Part 1 of a 3 Part Series: Revit MEP 2011 Conduit to Panel Connections
A much anticipated new feature of Revit MEP 2011 is the ability to create conduit and attach it anywhere on the surface of a panel. However, connecting to a panel isn’t quite as simple as showing up at the face of a panel dragging the end of a piece of conduit and connecting. By default, each face of the out-of-the box panels have just one surface connector located at the centroid of the surface as shown circled in green in the image below.
A much anticipated new feature of Revit MEP 2011 is the ability to create conduit and attach it anywhere on the surface of a panel. However, connecting to a panel isn’t quite as simple as showing up at the face of a panel dragging the end of a piece of conduit and connecting. By default, each face of the out-of-the box panels have just one surface connector located at the centroid of the surface as shown circled in green in the image below.
To Connect Conduit to a Surface Connector on a Panel
1. On the Ribbon’s Home tab click > Electrical panel > Conduit.
2. From the Type Selector, select the conduit type that you wish to use.
3. Use the Options Bar, to specify the diameter you require.
It seems from my limited experience with the new software that it is easiest to connect to the panel and draw conduit out from the panel rather than draw conduit into the panel.
We can successfully draw conduit from a panel surface connector in plan, section, or elevation or 3D views. Being in a section view or 3D view seems to work well if connecting to the side of a panel, a plan voew works well when connecting to the top of a panel. I received an error message when attempting to draw conduit out from the top of a panel in a 3D view.
We can successfully draw conduit from a panel surface connector in plan, section, or elevation or 3D views. Being in a section view or 3D view seems to work well if connecting to the side of a panel, a plan voew works well when connecting to the top of a panel. I received an error message when attempting to draw conduit out from the top of a panel in a 3D view.
I'd recommend tiling multiple windows of different types of views of the area surrounding the panel(s) you are going to connect conduit to so you can clearly see what is happening.
Revit MEP 2011 automatically places you in Surface Connection mode where you can complete the connection centered on the surface as is, move the position of the connector on the surface by dragging the connector or enter temporary dimension values to specify a surface connector location.
Check out how the Surface Connection mode creates an orthographic view of the surface you selected to add conduit to. Below is a screen capture of my what displays in the Surface Connection mode after I begin the Conduit tool and select the right side of a panel as the surface I would like to connect to.
5. When satisfied with the position of the Surface Connector, click Finish Connector on the ribbon. You will exit the Surface Connection mode and will have the starting point of a segment of conduit attached to the surface connector on your panel.
Links to Related Posts
This post is Part 1 of a 3 Part Series Entitled: Revit MEP 2011 Conduit to Panel Connections
- Part 2: Moving Conduit Connected to a Surface Panel in Revit MEP 2011: http://tinyurl.com/y6tlcz8
- Part 3: Creating Multiple Conduit Connectors on a Panel Surface: http://tinyurl.com/2a9g36z
