Load Calcs, software, etc

[willsee]

I'm looking into doing load calcs and energy simulations where would be the best place to start?  I'm an electrical engineer so this isn't my bag completely but I want to learn since I deal with HVAC guys.

I know Trane offers software for a price and EQuest is free then online their appears to be a variety of options.  Which is the most user friendly and is there any way an electrical person can learn this on his own?

Edit: I wouldn't object to paying for online training seminar if it provided the information either.  Or I wonder if a local firm would charge me per hour to teach me?

 

[P-E]

I'm looking into doing load calcs and energy simulations where would be the best place to start?  I'm an electrical engineer so this isn't my bag completely but I want to learn since I deal with HVAC guys.

I know Trane offers software for a price and EQuest is free then online their appears to be a variety of options.  Which is the most user friendly and is there any way an electrical person can learn this on his own?

Edit: I wouldn't object to paying for online training seminar if it provided the information either.  Or I wonder if a local firm would charge me per hour to teach me?

Definately Trane Trace 700.  I did energy simulations for 10 yrs. 

equest is more difficult but better

if you have questions I might be able to help. 

 

[willsee]

So i've been playing around with Equest and I've built a model for a completed building.  So this building was designed and built not using a model or anything, is there anyway to compare what was designed and installed vs ASHRAE 90.1-2001?  Is there a button for that or do I make changes to the systems to equal 90.1 then run a comparison simulation?

 

[P-E]

I used to run two separate models.  That was 10 years ago.  There could be a shortcut like that now.  Kind of doubt it though.  However, I think there is a scenario function that may save you time by allowing you to change some items and stay in the same file.  

 

[willsee]

Yeah they have simulations to keep the same building and allows you to change different variables to compare.  I was hoping for the "easy" button.

 

[Audi Driver P.E.]

Mechanical load calculations?  Oh, you're talking HVAC stuff.  Never mind me.

 

[MetsFan]

I used Carrier HAP for an energy simulation a while back and it worked pretty well.  If I remember correctly, I had to copy the project to a new "90.1" project and then change the schedules using Carrier's own 90.1 schedules.  You can see some of that here:

http://dms.hvacpartners.com/docs/1004/public/03/hap_ehelp_014.pdf