EasyPower^® Tutorial - SmartDesign™

In this tutorial, we show you how to size components using EasyPower’s SmartDesign™ module. SmartDesign™ is an “automated design” tool for sizing switchgear, switchboards, panelboards, panels, MCC’s, conductors, breakers, fuses, and other electrical equipment for NEC compliance.

Note: The SmartDesign™ feature is not available in the Demo version of EasyPower.

Before using SmartDesign™, you need to completely model an entire system including motors and loads. A sample one-line has been created for this tutorial.

To start, open the SmartDesign-1.dez file in your Samples directory. Click Maximize to fill your screen with the one-line.

Auto Design from the One-line

1. Select transformer TX-1 and click Auto Design in the ribbon.

   
   

   Figure 1: Auto Design One-line

2. An Auto Design Report is created showing the new size of the transformer and the load data used for sizing. To view the report, click Window, and then select Auto Design Report for [drive]:\...\SmartDesign-1.dez.

   
   

   Figure 2: Auto Design Report

3. Select all components downstream from the transformer and click Auto Design in the ribbon.

   Note: To select multiple equipment items on the one-line, you can down the down the SHIFT key while selecting each piece of equipment or click and hold the left mouse button to drag a box around the equipment items you want to select.

4. A new Auto Design Report is created, showing the new sizes of all the selected equipment and the load data used to size each equipment item.

Auto Design Options

To view the auto design options, click the arrow just below Auto Design and select Auto Design Options.

Figure 3: Auto Design Options

In the Auto Design tab of the Options dialog box, you can specify auto design settings for equipment sizing. These changes take effect on all subsequent sizing after closing this dialog box.

Auto Design MCCs and Panels

There are five different sizing options for MCCs and Panels. The option are selected in the Auto Design Options in the Sizing MCCs/Panels on One-line box, and include:

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

There are also 3 ways to size the MCC/Panels on the one-line.

• Ribbon Method: Select the MCC or Panel to be sized and Auto Design from the ribbon. This method uses the selected sizing option in Auto Design Options under Sizing MCCs/Panels on One-line.
• Right-Click Method: When sizing an individual MCC or Panel, the same sizing options listed above are available. Right-click on the MCC/Panel and select Auto Design, and then select the sizing option you want. This sizing method overrides the sizing option selected in the Auto Design Options.

  
  

  Figure 4: Sizing an MCC on the One-Line Using the Right-Click Context Menu

• Spreadsheet Method: The third method sizes the MCC/Panel using the spreadsheet inside the equipment dialog box.
  1. Double-click on MCC-2_A and select the Description tab from MCC Data dialog box.
  2. Right click on a row in the spreadsheet and select Auto-size Prot Device and Cable.

  
  

  Figure 5: Sizing an Individual Row in the MCC Using the Spreadsheet

  3. To view the Auto Design Report, click Window in the ribbon, and then select the Auto Design Report for [drive]:\...\SmartDesign-1.dez report.

Library Modification

EasyPower performs Auto Design based on the Design template in the library. You can modify the design style sheet in the EasyPower Library. The default design style sheet is titled “Generic.” Style sheets can be made for any type of design and using any manufacturer’s equipment.

1. Select the EasyPower button and click Open Library.
2. Select the Stdlib.mdb file and click OK.
3. In the library, select Design > US > Generic in the tree view to open the design sheet.

   
   

   Figure 6: Library Auto Design Sheet showing Protective Equipment Tab

There are 7 tabs for each sheet containing user-definable sizing specifications that you can modify as needed. You can create additional Design Style Sheets for multiple manufacturers, building types, or code zones. Design parameters are determined in Auto Design Options by selecting the appropriate Design Style Sheet.

Refer to the Editing Design Library topic in the EasyPower Help for more information.

Bill of Materials

A Bill of Materials Report is also created while auto designing, if this report is enabled in Auto Design Options.

Figure 7: Bill of Materials Report

Conclusion

This has been a brief overview of EasyPower’s Auto Design feature. The EasyPower User Manual and Help system cover these and other topics in greater depth.