Adding/modifying zones in detailed mode

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Hello,

I?ve done a significant amount of work in the Detailed Data Edit mode and
there was recently a design change with some space modifications. How can
I modify and add zones in detailed mode?

Thanks,

*Mike Campbell E.I.T., LEED AP O+M

MikeSSC's picture
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Joined: 2012-04-23
Reputation: 1

My favorite way is to go back to my archived wizard file, make the changes then File Import the plant and system components (& possibly constructions) which I extract from my current detailed interface model .inp

If the changes are minor, you can edit polygons in the detailed interface -- the trick is that your walls are associated with vertex number from the polygon. So, as you add verticies to the polygon you will the have to adjust the vertex number in the walls. (This is why it looks like the model "blows up" when you add a vertex).

It isn't easy either way but both are doable if you are careful. Good luck.
Brian Fountain

bfountain's picture
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Joined: 2011-09-30
Reputation: 201

Mike,

I prefer to avoid modifying space definitions once I get in DD edit mode. Maybe you can change interior walls to air walls, or modify interior loads, zone airflows etc. to approximate the design changes.

If you still feel it necessary to make changes, this is what I would do:

- Save-as the model to create a backup copy

- Save-as again to create a third copy of the model

- Go to wizard mode and make the zone definition changes/additions

- Switch to DD Edit mode and save the model

- You now have three models -the original model with all your DD edit changes, a backup of that model, and a new model with the correct zones but minus all the other work you did

o Working with a text editor and the input files of the original model and the new model, copy the new/modified spaces and zones from the new model to the original model.

o Any new definitions that were created with the new spaces/zones will also have to be copied. This includes polygons, surfaces, zonal systems etc.

o You might consider copying the entire sections in the input file for polygons and spaces to make it easier, but this will cause you to lose any DD edits you made to the spaces

o Likewise, you can copy the entire zones section of the input file, but you will lose your systems and zonal property changes that you made in DD edit mode.

- Once you finish copying from the new input file to the original one, save the original input file.

- Open the original model and don't be too disappointed when you get errors.

- If you can't correct all the errors, make a backup of your backup and start again with the input file exercise.

Regards,
Bill

[Senior Energy Engineer 28Jun2012]

Bill Bishop's picture
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Joined: 2012-02-25
Reputation: 7

If it's a question of modifying some space sizes, an easy way to do that in
the interface is using the geometry editor tool. It's the similar to the
utility that you use in the Wizard when you trace a CAD plan to develop
custom floor plan & zoning geometry. You'll have to be in the building
shell 2-D geometry tab. like so:

Normal view.

Select the space you want to modify shape/size, then click the shape view
mode button

You can then edit a zone. In the screenshot, I haven't selected a space, so
the building floor is highlighted. You can add/subtract vertices & move
them around.

Steven

Steven Savich's picture
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Joined: 2011-09-30
Reputation: 200

Steven,

This is pretty cool, I have looked at that menu bar for months not
knowing what it was used for. I have been trying to figure this out as
well over the past few days. Glad to see you have a solution.

Just playing around with my model I noticed that the create new (Floor,
Space, and Zone) are grayed out. However, if you manually add the items
in the Component tree then you can edit them using the method you
describe below.

I take back most of the bad things I said about eQUEST.

Byron Burns

Byron Burns's picture
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Joined: 2012-07-18
Reputation: 0

I tried changing the floor shape using this method and my zones ended up
moving all over the place. Any ideas why this might be?

*Mike Campbell E.I.T., LEED AP O+M

*From:* Byron Burns [mailto:B.Burns at ha-inc.com]
*Sent:* Friday, November 02, 2012 2:17 PM
*To:* ssavich at systemswestengineers.com; Bishop, Bill; Michael Campbell;
equest-users at lists.onebuilding.org
*Subject:* RE: [Equest-users] Adding/modifying zones in detailed mode

Steven,

This is pretty cool, I have looked at that menu bar for months not knowing
what it was used for. I have been trying to figure this out as well over
the past few days. Glad to see you have a solution.

Just playing around with my model I noticed that the create new (Floor,
Space, and Zone) are grayed out. However, if you manually add the items in
the Component tree then you can edit them using the method you describe
below.

I take back most of the bad things I said about eQUEST.

