What Is archelios CALC?
archelios CALC is the dedicated electrical sizing and verification software for photovoltaic installations developed by Trace Software International (Saint-Romain de Colbosc, France). While archelios PRO handles the 3D design, yield simulation, and economic analysis of PV projects, archelios CALC handles the complete electrical engineering calculations — from PV modules to grid connection — ensuring that the installation complies with applicable electrical standards.
archelios CALC covers the entire electrical chain of a PV installation:
- DC side: From PV modules through string combiner boxes to the inverter
- AC side: From the inverter output through protection devices, cables, and switchgear to the grid connection point
- Self-consumption systems: From PV modules through the inverter to the consumer electrical panel
The software performs real-time verification against NF C15-712 (French PV installation standard), IEC 60364 (international low-voltage installation standard), and other applicable regulations, flagging any non-compliance immediately during the design process.
archelios CALC is recognized and approved by APAVE, DEKRA, and SOCOTEC — the primary technical inspection agencies in France — confirming that its calculations meet the requirements for regulatory approval of PV installations.
archelios CALC vs. archelios PRO — Understanding the Suite
Trace Software’s archelios product family divides PV project work between two complementary tools:
| Aspect | archelios PRO | archelios CALC |
|---|---|---|
| Primary function | 3D design, simulation, yield calculation | Electrical sizing and compliance |
| Output | Yield reports, economic analysis, layout plans | Electrical schematics, calculation notes |
| Standards | Meteorological, IEC performance | NF C15-712, IEC 60364, electrical codes |
| Workflow position | Design and feasibility phase | Engineering and documentation phase |
| Users | Designers, developers, installers | Electrical engineers, installers, design offices |
Typical workflow: A project is designed in archelios PRO (3D modeling, module layout, yield simulation, economic feasibility) → then exported to archelios CALC for complete electrical dimensioning, compliance verification, and generation of electrical documentation (single-line schematics, calculation notes).
Projects can be imported from archelios PRO into archelios CALC with one click, preserving all component and layout data and eliminating the need to re-enter system parameters.
Core Electrical Calculation Capabilities
Complete DC and AC Cable Sizing
archelios CALC calculates appropriate cable cross-sections for every segment of the PV electrical installation:
DC side:
- String cables from modules to combiner box
- Combiner box output cables to inverter DC input
- Cable sizing accounting for maximum short-circuit current, temperature derating, installation method (conduit, tray, buried), and maximum voltage drop
AC side:
- Inverter AC output cable to main protection device
- Distribution cables to grid connection or consumer panel
- Voltage drop calculation per segment and cumulative voltage drop to verify compliance with standard limits
Cable sizing accounts for:
- Conductor material (copper/aluminum) and insulation type
- Ambient temperature and thermal derating factors
- Installation method derating (free air, conduit, buried, grouped cables)
- Short-circuit thermal withstand (adiabatic calculation)
Protection Device Sizing and Coordination
For every protection device in the installation, archelios CALC verifies:
Overcurrent protection (fuses and circuit breakers):
- Rated current selection appropriate for cable protection and equipment
- Breaking capacity verification — protection device must be able to interrupt the maximum prospective short-circuit current at its installation point
- Selectivity analysis — coordination between protection levels to ensure that only the closest device to a fault operates (selective tripping), minimizing outage extent
Residual Current Devices (RCDs):
- Selection for earth fault protection on AC circuits
- Type A, Type B (required for certain inverter types) specification
- Coordination with upstream protection
DC protection:
- String fuse sizing per IEC 60364-7-712
- DC surge protection device (SPD) selection
- DC isolator rating verification
Surge protection devices:
