Autodesk RVT_ELEC_01101 - Autodesk Certified Professional in Revit for Electrical Design

In Autodesk Revit, each type within a family represents a unique combination of parameters such as size, voltage, photometric properties, and construction configuration. When a family is created in the Family Editor, the designer can define multiple Family Types using the Family Types dialog. This interface allows the user to duplicate, rename, or modify type parameters before loading the family into a project.

In the exhibit, the Type Name dropdown list clearly shows two available lighting fixture types:

1x4 – 120

1x4 – 277

These two types appear to represent different voltage configurations of the same 1x4 light fixture format. Since these are the only types visible in the Family Types selection preview, the correct number of family types saved within the family file is two.

Revit’s behavior aligns with standard family management described in documentation, which explains that every defined type is listed in the Family Types browser. When a designer saves a family, all defined types are stored and become available for placement in the project environment. Devices can then be selected based on parameters such as voltage or photometric values, which are often driven by electrical design requirements.

The Revit MEP User’s Guide explains how type properties and family types are controlled:

“Selection of named items or elements [such as Family Types] are managed through the Properties and Family Types dialogs, allowing multiple variations to exist within a single family.”

In Autodesk Revit MEP, the Electrical Settings dialog box contains project-wide configuration parameters that affect all electrical systems, including Cable Tray Settings. This dialog allows users to control annotation scales, fitting symbols, and text size for documentation purposes.

The option labeled “Use Annot. Scale for Single Line Fittings” determines whether the cable tray fittings’ annotation graphics automatically scale according to the view’s annotation scale. When this box is checked, the annotation symbol size for fittings adjusts proportionally to the scale of the view.

Similarly, “Cable Tray Fitting Annotation Size” defines the annotation size for cable tray fittings in single-line representations (schematic views or simplified plan representations). Changing this parameter (for instance, from ¾” to ⅛”) modifies the visual representation globally for all cable tray fittings in the project, since the Electrical Settings dialog is a project-wide configuration, not a per-instance or per-view override.

According to the Autodesk Revit MEP User’s Guide (Electrical Systems – Cable Trays):

“Electrical settings define how cable trays and conduit are displayed throughout the project. Any change made to these settings, such as annotation size or use of annotation scaling, affects all related fittings and components in the project model.”

Therefore, once the designer checks the box for Use Annot. Scale for Single Line Fittings and changes the Cable Tray Fitting Annotation Size to 1/8” (3 mm), all cable tray fittings across the entire project will update to reflect these new settings.

In the exhibit, the designer expects the total connected load to equal the sum of the 4 motor loads:

4 motors × 1000 VA each = 4000 VA expected

However, Revit is showing a Total Connected Load of 3606 VA instead.

This difference occurs because Revit applies Motor Demand Factors automatically when a load classification is set to “Motor.” Demand factors modify the total connected load based on electrical engineering rules.

Revit documentation confirms:

“Assign demand factors to load classifications.”

“Demand loads can be shown on panel schedules.”

In the exhibit, the Load Classification shows Motor with a Demand Factor of 117.87%, which modifies the connected load values in the switchboard totals.

Revit is therefore calculating the effective connected load based on the applied demand factor, not a simple arithmetic sum. That is why the panel’s connected load number ≠ 4000 VA.

In Revit Electrical, Demand Factors are applied through Load Classifications to compute an Estimated Demand Load rather than simply summing connected loads. The documentation states: “You use demand factors to adjust the rating of the main service… Demand factors are assigned to load classifications, and load classifications are assigned to device connectors. The estimated load for a device is calculated by multiplying the load by the demand factor. … The panel schedule can also display the load for each load classification.”

In the exhibit’s Demand Factor definition (for the Motor classification), the Calculation method is By quantity with Total at one percentage selected. Two quantity ranges are defined: 0–5 items at 100% and 5–unlimited at 50%. An additional checkbox adds an extra fixed load of 5000 VA to the calculated result. (This follows Revit’s behavior of applying the selected demand factor to the connected load and then adding any specified additional load to the result for that classification.)

Panel B feeds only panels E and F. The connected motor loads downstream are:

Panel E: 20 kVA + 10 kVA = 30 kVA

Panel F: 5 kVA + 5 kVA + 10 kVA = 20 kVA

Total connected motor load on B = 30 + 20 = 50 kVA (five items).

Because five items fall in the 0–5 range at 100%, the demand factor is 100% → 50 kVA. Per the definition, add an additional load of 5000 VA (5 kVA) to the calculated result:

Demand Load on Panel B = 50 kVA × 100% + 5 kVA = 55 kVA.

Therefore, the correct choice is 55 kVA.

In Autodesk Revit MEP, when working with electrical circuits, Revit visually differentiates elements based on their circuit membership and active selection during the circuit editing process. In the Edit Circuit mode, the software highlights elements connected to the active circuit in full color (black), while other electrical devices not part of that same circuit appear in halftone (gray).

In the exhibit, one receptacle appears in black, while the other is shown in gray (halftone). This indicates that only one of the receptacles is currently included in the circuit being edited, while the other receptacle belongs to a different circuit or has not yet been assigned to any circuit.

