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<font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">Hi Nick and Nick,<br>
I have spent a year or so using E-Quest and a decade using different
forms of the DOE engine and other various modelling programs. I also
have 20 years with ASHRAE. I'm not an expert with E-quest but have
spent some crazy hours on it. I only recent discovered this forum and
for a year toiled in darkness. I will insert my comments below.<br>
</font><br>
Nick Caton wrote:
<blockquote
cite="mid:FCEBC0C28321F7479789B25A13030F69DD50F7@sandbinc2.sbi.smithboucher.com"
type="cite">
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<div class="Section1">
<p class="MsoNormal">Hi Nick (I like your name!),<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’m an intermediate learner and user of eQuest
(not an
expert/developer), so your perspective may match mine some months down
the
road. Here’s my short/sweet answers – obviously different for
others but here we go:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span
style="color: red;">…
I only use the schematic wizard or DD wizard for monthly energy
estimates,
because I do not understand the detailed inputs and how it works, but I
would
like to. <br>
</span></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<font color="#009900">I always start with the SD and an Autocad
drawing. Get the basics in (geometry and basic construction) and let
the program size everything. Size windows and doors on percentages,
standard everything. The initial key is to get the program running and
not freezing. Look at the error reports and fix them, or at least the
one which matter. Some of the errors are not really errors. Once that
is looking good do a save as and start a new branch. Get into the DD
and start tweaking. One at a time, save and start a new branch each
time.</font><br>
<blockquote
cite="mid:FCEBC0C28321F7479789B25A13030F69DD50F7@sandbinc2.sbi.smithboucher.com"
type="cite">
<div class="Section1">
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span
style="color: red;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I use eQuest primarily as an energy modeling
tool, and only
rarely as a design (loads calculation) tool. eQuest is great for
making
energy-concious design decisions (i.e. will option A or B save me more
$$/yr?),
and powerful with regards to modeling for LEED and such, but it’s a big
clunker if all you need are loads to size equipment. I started with
the
same thoughts as you, but now regard the wizards as a tremendous
time-saver to
set yourself up for “real” work in the detailed mode.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span
style="color: red;">Are most
people using these wizards and then get into the detailed<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span
style="color: red;">modeling or
do you go straight into detailed parametric modeling?</span></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<font color="#009900">I use it initially to size systems, basic heat
loss for the building, and then start dealing with ASHRAE 62.1. It
will dominate all loads. Still let the program size everything. Start
your zoning. Everything in incremental steps, save and branch before
each new step. I do not recommend going straight to detailed
modelling. The program is quirky and doesn't like certain things or
methods. If it crashes your error messages are limited and cryptic.
You could easily get 20 to 40 hours into a building detail and the
program won't run. You can then spend half that trying to figure out
what is wrong. If you can't, you go back to square one. Been there
done that. It is smarter to have a saved tail, you only have to go
back a step or two and work out the difficulty. Preserve the file,
start a new branch. Remember this program is huge and complex and very
picky. It produces 500+ pages of data. One major error and it
freezes. Keep it running!<br>
</font>
<blockquote
cite="mid:FCEBC0C28321F7479789B25A13030F69DD50F7@sandbinc2.sbi.smithboucher.com"
type="cite">
<div class="Section1">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span
style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For a complex model, I use the DD or SD wizards
to the
fullest extent, then spend most of my time tweaking things within the
detailed
mode for most projects. I occasionally spend a small amount of time
delving
into typing stuff up in the .inp file to account for specific things,
but I
didn’t begin picking that up until I had a number of projects under my
belt.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span
style="color: red;">…do
you get into detail modeling of the building with all spaces<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span
style="color: red;">and zones…</span></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<font color="#009900">You go as complex as the job requires. I so far
have managed to stay out of tweaking the .inp file. I prefer to
tweak/trick the program using the DD. There are many ways to skin a
cat, you just have to find the way the program accepts your input to
get your tweak. There are many run arounds mentioned in the forum to
accomplish different tasks. Remember this program is evolving. It is
state of the art but that is changing fast.</font><br>
<blockquote
cite="mid:FCEBC0C28321F7479789B25A13030F69DD50F7@sandbinc2.sbi.smithboucher.com"
type="cite">
<div class="Section1">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span
style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I try to model as much of the geometries as I
can in the
wizards. I have edited/created geometries/rooms/zones/etc… after
the fact (it’s not as hard as it seems). It is unquestionably
faster and less prone to error within the wizards however.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span
style="color: red;">…or
