ECN Electrical Forum - Discussion Forums for Electricians, Inspectors and Related Professionals
ECN Shout Chat
ShoutChat
Recent Posts
Increasing demand factors in residential
by gfretwell - 03/28/24 12:43 AM
Portable generator question
by Steve Miller - 03/19/24 08:50 PM
Do we need grounding?
by NORCAL - 03/19/24 05:11 PM
240V only in a home and NEC?
by dsk - 03/19/24 06:33 AM
Cordless Tools: The Obvious Question
by renosteinke - 03/14/24 08:05 PM
New in the Gallery:
This is a new one
This is a new one
by timmp, September 24
Few pics I found
Few pics I found
by timmp, August 15
Who's Online Now
1 members (gfretwell), 32 guests, and 14 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,749
Member
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 Tedesco, NEC Consultant
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 122
W
Member
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

Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 582
R
Ron Offline
Member
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


Ron
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 582
R
Ron Offline
Member
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/


Ron
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,749
Member
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).]


Joe Tedesco, NEC Consultant
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,723
Likes: 1
Broom Pusher and
Member
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.


Scott " 35 " Thompson
Just Say NO To Green Eggs And Ham!
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,749
Member
Thanks Scott! Your suggestions are well taken. What about laptops, any suggestions?


Joe Tedesco, NEC Consultant
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,081
T
Member
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).]

Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,749
Member
Maybe the Tough Book? by Panasonic?

May be that laptop with the durability you mentioned.

Thanks


Joe Tedesco, NEC Consultant
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,381
Likes: 7
Member
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).]


John
Page 1 of 2 1 2

Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5