There's long been a wealth of software designed specifically or in part for electrical contractors. James Hunt examines some of the latest products and services offered:
It's easy to forget that little software designed to make life easier for electrical contractors and installers was available a decade or so ago, yet what a difference it has made. Such software now encompasses most disciplines but, to be successful, it must improve the quality of information generated. It should also allow accurate, comprehensive support documentation to be produced and updated at speed. If the software concerned meets these basic criteria, it can be a boon to any organisation that produces electrical schematics and layouts.
Estimating:
Estimating software simplifies use of cost data in order to compile bids and estimates. Today's packages are very easy to use, fast and flexible.
Most medium to large electrical contractors now use some form of computerised estimating such as Luckins' Software Toolcase package. The benefits of computerised estimating are widely understood so where does the electrical contractor look to improve efficiency further? "The answer", says Richard Appleton, Marketing Manager of Trade Service Information (Luckins), "is probably in enabling different systems to talk to one another - such as exchanging data between design and estimating packages, or estimating and procurement."
There has been much debate over the issue of purchasing integrated software systems versus selecting each application from a different supplier. "There's no right or wrong answer to this", comments Appleton, "it's simply a matter of deciding what is right for a particular business. It's important, though, that data is compatible.
Unless products are coded, a system is of little use. A solution is to adopt a coding structure supplied and managed by an independent third party. Luckins' TSI Code, for example, is already widely used in both contractors' and wholesalers' internal systems and may be adopted as the de facto standard for data exchange in the electrical and building services sectors.
Another development allows users to do a lot more with the software. Says Estimation's David Bell: "Recently, we have seen a marked increase in potential for making more productive use of information generated in the estimate. Information originally produced in the estimate is also useful in procurement, contract management, job costing and accounting, and the materials pricing data used in the estimate is a very important element in getting it right. This is definitely the way forward."
Once that meaningful data is generated, it can be liberated to flow throughout a contracting business. For example, estimating, project management and engineering produce much information. This can be used to track committed costs and actual costs - and compare them with estimating budgets, so giving a realistic picture of how the job is performing.
"Another advantage", concludes David Bell, "is that every material and sub-contract purchase, including committed costs, is recorded against the contract as a by-product of procurement. In the same way, labour costs are recorded as you process time sheets - and applications for payment, certificates and payments are processed as the job proceeds, along with CIS information and statutory returns."
For many small and medium contractors, a full estimating package may be too complex, but developments in flexible pricing software will improve efficiencies and can be used in conjunction with standard accounts systems.
Typical of the latest generation of electrical estimating software is Estim8 Xtreme from Barnes Computing. New features include an Explorer-style interface; division of sections into unlimited sub-sections, enhanced reporting and closer integration with Microsoft and other third party office products. Estim8 Xtreme claims to bring 'ease of use to new levels' and, used stand-alone or integrated with other Barnes modules, it offers reduced costs and higher efficiencies. It also takes advantage of Estimation Group Data Services' (EGDS) enhanced content for still greater ease of use.
Design:
Design software is used to design electrical systems and installations and ranges from relatively simple packages for fast design of basic installations right through to full-blown CAD packages. Massive products databases are usually included. Good electrical design software can have a major beneficial impact on any organisation that produces electrical schematics and layouts.
Rockwell Automation's RSWire V4.0 is an updated electrical design and documentation package and it automates control system design and documentation. It can produce accurate schematics and 3D panel layouts, together with simultaneous manufacturing and support documentation. RSWire V4 enables users to write their own programme supplements. Users can also call up standard circuits from a database and use them to create project building blocks. Device part numbers can be automatically added depending on manufacturer, voltage or rating. Accurate tenders and times for assembly are produced.
ABB's new free DOCwin 2.1 software for the design and dimensioning of electrical installations has many capabilities, including: design of single-line diagrams; calculation of LV and MV radial/meshed networks and of load currents/voltage drops under working conditions; automatic dimensioning of cables; calculation of max /min short-circuit currents at every point; automatic selection of switching / protection devices; and optional restriction of automatic dimensioning to certain aspects. DOCwin 2.1 also calculates the time/current characteristics of protection devices and provides customised project documentation.
AMTECH's ProDesign 2004 contains over 30 new features, making it more powerful and easy to use. These include definable phase colours and the drawing environment can now be set to the users' own preferences, saved as a template and used again in the future as required. ProDesign 2004 also takes account of network third harmonics, automatically calculating neutral current and resizing cables where necessary. A 'Find' feature quickly locates electrical components.
Hevacomp's new Electrical CAD package is a module for the industry standard mechanical and electrical Design CAD package. Users can import a building drawing using a DXF file or by linking to AutoCAD. Supply points, boards and busbars can be set up on the drawing, together with icons for various equipment. Projects may extend over multiple floors. A schematic version is simultaneously available. Modules are also available for ductwork, air-conditioning, heating, chilled water and lighting.
From Leonardo comes WSCAD, an electrical schematic CAD for control panels, electrical diagrams and block diagrams. The top of the range version is powerful, with continuous on-line checking of contactors, PLCs and cables. It features database, auto-panel layout and user-defined listings. Multi cabinet projects can be catered for. Simple to learn and use, it is ideal for panel building.
Rittal's EPLAN is claimed to be 'the complete solution for IT based electrical project management'. Its use can boost productivity by 40 - 70% whilst significantly enhancing quality. EPLAN is easy to navigate and an extensive range of functions, templates and symbol and component libraries, allows the creation of error-free documentation. From automatic cross-referencing to automatic generation of bills of materials, EPLAN eases the workflow.
Thorn Lighting's free Vision lighting design software handles both interior and exterior lighting installations, giving design answers first time. The most significant new feature is the updating of luminaire data to ensure that lighting calculations, for areas where display screens are used, are determined in accordance with the recently published Addendum to LG3: 1996.
Most such software is compatible with modern PCs running Windows 9.x, Me, NT 4.0 or 2000. CAD packages usually run on Apple Macs.
Finally, there's another computerised facility specifically for electrical contractors. Not software, it is a dedicated electrical web portal called Voltimum - and you're in it!. This aims to be 'the' reference point for electrical information. The product catalogue alone is unique and very powerful.
This article was originally published in Electrical Times magazine by Highbury Business Communications - a Voltimum UK Media Partner.
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