How do I solve common problems in PlanElec?

Almost every block in PlanElec states its own cause: a scale that has not been confirmed, a device without a circuit, an open point before the release copy, an incomplete cable route, a module without a place on a rail, a sync state, a reached AI limit or a browser without WebGL. This page maps each message to its cause in the software and walks you to the fix step by step. You need a project open in the studio. When a message disappears, PlanElec no longer sees the issue in the data you entered. The professional review of the installation and the keuring, the official Belgian inspection by an approved body, remain separate.

Which problem do you have?

Why can’t I import the recognised floor plan?

AI floor-plan recognition only imports walls and rooms once the scale is confirmed. If something is missing, the run shows Input needed with “The plan needs more input before it can be applied, usually the scale. Please check and add it.” The Scale section of the Recognition panel then reads: “Without a confirmed scale the import stays blocked.”

To unblock the import:

1. Open the Recognition panel in the studio. The Scale section shows where the scale comes from, for example From dimension lines, From the PDF scale or Two points, measured by you, plus the anchors used, in metres.
2. If the scale is missing or PlanElec reports “The room areas printed on the plan do not match the scale. Please measure a known length.”, open Correct draft and choose Measure distance. Mark two points on a known distance, enter its length in metres and choose Save draft.
3. Check a second known length on the plan. If it matches, choose Confirm scale. Success criterion: the section shows Scale confirmed.
4. Choose the Target floor at the bottom of the panel. “The target floor must be empty.” If it is not, PlanElec reports “The target floor is not empty.” Create an empty floor or choose another one.
5. Choose Import. The import is a single undo step.

If you work without AI from an imported template, the layer workbench shows “No scale yet” in the Scale step until you calibrate. Pick two points on a known distance there, or choose Calibrate in the toolbar, then finish with Done. Details: Import and calibrate a floor plan and Recognise a floor plan with AI.

Recognition delivers a proposal. Check dimensions, wall lines and room boundaries against the original plan yourself before electrical planning.

What if the PDF has several pages or is not recognised?

When you start on an empty floor with Recognise the plan automatically, PlanElec files the document in the project’s document folder. For a multi-page PDF, PlanElec does not guess a page. You see “The plan has {count} pages. Pick the one with the floor plan in the preview.” and the Project file preview opens.

1. In the Project file preview, go to the page with the floor plan.
2. Choose Recognise floor plan. Recognition runs for that page only.
3. Check the result in the Recognition panel as described above.

For architect plans with several floors on one sheet, mark one area per floor plan during import: Separate several floor plans on one sheet.

Why does a device not appear in the single-line diagram?

The single-line diagram draws each circuit from its protective device, with the loads connected to it. A device you placed on the floor plan but assigned to no circuit has no such path, so it does not appear yet. The self-check reports it as “"{name}" is not connected”, and Installation lists the task “{count} devices without a circuit”.

1. Open Installation. With nothing selected, the side panel shows the open tasks.
2. For the devices without a circuit, choose Assign automatically. The automatic-planning preview shows the circuit and protective device for each one; you apply it deliberately.
3. For a targeted assignment, select the device and use Assign circuit.
4. Open Single-line diagram. Success criterion: the device sits under its circuit.

Do not create the device a second time to see it in the diagram. It stays the same object in floor plan, installation and diagram.

Two related messages:

• “{name}: board open” means: electrically connected but not yet assigned to a distribution board. Form board opens the preview. The export then shows “Distribution-board assignment is open. Complete the installation.”
• “Consumer {reference} is not placed on the situation plan” is the reverse case: the device exists electrically but has no symbol on the situation plan. For the situation-plan export the message is “Place missing devices on the situation plan”.

More: Assign an existing floor-plan device and Automatic planning.

Why is “Create release copy” disabled?

In Export, each document has a card with a status and two routes: Download draft always gives you a PDF marked as a draft, as soon as the document has content. Create release copy only becomes active when no blocker is open for that document. The header sums this up as Draft documents and Final submission, each with Ready to export or Not ready yet.

To find the blocker:

1. Open Export. Below each card’s status, the first open point is shown as a link.
2. Click it. PlanElec switches to the view where you fix it.
3. Fix the point and return to Export. The next blocker moves up until Create release copy is active.
4. If only warnings remain, “Confirm warnings for this release” appears. With Confirm warnings and archive, they become part of the stored release copy.

Common blockers in a new project:

Mark diagram as reviewed stays disabled while findings are open: “Resolve the outstanding validation findings before marking the diagram as reviewed.” The Warnings button next to it jumps to the first open finding.

Self-check errors and warnings: an error, missing input or a rule that could not be evaluated blocks the release copy. A warning does not block; it appears as a warning you confirm. You read the findings in the Analysis panel under Warnings · Validation.

If you have just changed something, the card shows “Local changes have not been saved yet. You can already download a draft.” The release copy follows once the state is saved. More: Export documents and What the self-check verifies.

Why is a switch or a light marked in orange?

Orange has one of two meanings in PlanElec, depending on the view: on the floor plan, a device with an orange dot is not yet linked to the installation, and a line or symbol drawn entirely in orange simply carries the colour of its circuit. Self-check findings do not colour any symbol in the Single-line diagram: they appear as a small marker at the corner of the symbol, a red circle with “!” for an error and a yellow triangle with “!” for a warning.