do you generalize the building zones as the tutorial recommends…</span></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<font color="#009900">Yes, start simple, go to complex.</font><br>
<blockquote
cite="mid:FCEBC0C28321F7479789B25A13030F69DD50F7@sandbinc2.sbi.smithboucher.com"
type="cite">
<div class="Section1">
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span
style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Yes. Same overriding concept as any loads calc
program
(like HAP).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span
style="color: red;">and is
it worthwhile to import autoCAD files to help model<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span
style="color: red;">the
building?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Absolutely.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<font color="#009900">The only way to go. Input points anti-clock wise.</font><br>
<blockquote
cite="mid:FCEBC0C28321F7479789B25A13030F69DD50F7@sandbinc2.sbi.smithboucher.com"
type="cite">
<div class="Section1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span
style="color: red;">Can you
compare several different building models in the<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span
style="color: red;">same file
and show comparison reports? <br>
</span></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<font color="#009900">Not sure, haven't tried that feature yet. I have
lately been taking my data to a spread sheet to compare various
models. Each model in my branches represents a different concept or
trial. This will be my next ordeal by fire. Basically you just have
to work with the program and experiment. It is a great tool! Lots of
back-ups so you don't have to back track too far when things crash.<br>
Bruce Easterbrook P.Eng.<br>
Abode Engineering </font><br>
<blockquote
cite="mid:FCEBC0C28321F7479789B25A13030F69DD50F7@sandbinc2.sbi.smithboucher.com"
type="cite">
<div class="Section1">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span
style="color: red;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I haven’t fully grasped yet the
potential/limitations
of the parametric reports feature, but for comparing different systems
and such
I generally create two different files (preserving the effort put into
the
geometries by saving a copy and going backwards in the second file).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hope this helps,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">~Nick<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img id="Picture_x0020_1"
src="cid:part1.04090101.06000304@bellnet.ca"
alt="cid:489575314@22072009-0ABB" height="37" width="119"><b><span
style="font-family: "Stylus BT","sans-serif"; color: rgb(45, 77, 94);"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
style="font-family: "Stylus BT","sans-serif"; color: rgb(45, 77, 94);"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
style="font-family: "Stylus BT","sans-serif"; color: rgb(45, 77, 94);">NICK
CATON, E.I.T.</span></b><b><span
style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Stylus BT","sans-serif"; color: rgb(45, 77, 94);"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoPlainText">-----Original Message-----<br>
From: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:equest-users-bounces@lists.onebuilding.org">equest-users-bounces@lists.onebuilding.org</a>
[<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="mailto:equest-users-bounces@lists.onebuilding.org">mailto:equest-users-bounces@lists.onebuilding.org</a>] On Behalf Of
Nicholas
Couture, LEED AP<br>
Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 2:40 PM<br>
To: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:equest-users@lists.onebuilding.org">equest-users@lists.onebuilding.org</a><br>
Subject: [Equest-users] eQuest Project Methodology<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">Good Afternoon eQuest users,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">I have a general question that I am wondering
what is the
method that<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">people are using to model with eQuest. For
example
I have done a couple<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">projects in it (always with a backup in HAP),
and I only
use the<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">schematic wizard or DD wizard for monthly
energy
estimates, because I do<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">not understand the detailed inputs and how it
works, but
I would like<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">to. Are most people using these wizards and
then
get into the detailed<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">modeling or do you go straight into detailed
parametric
modeling? Can<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">you and do you get into detail modeling of
the building
with all spaces<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">and zones, or do you generalize the building
zones as the
tutorial<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">recommends, and is it worthwhile to import
autoCAD files
to help model<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">the building? Can you compare several
different
building models in the<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">same file and show comparison reports? I
have found
that the EEM wizard<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">is limited to modifying one system. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">Any responses on all facets of the program
are
welcome. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">Nick Couture, LEED AP<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">Jr. Mechanical Engineer <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">3555 Veteran's Memorial Highway, Suite M<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">Ronkonkoma, NY 11779<o:p></o:p></p>
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