Autodesk 235B1-05A761-1301 User Guide - Page 403

You can also create circuits in a drawing, add devices to the same drawing, and assign the devices to those circuits as you add or modify the devices. In that situation, you do not use an electrical project database, and you cannot share that circuit information with other drawings. In a typical workflow, you identify the location of panels before you create circuits-generally, during the schematic design phase. However, you can create circuits at the following points in the electrical system design process: ■ Before you add panels, and before you draw any electrical systems (using the Circuit Manager) ■ When you add panels (using the Properties palette) ■ After you add devices and panels (using the Circuit Manager) You can create one circuit or multiple circuits at the same time. To graphically represent the circuit in the drawing, you can also add wires to the drawing. System Types of Circuits When you create a circuit, you specify its system type, such as Power and Lighting. The system type determines which components you can connect to a circuit. Circuits are available in 3 system types: ■ Power and Lighting: Devices whose connectors are configured for this system type can only connect to circuits of the same type. By default, devices that are configured for Power and Lighting include receptacles, small appliances, and light fixtures. ■ General: Devices whose connectors are configured for this system type can connect with all system types for special use cases. For example, by default, switches and junction boxes are configured for the General system type and can be assigned to either General, Power and Lighting, or Other circuits. ■ Other: Devices whose connectors are configured for this system type can only connect with circuits of the same type. These devices typically include communication and fire safety components. Generally, when you select a device, the system type property of the connector is already assigned. You can change properties of connectors using device style connectors. For more information, see Configuring the Electrical Connectors of a Device on page 395. If you are using the Power and Lighting or Other system type, the connectors of the devices must use the same system type in order to be placed on the same circuit. To connect a device of any system type to a circuit, use the General system type. TIP Before creating circuits, create electrical system and load category definitions, and configure electrical preferences. Then, you can take better advantage of the circuit feature, reducing the number of details you must specify when adding circuits. For more information, see Creating Electrical System Definitions on page 363 and Control the Appearance and Behavior of Electrical System Designs on page 363. Creating Circuits Using the Circuit Manager If you did not create circuits when adding a panel, you can use the Circuit Manager to create one or more circuits. You typically create panels and circuits in a drawing and add them to an electrical project database. Other drawings can then reference these panels and circuits. You can link any drawing to an electrical project database and then use its panels and circuits in multiple drawings. You can create circuits at any point in the design process. You can create circuits as you add panels, or at any point after you add panels. You can also create circuits before adding any panels, and assign those circuits after you add panels. You can add one circuit or multiple circuits at once. Using Circuits | 385