- Class I/II/III SPD selection for both DC and AC circuits
- Coordination between surge protection levels
Voltage Drop Calculation
archelios CALC calculates voltage drops throughout the installation and verifies compliance with standard limits:
- Per-segment voltage drop (DC strings, DC main cable, AC cable)
- Cumulative voltage drop from modules to grid connection
- Separate calculation for normal operation and maximum power point conditions
- Verification against NF C15-712 and IEC 60364-7-712 voltage drop limits
Short-Circuit Current Calculation
At every node in the installation, archelios CALC calculates:
- Maximum prospective short-circuit current (three-phase, phase-to-phase, phase-to-earth)
- Minimum fault current (for protection device sensitivity verification)
- Short-circuit current contributions from the grid (upstream network impedance) and from inverters (for fault current contribution models)
- Verification that all protection devices have sufficient breaking capacity
Lightning Risk Analysis
archelios CALC includes a lightning risk analysis module following IEC 62305:
- Site lightning flash density assessment based on location
- Risk calculation for the installation and connected structures
- Lightning protection level (LPL) determination
- SPD class recommendation based on calculated risk
- Protection zone analysis
Temperature and Fire Risk Assessment
The software addresses temperature-related design requirements:
- Site temperature profiles — extreme temperatures (summer maximum, winter minimum) used for thermal derating and equipment rating verification
- Fire risk category (BE2/BE3) — the software accounts for installations in premises with fire risk (BE2) or explosive atmosphere risk (BE3), applying the appropriate additional protection requirements per French regulations
- Cable temperature rise calculation under operating conditions
HV/LV Connection
For larger installations requiring high-voltage connection to the grid:
- MV/LV transformer sizing for grid injection
- HV cable sizing and protection
- Utility interface protection relay requirements
- HV/LV connection documentation for grid operator submission
Standards Compliance
archelios CALC performs verification against multiple applicable standards simultaneously:
French Standards
- NF C15-712-1 (2010 and 2013 editions) — Primary French standard for PV installations connected to low-voltage grid. Covers cable sizing, protection devices, earthing, and documentation requirements.
- NF C15-712 (2008 edition) — Previous edition, still referenced for legacy installations
- NF C15-100 — French adaptation of IEC 60364 for building electrical installations
International Standards
- IEC 60364-7-712 (2002) — International standard for Solar PV power supply systems, part of the IEC 60364 LV installation standard series
- IEC 60364 general low-voltage installation requirements
Self-Consumption Regulation
archelios CALC handles the specific calculation requirements for:
- Self-consumption installations (installations en autoconsommation)
- Total feed-in (vente totale)
- Surplus feed-in (revente du surplus)
- Grid connection documentation for ENEDIS (French grid operator) submission
What’s New in archelios CALC 2025/2026
Integration with archelios PRO 2025.1
The December 2025 release of archelios PRO 2025.1 brought improved export to archelios CALC — faster file transfers, simplified file management, and better handling of large and complex projects. This tightens the PRO → CALC workflow for engineering teams.
Enstall Mounting System Integration
archelios PRO 2025.1 introduced direct API connection to Enstall mounting system data, with the selected mounting system importable into archelios CALC for accurate structural and cable routing calculations.
New ELMAS Consumption Profiles
55,000 real measurements and 18 standard hourly consumption profiles for industrial and tertiary buildings have been added (France) — enabling more accurate self-consumption and cable sizing calculations based on realistic load profiles rather than standard assumptions.
Revit 2026 Plugin Compatibility
The archelios PRO Revit plugin (used to export BIM models into the archelios workflow) is now compatible with Revit 2026, maintaining continuity for engineering offices using the latest Autodesk tools.
Tier Structure — Which archelios CALC Do You Need?
