Voltage Drop

[Brian Myers]

Should be an easy question: Does AutoCAD MEP calculate voltage drop?

I don't remember seeing it, but since I was asked....

Thanks! :beer:

[Brian Myers]

Just to keep this post active (to be answered) I'll ask again. If the answer is just No or Yes that's fine with me... I just need to know how much I need to investigate it (can't find anything indicating that it does, even on-line).

Thanks! :beer:

[Brian Myers]

I never did find the "final" solution to this question. I did find that AutoCAD does calculate the distance between the panel to the device, but in terms of calculations I've not found an answer in how (or if) it's accomplished in the software. Will keep an eye/ear open should an answer be found and will update this when I find it. :beer:

[stelthorst]

Hi Brian,

I don't think AMEP will calculate voltage drop (VD). The problem with the "distance" calculation in AMEP is that it only calculates straight line distance from panel to device and doesn't take circuit routing into consideration. However, this can be useful for a "guesstimate of VD. There are many online tools to aid in VD calculations that are free and user friendly. I usually use these when I need to do voltage drop calculations.

Hope this helps,

[Brian Myers]

Thanks Scott,

You confirmed my "read between the lines" thoughts after doing a lot of web surfing, reading help documents, reviewing blogs and in general realizing what I WASN'T reading. Since nobody mentioned it as a feature it seemed like it wasn't there, but it didn't show up in any "wish lists" I had tracked down either which seemed equally as strange.

Thanks again! :beer: