SKM Power*Tools

SKM Power*Tools is electrical engineering software for studying power systems, including fault calculations, load flow, coordination, arc-flash hazards, motor starting, transient stability, reliability, harmonics, grounding, and cable pulling. Its integrated modules also cover equipment evaluation, cable ampacity, ANSI and IEC fault calculations, unbalanced systems, DC analysis, wiring, and data exchange. Arc Flash Evaluation calculates incident energy and the arc-flash boundary for each location. DAPPER provides a one-line interface, fault analysis, load flow, demand load, cable and transformer sizing, and panel schedules. Data Exchange handles tab-delimited, CSV, and SKM XML formats and interfaces with Autodesk Revit and Intergraph SmartPlant Electrical. The Windows desktop software works alongside SKM Mobile for iOS and Android, which can collect field data, review results, and share projects. Moving projects between mobile and PTW desktop requires MySKM Cloud; its subscription costs $1,500 a year, while the mobile app is listed at $299 a year. Cloud data is permanently deleted if renewal is missed.

Power*Tools covers a wide range of electrical system studies, with DAPPER and data-exchange capabilities alongside mobile field workflows. Mobile-to-desktop project exchange depends on an annually renewed cloud subscription, and missed renewal means permanent project-data deletion.

It suits electrical power engineers and organizations analyzing distribution systems in commercial, industrial, institutional, utility, or petrochemical facilities. Engineers who need field data collection and desktop project exchange should note the cloud subscription requirement.

Overview

SKM Power*Tools is electrical engineering software for analyzing and designing power-distribution systems, with desktop studies and a companion mobile workflow. It is best suited to power engineers working on commercial, industrial, institutional, utility, or petrochemical facilities who need a broad set of system-analysis tools. Its breadth is a strength, but mobile-to-desktop project exchange depends on a costly annual cloud subscription with a consequential renewal condition.

Key features

Power*Tools combines studies for fault calculations, load flow, coordination, arc-flash hazards, motor starting, harmonics, transient behavior, reliability, grounding, and cable pulling. That range makes it a fit for teams analyzing multiple aspects of a distribution system rather than buyers seeking a narrowly focused drafting tool. The Arc Flash Evaluation module calculates incident energy and the arc-flash boundary at each location; A_Fault performs calculations to ANSI C37 standards.

DAPPER supplies a one-line interface and library alongside fault analysis, load flow, demand load, cable and transformer sizing, and panel schedules. Its bus-count editions let buyers choose capacity, while unlimited components are included in each listed DAPPER plan. Data Exchange supports tab-delimited, CSV, and SKM XML files and interfaces with Autodesk Revit and Intergraph SmartPlant Electrical, useful for teams moving project information between those systems and Power*Tools.

SKM Mobile for iOS and Android supports field-data collection, review of study results, and project sharing. Projects can move between the app, MySKM Cloud, and PTW desktop software when the cloud subscription is active. Without it, users can still create and modify app projects, but cannot exchange projects with PTW desktop. Cloud permissions can distinguish read-only and read-write downloads, administration, and deletion; the tradeoff is that uploaded project data is permanently deleted if the annual subscription is not renewed.

SKM states that PTW follows recognized practices including IEEE 399, IEEE 141, IEEE 241, IEEE 242, IEEE 519, and UL 489. The company also says its technical support staff are electrical engineers, with more than 20 percent holding registered professional-engineer certifications. Recommended Windows desktop requirements include an Intel i7 processor, 8 GB RAM, a 120 GB or larger solid-state drive, and dual monitors.

Pricing

There is no free plan. The listed mobile and cloud charges are recurring, while DAPPER editions are one-time purchases:

• SKM Mobile App iOS/Android: $299 a year, billed $299/yr. This is the mobile app option for iOS and Android; full functionality requires a MySKM Cloud subscription.
• MySKM Cloud Subscription: $1,500 a year, billed $1500/yr, with annual renewal. Accounts are not transferable or shareable, and project data is permanently deleted if renewal is missed. This is the added cost and retention obligation for users who need mobile-to-desktop exchange.
• DAPPER 50 Bus: $2,450, paid once for 50 buses.
• DAPPER 100 Bus: $4,670, paid once for 100 buses.
• DAPPER 300 Bus: $5,890, paid once for 300 buses.
• DAPPER 1000 Bus: $8,570, paid once for 1,000 buses.
• DAPPER 2000 Bus: $11,050, paid once for 2,000 buses.
• DAPPER 5000 Bus: $17,160, paid once for 5,000 buses.
• DAPPER 12000 Bus: $24,500, paid once for 12,000 buses.

Every listed DAPPER edition includes unlimited components, a one-line interface, and DAPPER study modules. The lower bus caps suit smaller modeled systems; larger caps cost more but provide room for bigger networks. Buyers needing more than the DAPPER offering or other Power*Tools modules should confirm the appropriate license with SKM.

Platforms

Power*Tools is a Windows desktop product, and SKM Mobile is available on iOS and Android. Software downloads are accessed through My SKM credentials associated with a license; users who need an account linked to their license are directed to contact SKM.

Who it's for

Power*Tools is aimed at electrical engineers responsible for designing and analyzing three-phase distribution systems. Its study range and data-exchange interfaces make it a plausible choice for organizations with complex facilities and established engineering workflows. Mobile field work is useful when engineers need to collect data or review results away from the desktop, but the cloud cost and renewal-dependent data retention should be acceptable before adopting that workflow.

Pros and cons

• Pros: A wide collection of integrated studies covers fault analysis, arc flash, load flow, coordination, motor starting, harmonics, reliability, and more, reducing the need to assemble separate tools for each task.
• Pros: DAPPER pairs a one-line interface with sizing, panel schedules, and study modules, with multiple bus capacities and unlimited components.
• Pros: Data Exchange supports common tab-delimited and CSV formats as well as SKM XML, with Revit and SmartPlant Electrical interfaces.
• Cons: Full mobile project exchange requires both the mobile app plan and MySKM Cloud subscription, adding recurring costs to the desktop workflow.
• Cons: Missing annual cloud renewal permanently deletes uploaded project data, making renewal and project retention a material operational concern.
• Cons: DAPPER editions are limited by bus capacity, and the listed one-time prices rise substantially for larger models.

Alternatives

For a wider comparison of tools in this category, see Electrical Design Software. ProfiCAD is worth considering if a free plan and free trial matter more than Power*Tools' broad power-system study scope. Trimble Viewpoint Vista is an option for buyers considering cloud-hosted or on-premises deployments and willing to contact sales about pricing.

AutoCAD is another paid option, with a free trial and one-user monthly, annual, and three-year plans. ETAP may suit buyers comparing power-simulator subscriptions with annual or multi-year options. iCircuit is a lower-cost alternative for buyers whose needs fit a core app purchase at $12.99, paid once, with optional Pro plans for extra components.

Siemens Building X is an option for organizations seeking application or API subscriptions. TINA Design Suite offers educational and industrial editions. LabVIEW is worth considering for eligible personal, non-commercial users who want a free Community Edition.

Verdict

Choose SKM Power*Tools if your engineering team needs a broad suite of power-system studies, DAPPER's one-line workflow, and data exchange with Revit or SmartPlant Electrical. Its main advantage is the combination of analysis breadth and mobile field workflows; its main drawback is that desktop-mobile exchange carries a substantial annual cloud cost and permanent data-loss risk after missed renewal. Look elsewhere if your work needs only a simpler tool or if that cloud dependency is unacceptable.