archelios CALC is offered in tiers matching the scale of PV projects:
archelios CALC — Residential / Small Commercial
For self-consumption installations and small grid-connected systems. Covers:
- Electrical sizing per NF C15-712 and IEC 60364
- Single-phase and three-phase systems
- Standard protection coordination
- Complete calculation note for regulatory submission
archelios CALC — Large Systems / Industrial
For larger systems up to and beyond 1 MWp. Adds:
- High-voltage connection calculations
- Multiple inverter configurations
- More complex protection coordination scenarios
- Earthmoving and ground-mount infrastructure calculations (Platinum tier)
The archelios Suite — Full Product Overview
For context, the complete Trace Software archelios product family covers the full PV project lifecycle:
archelios PRO — 3D design and simulation
- Silver: up to 100 kWp per project (free tier available for up to 9 kWp)
- Gold: up to 1 MWp per project
- Platinum: unlimited power (utility-scale)
archelios CALC — Electrical sizing and compliance
- Sized to match the project scale tier of archelios PRO
archelios O&M — Operations and maintenance
- Post-installation monitoring, anomaly detection, maintenance scheduling
BIM Integration
- Revit plugin (updated for Revit 2026 in v2025.1)
- SketchUp plugin
- Allows import of architectural BIM models directly into archelios PRO for PV layout
archelios CALC vs. Manual Calculation Methods
Many installers and engineers in smaller markets still perform PV electrical sizing calculations manually in Excel or using generic electrical calculation tools not specifically designed for PV. archelios CALC addresses the specific limitations of this approach:
| Aspect | archelios CALC | Manual / Excel | Generic Electrical Software |
|---|---|---|---|
| NF C15-712 compliance check | ✅ Automatic real-time | Manual verification | ❌ Not PV-specific |
| IEC 60364-7-712 | ✅ | Manual | Partial |
| PV-specific factors (string current, Isc, temperature) | ✅ | Manual calculation | ❌ |
| Protection coordination for PV | ✅ | Time-consuming | Partial |
| Lightning risk (IEC 62305) | ✅ | Separate tool needed | ❌ |
| Single-line schematic generation | ✅ Automatic | Manual drafting | Varies |
| APAVE/DEKRA/SOCOTEC recognition | ✅ | Not applicable | ❌ |
| Export to calculation note (PDF) | ✅ | Manual formatting | Varies |
| Integration with 3D design tool | ✅ archelios PRO | ❌ | ❌ |
Who Uses archelios CALC?
- Electrical design offices producing technical documentation for PV permits and grid connection applications
- Solar installers in France and French-speaking markets who need APAVE/DEKRA/SOCOTEC-recognized calculation notes for project approval
- Solar developers handling compliance documentation for commercial and industrial rooftop projects
- Engineering consultants in markets using IEC 60364 standards (Europe, Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia)
- Architects and BIM engineers integrating PV systems into building designs with accurate electrical documentation
Frequently Asked Questions
Is archelios CALC the same as archelios PRO? No. They are complementary products. archelios PRO handles 3D design, yield simulation, and economic analysis. archelios CALC handles electrical sizing and compliance calculations. Both are part of the archelios suite and are designed to work together — PRO projects can be exported directly into CALC for electrical engineering.
Does archelios CALC work for projects outside France? Yes. While archelios CALC has the most depth for French NF C15-712 compliance, it also supports IEC 60364-7-712 which is used internationally. The software is distributed by Trace Software across Europe, Africa, South America, and Asia through regional distributors.
Is archelios CALC a standalone product or do I need archelios PRO? archelios CALC can be used standalone — you manually input system parameters (string configuration, inverter, cable routes). However, the most efficient workflow imports projects from archelios PRO, eliminating manual re-entry of system data.
What outputs does archelios CALC produce? The software generates: complete electrical calculation notes (PDF), single-line schematics (PDF/DXF), cable schedules, protection device schedules, and lightning risk reports — all in formats accepted by regulatory inspection bodies and grid operators.
Does archelios CALC handle battery storage systems? Yes. archelios CALC sizes the electrical components for PV + storage systems including the AC and DC cable connections between the battery inverter/charger and the main electrical panel.
Is archelios CALC cloud-based or desktop? archelios PRO is fully web-based (cloud). archelios CALC is a desktop application for Windows.
Summary
archelios CALC fills the critical gap between solar yield simulation (archelios PRO) and actual installation compliance — providing the complete electrical sizing calculations, standard verification, and regulatory documentation that PV projects require before installation can be approved and commissioned.
For engineering offices, installers, and developers working in markets with NF C15-712 or IEC 60364-7-712 compliance requirements, archelios CALC is the purpose-built tool for this phase of the project, recognized by the major technical inspection bodies (APAVE, DEKRA, SOCOTEC) that validate PV installations.
For licensing assistance or questions about archelios CALC, contact our team via Telegram: t.me/DoCrackMe
Related articles: archelios PRO — Complete Solar Design and Simulation Guide | archelios PRO vs PVsyst vs PV*SOL Premium — Which Solar Software? | NF C15-712 PV Installation Standard — What Engineers Need to Know
