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COMcheck Lighting Export

This article describes how to export information from Design Master Electrical to COMcheck-Web.

note

Labels for sections and fields in COMcheck may vary depending upon the code being used.

Create a COMcheck Project​

Create a new COMcheck project. Set the code, location, construction type, and any other details for the project.

warning

You must define at least one building area in your COMcheck project before exporting.

Create Light Fixtures, Rooms, and Lighting Groups in Design Master Electrical​

Using Design Master Electrical, create light fixtures, rooms, and lighting groups.

Light Fixtures​

All of the light fixtures in your project that are not marked as ☐ Exempt will be exported to COMcheck. Information for each light fixture type will be exported from the light fixture project schedule. Quantities will be exported grouped inside of rooms and lighting groups. Lights not inside a room or a lighting group will be exported to a room called "No room specified."

Light Fixture Schedule​

The following information from the light fixture schedule will be exported to COMcheck. All of these values should be set and changed in Design Master Electrical. If you change the value in COMcheck and run the export again, the value will be overwritten to match what is in Design Master Electrical.

  • Callout: Exported as the fixture name.

  • Input VA: Exported as the fixture wattage if Energy Code Settings ☐ Watts is not set.

  • Energy Code Settings

    • ☐ Exempt: The default value for whether a fixture is exported to COMcheck. This value can be overridden on each individual fixture in the project.

    • ☐ Watts: Exported as the fixture wattage if set. If not set, the Input VA is exported instead.

    • Fixture Type: ▾ Exported as the fixture type.

    • ☐ Description: Exported as the fixture description. This field is not visible for fixtures assigned to spaces, but will be used as the default value if the fixture is added to the COMcheck fixture schedule.

Other fields exported to COMcheck will use default values. Once the fixtures are created in COMcheck, modify the default values to the correct values.

Rooms​

Each interior lighting space needs to be created as a room in Design Master Electrical using the Create Room command.

The Room Number will be exported as the space name or area description in COMcheck. Other fields exported to COMcheck will use default values. Once the rooms are created in COMcheck, modify the default values to the correct values.

Lighting Groups​

If you are using exterior lighting in COMcheck, you will need to create lighting groups in Design Master Electrical using the Create and Edit Lighting Groups command. Each lighting group is exported as a separate exterior lighting area.

The Lighting Group will be exported as the area type in COMcheck. If the group is drawn as an area, the area is exported; otherwise, no value is exported, and you must manually set the quantities in COMcheck. Other fields exported to COMcheck will use default values. Once the exterior areas are created in COMcheck, modify the default values to the correct values.

In the Lighting Group dialog box, use the  button to select the lights that will be included in the exterior area. If you do not want a lighting group to be exported as an exterior area, check the ☐ Subtract Area from Room Area box for that lighting group.

Export from Design Master Electrical to COMcheck​

To export the lighting information:

  1. Export the project file from COMcheck-Web.

  2. In AutoCAD, run the Export to COMcheck command.

  3. Select the COMcheck project file. You may need to adjust the Files of type ▾ dropdown depending upon whether the file format is .cck (COMcheck software), .cxl (original COMcheck-Web), or .xml (new COMcheck-Web).

    If the export is successful, you will receive a confirmation message.

  4. Upload the project file to COMcheck-Web.

All of the non-exempt light fixtures, rooms, and lighting groups will be exported. Open the file in COMcheck to view the results and make changes as necessary.

When you make changes to your design, export the information again to update your COMcheck file.

Make Changes in COMcheck​

After the information is exported to the COMcheck file, you can then open it in COMcheck and make changes.

Some information should be set using COMcheck. Changes to this information will not be overwritten when you export from Design Master Electrical. Other information should be set in Design Master Electrical if it needs to be changed. When you export from Design Master Electrical again, it will be overwritten with the new information.

Each COMcheck section is listed below with a description of which fields will be populated with information from Design Master Electrical, which should be modified in COMcheck, and which should be modified in Design Master Electrical. If a COMcheck field is not listed, information is not exported to it.

Project Tab​

The information in the Project tab should be set in COMcheck.

Envelope Tab​

The Envelope tab deals with mechanical loads. No information is filled in from Design Master Electrical. Set everything in this tab in COMcheck.

Interior Lighting Tab​

Rooms created in Design Master Electrical are exported to this tab as spaces. Design Master Electrical light fixtures that are not part of a lighting group are also exported to this tab. Light fixtures that are marked as ☐ Exempt in the Energy Code Settings section are not included.

Add Space(s)​

  • Space Type: ▾ This column will be set to a default value when the area is created. Change it to the appropriate area in COMcheck. The value will not be changed when the export command is run again.

  • Space Name: This column is the room name set in Design Master Electrical. Do not change it in COMcheck.

  • Area: The area is updated when the export command is run. Do not change it in COMcheck.

Fixtures​

  • Name: The Callout from the light fixture schedule in Design Master Electrical. Do not change this value in COMcheck.

  • Type: ▾ The Fixture Type ▾ setting in the Energy Code Settings section of the light fixture schedule. This value is set the first time you export the fixture to COMcheck. After that, you can change the value in COMcheck.

  • Quantity: The number of fixtures of this type inserted in the area or room. Do not change this value in COMcheck.

  • Fixture Wattage: The ☐ Watts in the Energy Code Settings section, or the Input VA of the light fixture schedule in Design Master Electrical. Do not change this value in COMcheck.

    The ☐ Watts value is optional and should be used when you need the load on the panel to be different from the load for energy calculation purposes. If ☐ Watts is not specified, the Input VA is used instead.

Exterior Lighting Tab​

Lighting groups created in Design Master Electrical are exported to this tab as separate areas. Design Master Electrical light fixtures that are part of a lighting group are also exported to this tab. Light fixtures that are marked as ☐ Exempt in the Energy Code Settings section are not included.

Area​

  • Exterior Lighting Area: ▾ This column will be set to a default value when the area is created. Change it to the appropriate area in COMcheck. The value will not be changed when the export command is run again.

  • Area Description: This column is the lighting group name set in Design Master Electrical. Do not change it in COMcheck.

  • Quantity: This column is set based upon the type of lighting group that is created. If the lighting group is drawn as an area, the area is exported to this column. If the lighting group is drawn as a line or is not inserted on the drawing, this value is not updated. Set it to the correct value using COMcheck.

Fixture​

The columns are filled in the same way as the Interior Lighting tab. See the Interior Lighting Tab section above for more information.

Mechanical Tab​

The Mechanical tab deals with mechanical loads. No information is filled in from Design Master Electrical. Set everything in this tab in COMcheck.