TrueNACV3 Quick Guide

TrueNACV3 Voltage Drop Calculator

Tool
 New Project

1. Click on New
to create a
TrueNAC
Project.
 New Project

1. Double click
on TrueNACV3
Project to open
the Panel
Wizard.
2. Then Click
on ‘Add’
button to add
panels to
your project.
New Project

Click on the panel in the

project tree. The Panel
Wizard content changes.
Add a power supply to the
panel.
Building A Project

1. Double click on any

item in the tree to open
Panel Wizard.

2. Panel Wizard shows only those

items that can be added. Click on the
‘Add’ button to insert the item into the
project. If no items can be added,
Panel Wizard will be empty.
 Circuit Design – Adding Devices

2. Device Explorer shows only

the devices that can be added to
this circuit type.

3. Click on
a device.

1. Click on a
circuit to
start the
circuit
design.
Circuit Design – Adding Devices

4. Select device options: candela , model and

Alert Switch style. Then select the cable size
and length and the quantity of devices. Click on
the Add button to add the devices to the circuit.
Set Alert Switch lets you define how you want
the device to operate on the circuit. When the
Alert Switch is ON, the device will only draw full
current when the circuit is in ALERT mode of
operation. Otherwise, the device will be in
standby.
Circuit Design – Calculation Results

When a circuit is
modified, voltage drops
and current draws are
calculated at each
device or node on the
circuit.
 Circuit Design – Alarm versus Alert
2. The circuit indicator
shows that the circuit
contains a mixture of
devices. Some have the
Alert Switch set to ON
and others to OFF.

1. Notice in this 3. Device#1 was

example the circuit is added with the Alert 4. Device#2 was
in Alarm state. Alert Switch OFF. The added with the Alert
state is OFF. device is drawing full Switch ON. The
current in alarm state. device is in standby
mode when the circuit
is in alarm state.
Notice that the icon is
dimmed.
 Circuit Design – Alarm versus Alert
1. Notice in this
example the circuit is
in Alert state. Alert is
ON.
4. To change the
Alert state of the
circuit, click the
Alert ON / OFF
toggle button.
2. Device#1 was
added with the Alert
3 Device#2 was added with the
Switch OFF. The Alert Switch ON. The device is
device is in standby drawing full current in the Alert
mode in Alert state. state. By default colored lens
Notice that the icon is appliances have the Alert Switch
dimmed. ON. However, you can set the
switch to suit your programming
design.
Circuit Design – Modifying a Circuit

1.Click on a device. Notice

the handles indicating
selection. The next action
will happen to this device.

2. Actions include Add,

Insert or Replace.
 Circuit Editing Features – Replace

2. Select a
replacement
device. It may
be the same
kind of device.

3. Change the
1. Individual devices device’s options;
can be edited by using candela, model, or
the Replace function. Alert Switch. You
Select the device you can also change
want to change. the wire gauge
and length.

4. Click on the Replace button. Note:

Qty is always 1 for Replace.
Circuit Editing Features – Replace

The device will be replaced with the

new options and circuit is recalculated.
 Circuit Editing Features – Add

1. To create a branch in an
addressable circuit use the
Add function. Select the
circuit or device where the
branch should begin.
2. Select a new
device to add to
the circuit.

3. Then click on Add. The device

will be added to the selected
device and the circuit will be
recalculated.
 Circuit Editing Features – Add

In this example a branch

circuit was created by
adding another device to
the IDNAC Circuit.
 Circuit Editing Features – Insert

1. To add a new device

between two other
devices, you must use
Insert action. In this
example, insert a 30cd
device between
Device#1 and
Device#2 the 110cd.
First select Device#1.

