Recognise a distribution board from photos: review and import DIN modules

In the cabinet editor, PlanElec reads photos of an existing distribution board and proposes the visible DIN modules: row, starting slot, width in module units (TE), module type and legible values such as rated current or sensitivity. You need a saved project, the project role Owner, Admin or Editor, and an empty board. You review and correct every proposal before importing it; only then do the modules take their places on the rails. Detection does not infer hidden wiring, circuits or protective relationships – you add that electrical design yourself afterwards.

Photo recognition is meant for existing installations and extensions in Belgium, where you want to capture the installed layout quickly as a starting point. Every run counts towards your daily limit and uses your AI allowance.

What do you need for photo recognition?

If the board is not empty, Detect modules stays disabled and the panel shows: “Detection is available for an empty board only.” This also applies when protective devices are already assigned to this board in the installation but not yet placed.

What does PlanElec recognise on a distribution board photo?

Detection only describes what is visible and legible on the photos. Illegible or unclear details stay empty instead of being filled with default values.

PlanElec treats any text printed on a photo strictly as image content. It does not steer the detection.

How do you upload and link the photos?

1. In the studio, open Distribution board and use the board selector in the top bar to choose the board you want to capture. If it does not exist yet, create it via More cabinet actions → New board.
2. Stay in the Layout workspace and click Photos. The Cabinet photos panel opens on the right.
3. Click Upload photos and choose one or more image files. The photos are stored in the project’s Project files and linked to this board automatically.
4. To use photos already in the project, tick the checkbox in front of their name. If the panel says “No matching project photos yet.”, the project does not contain any JPEG, PNG or WebP image yet.
5. Check the tabs above the preview: every linked photo has its own tab. Clicking a tab shows that photo in the panel.

Success criterion: the photos you want are ticked and appear as tabs. If you try a seventh photo, PlanElec shows “Select at most 6 photos.” and does not link it.

Which photos help detection?

• One board per run. All linked photos must show the same board; detection treats them as views of a single cabinet.
• Combine an overview with close-ups. If several photos show the same module, detection merges those views into one module with several photo views.
• Legible markings. PlanElec only takes over values such as rated current or sensitivity if they are legible on the photo. Anything covered or blurred stays empty.
• Originals are kept. For the analysis, PlanElec scales each photo down to at most 3200 pixels on its longest side. The original stays in the project files and provides the Crop at original resolution.

The panel points this out: selected photos are sent to the AI service for analysis. Only link photos you are entitled to use for this purpose.

How do you start detection?

1. Check that the right board is selected and the matching photos are linked.
2. Click Detect modules. While the analysis runs, the button reads “Detecting …”.
3. Wait for the message “Detection ready for review.” Frames now surround the detected modules on the photo, with the Review detected modules section below.

Every run that reaches the AI service counts towards the daily limit of 20 runs – even if no usable proposal comes back. If your AI allowance is not sufficient, PlanElec says so explicitly, for example “Your remaining AI allowance is insufficient for this analysis.”

If you close the panel before importing, the latest proposal for this board is kept. The next time you open the panel, PlanElec loads it again – in its original form. Corrections you made in the review list without importing them are discarded.

How do you review and correct the proposal?

The Review detected modules section lists every detected module with its fields. Clicking a frame on the photo selects the matching module; the Crop at original resolution shows it enlarged. This lets you compare marking and values directly with the original.

How to proceed:

1. Work through the list from top to bottom and compare each module with its frame and crop.
2. Reject entries that are not modules and merge modules that were detected twice.
3. Correct type, row, slot and width. If a module lacks a row or slot, the panel shows “Enter a row and starting slot for every module.”
4. Check the values that were read. PlanElec only takes over the tripping curve and RCD type if they were legible; they cannot be edited as separate fields in the review list.

Success criterion: every remaining module has a row and slot, and no modules overlap within the same row.

What happens when you click “Import reviewed modules”?

1. Below the review list, click Import reviewed modules. The button is active once at least one module remains, every module has a row and slot, and the board is empty.
2. PlanElec confirms “Modules imported.” The modules now sit in their places in the board.

On import:

• One undo step. Undo reverses the whole import at once.
• Rows are added, not replaced. If the board has fewer rows than were detected, PlanElec creates the missing ones. Existing rows, including ones you named yourself, are kept.
• Row width grows as needed. If a row is too short, PlanElec widens the rows to the widest imported layout. A row cannot exceed 72 TE.
• Photos stay linked. Every imported module keeps its photo views as evidence.

If “Could not import modules.” appears, two modules usually overlap in the same row, a module extends beyond 72 TE, or the board is no longer empty. Correct the values and try again.

You start the import yourself in the panel. The PlanElec assistant can neither link photos nor import a photo proposal, because this step requires a visual check in the editor.

What comes after the import?

The imported modules represent the board’s physical as-found state. They show the values that were read, for example “C16”, but are not yet integrated electrically: they have no connection terminals, no circuit and no protection path.

To keep the photographed arrangement, do not use Auto-Assign on this board. How Auto-Assign works is described in Using and reviewing automatic planning.

An imported as-found state is a planning state, not a survey with measurements. What sits behind covers, where conductors run and whether protective devices are correctly rated are checked on site. The official AREI/RGIE inspection (keuring) is carried out by the accredited inspection body.

Which messages and limits apply?

You will find more general problems in Solve common problems. How PlanElec recognises floor plans from PDFs and images is covered in Recognise a floor plan with AI.