problem with sketchup energyplus plugin

asked 2016-10-03 09:37:56 -0500

lina91
101 ●3

updated 2016-10-03 10:19:36 -0500

Hello!!! I am a new user in Eenrgy plus and sketchup and I have been facing some problems. I have created a simple model in Sketch-up free version and have also installed the legacy open studio plug-in so that I can export the results to energy plus. When I open the energyplus input file nothing is assigned. To be more clear, what I have cretead in sketchup is 1. created an energyplus zone and 2. inside it I draw a simple house with 3 windows and a door. I want to assign materials to these elements but cannot find them in energyplus. do you know how I can do that? Should I download another extension of sketchup? I am rahter desperate so any help would be great

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How are you saving the file?

Adam Hilton ( 2016-10-03 11:26:25 -0500 )edit

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answered 2016-10-03 15:10:12 -0500

Annie Marston
4297 ●4 ●31 http://www.resustain.com

make sure you save your file in the openstudio plugin, if you are using legacy you can save it directly make sure when you save it you type ".idf" after your file name this makes it easier to open directly in E+

A couple of tips...

make sure that when you are drawing, your model has yellow walls and red/brown roofs. if you see any white surfaces you are not drawing in the plugin.
never, never save the sketchup version of your model. This always messes with it and creates all sorts of problems.
once you think your model is ready, save it in the plugin, close it and reload it, this way you can check all your surfaces etc.. are all in once place.

In legacy you can only assign constructions, not materials. There are two options here. Create your materials and constructions in idf editor, then reopen your model in the legacy plug in. In the plugin menu there is "default constructions". click this and a GUI will open allowing you to assign your constructions, you can chose the preset defaults or the constructions you have created in the idf editor The second option is to create constructions, using the same menu, there is a choice for "new construction stub" in there you can make a construction name and using the "default constructions" assign it to your model. you will need to put materials into this construction in the idf editor however.

Finally you can apply constructions individually to each wall, window etc.. by opening the "object info" GUI, double click on the surface you want to assign the construction to and you will have a drop down list of constructions you can use.

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Thanks Annie for the thorough answer! I would like to ask you something more...In energyplus I have to assign U values to my windows walls etc. which also consist of 3-4 different materials. When I manage to create them in IDF Editor how will sketchup recognise that my wall now will have these properties. I mean how do I assign them to the specific wall? Furthermore do you know how I put temperatures for the inside and outside?

lina91 ( 2016-10-04 05:00:30 -0500 )edit

once you have made your materials, you put them into your construction. when you open your model back up in the legacy plugin, the constructions you have made will appear in the drop down box in the object info. To assign them, click into your zone, click on the wall you want to assign the construction to and chose the construction from the drop down menu. EnergyPlus will calculate the temperatures on the inside and outside at each timestep in the simulation