2. Select a new
device to add to
the circuit.

3. Then click on the Insert button.

The device will be inserted to the
right of the selected device and
circuit will be recalculated.
 Circuit Editing Features – Insert

The new 30cd device has been inserted

between Device#1 and the 110cd device.
 Circuit Editing Features – Insert Device on ClassA Circuit

1. Insert is required to add

devices to a ClassA circuit.
In this example first select
the DCAIsolator. It is
always the first device on
the DCAI circuit. The
ClassA return icon is 2. Select a new
always the last item on the device to add to
circuit. Devices can only the ClassA
be inserted between the circuit. In this
two. example pick
Qty 3

3. Then click on the Insert button.

The devices will be inserted to
the right of the selected device
and circuit will be recalculated.
Circuit Editing Features – Insert Device on ClassA Circuit

3 devices were inserted into the ClassA

circuit between the DCA Isolator and the
DCA return.
 Circuit Editing Features – Repeater Circuits

The Repeater is a TrueAlert Addressable device. It has its own unique address
on the IDNAC and is configured in the ES Programmer as a point on the
IDNAC. The Repeater has its own power supply and standby batteries and
reports its status via the IDNAC.

A Repeater can effectively double the wire length of a Class B IDNAC channel
on the EPS. To extend the distance of an IDNAC wired as Class B, the
Repeater is simply wired in series on the IDNAC at the point where the
extension is desired. Use the IDNAC Repeater Spur Wired device for this
purpose.

Class A wiring is supported on the EPS through use of the Dual Class A Isolator
(or DCAI; see 950-456, “Dual Class A Isolator”). To extend the distance (not the
power) of an IDNAC wired as Class A, the Repeater is simply wired in series
within the Class A loop at or near the return of the loop. Use the IDNAC
Repeater Loop Wired device for this purpose
 Circuit Editing Features – Repeater Circuits
2. When added to a IDNAC circuit,
the Repeater’s circuit becomes an
extension of the IDNAC circuit. To
access the Repeater’s circuit, click on
the IDNAC Repeater Spur Circuit.
1. A IDNAC Repeater Spur wired
device has been inserted into the
IDNAC circuit. Notice it takes up a
device address on the IDNAC circuit.
The icon represents only the repeater
box itself. The Repeater’s circuit is
accessed as pointed out in step 2.
 Circuit Editing Features – Repeater Circuits
1. Notice the naming of the spur
circuit. It is IDNAC Repeater
Spur Circuit Device#2. This
indicates that this circuit is tied
to the Repeater which is
Device#2 on the parent IDNAC
circuit.
2. Also notice, that the spur circuit is designated
by RPS Circuit icon: RepeaterSpur Circuit.
Devices can be added to the spur circuit using the
Add, Insert, or Replace actions. Notice, that each
device is addressed in the context of the entire
IDNAC circuit, not just the spur circuit. Each
device on the spur circuit consumes addresses
and load from the parent, but consumes current
from the repeater.
 Standard AUX Power Circuit – Assigning Current Draw

2. If you are
using the AUX
power circuit,
1. All power supplies you can account
have a default Aux for its current
Power circuit that can draw against the
be used to power power supply by
other kinds of devices. changing its
current draw.
 AUX Power Circuit – Convert Signal Circuit To AUX

2. Right click
on a circuit,
and select
‘Change to
AUX Power’.
1. Some power supplies
allow you to convert an
empty signal circuit to a 2 A
AUX Power circuit.
 AUX Power Circuit – Convert 2 A AUX to Signal Circuit

2. Right click
on a circuit,
and select
1. These 2 A AUX ‘Change to
Power circuits, can Signal
be changed back to a Circuit’.
signal circuit at any
time.
 Change Wire Gauge

Select a new AWG

and then click on OK.
The circuit will be
To change the wire recalculated.
gauge for all wire
segments in the circuit,
right click on the circuit
and select Change
Wire Gauge.
 Change Wire Gauge
1.To change the wire
gauge for an individual
wire segment, click on
the wire segment. A
wire segment is
selected when it
displays 2 red ends.
2. Select a cable size in the
Cable Properties window.
Then click on a new AWG.
Click on another part of the
screen to accept the
change. The circuit will be
recalculated.
Cable Length can also be
changed.
 Wire Gauge

NAC Summary shows the Total

Wire Length by Gauge for
individual Selected NAC as well as
for the entire Project.
This information is also printed into
the Word Project document with
the BOM.

