In Autodesk Revit Electrical Design, a lighting device (switch) must be associated with lighting fixtures through a switch system, not through electrical circuits. Switch systems are independent of lighting circuits and wiring, as they are intended to represent the control relationship between a light switch and the lighting fixtures it operates.
According to the Autodesk Revit MEP User’s Guide (Chapter 17 – Electrical Systems, pages 475–478), the official method is described under “Creating a Switch System.”
“You can assign lighting fixtures to specific switches in a project.
The switch system is independent of lighting circuits and wiring.”
(Revit MEP User’s Guide, p. 475)
“To create a switch system:
Select one or more lighting fixtures in a view, and clickModify | Lighting Fixtures tab ➤ Create Systems panel ➤ Switch.
Click Switch Systems tab ➤ System Tools panel ➤ Edit Switch System.
Click Add to System, and select one or more lighting fixtures.
Click Select Switch, and select a switch in the drawing area.
Click Finish Editing System.”**(Revit MEP User’s Guide, p. 476)
How It Works:
The switch system links a lighting device (switch) with lighting fixtures, enabling Revit to manage how light fixtures respond to specific switches.
Unlike electrical circuits, which define power flow and load connections to panels, the switch system defines control logic (which lights are turned on/off by which switch).
The designer begins by selecting the switch and then adding lights to its system, ensuring all lights associated with that switch are grouped correctly.
Supporting Extract from Revit Documentation:
“You can also create a lighting switch system by right-clicking the connector for a lighting fixture and clicking Create Switch System.”
(Revit MEP User’s Guide, p. 475)
“Add lighting fixtures to the switch system…
Click Select Switch and select a switch in the drawing area.”
(Revit MEP User’s Guide, p. 476)
“The switch system is independent of lighting circuits and wiring.”
(Revit MEP User’s Guide, p. 475)
Conclusion:
To associate a lighting device (switch) with light fixtures in a Revit electrical model, the designer must create a switch system. This is done by selecting the switch, then adding the desired lighting fixtures to that system using the Add to System and Select Switch tools under the Switch Systems tab.
