HVAC Software

[azn4850]

Hi everyone,

I am looking to purchase a computer software for commercial/residential HVAC design, please advise the software that I should buy in term of cost, user-friendliness etc... I have heard about the Elite software for commercial/residential HVAC but never use it, please give your comments about this software and other sofwares that you know or currently use.
I thank you all in advance for your comments and advice.

Regards,
AZN4850

 

[kjwalt]

I have used Trane's Trace 700 with great detail and find it to be a very good, powerful, flexible program. The greatest part about it is the technical support. They are readily available and good about getting answers quickly. Other programs seem to lack on this front.

 

[tikitime]

I have used both Trane Trace 700 and Elite's CHVAC. Trace 700 is very detailed with its input and outputs. This can be good, but also can take quite a bit of time to enter inputs. Trace 700 also does energy calculations, so alot of the input fields are only required if you want to do the energy calculations, but the program does not distinguish between the fields you need for the load calc versus energy calc. Some of the terminology that Trane uses isn't standard. And in my opinion, Trace 700 doesn't handle exhaust air very well - you have to fool the program. Finally, Trace does not have an input report that you can print out - you have to print each screen or import it to an excel spreadsheet. I agree that customer service is great though.

Elite CHVAC is a simpler program. The input fields are intuitive and the output reports are straight forward. The Chvac program does not do energy calculations. The help screens for the program are very useful. One thing I don't like is for the coils, you have to enter either the discharge temp or the cfm.

If I were you, I'd get the demo for each program and give them a try. What I may like, you may not. Good Luck!

 

[lilliput1]

Note also that both programs are for commercial application. Not residential. Using calculation procedures for residential will yield equipment capacities less than commercial. TNot only because indoor design for residential is 80°F vs 75°F for commercial but also because larger temperature swings are allowed particularly at windows and skylights. There are separate residential load calculations available or you can make an Excel spreadsheet for it.