Advanced Calculations
Load & Demand
Load & Demand applies per-output diversity and optional power factor to the connected equipment load while preserving the original nameplate total.
Connected load and design load
Connected load is the total real-power rating of the equipment assigned to an output in the Distro Editor. It remains unchanged by advanced design assumptions.
Design load is the connected load after circuit diversity has been applied. At 100% diversity the two columns are identical. Reducing diversity below 100% reduces design load, apparent load and calculated current, but does not alter the assigned equipment.
Connected load and design load are expected to match when diversity is 100%. This is the safe default for every circuit.
Calculation order
The planner totals equipment wattage first, applies diversity to produce the design real power, then applies power factor when that calculation method is enabled. Current is calculated last using the nominal circuit voltage.
- Connected watts = assigned equipment watts multiplied by quantity.
- Design watts = connected watts multiplied by diversity percentage divided by 100.
- Apparent VA = design watts divided by the selected power factor.
- Single-phase current = apparent VA divided by nominal single-phase voltage.
- Three-phase current = apparent VA divided by the square root of 3 multiplied by nominal three-phase line voltage.
Power-factor settings
Real power only uses a power factor of 1.00, so design kW and apparent kVA have the same numeric value. Include power factor converts design real power to apparent power before current is calculated.
The project average power factor applies to all circuits unless a value is entered in a circuit PF override cell. Valid power-factor values are constrained between 0.10 and 1.00.
Use manufacturer information or a defensible design assumption for power factor. A lower power factor produces a higher apparent load and calculated current for the same design watts.
Applying diversity
Enter a diversity percentage from 1% to 100% against an output. A reason can be recorded in the same row to explain the operating limitation or design assumption.
A reason is optional, but a circuit using diversity without a reason is highlighted yellow to draw attention to the undocumented assumption. Diversity warnings remain visible in the Advanced Overview.
Although the planner allows saving without a reason, record why simultaneous full load is not expected whenever diversity is below 100%.
Reading the table
Output, phase, connected equipment and connected load are read-only and update from the Distro Editor. Diversity, PF override and the diversity reason are calculation inputs.
Design load, apparent load and current recalculate immediately. Distro summaries show connected, design and apparent loads alongside phase currents.
- Use the distro filter to focus on one distribution unit.
- Show unused outputs only when empty circuits need review.
- Reset all diversity returns circuit diversity values to 100%.
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