*Byron Burns*

*From:* equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org [
mailto:equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org]
*On Behalf Of *Steven Savich
*Sent:* Friday, November 02, 2012 1:44 PM
*To:* 'Bishop, Bill'; 'Michael Campbell'; equest-users at lists.onebuilding.org
*Subject:* Re: [Equest-users] Adding/modifying zones in detailed mode

If it's a question of modifying some space sizes, an easy way to do that in
the interface is using the geometry editor tool. It's the similar to the
utility that you use in the Wizard when you trace a CAD plan to develop
custom floor plan & zoning geometry. You'll have to be in the building
shell 2-D geometry tab. like so:

Normal view.

Select the space you want to modify shape/size, then click the shape view
mode button

You can then edit a zone. In the screenshot, I haven't selected a space,
so the building floor is highlighted. You can add/subtract vertices & move
them around.

Steven

*From:* equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org [
mailto:equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org]
*On Behalf Of *Bishop, Bill
*Sent:* Friday, November 02, 2012 10:32 AM
*To:* Michael Campbell; equest-users at lists.onebuilding.org
*Subject:* Re: [Equest-users] Adding/modifying zones in detailed mode

Mike,

I prefer to avoid modifying space definitions once I get in DD edit mode.
Maybe you can change interior walls to air walls, or modify interior loads,
zone airflows etc. to approximate the design changes.

If you still feel it necessary to make changes, this is what I would do:

- Save-as the model to create a backup copy

- Save-as again to create a third copy of the model

- Go to wizard mode and make the zone definition changes/additions

- Switch to DD Edit mode and save the model

- You now have three models -the original model with all your DD
edit changes, a backup of that model, and a new model with the correct
zones but minus all the other work you did

o Working with a text editor and the input files of the original model
and the new model, copy the new/modified spaces and zones from the new
model to the original model.

o Any new definitions that were created with the new spaces/zones will
also have to be copied. This includes polygons, surfaces, zonal systems etc.

o You might consider copying the entire sections in the input file for
polygons and spaces to make it easier, but this will cause you to lose any
DD edits you made to the spaces

o Likewise, you can copy the entire zones section of the input file, but
you will lose your systems and zonal property changes that you made in DD
edit mode.

- Once you finish copying from the new input file to the original
one, save the original input file.

- Open the original model and don?t be too disappointed when you
get errors.

- If you can?t correct all the errors, make a backup of your
backup and start again with the input file exercise.

Regards,

Bill

[image: Senior Energy Engineer 28Jun2012]

*From:* equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org [
mailto:equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org]
*On Behalf Of *Michael Campbell
*Sent:* Friday, November 02, 2012 11:36 AM
*To:* equest-users at lists.onebuilding.org
*Subject:* [Equest-users] Adding/modifying zones in detailed mode

Hello,

I?ve done a significant amount of work in the Detailed Data Edit mode and
there was recently a design change with some space modifications. How can
I modify and add zones in detailed mode?

Thanks,

*Mike Campbell E.I.T., LEED AP O+M

MikeSSC's picture
Offline
Joined: 2012-04-23
Reputation: 1

Were you adding vertices?

Editing can change the "insertion point" of the space WRT the parent floor.

Steven Savich's picture
Offline
Joined: 2011-09-30
Reputation: 200

Yes, I just had to change the vertices that were referenced by the zone,
which fixed the problem. I am currently working on creating new zones.

Thanks,

*Mike Campbell E.I.T., LEED AP O+M

*From:* Steven Savich [mailto:ssavich at systemswestengineers.com]
*Sent:* Friday, November 02, 2012 4:10 PM
*To:* 'Michael Campbell'; 'Byron Burns'; 'Bishop, Bill';
equest-users at lists.onebuilding.org
*Subject:* RE: [Equest-users] Adding/modifying zones in detailed mode

Were you adding vertices?

Editing can change the "insertion point" of the space WRT the parent floor.

*From:* Michael Campbell
[mailto:mike at sustainablesolutionscorporation.com]

*Sent:* Friday, November 02, 2012 12:16 PM
*To:* Byron Burns; ssavich at systemswestengineers.com; Bishop, Bill;
equest-users at lists.onebuilding.org
*Subject:* RE: [Equest-users] Adding/modifying zones in detailed mode

I tried changing the floor shape using this method and my zones ended up
moving all over the place. Any ideas why this might be?

