GettingintotheFlow:UnderstandingConnectorsinRevit

MEPContent
Martin Schmid, P.E. Autodesk

ME2043
This class will dive into the details of how connectors propagate data in Revit MEP. This
class goes beyond basic geometric and data modeling of content, and demonstrates how the definition of
connectors affects the data available on pipe and duct networks, as well as electrical circuits.

About the Speaker:

Martin has been working with customers to identify best practices and workflows using Autodesk MEP
solutions for over three years. Martin is a recovering electrical engineer, and in his former life, worked for
architects, contractors, and MEP firms, both as a design engineer as well as a IT/CAD administrator. Martin
has Master's degrees in Engineering and Business.

GettingintotheFlow:UnderstandingConnectorsinRevitMEPContent

GettingintotheFlow:UnderstandingConnectorsinRevitMEPContent

Contents
Introduction..................................................................................................................................................5
HostedComponentsandLinkedModels......................................................................................................5
RoomAirTabulations....................................................................................................................................5
AirTerminalFamilySettings.....................................................................................................................5
Task.......................................................................................................................................................6
RoomFlows...............................................................................................................................................6
Task.......................................................................................................................................................7
DuctSystemFlows........................................................................................................................................7
SupplyAirDistribution..............................................................................................................................7
DuctConnectorSettings...........................................................................................................................8
Task.......................................................................................................................................................8
Task.......................................................................................................................................................8
Task.......................................................................................................................................................8
Task.......................................................................................................................................................8
Task.......................................................................................................................................................9
Task.......................................................................................................................................................9
CreatingDuctSystems..................................................................................................................................9
PipeSystemFlows.........................................................................................................................................9
ChilledWaterLoop...................................................................................................................................9
Task.....................................................................................................................................................10
CondenserWaterLoop...........................................................................................................................11
PumpsPipedinParallel(SystemFlowConfiguration)............................................................................11
Task.....................................................................................................................................................12
Task.....................................................................................................................................................12
Task.....................................................................................................................................................12
FireProtectionSystems..........................................................................................................................12
CreatingPipeSystems.................................................................................................................................12
PowerSystemTabulations..........................................................................................................................13
ElectricalDistribution..............................................................................................................................13

GettingintotheFlow:UnderstandingConnectorsinRevitMEPContent

Task.....................................................................................................................................................14
Task.....................................................................................................................................................15
ElectricalLoads........................................................................................................................................15
Voltage....................................................................................................................................................17
LoadClassification...................................................................................................................................17
Load.........................................................................................................................................................18
NumberofPoles.....................................................................................................................................18
Task.....................................................................................................................................................19
LightingContent..........................................................................................................................................19
Task.....................................................................................................................................................20
References..................................................................................................................................................20
AutodeskUniversity................................................................................................................................20
ProductTutorials.....................................................................................................................................20
InternetPostings.....................................................................................................................................20
ReferenceMatrix....................................................................................................................................21

GettingintotheFlow:UnderstandingConnectorsinRevitMEPContent

Introduction
TheintentofthisclassistohelpyouunderstandhowtheflowparametersonconnectorsinRevitMEP
contentaffectyourmodelingefforts.
ThereisntanysinglecorrectwaytobuildMEPcontent,justasthereisnosinglecorrectwaytodesign
abuilding.Thereare,however,waysthatincorrectlydefiningcontentwillresultintheperceptionthat
theapplicationisntworkingasintended(i.e.,flowsnotpropagatingthroughaVAVbox,forexample).
HavinganunderstandingofhowcomponentsworkinabuildingandwithinRevitMEPwillhelpyou
understandhowtoachievethedesiredresultwhencreatingcontent.
Followingthesethreesimpleprincipleswillhelpensurethatthecontentyoucreatefunctionsas
expected:
1. Donttrytocreatecontent100%frommemory.Ingeneral,itisbestwhencreatingcontentto
useanexistingfamilyasabasisofcomparison.Lookingatsomeoneelsesworkisntcheating.
2. CompareallFamilyCategoryandParameterssettings(Settings>FamilyCategoryand
Parameters).
3. Compareasallconnectorproperties(thefocusofthisdocument).

