Personal computer based design packages for electrical distribution systems

The advantages of PC-based design packages are apparent through the improved accuracy in design and analysis of electrical distribution systems by using common database files that reduce the possibility of mistakes incurred by erroneous and repetitive transmissions and transcriptions of information. Methods have also been developed that allow engineering workstations and computer-aided design/computer-aided engineering (CAD/CAE) systems to merge data developed by engineers on their desktop PCs. Data such as cable schedules or motor and load lists is portable as output from popular spreadsheet and database programs to larger format engineering drawings via FORTRAN-based data-merging programs. The authors discuss the philosophy of how these design packages are developed, what personnel resources are required for development and implementation, and how various software programs are applied