type for the group. It is possible, if desired, to put a load on LVD's. When doing so, the group defines how the calculated load is determined. The options are the same as the ones that exist for custom loads.

The second setting is whether conduit sizes are displayed on homeruns or not. Once LVD's are circuited, it is possible to loop them using normal Design Master commands. You have the option to include or not to include a conduit size for the homerun on the drawing.

This patch fixes the following bugs:

• Tick mark blocks cannot be changed.
• Equipment insertion is crashing in some instances.
• Duplicate circuit labels are appearing on the drawing.
• Slide creation does not work when the block is "To Scale."
• Circuit numbers are not appearing on all devices on a combined homerun.
• Some Design Master crashes are causing AutoCAD to completely lock up.
• The AutoCAD "Close Filled" leader style cannot be selected.
• The "Browse" option for the leader style does not work.
• Newly created light fixture and receptacles blocks are not put in the correct location when automatically added to the master database.
• Circuit descriptions with receptacles and equipment are not correct.
• Extra wire sizes are printed in the panel schedule.
• The undo command causes Design Master Electrical to crash if it is turned off.
• Some circuit numbers were appearing out of order in the homerun callout.

Design Master Electrical 6.2 is a minor upgrade to DM Elec 6.1. It adds a number of small features to the program.

New Features

Switch leg and traveler tick marks can use a block different from the hot tick mark.

Schedule note defaults can be stored in the master database. These can be edited by going to DM Electrical->Customization->Labels->Standards and Master Lists->Edit Default Schedule Notes. The default notes will automatically be copied to all new projects when they are started.

Shorter wire size descriptions can be displayed for each circuit in the panel schedule. To use this feature, you need to add a new attribute to the block used for circuits in your panel schedule. The attribute should be called WIRE1 for odd circuits or taps and WIRE2 for even circuits. It can be inserted using the DM Electrical->Customization->Insert One Line Device Schedule Attribute command.

The Print Blocks command (DM Electrical->Customization->Print Blocks) will print a copy of all the blocks in a list. This command allows you to quickly review the list of blocks that you have available in your customization files.

A direct link to Preston Resseguie was added to the help menu. Preston was recently hired to help with customer support.

Improved Features

Double-clicking on a circuit in the Circuiting dialog allows you to circuit devices to that circuit.

The Receptacle insertion command remembers the previous settings when inserting a new receptacle.

The Light Fixture and Receptacle Schedules have been updated.

• The order of columns in the schedule can be changed.
• The width of each column is now set by you, but is fixed. Rows will become taller as necessary to fit the text in the specified column sizes. The width of the columns can be easily changed during the schedule insertion command, immediately before the schedule is inserted.
• The notes that appear at the bottom of the schedule are now entered in a free form box, allowing you to more easily edit them.

Light fixture notes can be as long as necessary. To enter long notes, press the Edit button to the right of the edit field. Enter as much text as you would like in the dialog that appears. Multiple lines of text can be entered, also. The changes to the light fixture schedule will ensure that the text fits nicely in the schedule.

When creating new blocks, you have the option to automatically add it to a block list and to a schedule if appropriate. You will be prompted to do this at the end of the Create Plan View Blocks from Entities command.

The Highlight Uncircuited Devices command does not highlight devices with a 0 load.

The Find Circuit button on the Circuiting dialog will list the drawing that a circuit is on if it is not the current drawing.

The Compact and Repair Database command now works on the current database. It is no longer necessary to close and reopen AutoCAD to make this command work.

Bug Fixes

Equipment leaders can be toggled on and off properly.

Motor Control Centers can have the main breaker size specified.

Match Labels matches the leader settings of any labels on a block. It also matches the rotation angle of homerun labels.

Design Master Electrical 6.2 adds the ability to convert projects from DM Elec 5.2.

Before you convert any projects, you should convert all of your customization from DM Elec 5.2 to DM Elec 6.2. The conversion process uses the layer and block definitions in DM Elec 6.2. If you are not currently using DM Elec 6.2, please contact us so that we can help you in the transition as much as possible.

