Solar Panels, Wind Turbines, Battery Packs, etc

[Anonymous]

Hi,

Has anybody got access to AC models of environmentally sustainable items such as solar panels, wind turbines, battery packs, water tanks, efficient light bulbs (LED), etc? I use these in my buildings and I have been bodging them up in my AC models for years but was wondering if there are some smart library parts available somewhere???

Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

Think lateral - and use your Google Earth Connections tool.

Go to Google Warehouse and you will be amazed at what you find - for free...

I found some wind turbines there that I needed...

[Anonymous]

Thanks that is an amazing add-on. It is hard to keep up with all the changes in AC. Do all of the models in Google Warehouse work in AC or are some only for other CAD programs?

[Rakela Raul]

welcome....agree GE a good deal

[Anonymous]

need it badly

[David Larrew]

I know they are not free, but I have developed some very parametric sustainable GDL objects that you can get from my GDL store...

http://www.archisolutions.com/Store/GDL.html

These objects are native GDL objects that do not have the problems that GE/SketchUp imported objects have such as:
1. No "real" parameters (objects are static)
2. High polygon count (bogs-down regen)
3. Unknown author (who may or may not know exactly how the object is supposed to look or work)
4. No support

But, yes, GE is a great solution for free objects in a pinch.

[Anonymous]

Hi David.
Took a good look.
Very nice indeed.
Every design/remodel job I do now wants tankless.
Guaranteed I'll pick that up when it's ready.
Especially with Green Point rating most likely required in the little pond I market to on the 1st.
So especially looking for that to come online.
Picked up the ArchiGREEN Solar Panels
What first sold me was a place to put the LEED stats.
Payment and Download went great.
Objects look great.
Now to mess with them a bit.
Thanks

lec
ps
Minor thing.
Would be nice to click on thumb nail and get larger display view of especially the more finite detailed objects that you have when you get a chance.
But 100 percent great already, and a name we can trust and nice pricing to boot!
Can't beat that!

ps2
Also interested in your Ridged Frame System object you have.

I did the basic research on Simpson's new Strong Frame "Moment Frames" for my current design project and engineer says it's a go. (Specs out perfect for what I want to do) at a lot less than on site welded moment frames.
So, if you have not looked at them yet, would you?
http://www.strongtie.com/products/strongframe/ordinary_mf/product-info.asp
And let me know if your Ridged Frame System object would adequately represent these in 2d,3d,section?
Thanks

[David Larrew]

Lec,

Thank you for the feedback and kind words on the solar panel object. I hope that you get some good use out of it. I have been researching options to better display my GDL products on my website. I'm hoping to have some time soon to make some improvements to my GDL store. I also hope to have the tankless WH released shortly along with a mechanical heat pump.

I took a quick look at the Strong-Tie product - My RigidFrame objects get you about 90% there, of course you would need to manually input the sizing of the members. I had been asked a few years ago by a user to develop some Strong-Tie objects for them. Unfortunately, they couldn't afford the development cost. If there were enough "public" interest I might be able to develop the more popular products for mass-distribution and sale at a reasonable price. Of course, unless I got Simpson's permission, the objects would be considered "generic".

Developing branded objects is a sticky subject. About 10 years ago, I developed some Bobrick objects for the company that I worked for. I contacted Bobrick directly and asked them if they would be interested in having them available for other users. They were not interested and said that I couldn't use their name on the objects. So I "genericized" my objects.

I am hoping that now "BIM" has become more mainstream, companies will be more open to development of GDL object versions of their products (not just 3D mesh versions with no parametric information). I have also been talking with GSUS about helping improve the US ArchiCAD Library content.

Thanks again for checking out my GDL objects and purchasing the "ArchiGREEN-SolarPanel".