Dimensioning around/across corners?

[Comatosis]

Apologies if I suck at explaining this, but I'm wondering if there's an AutoCAD command to dimension lengths irrespective of angle changes.

 

The context is that, per code, I'm supposed to lay out electrical devices no more than 12ft apart within certain areas, so I would like to be able to maintain a distance of 12' between objects, even when turning corners.

 

Is this at all doable? Screenshot below, specifically the "dimensions" around the 4 corners. Any help is appreciated.

 

[Dana W]

Nobody measures around corners, ever. Stop the dims at the corner. This is the first time I have ever seen it attempted.

 

The requirement is at least one outlet in every 12 feet of wall. They don't have to be exactly 12 feet apart. They can be closer together than that if you like, but not more. Consider each wall separately, and consider what sort of furniture will be placed along the wall.

 

Most designers and architects place the outlets where furniture and electronics are likely to go for convenience, then plop one or two in the wide blank spaces to meet code.

 

Outlets a couple of feet, not 6, out of the corner are a good thing.

 

Come to think of it, I have never seen outlet locations dimensioned, unless they are for special pieces of cabinetry or furniture.

[ReMark]

Do NOT show dimensions around corners. Totally unacceptable. Anyway, if the person who has to review the drawing can't do simple math they have no business doing a review.

[Comatosis]

I'm not actually dimensioning anything; I just wanted to see if such a feature was even available, purely for reference purposes. My idea was to constrain some dimension or polyline to a corner such that the various component lengths never exceed 12 when added together.

 

Now I'm curious if this would be doable via autolisp or vba, though I suspect it isn't since you'd need some sort of real-time updating relative to my inputs, heh. Thanks for the info.

[BIGAL]

If you look into using plines and the VL GETPOINTATDIST it can work out the location of the power point along the pline based on a maximum spacing.

 

You move house and find out things, fairly new house, has an electric point for the gas heater, plumber comes along installs heater after electrician, you can not plug in the power cord as the heater is to close to the wall but meets heating code blocking power point, answer cut plug off and attach flat style plug and use two fingers to push in.

[ReMark]

The feature is NOT available. Do it the right way or don't do it at all. Let a professional take care of it.

[RobDraw]

Agreed that two dimensions should be used and do the math. I would use associative dimensions. Move the outlet, dim self adjusts, add the two numbers, boom, done.

[Dana W]

Don't overthink it. The electrician will do it the right way anyhow, (usually). He won't want the inspector jackin' his stuff. It looks bad at review time.

 

I spent a good twenty years in residential architectural drafting. Like I said, start with outlets placed for convenience to furniture locations (in general about 2 feet out of the corners) then fill in the blanks between them. The only outlets I ever dimensioned were those in microwave or built-in oven cabinets, and of course the "above finished floor height" for those in kitchens and bathrooms IF there were special height counters in there.