Although,inmostcases,therewillbeafamilycreatedthathasthesettingstoachievetheresultyou
desire,dontassumethatthisisalwaysthecase.Therearealwaysuniquesituationsthatwillrequirea
littlecreativityandadeeperunderstandingofhowRevitMEPfunctionstoachieveaspecificresult.

HostedComponentsandLinkedModels
Itisnotpossibletohostwall,ceiling,floor,roof,orlinebasedfamiliesthroughalink.Toaccommodate
similarfunctionality,theconceptoffacebasedfamilieswasintroducedwiththeinitialreleaseofRevit
MEP(RevitSystems).Thesefamiliescanhostonanyfacethroughalinkorinthesamefile.Ifthelinked
hostmoves(i.e.,ceilingshiftsup,wallmoves),thecomponentwillmoveaccordingly.Note,however,if
theceilinggridmovesinplane,thecomponentwillnotmoveaccordingly.

RoomAirTabulations
Oneofthefundamentaltasksinmechanicaldesignisdistributingair.Supplyairisusedtodeliver
temperedairtoheatorcoolaspace.Returnairfacilitatescirculationofairthroughaspaceandbackto
theairdistributionequipment.Exhaustairremovesfouledairfromaspace.

AirTerminalFamilySettings
EssentialtothisairdistributionconceptinRevitMEPareAirTerminals.TherearethreeCategoriesof
AirTerminals:Supply,Return,andExhaust.TheprimarysettingsforanAirTerminalFamilyareshown
below.

GettingintotheFlow:UnderstandingConnectorsinRevitMEPContent

Supply
Return
FamilyCategory
AirTerminals
BehaviorType
Normal
Table:AirTerminalFamilyandCategoryParameterssettings

Exhaust

Supply
FlowConfiguration
FlowDirection(RelativetoConnector)
In1
PressureDrop
Table:AirTerminalDuctConnectorsettings

Exhaust

Return
Preset

Out2
Permanufacturerscatalog3

1. AirgoesINthediffuserfromtheduct.
2. AirleavesthediffuserOUTtotheduct.
3. Shownbelowisasampledatatablefromamanufacturerscatalog.ThePressureDropislisted
asTotalPressure.

Task:Createsupply,return,andexhaustairterminalsfromscratch,andplacesomeofeachina
buildingwithSpacesdefined.

RoomFlows
ItiseasytoverifytheeffectofanairterminalonaSpace.Ascheduleasshownbelowisasimple
engineeringtoolthatmaybeusedtovalidatethedesigncomparedtoanengineeringanalysis.

GettingintotheFlow:UnderstandingConnectorsinRevitMEPContent

Task:Createaschedulesimilartothatshownabove.NotethattheRoomPressurizationpropertyisa
CalculatedValue.

DuctSystemFlows
Theflowsassignedtoanairterminalarepropagatedthroughsystemsviaducts.Ductedsupplyand
returntabulationsarecomputedontheflyasthebuildingmodelisiterated,andfacilitatesductsizing,
pressuredropinspection,andavarietyofengineeringcheckssuchasductvelocity.

SupplyAirDistribution
Supplyairisairthatismechanicallytemperedanddeliveredtoaspace.Ingeneral,theairflowisfrom
anairhandlingunit,throughacontrol/secondarytemperingdevicesuchasaVAVbox,anddeliveredto
thespacethroughtheterminal.Whenductsinterconnectthecomponents,thesumoftheairterminal
flowsmaybetotalizedbackattheequipmentsupplyingtheair.

Note:Thearrowsindicatetheflowofthedata,nottheflowoftheair.Thedesignations(D1,T1,T2,
U2)keytheimagetothetablebelow,andarenotfoundinRevitMEP.

GettingintotheFlow:UnderstandingConnectorsinRevitMEPContent

DuctConnectorSettings
Theductconnectorsettingshaveasignificantimpactontheabilityfordatatoflowthroughtheduct
system.Unexpectedresultsmayoccurifthesettingsarentconfiguredasneededforthedesired
outcome.