The conversion process has been rigorously tested using a wide variety of projects from as many different firms are we were able to get projects from. During the conversion, a copy of your original drawings and database are created in an "OriginalElec52Drawings" folder. This folder serves two important purposes. If the conversion does fail for any reason, you have a readily available backup to restore from. And, you can open the drawings in this folder using DM Elec 5.2 to confirm that the databases from the two projects contain the same information.

If the conversion fails, please email the contents of the "OriginalElec52Drawings" folder to me (drobison at designmaster.biz) so that I can take a look at them and figure out what the cause is. It is helpful if you can also send a copy of any MDB files in your Design Master folder. Typically, you will have two: dm_elec_master.mdb and dm_elec_template.mdb.

The conversion command is on the DM Electrical menu, under DM Electrical->Customization->Conversion from DM Elec 5.2->Convert Project.

This command should be run from a drawing in an Electrical 5.2 project. When you do, you will be prompted to select the drawings that contain DM Electrical objects in them. Based upon the values in the database, a default selection will be made. Any drawings that are need to be converted that are not selected should be added.

If you are unsure about whether to add a drawing or not, add it. There is no harm in having too many drawings selected.

After you press OK, you will be prompted to create a new database. Your main concern here should be to select the proper standards database so that the correct layers are associated with the project.

If you have multiple section panels in your project, you will be asked how these panels should be converted.

You have the option to either join all of the multiple section panels together as a single panel, or to keep them as separate panels.

Then, the conversion process will begin. It takes a fair amount of time to complete, five to thirty minutes, depending upon the size of the project. Be prepared for your computer to be occupied for a long time.

Once the conversion process is complete, here are some changes of which you should be aware:

Schedules

Existing panel schedules and light fixture and receptacle schedules will need to be erased and reinserted. Other schedules do not need to be erased before they are updated.

When schedules are updated, they will most likely change size. You should confirm that the new schedules fit on the drawing without overlapping onto anything else.

Panel Loads

You might notice that some loads on panels are different. There are a number of common reasons for this.

The calculated load is slightly higher for most panels because of the change in how the largest motor values are calculated. In 6.2, largest motor diversity is better accounted for. This results in some loads that were set to "Other Motors" in 5.2 being moved to "Largest Motor" in 6.2. The calculated load for the motor increases from 100% to 125%, which results in a slight increase in calculated load.

The calculation used for loads that go through transformers is improved in 6.2. The total load on the panels is the same in both cases, but the load in 6.2 will be slightly more out of balance than the load in 5.2.

Some devices might be uncircuited during the conversion process. This is typically a result of better voltage checking between devices and panels. Uncircuited devices are highlighted on drawings with lines drawn from the origin. These devices should be updated and recircuited as appropriate.

Star Panels

*2 and *3 panels are joined with the base panel if it exists, rather than kept as separate panels.

For example, if you have two 42 circuit panels, L1 and L1*2, in your 5.2 project, there are two ways you can convert them. You can have a single panel, L1, with 84 circuits in it. Or you can have two panels, L1 with circuits 1 42, and L2 with circuits 43 - 84.

Switches

Switches are not converted. All switches inserted using DM Elec 5.2 are simple blocks without any DM specific information added to them. They will continue to be just blocks once the project is converted.

If you want to use the new switch features in existing projects, it will be necessary to insert new switches. The existing switches can be safely erased.

We have made a number of minor changes to Design Master Electrical. These changes are focused on improving the productivity and usability of existing features, rather than extending what the program can do.

Automatic Tick Mark Insertion on Loops

Tick marks can be automatically drawn on all loops. This option defaults to being turned off to match the previously behavior. To turn it on, go to DM Electrical->Customization->Options->Edit Project List, find the Homerun Options section, and set Display tick marks on loops to Yes.

When you draw a homerun, it will insert tick marks on all the loops for you. There is a command called Redraw Tick Marks that will insert tick marks on existing loops. It will follow any manually inserted loops when inserting the tick marks.

Here are some examples of tick marks inserted automatically by Design Master.

Improved Branch Circuit Voltage Drop

Branch circuit voltage drop now takes into account the path of the loops. It will still print at the command line after home running devices. There is a new command on the circuiting dialog called Recalculate Voltage Drop that you can use to calculate the voltage drop without having to redo the homerun. When using this command, you need to select a device on the circuit that you want the voltage drop for (it does not need to be the homerun device). The voltage drop calculation will take into account any manually inserted loops.