Notes get no marker on the symbol and only appear in the findings list. This includes the recommendation to put a time-delayed type S RCD upstream of a 30 mA RCD (selectivity): it is a good-practice recommendation based on IEC 60364-5-53, not an AREI requirement for residential installations.

How to find the reason:

1. In the Single-line diagram, tap or click the marker on the symbol. The findings list opens with all findings for that element, each with its reason and a suggestion. The small legend at the top right of the diagram explains the markers.
2. If you click a finding in the findings list, the single-line diagram jumps to the element and briefly highlights it. You also read all findings in the Analysis panel under Warnings · Validation.
3. An orange dot on the floor plan turns green as soon as the device is linked to the installation, for example by assigning it to a circuit: see Device without a circuit.
4. You switch the Color mode between Circuit and Symbol type in the symbol legend: on the floor plan via Layers in the left rail, in the single-line diagram via the Symbol legend button.

If the self-check is switched off for the project, the single-line diagram shows no check markers: see Self-check off. The 3D view and the PDF export show no check markers.

When should you switch off the self-check for a project?

The AREI self-check (AREI is the Belgian electrical installation regulation, RGIE in French) can be switched off per project. It is meant for professionals who document an existing, non-compliant installation as a baseline. For new planning it stays on.

1. Open the project menu (logo, top left) → Project settings… → General.
2. Switch off AREI self-check.
3. In the “Switch off self-check?” dialog, choose for example Document existing installation as baseline under Reason (optional), then confirm with Switch off.
4. Success criterion: the studio shows the Self-check off notice.

Through the Self-check off notice and Switch on self-check you return to the normal state at any time.

Why is a cable length missing or does it say “Route incomplete”?

PlanElec determines a cable’s length in this order: a measured length you enter takes precedence. Otherwise the length of the drawn route applies. If the route is not continuous, PlanElec does not output an estimate but shows Route incomplete. Without a length, the self-check reports “Cable "{label}" — length missing for exact ΔU calculation”.

Completing the route:

1. On the situation plan, open Linking & cabling → Cable route.
2. Choose Auto-route all for the active floor, or click a cable to edit its waypoints.
3. For a cable between floors, choose Choose stair, shaft or riser and then Route via connector.
4. Success criterion: the length in metres replaces Route incomplete.

Entering a measured length, for example in an existing installation:

1. Select the cable in the cable route or in the single-line diagram.
2. Open Edit cable type and conductors.
3. Enter Measured length (m) and choose Save cable details.

The measured length feeds the cable list and the voltage-drop calculation; the route’s geometric value is kept for comparison. More: Plan and edit cable routes.

Why are modules listed under “Unassigned modules”?

A module that exists in the project but does not sit on any DIN rail yet appears at the top of the distribution board under Unassigned modules, with the note “Present in the diagram, but not assigned to a DIN rail yet.” This happens, for example, when a protective device is created in the single-line diagram or in the installation. If you select it in another view, PlanElec says: “This module is not placed yet. Find it in the unplaced modules tray.”

1. Open Distribution board for the board concerned.
2. In the Unassigned modules bar, click the module (Place). PlanElec puts it on the next free slot.
3. If PlanElec reports “There is no free space in the assigned cabinet.”, first free up space on the rows or review the enclosure planning of the board.
4. Success criterion: the bar disappears once no module is left open.

For the distribution-board PDF, an unplaced module is a blocker: “Place missing modules on the DIN rails”. More: Specify modules and enclosure.

What do the save and sync messages mean?

Your save state is shown by the round status icon in the status bar at the bottom right. A click opens the details: save status, offline readiness and connection.

Load server version replaces the local changes of this session with the saved project. Download the backup first if you want to keep them. Other tabs retain their local changes.

What if the AI allowance or the daily limit is reached?

AI features have two limits: daily per-user limits for floor-plan recognition (30 runs) and distribution-board recognition from photos (20 runs), and your account’s AI allowance, which all AI features share, including floor-plan recognition, distribution-board recognition from photos and the PlanElec assistant.

Your balance is shown in the user menu (your profile picture) under AI allowance as “{percent}% available”, and in the settings under AI and data permissions. Below it you see the day it refills: the allowance renews every calendar month, and unused allowance does not carry over. “Your AI allowance for this month has been used up.” means no AI runs are available until that day. Failed analyses charged by the provider also use allowance.

Without AI you can still plan everything: import the plan as a template and trace it, place devices from the palette, place modules in the distribution board. On the assistant: Studio activity and assistant. On photo recognition: Recognise a distribution board from a photo.

Why does the 3D view only show a notice?

The 3D view needs WebGL in the browser. If it is missing or the 3D view fails to start, PlanElec replaces the scene with an explained notice. The situation plan remains fully usable in 2D.

PlanElec only offers the split 2D + 3D view in a wide desktop window. On a phone you choose between 2D and 3D. More: 3D view and lighting study.

Your problem is not listed?

Start with the flow in Getting started: many blocks clear once the situation plan, installation, distribution board and single-line diagram are complete, in that order. Then check the open findings in the Analysis panel and, in Export, the first blocker of each document.