AirTerminal
VAVBox
AirHandler
Parameter
D1
T1
T2
U1
FlowConfiguration Preset
Calculated
Preset
Calculated
FlowParameter*
Flow
SupplyAirFlow
PrimaryAirFLow
AirFlow
FlowDirection
In
Out
In
Out
SystemType
SupplyAir
SupplyAir
SupplyAir
SupplyAir
LossMethod
SpecificLoss
NotDefined
SpecificLoss
NotDefined
PressureDrop
TotalPressure
n/a
PressureDrop
n/a
Parameter*
*TheactualnameoftheparameterisuserdefinedintheFamily.Assuch,thenamesinyourcontentor
inoutoftheboxcontentmaybedifferent.
AirflowisassignedtotheAirTerminalbythedesigneratD1.Thetotalflowfromtheairterminalsis
calculated,andassignedtotheSupplyAirFlowparameteratT1ontheVAVBox.PrimaryAirFlowisa
functionofSupplyAirFlow,andisassignedatT2.ThetotalflowfromallVAVboxesiscalculated,and
assignedtotheAirFlowparameteratU1.
ThenetresultisthatthesumoftheairflowsfromtheairterminalsistotalizedintoeachVAVbox,and
theprimaryairrequirementsateachVAVboxaretotalizedateachairhandler.
Task:CreateasimpleairvalveFamily,andasimpleAHUFamilywithsettingsasshownabove.Insert
thecomponentsintoaproject,ductthemtogether,anduseaDuctColorSchemeLegendtoshowthe
Flow.

Task:ModifytheAHUFamilyyoucreatedintheprevioustasktoincludeaCalculatedReturnair
connector.

Task:Createaductedreturnsystem.Generally,thereisnosecondarycomponent,suchasaVAVbox
inthereturnsystem;justairterminals,theairhandler,andduct.Verifythatthereturnairflowspecified
onallthereturngrillesiscomputedbacktothereturnconnectorontheairhandlingunit.

Task:Crateasimpleexhaustfan,andcreateaductedexhaustairsystemtoaninstanceofthefan.

GettingintotheFlow:UnderstandingConnectorsinRevitMEPContent

Task:VerifythatyouareonSubscriptionforyourAutoCADRevitMEPSuitesoftware!

Task:FromtheSubscriptionsite,downloadandreadtheRevitPlatform2009ModelPerformance
TechnicalNote,especiallyheedtheitemonpage35:CreateSystems

CreatingDuctSystems
Systemscanbecreatedfromequipmentorairterminals:
1.
2.
3.

SupplyAirsystemscanbecreatedcontainingfamilieswithaSupplyAirINConnector
ReturnAirsystemscanbecreatedcontainingfamilieswithaReturnAirOUTConnector
ExhaustAirsystemscanbecreatedcontainingfamilieswithanExhaustAirOUTConnector

Note:YoucannotcreateanOtherairsystems.
MechanicalEquipmentFamiliescanbetheequipmentforthesystemusingthefollowinglogic.The
equipmentmusthavea.
1.
2.
3.

SupplyAirOUTconnectortobetheequipmentforaSupplyAirsystem.
ReturnAirINconnectortobetheequipmentforaReturnAirsystem.
ExhaustAirINconnectortobetheequipmentforanExhaustAirsystem.

Thus,itispossibletocreateasystemnamedReliefAirbyusingcomponentswithReturnorExhaust
systemconnectors.Similarly,asystemnamedOutsideAircanbecreatedusingcomponentswith
Supplysystemconnectors.

PipeSystemFlows
ChilledWaterLoop
Chilledwaterisusuallygeneratedatasinglecentralsource,anddistributedtomultipleairhandlersas
SupplyChilledWater(CHWS),andreturnstothechillerasReturnChilledWater(CHWR).Asairflows
throughtheairhandler,thechilledwatercoolsandmayalsodehumidifytheair.

