ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Any software for electricians, inspectors, and designers?

All Members:

Can you recommend electrical software that is worthwhile?

The NEC CD Rom, and the NECH are probably my best software tools for quick searches and references.

PS: I am also interested in Palm software for electricians, etc.

Joe,
I have been looking for the same sort of thing for some time now. When I first signed on to the board someone was giving out a sample palm program for electricians It would do voltage drop and short circuit calcs I think, and a few other things. Will locate it and forward it if you are interested. (You may already have it)

I always thought it would be great to have the NEC available in a Palm Pilot, but figured that there would not be enough memory to handle it. Any thoughts? Maybe the NEC in an E-Book. If we get enough members from here interested maybe the NFPA would put out a beta version for all of us to use. Yes, I know I am dreaming.

Wirewiz

Voltage drop, zonal lighting calc., and basic elec. calcs for the PC http://www.execulink.com/~cygalski/index.htm
and http://www.edreference.com/default.asp
for more PC calcs

and this site used to have a Palm program for calcs, but does not seem to be active lately. Maybe temporary web problems. http://www.palmelectrician.com/

http://wescalc.wescodirect.com

This code calculator works, and can be loaded onto a Palm.

You will need the CD available from Wesco, it costs $15.00.

I would be the first to buy the E-Book version of the Code or Handbook.

I have discovered ways to add some text from the code onto the Palm, but its not very easy to naviagate.

The PDF version of the code can be split into smaller files and loaded, and is also difficult to use.

If the Franklin Covey Company would get the permission to load the code that also would an option.


[This message has been edited by Joe Tedesco (edited 09-23-2002).]

As always, my suggestions are:

<OL TYPE=1>

[*]AutoCAD R 14 / 2000 (or some of the less expensive, easier to learn and semi powerful "over the counter" CAD apps - such as TurboCAD),

[*]Excel (97 and up) or Lotus 1-2-3 version 5 (and up) for Spreadsheets,

[*]MS Access (97 and up) or Lotus Approach for Database work,

[*]MS Word (97 and up) or Lotus Word Pro for Word Processing,

[*]Adobe Photoshop, Paintshop Pro or equal application from MS Office or Lotus Smart Suite packages, for image work (such as Digital Camera Images),

[*]Scanning Software w/ OCR ability, for scanned documents,

[*]Winfax Pro (version 9 works well for me), for faxing via your PC,

[*]Netscape Communicator (version 4.79xx and up), for Internet work.
</OL>

And some of the more "Advanced" items would be:

<OL TYPE=1>

[*]Adobe Acrobat 5.0 (full Version 5.0 and up), for creating .PDF documents and all that Adobe stuff,

[*]Electrical Circuit Simulator application (such as Circuit Maker), for designing and simulating circuits using PSPICE,

[*]Visual Basic 4.0 and up, for creating custom scripts, applications, "helper" applications and killer Macros.
</OL>

And the most important of all:

<OL TYPE=1>

[*]A solid Machine to run everything on (good CPU, DRAM, Power Supply, Disk Drives, M Board, Bus Adapters or "Cards" housed in a quality case),

[*]Large SVGA Monitor (17" and up),

[*]Ergonomic Mouse and Keyboard (plus workstation items, such as Keyboard stand, Mouse tray and chair),

[*]Solid Operating System(s) - for NOS and GUI,

[*]Proper Lighting.
</OL>

Scott S.E.T.

Thanks Scott! Your suggestions are well taken. What about laptops, any suggestions?

Relative to laptops, I'm not able to suggest any specific brand, but I would take into consideration durability as well as the warranty term and conditions, especially for the display.


[This message has been edited by ThinkGood (edited 09-26-2002).]

Maybe the Tough Book? by Panasonic?

May be that laptop with the durability you mentioned.

Thanks

Joe, et al:
"Power Designer", from Cutler Hammer is good.
from service entrance in. Available for nominal $$, or a "free-bee" from the rep or regional office.

Erico/Caddy has a few cd's available w/there products.
Siemens has a cd, digital catalog, CAD drawings, cross references & configurator. THe rep or the regional office provides it.

RUUD Lighting has there literature, catalog, specs available on CD. They also have photometrics available to put in Autocad/CAD.
Available thru factory, or area rep.

We also use Key Cad for qiuick drawings.

Almost forgot, the Electri_calc is great for VD & other calcs, and it's "small"

I use a Toshiba Laptop, it's not indestructable thou. A padded case is keeping it in shape thou.
John

[This message has been edited by HotLine1 (edited 09-26-2002).]