Circuiting Dialog Updates

There are some new features in the circuiting dialog that required a minor reorganization so that it would still fit on your screen.

Some of the buttons from the top right have been moved to the right middle of the dialog. There is a new button called "Insert Circuit" included in this group. It performs an operation that is the exact opposite of "Compress Circuits".

The options available for changing wire sizes have been updated to give you better control. It now works in the same way as the feeder sizing portion of the panel dialog.

One Line Device Improvements

The "Find" button for one-line devices brings up the one-line tree. You can select any device on the tree and immediately go to it. You don't have to close the dialog when switching from panels to transformers any more. You can go straight to this command by using the Edit Existing One Line Device command (at the top of the "One Line Device" list).

Panel voltages of existing panels can be changed. Any circuited devices that do not match the new voltage will be automatically uncircuited. All panel to panel connection involving the panel will be undone and have to be reconnected.

Match Device Label Location

This new command is available on the Devices toolbar. For this command, you start by making all of the labels on one devices look correct. Then, you use the command to match the label locations from the device that is correct to the other ones.

Master Schedule Groups

Master schedules groups have been added to the Receptacle, Light Fixture, and Room Master Schedules. You can create groups of device type in the master schedules. When you start a new project, you can import all of the types from a specific group.

Copying Equipment Between Jobs

Equipment can be copied between jobs. DM Electrical->Equipment->Import Equipment From Another Project will import all the equipment from another job into the current one. DM Electrical->Equipment->Insert Imported Equipment on This Drawing will allow you to insert the equipment you imported on the current drawing.

Improved Custom Load Definitions

Custom load definitions have been updated so that you can specify either a fixed or variable demand factor as appropriate. These values are set in DM Electrical->Customization->Options as before.

Improved Room Output in One Line Device Schedules

When rooms are displayed in the panel schedule, all the rooms on the circuit are displayed, not just the room where the home run is drawn from.

Equipment Callout Updates

Equipment callouts can be rotated using the Rotate Label command.

Equipment callouts can list amps instead of KVA in the callout. This option is available under Options, in the Miscellaneous section at the bottom of the list.

Rooms Can be Transferred between Design Master HVAC 4.5 and Design Master Electrical 6.1

Rooms can be transferred between Design Master HVAC 4.5 and Design Master Electrical 6.1 projects. These commands are available under DM Electrical->Building Definition.

Transfer Rooms to HVAC will copy the rooms defined in the current electrical project to the selected HVAC project.

Transfer Rooms from HVAC will copy the rooms defined in the selected HVAC project to the current electrical project.

In both cases, if the room outlines are not already defined, they will be transferred between the two projects. However, when transferring from electrical to HVAC, room outlines for existing rooms will not be transferred. The electrical database does not know which walls have been defined as exterior walls in the HVAC project. Updating the room outlines would mean that all of the exterior wall definitions would be lost. Therefore, we recommend that you update your room outline locations in the HVAC project and then transfer them to the electrical from there. This sequence will help you to prevent duplication of effort.

Download and install the software. It is necessary for all Design Master users to be out of AutoCAD when install it if you are installing it to a network.

These Excel spreadsheets are ready to be used. We will be adding more states as we complete them. Please contact us if there is a specific state that you would like us to create a spreadsheet for.

To use the spreadsheets, make a copy of it to your project folder. In Excel, use the DM Electrical->Select Electrical Database command to select the database associated with your project. Use the DM Electrical->Quick Label Insertion command to fill in the required values.

California Title 24 (2001)

California Title 24 (2001) LTG1 - 5

There is a worksheet in this spreadsheet for each of the LTG forms. Cells that are yellow need to be input manually. Cells that are gray will be calculated automatically. If necessary, you can always override the calculated cells by typing a value directly into the cell.

Each state that has an energy code has an individual list of room definitions that are to be used in it. In order to save you time, we are inputting this data for you. These downloads will allow you to copy this data to your Room Master Schedule for use in new and existing Design Master Electrical projects.

