0. PVCAD Mega Quick Start Guide

Each section below corresponds to a tab in the PVCAD Mega interface. These provide a guided workflow from project setup through electrical design and reporting. For more detailed instructions, refer to our full documentation.

To get started, download the PVCAD Mega installer from our website. If you have an AutoCAD license, you can use the PVCAD Plug-In directly within AutoCAD. If not, PVCAD Mega includes AutoCAD OEM and runs as a standalone solution. After installation, launch PVCAD Mega and confirm that the PVCAD ribbon and tabbed interface are visible.

If you do not see the PVCAD panel on the right-hand side or if functions appear limited, ensure your system security settings allow internet access and background services for the application. Finally, remember in PVCAD Mega you are able to utilize the Standard or Utility Scale modes. If you are working on a rooftop project or a flat, smaller ground mount, please ensure you are in Standard mode in SETTINGS. if you are working on a ground mount and using single axis trackers or doing topography analysis, switch to Utility Scale mode to get the full functionality of PVCAD Mega. 

1. AI

Ask any question or our AI can will help direct PVCAD Mega and AutoCAD to design for you, audit your design, refer to relevant code standard or permitting policy, and much more.

Our AI it can take you from novice to pro in seconds. Using all the knowledge of AI and our PVCAD Mega software, the AI will respond to specific questions and guide your workflow. The AI interprets site constraints, design targets, and engineering standards to produce efficient, construction-ready layouts. All project data shared is fully anonymized to ensure the confidentiality and security of your information.

2. Project

Once you have installed the software, navigate to the Project tab to begin. You can either download a PVCAD Mega template from our website or click LOAD SAMPLE PROJECT and clear layout to gain access to our template. This template is linked to all the input cells on this tab so that you can easily populate your template.

1. To begin, go to Model Space in PVCAD.
2. Run the AutoCAD UNITS command by typing UNITS into the command line and pressing ENTER. In the Units dialog box, confirm or set the desired drawing units, such as feet, meters, or inches, before importing any imagery data.
3. Set the project location by clicking Set Location in the PVCAD ribbon.
   • You will have two options: selecting MAP or FILE. Choosing MAP allows you to set the project location by entering a latitude and longitude or an address using Google Earth. Alternatively, selecting FILE enable import a KMZ or KML file to define the project site.
4. After setting the location or importing the imagery, adjust the model space view to properly size the workspace. To do this, type Z and press ENTER to activate the Zoom command, then type E and press ENTER to perform “Zoom Extents.” This will ensure the imported data fits correctly within model space.

If you you are looking to load more Properties into your template, you can use the Expand List button to add in additional linked information. If you would like to load new properties from an excel file, you can use the Load Properties button. You can rename or reassign properties by hitting CONTROL + F and a window will pop up to reassign your template property.

3. Site Objects

Once the project location is set, use the Site tab to begin defining site objects. You can select from options such as Ground Mount Outline, Installation Area, Obstruction, or POI.

1. First, select a boundary imported from your KML / KMZ OR start by clicking POLYLINE outline the objects that will impact your design. When you get to the end of trace – make sure to close the area and click enter to release the polyline.
2. Select the object within model space of AutoCAD. After selecting the object, choose the appropriate object type from the dropdown menu available in the Site tab.
3. Define the boundary of the project as Ground Mount Outline, if you have multiple areas within this outline where you would like modules installed – draw the areas and define these sections as Installation Areas.
4. After selecting the type from the dropdown use the properties table below to set relevant parameters, including setbacks, object height, or any other specific features associated with the object, and click DEFINE.
5. Repeat this for every object you have drawn.

Setting the object properties like setback and defining key features will be critical to the layouts and supporting calculations we will be doing later.

4. Mechanical Layout

We have defined all of our objects and now we will layout the project. On this tab we will pick our modules, racking type, and create our initial design. If you have multiple installation areas on the same project you can use our subarray function at the bottom of the window to define different modules and mounting systems for each of the subarrays.  Once you have selected your mounting system, module, and highlighted any relevant subarrays, you are ready to make a layout.

1. Mounting System: Pick from a 1-Axis, Fixed, or Fixed EW mounting type
   • Either can pick from User Defined or use our preloaded NEXTracker or Array Technologies systems
   • If you select User Defined from the below section, you can define all elements of your structure (below) including: # of rows / columns, Tilt Angle, Row Spacing, Pitch, etc. 
2. Module Type: Pick from manufacturers we have preloaded or you can upload a module to our system.
   • Pick from our extensive database of modules
   • If you don’t see the module you need, you can either email us to add the module or you can add the module locally by using the DATABASE in the PVCAD ribbon
3. Layout: Select your spacing
   • Define your GCR, Row Spacing, and Pitch
   • Pick your column gap and length of tracker structures
4. Structure Design: Define all facets of your tracker block and customize as much as you would like – if you are using a pre-loaded manufacturer, some of these options may be limited
   • Fill in the various input cells to dictate the features of your block
   • For additional specificity click PIER DISTANCES
5. Access Roads and Equipment Pads: Here we we will define how your blocks are laid out
   • Standard Block Set Up – Define # of structures in your EW and NS block
   • Road Set Up – Set the space for EW / NS roads
   • Standard Block Layout Options – Select whether to max fill or limit to the standard block. Max fill will include partial blocks to maximize DC capacity.
   • Equipment Pad – Set the dimensions for your equipment pad and select where within the block the pad will be placed
6. Make Tracker Layout: You can use Layout Preferences to constrain your layout to a maximum DC system size also can use buttons to insert additional trackers that will snap to the design (ADD TABLE) . To create create a layout use either of the three options below.
   • MAKE LAYOUT – Automatically maximize the capacity of your layout with the modules, mounting system, obstructions, and installation area you have defined. Click this button and then click within the installation area and select your azimuth to produce the layout.
   • CLICK & DRAG – Layout the modules in a customized fashion – all you need to do is click and drag modules where you want them within the installation area either to Max fill
   • INSERT INSTALL AREAS– This will insert the standard block that you arranged in the previous step and populate the entire project with the Standard Block you have set up either by max fill with partials or regular block fill.