GettingintotheFlow:UnderstandingConnectorsinRevitMEPContent

Parameter
Flow
Configuration
FlowParameter

FlowFactor
Parameter
FlowDirection
LossMethod
SystemType
PressureDrop
Parameter

Chiller
AirHandler
C1
C2
U1
Calculated Calculated Preset
Chilled
Water
Flow
n/a

Chilled
Water
Flow
n/a

Out
Specific
Loss
Hydronic
Supply
Chilled
Water
Pressure
Drop

In
Specific
Loss
Hydronic
Return
0.0

U2
Preset

Pumps
P1/P2
System

P3/P4
System

CHWFlow

CHWFlow

Flow

Flow

n/a

n/a

FlowFactor FlowFactor

In
SpecificLoss

Out
SpecificLoss

Hydronic
Supply
0.5*
PressureDrop

Hydronic
Return
0.5*
PressureDrop

In
Not
Defined
Global

Out
Not
Defined
Global

n/a

n/a

Connectors
n/a
n/a
Yes
Linked?1
1. LinkedConnectorsonlyhaveaneffectwhentheSystemTypeissettoGlobal,whichiscommon
forfittingsandinlinecomponentssuchasdampers,valves,andpumps.Essentially,RevitMEP
willtrytodiscernthesystemtype,flowdirection,andflowvaluesiftheconnectorsarelinked.

Task:AddchilledwaterconnectorstotheAHUcreatedearlier.CreateaChiller,andPumpfamilyusing
thesettingsshownabove.Thisisnotimetobeahero,usesimpleboxygeometrytolearnabout
connectors...youcanmakethefamiliesprettyafteryouunderstandtheconceptsofflow!

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GettingintotheFlow:UnderstandingConnectorsinRevitMEPContent

CondenserWaterLoop
Condenserwater(CW)iscirculatedthroughthechillertoabsorbsomeoftheheatfromthebuildingthat
isreturnedintheReturnChilledWater(CHWR).TheCWisthencirculatedthroughthecoolingtowerto
takeadvantageoffreeevaporativecooling.Asthewaterpassesthroughthetower,someoftheheat
isrejectedtotheatmosphere.

Parameter
Flow
Configuration
Flow
Parameter*
FlowFactor
Parameter*
FlowDirection
LossMethod
SystemType
PressureDrop
Parameter*

Connectors
Linked?

Chiller
C1
Preset

C2
Preset

Cooling
Water
Flow
n/a

Cooling
Water
Flow
n/a

Out
Specific
Loss
Hydronic
Return
Cooling
Water
Pressure
Drop
n/a

In
Specific
Loss
Hydronic
Supply
0.0

CoolingTower
T1
T2
Calculated
Calculated

Pumps
P1/P2
System

P3/P4
System

CoolingWater
Flow

CoolingWater
Flow

Flow

Flow

n/a

n/a

FlowFactor FlowFactor

In
SpecificLoss

Out
SpecificLoss

Hydronic
Return
0.0

In
Not
Defined
HydronicSupply Global

Out
Not
Defined
Global

CoolingWater
PressureDrop

n/a

n/a

n/a

Yes

PumpsPipedinParallel(SystemFlowConfiguration)

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GettingintotheFlow:UnderstandingConnectorsinRevitMEPContent

TheSystemFlowConfigurationpermitsmultiplepumpstoshareaportionofthetotalflowasshown
below.Forexample,iftotalflowwere100GPM,andtheFlowFactoronthepumpswere0.6and0.4,
theflowthrougheachpumpwould60GPMand40GPMrespectively.

Task:Addcondenserwaterconnectorstothechillercreatedearlier.Createacoolingtower,usethe
pumpFamilycreatedearlier.

Task:Createahotwaterloop.Insteadofachiller,useboilerfamily(create/modifyasnecessary).
Insteadconnectingtochilledwaterconnectorsatacoilintheairhandlingunit,addconnectorsforhot
water.TheconnectorswillallstillbeHydronic.DomesticHotWaterconnectorsarefordomestic/tap
hotwater(andusesFixtureUnitsasthebasisofflow),thus,notintendedforusewithbuildingheating
systems.

Task:MakesureyouhavecreatedyouPipeSystems.Notethatyoucannamethemwhateveryou
want,i.e.,CHWR,HWR,CHWS,HWS,CWR,CWS,etc,areallperfectlyvalidsystemnames.Createview
filtersandapplythemtoyourviewtoverifythatyoursystemsareconnectedasexpected.

FireProtectionSystems
Note:AlthoughthereisaflowpropertyonaSprinkler,theseflowsarenotcomputedonpipesor
upstreamequipmentduetothenatureofpipesizingmethodologies(NFPA13)forsuchpipingsystems.