Installation Procedure

1. Download one of the files below.
2. Run the file to extract the files to your computer.
3. Open the drawing file that it extracted in AutoCAD.
4. Run the DM Electrical->Building Definition->Room Master Schedule command.
5. Press the Select Group button in the top right of the Room Electrical Design Criteria Master dialog.
6. Either create a new group using the New button, or select an existing group. The room definitions will be copied to the group you select.
7. Press OK to close the Room Master Schedule Groups dialog.
8. Press the Import from Room Project Schedule button.
9. Select the database associated with the drawing you are in and press Open. This command will import all of the room definitions from the selected database to the current room group.

About Room Master Groups

Room master groups are a new concept in Design Master Electrical 6.1. They allow you to group sets of rooms that are used for a common purpose. On this page, we are grouping them by state, but you can group them in other ways if necessary. When you start a new project, you will be asked which room group you want to import. All of the rooms from the selected group will be imported into the room project schedule automatically. After the project has started, you can import specific rooms from different groups, or you can import all of the rooms in another group.

State Specific Files

Select a file below to download to your computer. We will add more states to the list over time. If there is a state you would like us to add, please contact us. The states we add will be the ones that our customers request.

California Title 24 (2001) Room Definitions

Washington State Room Definitions

The Excel add-in must be installed on each individual computer. It is not possible to install it in a network location like the AutoCAD Add-in.

32-Bit Excel Required

Our add-in only runs on the 32-bit version of Excel. If you have trouble with installation, confirm you are running 32-bit Excel and not 64-bit Excel. You can find this information in the Help->About dialog in Excel. The exact steps to get to the dialog vary based upon the version of Excel you are running.

Install the .Net Framework

Download and install the Microsoft .Net Framework Version 1.1 from this link:

https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=262D25E3-F589-4842-8157-034D1E7CF3A3&displaylang=en

The add-in uses an older version of the .Net Framework that is not included with current versions of Windows.

Run the Add-in Installer

Download and run the installer for the add-in from this link:

Load the .XLA File in Excel

The final step is to load the XLA file in Excel.

Start by opening Excel.

Click on the Excel or File button or tab in the top-right corner of the Excel window. You want the button that also you to open or save an Excel file.

There should be an Options command available. The location of the command varies a bit based upon your Excel version.

Once you are in the Excel Options dialog box, go to the Add-Ins section.

Make sure Manage is set to Excel Add-ins and press Go.

Press the Browse button. Find the dm_elec.xla file and select it. The default install location is C:Program Files (x86)Design Master SoftwareElectrical.

Pulldown Menu Location

The pulldown for the add-in will be located on the Add-Ins tab of the ribbon.

Excel Link Updates

A number of new functions were added to the Excel Link to make this feature possible. Previously, you could only insert quantity counts from the database into your Excel spreadsheet. For energy code compliance, it is necessary to import more types of information.

You can insert the following attributes for each light fixture type. When the fixture type is changed in Design Master, the function will automatically update the value in Excel.

Light Fixture Attributes

• Description
• Lamp Description
• Number of Lamps
• Watts / Lamp
• Ballast Description
• Number of Ballasts
• Total Watts

Room Attributes

• Area (Including Lighting Groups)
• Area (Not Including Lighting Groups)
• Room Type
• Room Cavity Ratio
• Perimeter
• RCR Height
• Ceiling Height
• Illuminance Category
• Lighting Power Density

Room Type Attributes

• Area (Including Lighting Groups)
• Area (Not Including Lighting Groups)
• Illuminance Category
• Lighting Power Density

Lighting Group Attributes

• Area
• Horiztonal Area
• Vertical Area
• Length
• Height
• Light Fixture Throw Distance
• Light Fixture Mounting Height
• Lighting Power Density
• Illuminance Category
• Room Cavity Ratio
• Lighting Watts

Quick Label Insertion

We also included quick label insertion commands. Most often, you will not need to use any of the above functions. Instead, they will already be inserted in a pre-made spreadsheet. You will only need to fill in values specific to your project. The quick label insertion commands allow you to quickly insert light fixture types, room numbers, room types, and light fixture group names.

AutoCAD Updates

Exempt lighting

Light fixtures can be marked as exempt. In the Project Schedule, there is a checkbox for marking all light fixtures of a specific type as exempt. On the devices toolbar, there are commands to mark specific light fixtures on the drawing as either exempt, not exempt, or default exempt (match what the schedule exempt setting is for that light fixture). These light fixtures will be ignored when doing quantity counts for energy calculations.

Lighting groups

Lighting groups are for creating task areas in Title 24. Nothing in a lighting group is required, so you can tailor it to whatever the code requires. You can associate specific light fixtures with a group. You can draw an area or line on the drawing to associate with the group. You can set a LF mounting height and throw distance. You can set a lighting power density or illuminance category. You can have the area of the group subtracted or not subtracted from the room it is in.

For Title 24, you typically will associate specific lights with a group and an area, defined either as a horizontal area or a line with a height for a vertical area. If your lights are mounted high or far away, you will want to set the LF attributes for the group. Most of them will need an illuminance category set. In most cases, they will subtract area from the room area. Very valuable merchandise is one exception where the area of the lighting group should not be subtracted from the area of the room.

Room Changes

Rooms now have a lighting power density and illuminance category associated with them. I have schedules for WA state rooms and CA state rooms that I will need to get loaded in the REI customization databases. When you start a project, you will be able to select the room group to import. After a project has started, you can also import a specific group from the room master schedule.

Panels

Panel to Panel Connections: The imbalanced load on the secondary of a transformer is now carried to the upstream panel on the primary. In the past, the load was transferred as a balanced load on the primary regardless of balance on the secondary.

Automatic Transformer Breaker Sizing: The breaker size of the transformer is sized automatically based upon the transformer KVA and voltage. Changing either of these will change the breaker size of the transformer. The breaker size can be manually changed after you set the KVA and voltage.

Fault Calculation Warning: You are now warned if you have an upstream breaker set to N/A.

Panel Dimensions: Panel dimensions can no longer be 0.

Feeder Neutral: The feeder neutral can be set to 200% of phase. This will insert two neutral conductors, rather than doubling the size of the neutral conductor. If you want to use a larger wire size, simply set it manually.

Circuiting

Custom Wire and Conduit Sizing: Wire and conduit sizing is now completely customizable. You can define multiple different sizing options in a new standards file called dm_elec-wiresizing.txt. For example, you may have an "all copper" standard, and a "copper - aluminum" standard. Likewise, you can have a "60 degree C" standard and a "75 degree C" standard. This is no limit to the number of wire and conduit sizing tables you may create.

Loop Memory:

• Loops Only Removed When Uncircuited: Design Master now strives as much as possible to not erase circuit loops when it does not have to. Loops are only removed when a device is uncircuited.
• Draw Homerun: There are now two buttons for drawing homeruns. Draw Homeruns and Loop works like the Draw Homerun button used to. It will draw a homerun from the selected circuit, erase all of the existing loops, and redraw the loops for you. Draw Homerun now only draws a homerun and ignores the loops.
• Loop Devices Manually: We also modified Loop Devices Manually so that you can more easily add one more device to a circuit that has already had all of its loop locations tweaked. In this situation, you will want to first circuit the device normally. Then, draw a loop from previously circuited device to the device that you just circuited. The loop will be drawn and any circuit callout labels will be cleaned up..

Circuit Limits: There are two options for setting circuit limits.

• Amp Limit: The first is a limit on the number of amps for a circuit. When this option is set, Design Master will warn you whenever you the circuit load amps exceed the limit. Turn this feature on when you are circuiting devices that have a limit, such as light fixtures. When you are circuiting other devices, you may turn this feature off.
• Total Receptacles Limit: The second limit is the number of receptacles on a circuit. This limit can be on at all times. It will warn you when you connect more than the desired number of receptacles to a circuit.

Information While Circuiting: The load and breaker size of the current circuit are listed at the command line while you are circuiting.

Grounded Circuits: Circuiting an ungrounded device to a grounded circuit no longer removes the ground.

Circuiting Dialog:

• Information: More information is now displayed in the circuiting dialog. The wire size of the currently selected circuit is displayed at the top. For the current panel, the total connected KVA is displayed. The amps, broken down by phase, are also displayed.
• Recalculate Panel Load Total: This button recalculates the load total on the panel.
• Uncircuit All Connected Devices: This button uncircuits all devices from this panel and removes all fixed loads. This is helpful when you want to delete a panel quickly.

Update Circuit Labels: The multi-section panel callouts now match the format used by other functions. The *2 and *3 are masked in the homerun callouts so that only the main panel section of a multi-section panel are displayed.

Switch Tick Marks: Tick marks on switch loops now go on the proper layer, not layer 0.

Homerun Backbone: The homerun spine was renamed the homerun backbone as a more intuitive description.. It has been improved to be less fussy when looking for device to include. The backbone only needs to cross the device, not pass near the insertion point of the device.

Circuit Callouts: When drawing a homerun without loops, you can display the circuit callouts with or without the panel included.

Upsize #12 to #10: When upsizing #12 to #10 wire automatically, you can now put a #10 as the homerun circuit callout in addition to the tick marks.

Fixed Wire Size: Wire sizes can be locked in the N/A mode.

Tick Marks: Tick marks can be turned off and the full homerun callout can be displayed for #12 wires.

Devices

Trace Architect's Light Fixtures or Receptacles: There are two new commands that allow you to quickly transfer a light fixture or receptacle layout created by your architect. This feature saves time creating lighting plans when the architect has already created the light fixture layout.

To use this feature, you first define your light fixtures or receptacles in their schedule, then use the trace commands to map specific blocks on the background to specific entries in the schedule. You then tell Design Master which drawing to insert the devices on, and it creates the new devices where the architect located them.

When the architect updates the layout, you can run the command again. Light fixtures that are in the same place as before will not be reinserted. Light fixtures that have been moved will be inserted in their new location. You will need to cleanup light fixtures that are at old locations or that have been removed.

Create Multi-Circuit Device: Multi-circuit devices are used to model devices that are connected to more than one circuit. In Design Master, we model them as two devices inserted directly on top of each other. This new command simplifies the process of creating the extra device. Examples of multi-circuit devices include: light fixtures with some lamps on an emergency circuit, multi-circuit track lighting, and multi-circuit plugmold.

Non-rotating Text: Non-rotating text can be adding to device blocks.

J-Box Homeruns: Homeruns from j-boxes are put on the correct layer, rather than layer 0.

Coordinate Receptacles / Light Fixtures with Schedule: These functions have been removed since the functionality is now included with Coordinate Drawing and Database function. If you need to coordinate these devices, run the Coordinate Drawing and Database function instead.

Light Fixtures

Mirrored Light Fixtures: Mirrored light fixtures now work correctly with outdoor photometric calculations. Previously, their rotation angle was being calculated incorrectly.

Circuit Tag Layer: The circuit tags on light fixtures are now set to the correct layer after the type of the light fixture is changed.

Spaces in Callouts: Light fixture callouts can now have spaces within the text.

Light Fixture Schedule Field Width: The width of all of the fields in the light fixture schedule has been increased so that it is wide enough to accommodate all of the text in the field.

Light Fixture Dialog: The layout of the light fixture project and master schedules has been improved to make it easier to read.

Automatic Light Fixture Callout Insertion: You can now have Design Master automatically insert the light fixture callout for each fixture. This is an option in the Options window. You will need to redefine your light fixture blocks so that the insertion location for the callouts is correct.

Equipment

Rename: When you rename a piece of circuited equipment, the circuit description automatically updates to reflect the new name.

Receptacles

Circuit Description: When you edit the circuit description of a receptacle, the circuit is automatically updated.

Receptacle Field Lengths: The receptacle dialog boxes now have fixed limits on the edit boxes for fields that have a fixed length in the database. This applies to the panel description, NEMA type, and the notes. This will help a user avoid creating descriptions longer than allowed.

Electrical Changes

• The "Draw Homerun" command no longer crashes when the "Multiple arrowheads on combined homeruns" option is set.
• The "Update Circuit Labels" command was dropping circuit labels from combined homeruns in some specific instances. This has been fixed.

