DesignCAD Edition Lighting & Drainage Features

The DesignCAD Edition Combo Pack includes the tools necessary to complete an accent lighting and drainage design including fixture placement, total wattage calculations, runoff calculations and more.

Lighting Fixture Placement
There are two methods of placing accent lighting fixtures on the design screen in the Combo Pack. You may place fixtures either manually or automatically along an existing line or curve or a temporary line on the drawing screen.

Manual
Manual fixture placement allows you to select from a database of accenting lighting equipment. The fixture will appear on the design screen and you may immediately move it to the desired location. When you place the symbol on the screen, you can set a second point to rotate the symbol in any direction. You will see the symbol during the entire process allowing you to accurately place the fixture.

If necessary, you may adjust the Beam Pattern, the Spread of the lighting pattern and the Lamp Assignment at this time.

Along a Line or Curve
To place fixture symbols along a line or curve, simply select fixture from the database and click on the line or curve on the design screen. You may accept the calculated spacing to evenly space the fixtures along the line, or you may enter an exact spacing requirement. Set a second point to determine the direction the fixture and beam pattern will face and the program will draw the symbols.

Transformers
Choose a device from the database selections and place the symbol on the design screen. You will see each symbol as it appears on the screen. You can set a second point to rotate the symbol in the desired direction.

Wire/Cable
You may draw wire or cable on the design by simply selecting the cable size and setting two or points on the screen.

Accessories
Choose a device from the database selections and place the symbol on the design screen. You will see each symbol as it appears on the screen. You can set a second point to rotate the symbol in the desired direction.

Drainage Symbol Placement
Choose a device from the database selections and place the symbol on the design screen. You will see each symbol as it appears on the screen. You can set a second point to rotate the symbol in the desired direction. You may place as many pieces of equipment on the drawing screen as necessary.

Total/Wattage
Quickly calculates and displays the total wattage of all accent lighting fixtures found on the drawing screen. The wattage will be displayed per fixture category and each category will be combined to calculate the total wattage of the project.

Automatic Wire/Cable Sizing
Automatically sizes wire or cable drawn from an accent lighting transformer to lighting fixtures. The wire or cable is sized based on the allowable voltage drop set in the Lighting Preferences dialog box.

Runoff Calcs
Calculates the estimated runoff of water over a flat surface area. The estimated runoff is displayed in the dialog box along with the suggested pipe size for removing the water. The calculation is based on the area, soil type, vegetation, and worst case estimated rainfall in a one hour period. There is no limit to the number of areas you may have per design.

Lighting
The databases of accent lighting equipment include the Nightscaping product line from Loran. You may add an unlimited number of additional manufacturers and product to the database. In most of the database commands, you can enter the List Price for the equipment, the Discount Rate received from a supplier and the Labor Rate required for installation of the product. In addition, you can assign the equipment to an Equipment Code to allow for the quick adjustment of items such as the list price and more. In addition, you can enter a Part Number and select a Supplier Code and Tied Assembly.

All of the databases are now stored in a Microsoft Access format for increased stability.

Fixtures
You may add an unlimited number of manufacturers and fixtures to the existing database, or you may edit any of the current equipment listings. You may assign a symbol to each fixture from more than 70 current symbol selections or you may create your own symbols. You may assign a color for each fixture, a beam pattern displaying the lighting pattern and a lamp assignment.

Lamp Data
The Lamp Data command allows you to create or edit a database of accent lighting lamps (light bulbs). You may enter the maximum wattage consumed by the lamp in the Max Wattage text box. This value is used in automatic wire sizing and total wattage calculations

Transformers, Accessories
You may edit any of the information or enter an unlimited number of new devices. Each device may have a symbol and color assignment.

Wire/Cable
This database includes wire from 00 to 18 gauge. You may add an unlimited number of additional wire sizes.

Tied Assemblies and Supplies
A Tied Assembly is the combination of supplies that are associated with the installation of a single piece of equipment. Each assembly may be assigned to one or more pieces of equipment in the database selections. All of the product in an assembly is counted in the Material/Estimate command.

Drainage
The databases of drainage equipment include the NDS product line. You can enter the List Price for the equipment, the Discount Rate received from a supplier and the Labor Rate required for installation of the product. In addition, you can assign the equipment to an Equipment Code to allow for the quick adjustment of items such as the list price and more. In addition, you can enter a Part Number and select a Supplier Code and Tied Assembly.

All of the irrigation databases are now stored in a Microsoft Access format for increased stability.

Drainage Equipment, Accessories
You may edit any of the information or enter an unlimited number of new devices. Each device may have a symbol and color assignment.

Tied Assemblies and Supplies
A Tied Assembly is the combination of supplies that are associated with the installation of a single piece of equipment. Each assembly may be assigned to one or more pieces of equipment in the database selections. All of the product in an assembly is counted in the Material/Estimate command.

There are hundreds of symbols included in the program. There are 73 different symbols to represent fixtures. You may assign any of these symbols to one or more sprinklers in the database. You may create your own symbols or edit any of the symbols included in the program.

In addition to fixture and drainage symbols, there are symbols for transformers, accessories and more. There are additional symbols to represent furniture, rocks, boulders, automobiles and more.