CreatingPipeSystems
SystemscanbecreatedfromMechanicalEquipmentasfollows:
1.

HydronicSupplysystemscanbecreatedcontainingfamilieswithaHydronicSupplyIN
connector.

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GettingintotheFlow:UnderstandingConnectorsinRevitMEPContent

2.

HydronicReturnsystemscanbecreatedcontainingfamilieswithaHydronicReturnOUT
connector.

ThefollowingsystemtypescanbecreatedfromfamiliescontainingINorOUTconnectors:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

DomesticColdWater
DomesticHotWater
FireProtectionDry
FireProtectionOther
FireProtectionPreAction
FireProtectionWet
Other
Sanitary

TheabovesystemtypesuseaninstanceofaMechanicalEquipmentfamilyastheequipmentforthe
system.

PowerSystemTabulations
Connectorsonelectricalequipmentandcomponentsprovidethepathwayforelectricaldatatoflow
throughtheproject,therebyprovidingatotalconnectedloadfortheentireelectricaldistribution.

ElectricalDistribution
Electricaldistributionistheinfrastructurethatsupportselectricalloadsinthebuilding.Thisgenerally
referstoelectricalequipmentsuchasswitchboards,panels,andtransformers.Inanelectrical
distributiontherearecommonlyhighvoltagecomponents,suchasswitchboards,andhighvoltage
panels,andlowvoltagepanels.Tointerconnectthelowvoltagepanelstothehighvoltageequipment,
theloadmustpassthroughatransformer.
Inthissample,480/277v/3phpowerentersthebuildingthroughtheconduitlabelledFROMUTILITY
TRANSFORMER.ThepowertothebuildingisthereforecentralizedattheswitchboardSB1.PanelHA1
isa480/277v/3ph/4wirepanel,andassuch,connectsdirectlytoSB1.PanelLA1isa208/120V/3ph/4w
panel,andconnectstoSB1through480:208/120vtransformerTLA1.
WhenconnectingthesecomponentsinRevitMEP,allconnectionsaremadeupstream.Thatis:
1. LA1circuitedtoTLA1
2. TLA1circuitedtoSB1
3. HA1circuitedtoSB1

Note:ThereisnoconduitfunctionalityinRevitMEPatthistime.Theconduitshowninthisdocument
wascreatedusingPipe,PipeFitting,andFlexPipecomponents.Thevariableradiuselbowswere
createdbydefiningeachradiusasaseparatetypefromatypecatalog.

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GettingintotheFlow:UnderstandingConnectorsinRevitMEPContent

Switchboard

PowerFactor
ApparentLoadPhase3
(PowerUnbalancedonly)
ApparentLoadPhase2
(PowerUnbalancedonly)
ApparentLoadPhase1
(PowerUnbalancedonly)

0.8
ApparentLoad
PhaseC
ApparentLoad
PhaseB
ApparentLoad
PhaseA

n/a

ApparentLoad(Power
Balancedonly)
Voltage
SystemType

HighVoltage
Panel
1.0
ApparentLoad
PhaseC
ApparentLoad
PhaseB
ApparentLoad
PhaseA

n/a

SwitchboardVoltage 480.0
(TypeParameter)
PowerUnbalanced Power
Unbalanced
Power
Other
Lagging
Lagging
NumberofPoles
3

Transformer
1.0
ApparentLoad
PhaseC
ApparentLoad
PhaseB
ApparentLoad
PhaseA

n/a

LowVoltage
Panel
1.0
ApparentLoad
PhaseC
ApparentLoad
PhaseB
ApparentLoad
PhaseA

n/a

PrimaryVoltage

208.0

Power
Power
Unbalanced
Unbalanced
LoadClassification
Other
Other
PowerFactorState
Lagging
Lagging
NumberofPoles
PrimaryNumber 3
OfPoles
1. Withasinglepoleload,thereisnodifferenceintheresultifPowerUnbalancedorPower
Balancedareused.

Task:Createadomesticelectricaldistributionsystem.Thisrequireschangingapanelboardfrom
208/120v/3ph(3pole)to240/120v/1ph(2pole).RefertoAMEP2009FamilyEditorTutorials.

