[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by craines]

Hi Graeme,

Yes it can be done. I have recently added a EnergyPlus conversion format at the top of our Weather Data Downloads page.

The only thing to look out for is inserting the Lat, Long and time zone after importing data using the CCF file.

Regards,
Caroline

Caroline Raines
Square One research Pty Ltd

[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by Debora]

Hi,

I just want to give to you a very useful advice!!

In order to automatically convert the climate file format .epw into the .WEA one is necessary to follow the following simple steps:

- you have to download E+ tool and install the Weather Converter Tool: this can automatically convert the climate file format .epw into .TMY2 one;

- Open the Ecotect Weather Tool: this can automatically convert the climate file format .TMY2 into the .WEA one.

So you can convert the file.epw into file.WEA very quickly!!

Hope this can be useful,

regards,

Debora

[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by ted shelton]

Two questions about this thread -

How do I use the CCF to convert the energy plus data?

What is the E+ Tool?

[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by Debora]

Hi,

I cannot help you about how to use CCF to convert the energy plus data.

I have used the previously mentioned way:

to do the same you have to go to http://www.energyplus.gov where you will see "Version 1.0.3 is now available! ".... click on "download at no charge". Then install the Weather Converter (this is a part of tool you download) which can convert format file .epw into .TMY2.

The TMY2 file can be opened by the Ecotect Weather Tool and can be saved as .WEA.

Hope this can be clearer,

regards,

Debora

[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by craines]

Basically the CCF (custom column format) is a Weather Tool file that allows users to save particular format settings for use when loading in ASCII data files.

You use it by loading it into the import dialog box in the Weather Tool -- click the Load button in the bottom left corner.

The CCF basically just specifies what each column of data is and the units or multipliers to be used during import so that the Weather Tool knows how to read the file during import.

E+ or EnergyPlus is an analysis program from the DOE in the USA, originally based on their DOE2 program I think.

Hope this helps you...

Regards,
Caroline

Caroline Raines
Square One research Pty Ltd

[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by Melissa]

Hi
I'm from Lima,Peru and i need to create a weather file from a town from Peru, i just have the location data file from Peru, so i just don't don't know how to create a weather data file from an specific place in a country, in my case Peru

[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by Andrew]

You can't really "create" a weather data file which will be useful for analysis just like that...
You really need to have some source data, preferably hourly data for an actual year for your location.
Check out the following link as there are lots of files there as well as links to a few other good data sources:
squ1.com/downloads/weatherdata.

Regards,
Andrew

Dr. Andrew Marsh
Square One research Pty Ltd

[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by Melissa]

Hello
I downloaded the E+ and converted the weather files available from Peru (only 3 cities) to a WEA extension for the Ecotect. The problem is that at my faculty they need places from all over Peru, so then we must create weather files, so i asked to a person from E+ if it was possible to create them or not, and he said i could create them by using another program called Meteonorm. I already have a demo from this program but i can't seen to figure it out of to create a WEA file. At my faculty of architecture we have all the information from everyplace in Peru, so what else to do we need or have to do to make a weather file?
thanks a lot
Meli

[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by Olivier]

Melissa,
Since it seems your faculty has the weather information, I would try to import them into a spreadsheet software such as Excel.
From there, the file can be saved into a format (I usualy use "space delimited" format) that could be open within the Weathertool file editor.
From the weathertool data editor, it becomes just a matter of assigning each of your column of data to the appropriate headings (temperature etc...), then, once opened into the software, save it as a .wea file.
I am myself not familiar with the E+ file, nor the meteonorm software - I doon't know if you can convert files directly into a .wea from there.
I would definetly try the Excel spreadsheet method though, as you can open many types of files from there.
Hope that helps.

olivier

[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by craines]

If you already have good data then Olivier suggestion about using excel is definately the preferable one - especially if it's good hourly data including the following:
- Dry Bulb Temperature
- Relative Humidity
- Direct Solar Radiation
- Diffuse Horizontal Solar Radiation
- Wind speed (not essential but preferable)
- Wind direction (not essential but preferable)
- Cloudiness
- Rainfall (not essential but preferable)

Otherwise Meteonorm might do, but some of the approximations it does aren't the best. But incase you do want to try it, there is actually a tutorial for this conversion (of all places) in the ECOTECT Tutorial File. It goes through everything including how to export the data from Metonorm -- we just haven't got around to including it with the Weather Tool yet.

Regards,
Caroline

Caroline Raines
Square One research Pty Ltd

[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by Hannah]

A problem about converting from E+ to WEA...

When I converted US Seattle's TM2 data using E+ weather converter to WEA, I found the wind analysis seemed incorrect. Therefore I converted US Boulder weather data in the same way, and then I found the wind wheels are a lot different than the ones if I open the boulder.wea file sent with "weather tool" program. Does anybody know what the problem is and what's wrong here?

By the way, the temperatures seem fine.

Hannah

[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by Hannah]

There are 2 Seattle, WA, US weather data files on this website. What is the different between them?

[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by craines]

It sounds like you are using the wrong format conversion. The E+ .CCF file (I'm pressuming this is what you mean by weather converter) is only meant to be used with .EPW files available from E+.
NOt sure of the exact differences between the two Seatle weather files -- probably two different sources but I wouldn't know exactly what these are, sorry...

Regards,
Caroline

Caroline Raines
Square One research Pty Ltd

[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by nevin]

Hi,
I am converting the weather data of Yozgat in Turkey, but the problem is we do not have hourly data of relative humidity, instead I have 3 readings a day of relative humidity data. What do you recommend? I have hourly dry bulb and web bulb, but I am not sure if I can get the relative humidity by using them in phycrometric chart. I guess I need a soft ware for it to apply to whole year. Or can I in a way fill data in the missing parts by anayway yoou recommend? These are the solutions come to my mind, but sure how to do it?

Thanks,
Nevin

[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by Olivier]

Nervin,
You should be able to derive hourly relative humidity data using your dry bulb and wet bulb temperature data.
There is a direct relationship between the three of them, assuming a constant atmospheric pressure.
If I was you, i would set up the data in a spreadsheet software like Excel, then run a formula to get RH from DBT and WBT.
The algorithm is not too complex.
Check out this webpage for quickly converting single piece of data. The site also offers the formula which you can write into Excel to derive your entire hourly data.

http://members.nuvox.net/~on.jwclymer/wet.html

Let me know if you have problems doing the conversion, or writting the equation in excel. I think I have used that equation in Excel in the past, and it might still be on my computer.

regards,
olivier

[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by nevin]

Thank you very much. I will try and tell you how it goes. It is for my thesis to use in Ecotect analysis and I am so glad that you have such a forum support.

Best Wishes,
Nevin

[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by daniel cort]

hi i?m a peruvian student, i study architecture in lima-Per?, and i would like to know how can i insert weather files about peruvian cities, and if you have weather files about rio de janeiro in brasil, well i will waiting your answer, i like this program please help me to know more about ecotect.

thank you.
daniel- chete.

[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by nevin]

Hi,
I am a little confused about the solar radiation unit that is used in the weather tool. In the converting weather data tutorial, it is mentioned in the read me file that solar radiation unit is w/m2, but the unit assigned as wh.

In fact I amay ask directly of my own case that I have a radition data of whose unit is cal per square centimeters. What should I convert the unit to? Watt or watthours? I guess the weather file use measures per unit meter squares so we do not assign as per something.

Would you please answer me soon?
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Nevin

[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by nevin]

Hi,
I am still waiting for an answer, and it is really important. May be you are quite busy, and my question my be so silly for you, but I need it to start the analysis to be able to use in my MSc. thesis.
The question is into what unit I should convert "calorie per square centimeters" as direct solar radiation in weather tool?

I would be really glad if you answer the question soon. Thanks a lot.
Regards,
Nevin

[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by Olivier]

Nevin,

In the converting window, left click the "unit" cell next to the "...radiation (Wh)" data component. Select "custom" and enter 11.6. that should take care of it. You must have hourly data of calorie per square centimeter though.

1 cal/cm2 = 11.6 Wh/m2

Try it and see if it looks reasonable.
Let me know
Olivier

[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by nevin]

Oliver,
Thanks a lot.
It worked.

I have started the analysis know.

Regards,
Nevin

[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by Andrew]

Have a look on our weather data page there are lots of data files there as well as links to other good sources of data.

Regards,
Andrew

Dr. Andrew Marsh
Square One research Pty Ltd

[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by ted]

Hi

Is there a way by which a *.BIN weather file (I use this in my DOE2 simulations) can be converted into the *.TM2 data type ?
Please assist. I know this question is not directly related to working in E+ or Ecotect, but I will surely appreciate the help..

~ted

[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by craines]

Not really sure, but if both formats are ASCII then you could do it in excel...
sorry but I don't have much experience with such things

Regards,
Caroline

Caroline Raines
Square One research Pty Ltd

[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by Deepak kumar.c]

Hello sir,
I am a student of 'UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DESIGN' MYSORE persuing M.Tech in building automation.
i wanted to know how to create a weather file myself for a place for which weather file is not available in energy plus. i have to crate a weather file for Thimphu (Bhutan).
thank you

[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by Olivier]

Deepak,

In order for you to create a weather file, you need a minimum of certain data, namely:

Dry Bulb Temperature
Relative Humidity
Global Solar Radiation
Difuse Solar Radiation
Wind Direction
Wind Speed
Cloudiness
Precipitation (optional)

You should have these data for each hours of one year (yes, 8,760 pieces of data for each of the category named above!). Preferably, the data will be averages computed from many years (30 years is the good standard). But sometimes, you can only get your hands on only a specific year, with which you have to work.

Places to ask around for these kind of record are the governemental meteorological offices that most likely keep records, or major airports.
The location you are after is quite remote, and this might be very difficult to obtain the informations you need.

Best of luck,

Olivier

[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by jose]

Melissa
pls i need the following data (ite-tacna-peru) at least for a year:
- Dry Bulb Temperature
- Relative Humidity
- Direct Solar Radiation
- Diffuse Horizontal Solar Radiation
- Wind speed
- Cloudiness

if u have them in any format, tell me...

thanks a lot...

jose

[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by Rehan]

Hi all
What is the easiest possible way to generate a *.epw file or iwec or some other format readable by ESP-r from an already existing *.wea file as then it would be much better to use the file for preliminary analysis in ECOTECT and further analysis in ESP-r.
Regards
Rehan

[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by Rehan]

Hi
I reply to myself
I managed to convert from wea to epw file (only because i had to source of wea file which was a tmy2 file) now i managed it with the energyplus weather converter, its very easy, now the question is to is it possible to convert epw to iwec file format somehow with some tool or esp-r can directly read it?
Regards
Rehan

[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by Olivier]

Rehan,

I am unfamiliar with the iwec tyoe of file, so I cannot be of any help here

Olivier