ETAP

Avantages

User friendly, flexibility to open. Abundant library files for each electrical components like relays, circuit breakers, etc., Running the program and easy understanding of the analysis at the finger tip of the user

Inconvénients

Hardlock dongle makes it difficult to enter the power plant in Middle east, instead it should have be software controlled dongle. In Middle east Power plants controlled by Military team it is not allowed to enter USB or pendrive or any external harddrive devices. Hence request to look into the solution of Software opening with softlock key.

Even though some of Library files are available with ETAP team, it is not send as a whole package with the latest Software version, need to request the same through the ticket.

When Arc Flash is running it takes couple of mins to come back to normal screen. Instead an progress bar display will help user to understand the estimated time to complete calculation.

Alternatives envisagées 

AutoCAD Architecture

Pourquoi passer à ETAP

ETAP provides comprehensive solutions for any analysis requirement in the electrical world. Its one stop shop for electrical engineers. Other competitors does not provide this. Mumbai ETAP support team is very good in resolving the tickets, especially Asavari & Uttam. Many thanks to these to personnel.

Avantages

- Etap has a wide variety of equipment that can be connected
- The help function is very well put together, for every single user interface window
- Highly customizable for reporting

Inconvénients

- Sometimes difficult to print a Single Line Diagram as intended
- VFDs typical show overloaded, even if the rating of the drive matches the motor, and that issue has not been resolved, as far as I know, even if it was pointed out several years ago
- Training from etap is a must to use the software properly, especially the case scenario options

Avantages

It can be used in power system stability analysis.

Inconvénients

defining standard between ANSI/IEC and measurement SI/English metric

Avantages

What i like about the software is that it is easy to use and update. We started using the ETAPApp so that field data collection is much faster and more efficient. Great addition to the software.

Inconvénients

Large projects typically take a long time to run. We currently have a 4,200 bus model that takes more than 5 hours to analyze for Arc Flash

Avantages

It is a great software. The final output product is very good.

Inconvénients

1. It is hard to use. It is hard to create a customized report and a customized border for the single lines. It's very hard to get our logo on the drawing let alone creating a general borer that could always be pulled up and the SLD would be inserted.
2. When we transfer files to customers, again it is not as easy as your competitor (Easy Power). Their software just save file and transfer. Your software you need to attach the library and ancillary files then transfer. Why is so hard.

Avantages

The software with its various modules is sufficiently versatile to cope with all of our applications. ETAP is regularly updated with new features and to the latest standards. Files can be exported in the format of some other softwares where our client requires such different software inputs. One day we would like to do a project using ETAP live.

Inconvénients

Adding circuit breakers and protection relays to the library takes time.

Avantages

The software is quite simple to use and ETAP keeps improving the interface. ETAP really listens to its costumers and makes lots of changes for the next upgrade.

Inconvénients

There are lots of modules that you can buy instead of making a bundle with all of the capabilities.

Avantages

ETAP is a very user friendly software. It is very useful & helpful tool for every electrical engineer. High level Calculations can be done very precisely & with high level of accuracy.

Inconvénients

Customisation of the ETAP library is least liked by me. ETAP Library should be more versatile.

Avantages

User friendly and thus easy to use than any other power system analysis softwares.

Inconvénients

Grounding system study is inferior than other competitor such as XGSLab, CDEGS. Main Ground Grid analysis of ETAP is suitable only for a simple soil condition. I experienced very difficult soil condition with resistivity in the range of 800-1500 Ohm-m which ETAP cannot help and Electricity Authority disapproved analysis using ETAP. Thus we have to seek for other software to solve the problem by modeling a customized grid conductor such as using clay covering bare copper conductor and analyze touch and step voltage.
Cables sizing calculation still has no capability to calculate according to IEC60287 standard which calculate from heat transfer theory. I have to purchase other software, CYMCAP, to calculate correctly. So ETAP is used for power system analysis only except cables sizing calculation and grounding system study.
Another cons is ETAP support. I experienced that sometime I found problem using ETAP in analyzing GCB, I asked ETAP for technical help but unfortunately EATP ignored my request and after several follow up I got a very simple words which is not any useful. I felt very bad with ETAP support team. I hope that ETAP support would be improved.

