In AutoCAD MEP, the circuit manager is the tool that manages the data stored in the electrical project database. The circuit manager is a type of
tool palette, and can be docked or visible at any time. As loads and circuits are defined, they will automatically appear in the dialog. Let’s take a
look at how we can use this tool to replace some of these good old spreadsheets we’ve been using for years. Check your workspace – set the Electrical
workspace current. From the manage tab, select the electrical preferences. On the electrical project database tab, select OPEN, and then pick the CH5
Livgren Power .EPD file. Change to the Analyze tab. On the electrical panel, pick the Circuit Manager. Circuits are managed by panel and
system type. Take a look at the left panel – you’ll see several panels we’ve already defined. You can expand each panel and review the system type.
Below the system type, the circuits that were added when the panel was created are listed- but you can edit their location in the panel, add new circuits,
and review the circuit properties from here. You’ll also see an unassigned area – any devices that have not been circuited, but are defined as
AutoCAD MEP devices, will appear in this list. The right panel shows information about the panel, system or circuit that’s highlighted in the left pane.
And overloaded circuits will show up in red – as long as we turned that option on in preferences. The header of the circuit manager shows panel
information, including voltage, phases, ratings, design capacity, mounting, and enclosure type. All of this information comes from the properties
palette when the panel is selected. The footer includes calculations for connection loads, demand factors, load category totals, demand load total and
available spare capacity. You can use the circuit manager to view information about circuits – and from the bottom of the palette, you can: Create new
circuits – based on system type. Create multiple circuits – this opens the same dialog as the circuit settings which can be used when a panel is added
to a drawing; we’ll add two circuits that are single pole and two that are three pole. Select OK to exit this dialog. You can delete a circuit – simply pick
the circuit in the right panel, and then choose delete. You can also leverage the assigned circuits, and show circuited devices by picking this tool; You
can generate a circuit report, which generates a chart of each circuit’s voltage, load, load in amps, length, and device count – there’s a copy to
clipboard option, which you can then use to paste into an excel spreadsheet. The cut tool allows you to move a circuit from one panel to another. Copy
circuit lets you create a new circuit using the settings from an existing circuit; paste circuit lets you locate the copied or cut circuit, and calculate
wires allows you to view or change wire sizes, based on the wire style. If you’re using AutoCAD MEP to do electrical design, leave this palette up –
it will really help you out!