Design Master Electrical 5.2.4

General Changes

• Added "Help" option to all of the Design Master pulldowns.  There are four commands here. 
  • "Help->About" displays a window listing with general Design Master information displayed.  It includes our contact information.  It also shows you what version of Design Master you have loaded.
  • The two "Remote Support" commands allow Bob and David to directly view your computer screen over the Internet.  This will help us provide quicker training and support.
  • The last command will open up your default web browser and point you to the Design Master support page.

Design Master Electrical 5.2.3

General Changes

• More information about the drawing are given in the save as warning boxes. The old and the new drawing name and directory are listed, to give you a better idea of what has changed.
• "Update Room Outlines" no longer draws extra exterior walls when rooms have similar names.

Electrical Changes

• Circuit labels are not moved when "Coordinate Drawing and Database" is run.
• Circuiting does not crash under certain circumstances when you increment past the last circuit on a panel.
• Photometrics no longer require you to close and reopen the drawing after starting a new job to work. They also do not require you to have an HVAC database in the project anymore.
• Circuit descriptions do not lose their commas when a circuit is recalculated. If you have lots of circuits descriptions in a job that need to be updated, running "Recalculate All Circuit Loads" will fix them all at once.
• "Find Circuit" was conflicting with some custom LISP functions. This is now fixed.
• Circuits default to having a ground wire, rather than not having a ground wire. All circuits on newly created panels will have the new default. Existing circuits will maintain their current grounded or ungrounded state.
• Phase load totals for single-phase panels with circuits starting on the "B" phase are now calculated correctly.

Design Master Electrical 5.2.1

General Changes

• Rename Drawing command added under "Drawing Utilities" on the HVAC and electrical pulldown.
• Copy Drawing command added under "Drawing Utilities" on the HVAC and electrical pulldown. All devices on the current drawing are copied to the new drawing. Circuited devices are left circuited, so some circuit loads might have increased.
• Start New Job now works if you are missing a master database.

Electrical Changes

• Panels imported from another database now properly create the circuit records.
  250 added to the list of choices for bus amps in the panel dialog.
• The "Circuit Breaker" connection type has been renamed to "Subfeed" in the Panel to Panel Connection window.
• "Main Amps" label in the panel window changed to "Main Breaker Amps."
• The circuiting display now adds a space after breakers 1000 amps and larger. This prevents the breaker size from overflowing in to the circuit load.

Drawing and Database Coordination: The various update database functions have been removed and replaced with Coordinate Drawing and Database. This function allows you to coordinate a set of selected drawings with the database. For each drawing, it first checks to make sure that what is in the database matches what is on the drawing. If a device does not exist on the drawing, it is reinserted. It then checks each device on the drawing and make sure it exists in the database. Any possible duplicates are resolved and new records are created in the database. Any devices that exist on the drawing but not in the database are recreated.

Delete Extra Devices From Database: This command allows you to delete any devices that exist in the database that either do not have a drawing or are on a drawing that no longer exists.

Better Save As Support

• Save As Question: Support for save as has been improved. Now, when a drawing name is changed, Design Master forces you to run Coordinate Drawing and Database on the drawing before continuing. It no longer asks you if you want to move or copy devices (what ever that meant!). The coordination function is smart enough to do the right thing and make sure that your drawing is safe.
• Case Change: Design Master no longer considers a change in case of a drawing name a save as.

Long Path Name Support: Design Master can now deal with folder names that exceed 128 characters.

Extra Databases can be Deleted: Design Master no longer requires that you have both an HVAC and electrical database in your project folder. If you are a one discipline firm, you can now erase the extra database and save a little room on your server. The Start New Job command includes options to exclude files that you do not use.
If you start a job without one of the databases, and later decide that you want to include it, you run the Start New Job command again. Design Master will create the missing databases, but will not overwrite the existing ones.

Multi-User Support: Support for multiple users has been greatly improved.

Layer 0 Locked: Design Master automatically unlocks layer 0 if it is locked and alerts the user that it has done so. The program will not function properly with layer 0 locked.

Alignment Points: You cannot work on drawings that have two alignment points inserted on them.

Design Master CTB: A CTB file mapping the default Design Master layers to appropriate line weights is included.

Command Names: All Design Master commands have been renamed to start with dm_bldg-, dm_elec-, and dm_hvac-. This will prevent conflicts with other AutoCAD programs.