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GettingintotheFlow:UnderstandingConnectorsinRevitMEPContent

Task:Createacommercialelectricaldistributionsystem.YouwillfirstneedtocreatetheVoltage
DefinitionsandDistributionSystemsinSettings>ElectricalSettings...asappropriateforyourcountry.

Note:Withoutknowingthevoltagedefinitionsanddistributionsystemsthatareutilizedinyour
country,itwillnotbepossibletocreatelightingorpowerconnectionsthatareappropriate.

ElectricalLoads
Electricalloadsaretypicallythepowerconsumingcomponentsinabuilding:Lightingfixtures,power
devices,mechanicalequipment,etc.Itisnotcommontoshowtheconduitbetweeneachdevice,or
evenbetweenthedeviceandthepanel.Rather,aschematicrepresentationistypicallysufficientto
conveytherequirements.

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GettingintotheFlow:UnderstandingConnectorsinRevitMEPContent

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GettingintotheFlow:UnderstandingConnectorsinRevitMEPContent

LightFixture

Receptacle

Appliance

PowerFactor
ApparentLoadPhase3
(PowerUnbalancedonly)
ApparentLoadPhase2
(PowerUnbalancedonly)
ApparentLoadPhase1
(PowerUnbalancedonly)
ApparentLoad(Power
Balancedonly)
Voltage

0.95
n/a

1.0
n/a

n/a

SystemType

0.9
n/a

Mechanical
Motor/Fan
0.8
n/a

1.0
n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Apparent
Load
n/a

Load

n/a

n/a

0.0

n/a

Load

n/a

Ballast
Voltage
Power
Unbalanced1
Lighting
Lagging
11

SwitchVoltage

Switch
Voltage
Power
Balanced
Other
Lagging
2

Apparent
Load
Voltage

Power
Unbalanced1
Power
Lagging
11

Switch

Switch
Voltage2
Power
Unbalanced
Lighting
Lagging
1

Power
Balanced
LoadClassification
HVAC
PowerFactorState
Lagging
NumberofPoles
Numberof
Poles
1. Withasinglepoleload,thereisnodifferenceintheresultifPowerUnbalancedorPower
Balancedareused.
2. Theswitchvoltageisaninstancefamilyparameter.

PowerFactor
Thepowerfactorappliedtoaconnectorallowsonetotrack
truepowervs.apparentpower.Motorsandotherinductive
loadstendtohavelaggingpowerfactors,whereas
capacitorshaveleadingpowerfactors.Purelyelectricloads,
suchasincandescentlightsandelectricheat,tendtohave
unity(1.0)powerfactors.
WithaPowerFactorof1.0,thePowerFactorState
(Leading/Lagging)hasnoaffect.

Voltage
Voltageisthedifferenceinelectricalpotentialbetweentwopoints.Voltageinacircuitistheforcethat
causesenergytoflow.Thiscanbethoughtofasthepressureinthecircuit.Infact,inelectrical
design,therearevoltagelossesinthesystem,knownasVoltageDrop.However,thesedropsare
insignificantatindividualconnectors/components,andarecommonlyonlycomputedinthefeeders
betweenequipmentanddevices.

LoadClassification

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GettingintotheFlow:UnderstandingConnectorsinRevitMEPContent

Dependingonthetypeofload,differentdemandfactorcomputationsmaybeapplicablewhen
calculatingequipmentandfeedersizes.
Aspacescheduletabulatingelectricalloadscanbeahandyengineeringtoolforverifyingpower
consumption,particularlywithLightingandtheInternationalEnergyConservationCoderequirements.

Load
Theloadistheamountofpowerdrawnbyacircuit.Thiscanbethoughtofastheflowinthecircuit.

NumberofPoles
Thenumberofpolesindicateshowthecomponentiscircuited.Acceptablevaluesare1,2,or3.
Thefigurebelowdepictstherelationshipbetweenthenumberofpoles,andhowwiresareconnectedto
equipmentbusbarstocreateacircuit.TheverticallineslabelledA,B,C,Neutral,andGroundrepresent
thebusbarsinapanel.Theverticaldashedlinerepresentstheequipmentenclosure.Theverticallines
representthewiresconnectedtothebusbars.Eachofthethreegroupsofwiresrepresentsaseparate
circuit.
Note:Asimplificationofthisdiagramiswhatelectricalengineers/designersrefertoastheoneline
diagram.Inaoneline,insteadofdiagrammingeachwireinacircuit,acircuitisrepresentedasasingle
line,andannotatedtoindicateitscontents.