Additionally you can click WIND EXPOSURE to list which trackers are interior vs. exterior in your Bill of Materials. The ASSIGN BLOCKS will allow you to replace our blocks with your blocks, after click this button simply select the block you want to replace and the new block.

5. Topo and Reports

Now that you have completed an initial layout, we are now going to run a Topography analysis to determine how compatible the initial layout is with the terrain of your site. Follow the below steps to overlay your layout with topography:

1. Select Source: Decide whether you want to import topography from a survey or external data source or use our native connection to Google Elevation Service for topography
   • If you use Google Elevation Service – click Import, and you will now see all your 3D topography within the drawing
   • If you use Layer – first ensure your contours are added into PVCAD. Find the layer in the drop down “Layer” and click Add
     • If you have multiple contour files, you can add multiple layers by repeating the above step
2. Pier Analysis: Using your manufacturer guidance, fill in your max / min pier height and your max slope angle, and click PIER ANALYSIS
   • This command will provide you pier locations, heights, and surface altitudes. It will also highlight in red and trackers that don’t comply with your band of allowable pier heights or slope angle
   • Click PIER SCHEDULE and generate a CSV containing your pier schedule with coordinates for each pier, the associated tracker, surface heights, pier heights, torque tube altitude, tracker angle, etc.
3. Row Spacing Adjustment for Topography: You can adjust your row spacing based on based on your topography to avoid row to row shading, follow these steps:
   • Run pier analysis
   • Set min/max values for allowable adjustment
   • Run the pier analysis and your row spacing will be adjusted for the topography

One you have finished your topography analysis, we have provided several shortcut buttons on the bottom right of this tab to further your project analysis. Please click the buttons for the following:

• LAYOUT BOM – We will summarize and export to Excel the types of equipment used, counts, and lengths of wire needed so that you can take your PVCAD drawings directly to your equipment supplier to place an order
• PVSYST– Export a 3D representation of your project and shade scene into PVSyst to avoid laboriously re-drawing your project for a PVSyst energy estimate
• GOOGLE EARTH KML– View your project within Google Maps with this export

6. Electrical Layout

This is where we select all elements associated with the electrical design: placing inverters or batteries, stringing the project, and calculating your string lengths. The below flow will allow you set up electrical sections for your project and assign trackers to your inverters within the design. Follow the actions on the tab to complete your electrical design:

1. Inverters: Select from our database of inverters, if you don’t see your desired inverter here – email us or add the inverter locally with DATABASE in the PVCAD ribbon. When you have picked the appropriate equipment, click INSERT and click in the model space where you would like the inverter or other electrical equipment placed.
   • Select either a String or Central inverter
2. Batteries: Place a battery within the model space by selecting a Manufacturer and Battery type. If you don’t see your desired battery – email us at support@pvcomplete.com

Once you have completed the above workflows, we can move on to our electrical sections by clicking DESIGN ELECTRICAL SECTION. This will prompt a pop up window where you can start:

1. INSERT POI– Enter the heigh and width of your control room and select location of POI
2. ASSIGN STRUCTURES– Either manually create electrical sections using Add or Remove sections and assign trackers to an electric sections OR click automatically 2 - Auto Assign Structures and enter how many electrical sections you want for your project.
3. UNASSIGN STRUCTURES– If you want to re-design your electrical sections – use these buttons to unassign trackers
4.  Insert Inverters – Click 4 - AUTO INSERT INVERTERS or 4 - CREATE INVERTER GROUP to either automatically create inverter groups or manually selecting which trackers are assigned to an inverter group
5. INSERT STRING CONDUCTORS– Select an electrical section and click this button to string your tracker to your inverter
6. INSERT CONNECTIONS TO POI– Once you have completed Step 5 for each electrical section, click this button to connect your inverters to your POI.

After completing this electrical section – you can now analyze the amount of string length and the wire sizing needed for your project by export your Bill of Materials by clicking EXPORT BOM in the PVCAD Mega ribbon.

 7. Summary

The Summary tab contains key project details. Use the following buttons on the Summary tab and in the PVCAD Ribbon to fully analyze your project:

• RECALCULATE ENERGY – Calculate an energy estimate using PVComplete’s 3D shading model to get an in-app energy estimate while you are working an can iterate – all you need is a project layout to complete
• See PVCAD Mega Ribbon for following Commands
  • EXPORT BOM– We will summarize and export to Excel the types of equipment used, counts, and lengths of wire needed so that you can take your PVCAD drawings directly to your equipment supplier to place an order
  • EXPORT KML– View your project within Google Maps with this export
  • PVSYST– Export a 3D representation of your project and shade scene into PVSyst to avoid laboriously re-drawing your project for a PVSyst energy estimate
  • QUICK ENERGY– Create an energy estimate using our simulation report – our native energy model relies on Canadian Solar’s CASSYS open source model and will provide you with an annual estimate energy estimate in excel format with a chart and monthly / hourly energy data