Auto Design Options

Auto Design options let you select design templates, calculation methods, and default values for your design. To select the options, select Tools > Options > Auto Design.

There are 5 categories of options:

General

Figure 1: Auto Design Options - General

Option Description

Design Library Sheet

Select the design template you want to use. The design templates are stored as design sheets in the standard library (Stdlib.mdb). The library has a default design sheet named “Generic.” You can create your own design templates in the library. For details on creating or editing design sheets, see Design Library.

Generate Report Only Without Changing Data

This enables you to view comments regarding existing design (size/ratings) of equipment, without changing design (data). When this is not selected, the equipment sizes/ratings can be changed upon running Auto Design.

Create Bill of Materials Report

Creates a Bill of Materials report for the items that are auto-designed.

Downstream load based on

Select the type of load current calculation to use to size equipment. The following choices are available:

  • Connected Amps: Amp value for the total kVA of all downstream loads.
  • Demand Amps: Amp value for the total (kVA * Demand Factor) of all downstream loads.
  • Code Factor Amps: Amp value calculated using appropriate code factors and demand factors, following a Code (such as NEC).
  • Design Amps: Amp value calculated using appropriate code factors and diversity factor and Design multiplier.
  • User-Specified Amps: You can specify the amp value for designing selected equipment while you perform Auto Design. The figure below is an example of the dialog you will get to enter the amp value when sizing a cable “C-2.”

Sizing MCCs/Panels on One-line

MCC and Panel schedules include different components such as main (breaker/fuse), bus, feeder breakers/fuses, feeder cables, etc. You can select what items to size by selecting the appropriate choice:

  • Size Everything
  • Size Bus, Main and Feeders
  • Size Bus and Main Only
  • Size Bus Only
  • Size Main Only

Default Motor Starter

Selects which type of starter to use in the MCC feeder description when sizing MCC.

SC Threshold (%)

When the estimated short circuit current through an equipment is greater than the specified threshold value of the equipment short circuit rating, a warning is provided in the report. A threshold of 20% corresponds to 0.8 * Equipment Rating.

Show extended comments for series coordination

This option provides more detailed comments when performing series coordination between protective devices.

Lines

Figure 2: Auto Design Options - Lines

Option Description

Tap Rule Length (ft)

Length of the conductor from tapping point to downstream protective device that does not need to be protected by a protective device.

When choosing cables, assume

Select one of the options below. Design for both systems can be specified in the design library.

  • 3-Phase -- 3-Wire: Only phase and ground conductors are sized for selected cables.
  • 3-Phase -- 4-Wire" Phase, neutral and ground conductors are sized for selected cables. The neutral gets the same size as the phase.

Default Cable Length (ft)

The Auto Design feature automatically enters the default cable length if the cable length is not already specified.

Sizing Lines Protected by SSTs

Size based on tap/plug rating: Cables are sized based on upstream breaker rating, which is defined by the sensor tap or the rating plug of the solid state trip.

Size based on adjusted LTPU: If the upstream solid state trip has an adjustable long time pickup (LTPU) setting, then sizing cable based on the LTPU amps can enable you to economize on cable size.

Protective Device

Figure 3: Auto Design Options – Protective Device

Option Description

When choosing breaker pickup setting, assume

Breakers with adjustable pickup settings can be set as the highest or lowest possible pickup that is equal to or greater than the design Amp value.

  • Maximum Available: Selects highest available settings
  • Minimum Available: Selects the smallest available settings

Size Feeder Breakers

Select the criteria for sizing feeder breakers.

  • Based on Bus Rating: Cables are sized based on Amp Rating of downstream bus equipment (switchgear, panelboard, switchboard, MCC, Panel, and so on).
  • Based on Load: Cables are sized based on downstream load.

Voltage Drops

Figure 4: Auto Design Options – Voltage Drop

Auto design lets you select cables of higher rating if the voltage drop at the downstream end of the cable is greater than a user-specified value. The voltage drop is defined as follows:

Voltage Drop = (Base kV – Calculated Voltage)/ Base kV * 100%

Option Description

Assumed Locked Rotor Mult (LRM)

This value, multiplied by the full load amps of motors, provides the starting (inrush) current. This value is used for all motor circuits for voltage drop calculation while sizing cables.

Assumed Source Vpu

The per-unit voltage at the source end of the cable.

Assumed Load

Type of amps calculation to use for voltage drop calculation. Choices are:

  • Downstream Code Factors Load
  • Downstream Connected Load
  • Downstream Demand Load
  • Downstream Design Load

Upsize Conductor if Volt Drop >

If the voltage drop due to load is greater than the specified value, the program selects the next larger cable in order to keep the voltage drop within specified limits. To avoid upsizing cables based on voltage drop, the edit field must be blank.

Upsize Conductor if Motor Starting Voltage Drop >

If the voltage drop due to motor starting is greater than the specified value, the program selects the next larger cable so that the voltage drop is kept within specified limits.

Important: To avoid upsizing cables based on motor starting voltage drop, the edit field must be blank.

Bus

Figure 5: Auto Design Options - Bus

Option Description
<Other> Bus Types For buses defined as type Other, you can allow or restrict sizing.

Next: Design Library

More Information

Auto Design