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GettingintotheFlow:UnderstandingConnectorsinRevitMEPContent

Diagram

Description

ThreePoleCircuit:Athreepolecircuittapsoffall
threephases.Thisisalsoknownasa3phase/3
wirecircuit.A4wirecircuithasanadditionalwire
fortheNeutral;thisisusedifthecircuited
componenthassinglepoleloads.Inalmostall
installations,agroundwireisalsorequired.

TwoPoleCircuit:Atwopolecircuitmaytapoffof
anypairofphases,AB,BC,orAC.Thetwopole
circuithereistappingoffofphasesAB.Insome
cases,theremayalsobeaNeutralconductorifthe
circuitedcomponenthassinglepoleloads.In
almostallinstallations,agroundwireisalso
required.

OnePoleCircuit:Asinglepolecircuitmaytapoff
ofanyofthephases,A,B,orC.Thecircuitshown
hereistappingofftheAphase.Therewillalways
beaNeutralconductorinaonepolecircuit.In
almostallinstallations,agroundwireisalso
required.

Task:Makesureeachpieceofmechanicalequipmentrequiringpowerinyourmodelhasapower
connector,andiscircuited.

LightingContent
Lightingfixturesaremadeofvarietyofdifferentmaterials,andcomeinavarietyofdifferentshapesand
sizes.Additionally,thereareavarietyofdifferenttypesoflampsandballasts.Allthesevariables

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GettingintotheFlow:UnderstandingConnectorsinRevitMEPContent

contributetohowlightisdistributedfromthefixture.Lightingmanufacturerssubjecttheirfixturesfor
photometrictesting,andgenerallyprovidean.iesfilethatrepresentstheresultofthistest.Revit
utilizesthese.iesfilestocomputetheAverageEstimatedIlluminationinaspace.
LightingfixturescontributetoAverageEstimatedIllumination(AEI)inSpaces.Thiscalculationis
dependentonseveralparameters:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

IESfilename(no.iesextension)
Existenceofelectricalconnector.
LightLossFactor
BallastFactor
CoefficientofUtilization

Lumens

Task:Findalightfixturecutsheetandassociated.iesfileontheInternet.Createthefamilyusingthe
conceptsintheCreatingaLightFixtureFamilysectionintheMetricFamilyEditorTutorial.Youmay
wanttostartatamanufacturerswebsitetofindan.iesfileofinterest.

References
AutodeskUniversity

2007Course:ME3181LCreatingRevitMEPContentforEngineeringCoordination
2006Course:ME231CreatingAutodeskRevitSystemsContentforEngineeringCoordination

ProductTutorials

http://www.autodesk.com/revitmepdocumentation

InternetPostings

http://insidethesystem.typepad.com/
http://discussions.autodesk.com

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GettingintotheFlow:UnderstandingConnectorsinRevitMEPContent

ReferenceMatrix

ParameterMapping

Electrical

API

Annotation

Pipe

Duct

Types

LookupTables

FamilyParameters

TypeCatalog

AU2006:ME231
ElectricWaterHeater
Valve
AU2007:ME3181L
ExhaustFan
RMEP2009FamilyEditorTutorials
ModifyaFanFamily
ModifyFanVAVw/ElecHeat
ModifyElectricalEquipment
ModifyaWaterCloset
ModifyDiffuserAnnotation
ModifyLightFixtureAnnotation
CreateLightFixture
CreateFlange
CreateElbowPipeFitting
CreateAnnotationSymbol
ADNRevitMEPAPISamples
AssignFlowtoTerminals
ChangeSizeofTerminal
CalculateroomCFM/SF
Findunhostedelements

SharedParameters

Connectors

Geometry

MultiDisciplineFamily

Thismatrixshowswhatconceptsmaybefoundinwhatreference.

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