*Mike Campbell E.I.T., LEED AP O+M

*From:* Byron Burns [mailto:B.Burns at ha-inc.com]
*Sent:* Friday, November 02, 2012 2:17 PM
*To:* ssavich at systemswestengineers.com; Bishop, Bill; Michael Campbell;
equest-users at lists.onebuilding.org
*Subject:* RE: [Equest-users] Adding/modifying zones in detailed mode

Steven,

This is pretty cool, I have looked at that menu bar for months not knowing
what it was used for. I have been trying to figure this out as well over
the past few days. Glad to see you have a solution.

Just playing around with my model I noticed that the create new (Floor,
Space, and Zone) are grayed out. However, if you manually add the items in
the Component tree then you can edit them using the method you describe
below.

I take back most of the bad things I said about eQUEST.

*Byron Burns*

*From:* equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org [
mailto:equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org]
*On Behalf Of *Steven Savich
*Sent:* Friday, November 02, 2012 1:44 PM
*To:* 'Bishop, Bill'; 'Michael Campbell'; equest-users at lists.onebuilding.org
*Subject:* Re: [Equest-users] Adding/modifying zones in detailed mode

If it's a question of modifying some space sizes, an easy way to do that in
the interface is using the geometry editor tool. It's the similar to the
utility that you use in the Wizard when you trace a CAD plan to develop
custom floor plan & zoning geometry. You'll have to be in the building
shell 2-D geometry tab. like so:

Normal view.

Select the space you want to modify shape/size, then click the shape view
mode button

You can then edit a zone. In the screenshot, I haven't selected a space,
so the building floor is highlighted. You can add/subtract vertices & move
them around.

Steven

*From:* equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org [
mailto:equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org]
*On Behalf Of *Bishop, Bill
*Sent:* Friday, November 02, 2012 10:32 AM
*To:* Michael Campbell; equest-users at lists.onebuilding.org
*Subject:* Re: [Equest-users] Adding/modifying zones in detailed mode

Mike,

I prefer to avoid modifying space definitions once I get in DD edit mode.
Maybe you can change interior walls to air walls, or modify interior loads,
zone airflows etc. to approximate the design changes.

If you still feel it necessary to make changes, this is what I would do:

- Save-as the model to create a backup copy

- Save-as again to create a third copy of the model

- Go to wizard mode and make the zone definition changes/additions

- Switch to DD Edit mode and save the model

- You now have three models -the original model with all your DD
edit changes, a backup of that model, and a new model with the correct
zones but minus all the other work you did

o Working with a text editor and the input files of the original model
and the new model, copy the new/modified spaces and zones from the new
model to the original model.

o Any new definitions that were created with the new spaces/zones will
also have to be copied. This includes polygons, surfaces, zonal systems etc.

o You might consider copying the entire sections in the input file for
polygons and spaces to make it easier, but this will cause you to lose any
DD edits you made to the spaces

o Likewise, you can copy the entire zones section of the input file, but
you will lose your systems and zonal property changes that you made in DD
edit mode.

- Once you finish copying from the new input file to the original
one, save the original input file.

- Open the original model and don?t be too disappointed when you
get errors.

- If you can?t correct all the errors, make a backup of your
backup and start again with the input file exercise.

Regards,

Bill

[image: Senior Energy Engineer 28Jun2012]

*From:* equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org [
mailto:equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org]
*On Behalf Of *Michael Campbell
*Sent:* Friday, November 02, 2012 11:36 AM
*To:* equest-users at lists.onebuilding.org
*Subject:* [Equest-users] Adding/modifying zones in detailed mode

Hello,

I?ve done a significant amount of work in the Detailed Data Edit mode and
there was recently a design change with some space modifications. How can
I modify and add zones in detailed mode?

Thanks,

*Mike Campbell E.I.T., LEED AP O+M

MikeSSC's picture
Offline
Joined: 2012-04-23
Reputation: 1

I am trying to model a single detached residential house.

Is it necessary to model the living room, kitchen etc on the main floor and so forth. I am having difficulty doing so in "custom zoning" in eQuest. Would I be able to get the same results in my simulations if I just modelled the house as a Single Rectangle, with the correct schedules for occupency and thermostat? Or is that an oversimplification which will cause %errors.

(I was assuming since eQuest uses conservation of energy, and since residential houses are less than 4000 sq ft, this will be the way to go. Is this an oversimplification of the floor plan for each floor for a residential single detached house?

thanks!

regards,

Jay

meneedhelp's picture
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Joined: 2012-06-03
Reputation: 0