New features 2020 Series - Electrical CAD
Electro Graphics releases the latest 2020 Series of electrical and photovoltaic design software. Here are the most important features and enhancements introduced in the electric CAD CADelet, iDEA, Eplus.
See all new features 2019:
CADelet now supports AutoCAD 2020
CADelet line software is now compatible with AutoCAD from 2007 to 2020 at 32-bit or 64-bit.
Bookmark for diagram sheets, with notes, status, priorities and classifications
A bookmark is a container of descriptive properties that can be assigned to a sheet in the diagram as a reminder. The purposes to use bookmarks can be a lot, so some of the properties available can be applied according to criteria that can be defined for your needs. For example, you can note checks to be performed or requests for changes, then assign the "To verify" or "To execute" properties to the bookmark; afterwards, these properties can be switched to "Verified" or "Executed".
Each bookmark can have a title to identify it in the list of Bookmarks and a description as the main content of the reminder; it is possible to fill in the Responsible to indicate the person to whom it is addressed; catalog it according to custom categories; assign a priority to it, according to a customizable criterion.
It is also possible to choose one of the following status options based on the purpose for which you decide to use the bookmark: To verify, To execute, Note, Verified, Executed.
Each bookmark automatically shows the name of the drawing and the mark of the sheet to which it is associated.
A special window lists the bookmarks of the project grouping them according to their properties: Status, Priority, Manager, Category, Design.
PDF with bookmarks organized by sheets and grouped by titles, locations, functions and by components
CADelet, iDEA, Eplus create the PDF file of the multi-sheet wiring diagram with a high degree of customization given the numerous options and preferences available.
With the new version, in particular, the display of Bookmarks has been further developed, making the document interactive with the possibility of navigating among the various elements of the scheme. Bookmarks are automatically generated during PDF creation and displayed in the Bookmarks pane of the Adobe Acrobat Reader PDF viewer; with a click they refer everyone to a page of the document or to a particular view of it.
New project configuration management
The configuration profile of the processing parameters and graphic preferences is assigned to the job order at its creation. It is possible to manage different profiles, for example, for different customers, different countries, or for different types of projects.
In CADelet, Smart, iDEA or Eplus 2020 all parameters and preferences are organized in two new windows. The settings and preferences that affect the drawing environment, multi-sheet management and data processing can be changed in the dialogs that are activated with the Preferences function (EGPREF command).
Configuration parameters: allows to edit the parameters related to the graphical structure of the multi-sheet and management of the electrical diagram. Here it is also possible to modify the parameters referring to the drawing of the floor plans and topographic diagrams.
Preferences graphical environment: allows to edit settings, customizations and parameters that affect the design environment, data processing in CADelet, Smart, iDEA, Eplus and some options for interfacing with other Electro Graphics software. They are valid for all projects.
Project configurations
In the new Organization of work profiles section, it is possible to set work profiles for each module of Electro Graphics software and save the set of settings within a single customized configuration. This configuration can be assigned to a job order in order to find the predetermined work environment.
Management of equipotentiality bars on the scheme
CADelet, iDEA, Eplus 2020 introduce the possibility of set an equipotential link among different pins of a component in order to have the same number in the wires connected to them.
The easy Edit pin component dialog box allows you to customize the pin data of each component of the diagram and interconnect them together also. Moreover you can also save changes to the component in the Symbol Library for the following projects.
Wire constraint and wire number propagation between equipment pins
The equipotentiality between pins of the same component can include the constraint of the number of connected wires.
Terminals with three or more pins
It is now possible to represent single-level or multi-level pass-through terminals, with three or more connection points. Terminals of this new type are available in the Symbol Library. The connection between the pins can be edited using the Edit pin symbol functions.
The next picture shows two terminals with four equipotential pins each one.
With such a configuration the wires connected to the four pins of the component will assume the same number. In the representation of the terminal block, optionally, all the pins of a terminal can be represented with a single element, as for the multi-way terminals.
Marking and coding of wire or bar bridges on the diagram
Jumper connections between terminals, made with wire or bar bridges, can now be marked in the wiring diagram and coded to appear on the list of materials.
These connections can be designed using wires with a special section with configurable color.
Consequently, all the data of this particular type of bridge are on the terminal board and are managed by Cablo.
Design multiple-level terminal blocks with custom plans
A new automatic terminal block drawing mode is now available for separate levels.
According to the new terminal board design mode, the terminals are divided into distinct groups for each level. The terminal block thus distributed can be drawn on different sheets.
The multiple-level terminal blocks can be customized with detail for each floor. The graphic configuration of the traced terminal block is managed with customizable profiles.
I/O modules and flexible management of PLC operands
In the new Plc manager running in CADelet, Smart and iDEA it is now possible to create representations of peripheral modules on external bus.
This feature allows to design a PLC card with a series of connectors, each of which is dedicated to a group of Plc operands.
Data exchange of PLC operands with Siemens TIA Portal
The PLC Management module in CADelet and iDEA now manages project configuration formats for Siemens TIA Portal ©.
The Open and Save as functions allow you to import and export files in SDF, XML, XLSX format specific to the Siemens TIA Portal © project configurator.
The export for files in Siemens format can be configured with a series of options.
Thermal verification inside panels, with calculation of forced ventilation and cooling
The verification of the internal overtemperature of the switchboard is carried out using the method reported in the IEC 60890 standard.
The verification of the internal overtemperature of the switchboard can be performed in CADelet, iDEA and Eplus, starting from the data of the equipment present in the wiring diagram.
The function now allows:
- take into account any bars present inside the cabinet or panel;
- calculate and evaluate a cooling unit, if necessary.
Bars
It is possible to assign up to three types of copper bars with vertical arrangement and up to three types of copper bars for connection to devices (horizontal).
The software allows to estimate the power dissipated by the bars defined.
Cooling
If the maximum temperature inside the electrical panel is higher than the maximum allowed, it is possible to add a cooling device to decrease the panel temperature. As an alternative to natural ventilation, you can choose between a fan and air conditioner.
Air conditioners are managed in the archive with the Chiller type, and with cooling capacity specified according to the DIN 3168 standard.
Generation of functional diagram related to the devices used in the Ampère project
The automatic design of the single-line diagram can now include the auxiliary circuits that implement the command and control functions connected to the power devices of the electrical panel.
These circuits, defined as "auxiliary functional diagrams", can be assigned to the switchgear devices in Ampère (network calculation software) or in CADelet, Smart, iDEA, Eplus (electrical CAD); they can be selected from a library that can be completely customized in CADelet, Smart, iDEA, Eplus.
For the more complex cases, the auxiliary functional schemes can be composed of several elements also referring to several units.
See all new features 2020: