|
|
Bill Neukranz
Veteran Member
Posts:1103
 |
| 13 May 2011 11:24 PM |
|
I don't have a recommendation. I used Adobe Photoshop for my system picture ( at http://www.welserver.com/WEL0043/ ). It allowed my to easily insert pictures and to easily generate a 256 or less color png file. But, I solely used PS only because it's what I was familiar with. It's probably one of the more complicated programs to learn versus other graphics programs on the market today. I'm sure there's easier programs to use. Best regards, Bill |
|
Energy reduction & monitoring</br>
American Energy Efficiencies, Inc - Dallas, TX <A
href="http://www.americaneei.com">
(www.americaneei.com)</A></br>
Example monitoring system: <A href="http://www.welserver.com/WEL0043"> www.welserver.com/WEL0043</A>
|
|
|
decafdrinker
Basic Member
Posts:420
|
| 14 May 2011 06:14 AM |
|
I used MS Paint, plus a combination of cutting and pasting images from google. But then in order to assure 256 PNG,I loaded the picture into Photoshop and saved it "for the web" in PNG format. There's probably other BMP to PNG convertor programs. I just had Photoshop lying around, and Paint was perfect for my simple diagram.
http://www.welserver.com/WEL0487
Bill - Thanks for the programming advice about exponentially weighted moving averages!! |
|
|
|
|
Fin_NSCC
New Member
Posts:4
|
| 16 May 2011 10:47 AM |
|
Thanks for the help guys. I've decided to go with MS Paint to draw the components. A friend of mine who is an engineer suggested I use Visio to draw the pipe runs and just import my component graphics.
I have an unrelated question as well, does anyone know who makes a good flow meter? I need a pulse sensor I can stick in line with the flow that is compatible with the WEL.
Thanks! |
|
|
|
|
Bill Neukranz
Veteran Member
Posts:1103
|
| 17 May 2011 09:33 AM |
|
Posted By Fin_NSCC on 16 May 2011 10:47 AM
... I've decided to go with MS Paint to draw the components. A friend of mine who is an engineer suggested I use Visio to draw the pipe runs and just import my component graphics.
... does anyone know who makes a good flow meter? I need a pulse sensor I can stick in line with the flow that is compatible with the WEL.
BTW, don't underestimate the value of a good hand drawn picture as a starting point until you're comfortable with everything. Doing this allows for plenty of changes (via your pencil's eraser) until the picture 'settles in' to what makes sense. Then you spend the time (a lot) to get it more professional looking. For example, take a look at http://www.welserver.com/WEL0515/ . Here's the beginning picture, hand drawn, for a project starting up (multiple WEL units, not installed yet) on a 100 ton package unit. While I'll eventually change this over to a s/w drawn diagram, for now, as changes are happening, it's easy for me to make the changes very quickly for the project. WRT flow meters: Any flow meter that has a pulse output should be compatible with the WEL. I commonly recommend looking at Clark units ( http://www.clarksol.com ). Best regards, Bill |
|
Energy reduction & monitoring</br>
American Energy Efficiencies, Inc - Dallas, TX <A
href="http://www.americaneei.com">
(www.americaneei.com)</A></br>
Example monitoring system: <A href="http://www.welserver.com/WEL0043"> www.welserver.com/WEL0043</A>
|
|
|
Bill Neukranz
Veteran Member
Posts:1103
|
| 20 May 2011 06:01 PM |
|
Further comment on the process of creating a WEL system diagram:
For the hand drawn system diagram noted above (WEL0515), I then next created it using Microsoft's PowerPoint application. Quick and easy to add thick lines, and objects. I then saved it as a JPEG file.
Last step was to bring the JPEG file into Photoshop, where I can easily add photos, text labeling etc., all as layers, making them adjustable later. The result can be seen at
http://www.welserver.com/WEL0516/ .
Best regards,
Bill |
|
Energy reduction & monitoring</br>
American Energy Efficiencies, Inc - Dallas, TX <A
href="http://www.americaneei.com">
(www.americaneei.com)</A></br>
Example monitoring system: <A href="http://www.welserver.com/WEL0043"> www.welserver.com/WEL0043</A>
|
|
|
cschmelz
New Member
Posts:68
|
| 24 May 2011 01:23 PM |
|
I can't believe how fun it is setting up the WEL. I now have monitoring with a WATTNode for power consumption of the heat pump and am putting out daily and monthly cost values, and I have a TED with 2 nodes (got it cheap) that is monitoring total house and house subpanel consumption...
Really fun to watch the trends in ground loop temp (1st winter and never went below 33dF intake temp!) and the data is especially great after finally using the WattNode to use sample and hold (samples values in loop whenever heat pump power consumption is above 1kw)
|
|
|
|
|
Bill Neukranz
Veteran Member
Posts:1103
|
| 24 May 2011 01:51 PM |
|
The fun will quickly translate to action as you learn about the performance of your various systems. You'll start seeing things that suggest certain changes that will result in energy consumption reduction. You'll also have the means to see when something starts to not look right after getting familiar with whatever the trend is. And then you'll save money by being able to proactively take action before the problem gets worse. There's a lot of interesting projects to look at if interested, and to learn from (see http://www.welserver.com/ for a map of U.S. where many WEL implementations are described). I.e., the project I mentioned above is pretty interesting ( http://www.welserver.com/WEL0516/ ). Here a commercial HVAC firm is changing out the R22 refrigerant in a 100 ton conventional (air exchange) A/C unit with a new refrigerant, HCR188C. The WEL implementation will be used to demonstrate that the new refrigerant will result in a significant and meaningful power reduction when compared to same units operating with R22, all while using just 40% of a normal charge of R22. In this particular A/C unit, there's 2 refrigeration circuits so a side-by-side energy consumption is easy to implement. Best regards, Bill |
|
Energy reduction & monitoring</br>
American Energy Efficiencies, Inc - Dallas, TX <A
href="http://www.americaneei.com">
(www.americaneei.com)</A></br>
Example monitoring system: <A href="http://www.welserver.com/WEL0043"> www.welserver.com/WEL0043</A>
|
|
|
jonr
Senior Member
Posts:5341
|
| 24 May 2011 03:41 PM |
|
To really compare, they would have to verify that each compressor is running at the same time and providing the same amount of cooling. The refrigerant is some butane/propane mix (which has proven to be a good refrigerant choice elsewhere). With a typical household refrigerator using about the amount in two cigarette lighters, it is safe enough. |
|
|
|
|
Bill Neukranz
Veteran Member
Posts:1103
|
| 24 May 2011 03:49 PM |
|
Posted By jonr on 24 May 2011 03:41 PM
To really compare, they would have to verify that each compressor is running at the same time and providing the same amount of cooling.