Avantages

TCC, Arc Flash and short circuit studies help keep facility personnel safe and help identify where changes are needed.

Inconvénients

Running large study wizards needs to be able to produce the reports at the end. It is extramely troublesome to have to generate EACH report from a 200+ node compressor station where you have 20+ configurations for studies that are scheduled to run. Also printing TCC with the elements shown in the curves needs to be easier.

Avantages

I like it the most how user friendly it is and that it gives me the comfort that the results are correct.

Inconvénients

There are a certain things that are different in this software compared to others. E.g. there is no "save as", only "copy project to" and you have to open it afterwards (if you want to work on the new project). And copy - paste is different than in any other software. It doesn't bother me anymore, but it's weird.

Avantages

Etap utilizes all of the components the model and integrates them all together so it is easy to go from one module to the next and still work with all data and information from other modules. "Star" systems is an example.

Inconvénients

Alignment and viewing results on the one-line can get crowded but it can be edited to view only the critical information.

Avantages

It is probably the most widely used power modeling software so it is easy to share with other users. All of its functions and device editors are "extremely" thorough offering an almost overwhelming number of study customization options. Overall, its use if fairly intuitive (but there is no substitute for attending a good old fashion class if you are a first time user). The online tutorials are excellent and tech support is great too.

Inconvénients

Like most software, ETAP does have some quirks that a user needs to learn either by peer coaching or through painful firsthand trial & error.

Avantages

ETAP is friendly to new user. And it covers all the required electrical calculation we may encounter in the work.
The technical support is good basically. We can always call technical support for help.

Inconvénients

The lower version ETAP can't open a higher version ETAP file. ETAP is updating new version while we may use various version.

Avantages

This software provides a very friendly interface and variety of tools that ease the process of design in our field. Also the customer service has always solved our questiones promptly.

Inconvénients

Several features and tools are limited or restrained unless you purchase the full package.

Avantages

The variability of the modules and options for running simulations are pretty extensive.

Inconvénients

Some of the initial modules are expensive, and in general the functionality and setup are not as intuitive as I would like.

Avantages

Lots of good options, can be difficult to understand these options.

Inconvénients

Must pay for each option, need training on these options..

Avantages

ETAP is a necessary tool for daily oil and gas engineering needs.

Inconvénients

We have no issues with this application.

Avantages

Short circuit and star device coordination

Inconvénients

Data base did not have enough info of iec rated devices and equipments

Avantages

The product is easy to use. Projects are quick to set up. Results are easy to interpret. Default values are helpful when equipment specific values are not available.

Inconvénients

The help function does not explain engineering concepts only how the value is required for ETAP. it would be helpful if engineering principles and concepts were explained

Avantages

modularity; updated machine models; better user support than other PSA's

Inconvénients

Cost and then again cost; etap isn't yet the top choice for T&D applications

Avantages

Arc flash, starting and load flow studies are easy to modelized and start to get a fast result.

Inconvénients

1- Problem with different tap changer for parralel application
2- Hard to customize a TCC curve

Avantages

Very Complete, lot of modules available. Great customer service, quick answers. Also quick to upgrade when there is change in IEEE, NFPA and other reference documentation. Great HELP functions.

Inconvénients

Price; quite expensive.
And as it is very complete, it is also complex, It akes a lot of time and practice to learn how to operate it. And if you are a long time without using it, it takes time again to get used to it again. Lot of parameters to configure for the different equipment.

Avantages

It has automatic steady state generation control of voltage and frequency, load forecasting and scheduling and helps save the energy and thus the money. It is from one of the best developers of electrical software- ETAP and hence very reliable.

Inconvénients

Its configuration requires detailed system knowledge. Inaccurate data or metering instruments such as CT, PT, etc. may lead to errors but that is true for other such software also.

Avantages

Cover all related topics for electrical issues

Inconvénients

No technical support in Egypt or periodic live Seminars