NAC BOM \4100U - 1\TPS - 1\SLC [3.0 A Addressable] - 1 Total Wire Length by Gauge
Quantity Units Description
150 ft Size12AWG

System BOM Total Wire Length by Gauge

Quantity Units Description
150 ft Size12AWG
350 ft Size14AWG
150 ft Size16AWG
Project Explorer Editing Features
Copy, Cut, Rename, Delete

Right clicking on an item pops up the editing

choices.

• ‘Copy’ will make a copy of the item, including

all its sub-items and devices on its circuits.

•‘Cut’ will delete the item from the project and

put it into a temporary paste buffer. It can be
pasted one time to another part of the project.

•‘Delete’ removes the item from the project.

•‘Rename’ allows you to add a descriptive

location name to the item.
Project Explorer Editing Features
Paste

‘Paste’ is only available if

the contents of the paste
buffer can be attached to
the highlighted item.
 Circuit Editing Features
Copy, Cut, Delete

2. All devices
1. A circuit may be and wire
copied or cut by right segments to the
clicking on the first wire right of the
segment. Notice the red selected
handles indicating the segment will be
wire has been selected. acted on.
Circuit Editing Features - Paste

The copied circuit

can then be pasted
multiple times to
different circuits.
Right click on the
circuit and then
select ‘Paste’.
Warning Flags – Calculation Results

1. During the voltage drop calculation,

design flaws will be noted. In this
example not only have some devices
fallen below the minimum operating
voltage, the current draw on the circuit
and power supply has been exceeded.
 Warning Flags – Calculation Results

2. Warning
icons indicate
the circuit
design has
failed.
Warning Flags - Class A Break At First Device

While designing this Class A circuit, the application

notes that the design fails when there is a break at
the first device. The current is flowing in the
opposite direction. Device#1 is electrically the last
device in the circuit.
Warning Flags - Class A Break At First Device

After calculation, the application will

show the worst case scenario for the
circuit. In this example, the user
entered a 150ft ClassA return. The red
X at the first wire segment indicates we
are evaluating a ClassA circuit as if the
wire were broken at the first device. The
current is flowing in the opposite
direction. Device#1 is electrically the
last device in the circuit.
Warning Flags - Class A Break in Return

In this example, the red X

indicates a break in wire after
Device#3. This Class A design
fails. Device#3 is electrically the
last device in the circuit.
Warning Flags – Power Supply Overload

2. To check all
circuits at a
glance, select
the Quick NAC
Report.

1. Occasionally, all
circuits may pass, but
there is a power
supply overload
problem indicated by
the warning icons.
 Warning Flags – Power Supply Overload

1. NAC
reports now 2. By
show the examining
circuit details each circuit,
for all states: you can find
Alert OFF the circuits
and Alert that may be
ON. In this problematic.
example the
power supply
problem
happens in
the Alert
OFF mode.
 AutoCAD Export - Overview
2. The export starts
at the selected item.
In this example all
circuits in the
4100ES-1/EPS-1
will be exported. To
export an entire
project, select
TrueNACV3 Project.
1. The AutoCAD Export
function creates two comma
delimited files for import into
AutoCAD. The files are
imported into AutoCAD via
SimplexGrinnell AutoCAD
SIMTOOL extensions. For
further details on the AutoCAD
extensions contact
SimplexGrinnell Design Center
of Excellence in Westminster,
MA or link to:
http://simplexgrinnell.ia/
saleseng/ecoe/.
3. Output file names and
paths as well as CAD
symbols can be changed.
AutoCAD Export – Riser File

The Riser file contains AutoCAD

symbol and connector symbol names,
device tags, and X and Y coordinates.
You may edit the device tags if
necessary before importing into your
drawings.
AutoCAD Export – Voltage Drop File

The voltage drop file provides detailed circuit information.

The file can be opened in Microsoft Excel and formatted
as required before importing into your CAD drawing with
the Spanner tool.
System BOM and Battery Calculations

Included in the AutoCAD voltage drop file, as well as in the

other NAC reports, is a System BOM broken down by
Panel. It includes power supplies and devices. This
information can be easily copied and pasted into your
battery calculation spread sheets eliminating the need for
retyping the same information.