The refrigerant is some butane/propane mix (which has proven to be a good refrigerant choice elsewhere). Agreed. The refrigerant is actually flammable, BTW. Best regards, Bill |
|
Energy reduction & monitoring</br>
American Energy Efficiencies, Inc - Dallas, TX <A
href="http://www.americaneei.com">
(www.americaneei.com)</A></br>
Example monitoring system: <A href="http://www.welserver.com/WEL0043"> www.welserver.com/WEL0043</A>
|
|
|
Fin_NSCC
New Member
Posts:4
|
| 25 May 2011 02:07 PM |
|
I noticed on your WEL page you have flow meters. Can you recommend a certain type of flowmeter or website I could buy one?
Thanks |
|
|
|
|
Bill Neukranz
Veteran Member
Posts:1103
|
| 26 May 2011 08:27 AM |
|
Posted By Fin_NSCC on 25 May 2011 02:07 PM
I noticed on your WEL page you have flow meters. Can you recommend a certain type of flowmeter or website I could buy one? Thanks I recommend you take a look at these:
|
|
Energy reduction & monitoring</br>
American Energy Efficiencies, Inc - Dallas, TX <A
href="http://www.americaneei.com">
(www.americaneei.com)</A></br>
Example monitoring system: <A href="http://www.welserver.com/WEL0043"> www.welserver.com/WEL0043</A>
|
|
|
Fin_NSCC
New Member
Posts:4
|
| 25 Jun 2011 12:42 PM |
|
I am helping my college monitor the solar hot water system on the roof and we need to run a significant amount of cable. We used CAT5 for the one wire bus and it worked for a while but now we are getting shorted bus errors because the resistance is too high. We used the regular 3M scotchlok connectors and have 8 temperature sensors on the 1-wire bus. Any idea what wire or methods we could use to get the resistance lower and make it work again? Our wire run is very large, almost 50 meters. |
|
|
|
|
jonr
Senior Member
Posts:5341
|
| 25 Jun 2011 12:47 PM |
|
http://www.maxim-ic.com/app-notes/index.mvp/id/148 |
|
|
|
|
Bill Neukranz
Veteran Member
Posts:1103
|
| 25 Jun 2011 02:32 PM |
|
Posted By Fin_NSCC on 25 Jun 2011 12:42 PM
I am helping my college monitor the solar hot water system on the roof and we need to run a significant amount of cable. We used CAT5 for the one wire bus and it worked for a while but now we are getting shorted bus errors because the resistance is too high. We used the regular 3M scotchlok connectors and have 8 temperature sensors on the 1-wire bus. Any idea what wire or methods we could use to get the resistance lower and make it work again? Our wire run is very large, almost 50 meters. 150 feet should not be a problem for a product like the WEL that has an advanced 1-wire transceiver in it, assuming that sensors are well connected to the 1-wire network cable. Upwards of 1000 feet or more is very doable. I suspect in your case you have connection problems between the sensors and the cable. My recommendation is to eliminate the 3M ScotchLok connectors, and instead use good, solid mechanical wire nut connections to each sensors. And if you want to ensure ultra-strong electrical connections, then solder the connections after making a good mechanical connection. Hope this helps. Best regards, Bill |
|
Energy reduction & monitoring</br>
American Energy Efficiencies, Inc - Dallas, TX <A
href="http://www.americaneei.com">
(www.americaneei.com)</A></br>
Example monitoring system: <A href="http://www.welserver.com/WEL0043"> www.welserver.com/WEL0043</A>
|
|
|
jonr
Senior Member
Posts:5341
|
| 25 Jun 2011 03:50 PM |
|
You might as well combine all the colored/white wires and then all the solid color wires together - such that you end up with two wires.
|
|
|
|
|
Bill Neukranz
Veteran Member
Posts:1103
|
| 25 Jun 2011 04:00 PM |
|
Posted By jonr on 25 Jun 2011 03:50 PM
You might as well combine all the colored/white wires and then all the solid color wires together - such that you end up with two wires.
This is an interesting idea. I have never tried this. Assuming sensor connections to the 1-wire cable are solid and secure, it's 2 key factors that affect the 1-wire system's performance: capacitance of the cable, and signal reflections along the cable. At just 150 feet though, and with just 8 sensors, given using the WEL (which uses the most advanced 1-wire transceiver available), I would think that everything will work fine regardless of how the sensors are wired to the cable. Best regards, Bill |
|
Energy reduction & monitoring</br>
American Energy Efficiencies, Inc - Dallas, TX <A
href="http://www.americaneei.com">
(www.americaneei.com)</A></br>
Example monitoring system: <A href="http://www.welserver.com/WEL0043"> www.welserver.com/WEL0043</A>
|
|
|