According to the Autodesk Revit MEP User’s Guide (Electrical Systems – Circuits section):

“When editing a circuit, the components that belong to the selected circuit are highlighted in the active color, while other elements in the view appear in halftone. Devices that are not on the same circuit will not be shown as connected or editable until added to the current circuit.”

Therefore:

The black receptacle is the one actively included in the selected circuit.

The gray (halftone) receptacle is not on the same circuit and thus not active for editing.

This visual cue is Revit’s way of helping the designer distinguish between circuit connections when adding or managing electrical devices.

In Autodesk Revit MEP, conduit systems can be represented in plan views using either detailed or single-line symbology. The Single Line Symbology display setting is used for schematic or simplified representations — often in electrical riser or distribution diagrams.

The setting that controls whether conduits display in single-line or detailed form is found in the Type Properties of the conduit family, not in Object Styles or Electrical Settings. Specifically, it is accessed by selecting a conduit in the model and navigating to:

Properties Palette → Edit Type → Single Line Symbology

From there, users can define how fittings, rise/drop symbols, and conduits themselves are represented in single-line schematic mode. Adjusting this type parameter affects the graphical display for that conduit type throughout all applicable views where single-line graphics are used.

According to the Autodesk Revit MEP User’s Guide (Electrical Systems → Conduit Systems section):

“The conduit type properties define the graphical representation in single-line drawings. By editing the Single Line Symbology in the Type Properties dialog, designers control how the conduit and fittings appear in plan views.”

This parameter is especially important in electrical documentation where simplified representations are required for coordination and electrical diagrams.

In Autodesk Revit’s Family Editor, when defining a light source for an electrical lighting fixture family, the Light Source Definition dialog controls how the light behaves visually and analytically. When incorporating an IES photometric web file (.ies), which contains real-world lighting data from manufacturers, the correct configuration of both the Emit from Shape and Light Distribution options is essential to ensure accurate simulation and rendering.

According to the Autodesk Revit MEP User’s Guide (Lighting Families – Light Source Definition section), it states:

“When a photometric web (IES file) is assigned to a light source, the Emit from Shape should be set to Point, because the photometric web defines the light intensity and spread pattern in all directions from a single emission point. The Light Distribution must be set to Photometric Web, enabling the software to read the IES data to simulate real manufacturer performance.”

(Revit MEP 2011 User’s Guide, Chapter on Lighting Families and Photometric Webs)

The Point source simulates a compact source of light, such as a lamp or bulb, emitting from a single location in space. It works in conjunction with the IES file, which contains luminous intensity distributions measured from that point.

Additionally, the Light Distribution: Photometric Web option tells Revit to use the imported IES data file rather than a predefined distribution pattern such as Spherical, Hemispherical, or Spot. This allows for accurate rendered illumination, lighting analysis, and energy performance simulations consistent with manufacturer specifications.

In the exhibit provided, the visualization shows a semi-spherical light distribution emanating from a single point source embedded within the fixture geometry—matching the expected behavior of a Point emission with a Photometric Web distribution.

The exhibit shown in the image is taken directly from the Revit MEP Electrical Systems workspace, specifically from the Parallel Conduits command interface. This dialog box appears when the designer activates the Place Parallel Conduits tool in the Systems tab → Electrical panel → Conduit dropdown → Parallel Conduits.

In this interface, the designer can specify:

Horizontal Number / Offset – defines how many conduits will be created horizontally and their spacing.

Vertical Number / Offset – defines how many conduits will be created vertically and their spacing.

Bend Radius Options:

Same Bend Radius – all conduits use identical bend radii.

Concentric Bend Radius – conduits bend concentrically around a common center point.

According to Autodesk’s Revit MEP 2011 User’s Guide (Chapter 18, Electrical Systems – Conduit Layout):

“The Parallel Conduits tool allows you to create multiple conduits side-by-side at the same time.

You can specify the number of conduits horizontally and vertically, as well as the offset between them.

You can also define whether bends have the same bend radius or concentric bend radii.”

— Revit MEP User’s Guide, Electrical Systems, Section: Conduit Layout

This tool is used when electrical designers need to route groups of conduits that run in parallel—such as power and data conduits running between panels or equipment racks.

The Concentric Bend Radius option (as shown in the exhibit) ensures all conduit bends share a common center, which is critical for maintaining uniformity in conduit sweeps and avoiding clashes during coordination.

Therefore:

A. Add Cable Tray – incorrect; the cable tray tool is separate and does not use bend radius options.

C. Array Conduit – incorrect; arraying is a different geometric function not specific to conduit routing.

D. Place Multiple Pipe – incorrect; applies to mechanical piping systems, not electrical conduits.

The display of Concentric Bend Radius, Horizontal Number, Vertical Number, and Offset confirms that the designer is using the Parallel Conduit placement tool.

Verified Reference Extracts from Revit Electrical Design Documentation:

Autodesk Revit MEP User’s Guide (2011) – Electrical Systems → Conduit Layout → “Parallel Conduits Tool” description.

Autodesk Revit MEP Training Curriculum – Electrical Module, Exercise 6.3 “Placing Parallel Conduits,” which illustrates the same interface for bend radius configuration.