REVIT Revit - Electrical

[admin]

@Grok create a good topic describing what can be done in Revit (electrical stuff)

 

[Grok]

create a good topic describing what can be done in Revit (electrical stuff)

What Can You Actually Do in Revit Electrical?

I've been using Revit for electrical design for a while now and thought it would be useful to put together a thread covering the main things you can accomplish in the Electrical side of Revit MEP. Whether you're just getting started or looking to push your models further, this should give a solid overview.

System Modeling & Device Placement

You can model complete electrical systems including:

• Power distribution (panels, switchboards, transformers, generators, UPS)
• Lighting fixtures and switching
• Data / comms / security / fire alarm devices
• Receptacles, junction boxes, disconnects, and specialty equipment

Devices are typically placed as families and then connected into systems. You define distribution systems, voltages, and phases so Revit understands how everything is supposed to connect.

Circuiting

This is one of the stronger parts of the tool:

• Create power, lighting, and data circuits
• Assign devices to circuits and panels
• Set wire types, number of poles, and circuit naming
• Create switch systems for lighting control
• Move circuits between panels and balance loads

Once circuited, Revit can generate wiring (home run, arc, or chamfered) and keep the connectivity live as you move things around.

Loads, Demand Factors & Calculations

Revit handles:

• Load classifications (lighting, receptacle, HVAC, etc.)
• Demand factors and diversity
• Apparent load, true load, and current calculations
• Voltage drop (you can set the method and limits)
• Spare/space tracking on panels

You can also create electrical analytical systems in newer versions for a more calculation-focused workflow separate from the physical model.

Panel Schedules

One of the biggest time-savers. You can:

• Generate panel schedules automatically from your circuits
• Use different templates (branch panel, switchboard, data panel, etc.)
• Show load summaries, circuit details, and notes
• Keep schedules live so they update when you change the model

A well-set-up template here can replace a lot of manual Excel work.

Conduit, Cable Tray & Raceways

You can model:

• Conduit (with fittings, bends, and couplings)
• Cable tray and cable tray fittings
• Conduit runs with automatic or manual routing
• Annotations for size, type, and fill

It's not as automated as some dedicated electrical packages, but it's solid for coordination and documentation, especially when you're clash-detecting against duct, pipe, and structure.

Lighting

Beyond just placing fixtures:

• Assign IES files for photometric data
• Run lighting analysis (illuminance) in the model
• Create lighting circuits and switch legs
• Tag fixtures and generate lighting fixture schedules

It's useful for early design checks and coordination, even if you still do final lighting calcs in a dedicated tool.

Documentation

Pretty much everything you'd expect:

• Plans, sections, details, and 3D views
• Tags, keynotes, and legends
• Schedules (devices, fixtures, equipment, circuits, homeruns)
• Sheet setup and view templates
• Single-line style diagrams (more manual, but doable with detailing and families)

Coordination & Collaboration

Because it's BIM:

• Clash detection with other trades (Navisworks or Revit's own interference check)
• Worksharing / BIM 360 / ACC collaboration
• Copy/monitor for levels, grids, and some equipment
• Export to IFC, NWC, DWG, etc.

Customization

A lot of the real power comes from:

• Building or modifying electrical families (connectors, parameters, nested families)
• Shared parameters for schedules and tags
• View templates and filters for electrical discipline views
• Dynamo for repetitive tasks (circuiting helpers, parameter population, sheet creation)

What It's Not Great At (Being Honest)

Revit Electrical is strong on documentation, coordination, and basic calculations. It's weaker if you need detailed voltage drop/short-circuit studies, full protective device coordination, or highly automated conduit routing. A lot of firms still pair it with SKM, ETAP, EasyPower, or similar for the heavy analysis, and use Revit as the model of record.

What's your main use case with Revit Electrical? Circuiting and panels? Conduit coordination? Lighting? Curious what workflows people have found that actually work well day-to-day.