[Plugin] Skelion (solar, shadows)

Juantxo

PVWatts is changing. There is a new version http://pvwattsbeta.nrel.gov/
that will replace the v1 and v2 versions soon. How do I update to point to the new PVWatts. Is this something I can do myself? Can you update and release a new version?

No, you can not update yourself. You need to wait to for a new Skelion release.
You are talking of a beta PVWATTS. When it will be stable Skelion will change if it is necessary.

szumlanski

Something doesn't seem to behave the way I expect it to work. The Space between panels [S] works well, but the "Stack Space [K]" leaves no space between panels. Also, I do not understand the use or meaning for "Stack components."

Note the lack of vertical space between panels in the attached image. This occurs with embedded panel profiles and with custom loaded panels in landscape or portrait orientation. I can't figure out if I am doing something wrong, or if this is the intended result. I just downloaded the V5.08 version.

No vertical space between panels

Juantxo

Don't use stack components when coplanar. Stack components is used to insert rows with more than one panel when they have some tilt over the roof or ground.

sunilc

Hello,

I have sketchup 2013 and skelion-make 5.09. I am not able to get any tilt on the laid out panels and hence they are not spaced apart for shadowing. Am I missing something?

Thanks,
Sunil

Juantxo

Sorry, there was an error in version a 5.0.9.
It was fixed. Download 5.1.0 and install it.

pagaling

Does not work now with Sketchup 2014. Is there an update other than 5.1.0? Danke.

Juantxo

5.1.l works but in windows there is a problem. You need to open SketchUp files dragging them over SketchUp shortcut. And to open SketchUp you can not click the shortcut, you need to pin up SketchUp in main windows bar.
It will be fixed soon.

pagaling

Hi. I still can't make it work in SU 2014. I put the plugin under C:\Users\MyName\AppData\Roaming\SketchUp\SketchUp 2014\SketchUp\Plugins but there is always an error when it loads. You said it works in Windows but that there is a small problem. Can you please let me know how to fix it? Thanks Juantxo!

pagaling

@juantxo said:

5.1.l works but in windows there is a problem. You need to open SketchUp files dragging them over SketchUp shortcut. And to open SketchUp you can not click the shortcut, you need to pin up SketchUp in main windows bar.
It will be fixed soon.

Hi Juantxo, I still can't make it work in SU 2014. I already installed manually by placing the files under Sketchup/Plugin founder under Appdata directory but it still gets error upon loading. I also tried installing via SU 2014 but the same thing happened.

Hope you can help out a bit. Thanks

RK26

Cannot get it working in Sketchup 2014. Please help. I put the files into plugin folder but when i start the program, it runs a bunch of scripts and the a window with errors comes up.

pagaling

Now working on SU 2014!

BIG TNX TO Juantxo

AirWindSolar

@solemassoud said:

I have been using Skelion pro for a few months and it is a great tool. lately the 'sunny area' (Moon icon) calculation tool doesn't seem to work. I normally check for shaded surfaces before laying out the panels.

Same here, even on a relatively simple model (single triangular face of a pitched roof with a chimney) it gets to "step 1 of 6" and then bug splats.

Also, would love to see it add something to specify an "acceptable" shade level, since sometimes on these systems we're using microinverters, and will tolerate an hour of shade on each panel, but obviously want to avoid panels that would be shaded 3-4 hours a day where possible. Maybe two separate indications of shadow to show unshaded all day, shaded within the tolerance, and shaded beyond the tolerance.

EDIT TO ADD: Tried it again on one iteration, and it ran, but of course only gave the single shadow. Tries at 2 or 3 iterations crashed. "Join shadows" or not had no effect. Narrowing the time frame to 1000-1500 didn't help either. Changing to June 21 instead of December 21 did allow it to run a 2 iteration without joining shadows, but it failed again when I tried it with 0900-1600.

Powell.skp

Juantxo

It seems there are some error in new SketchUP 2014 that makes SketchUp crash sometimes.
I can not find out which action makes SketchUp crahs, but I will try to find it.
(Maybe related with undo operations, but not sure.)
Just open file and repeat action again. It will works. See images:

2 iterations 9 to 16 December 10 to 15 December June

norcaldave

SketchUp 2014 Extension Skelion v5.1.3.rbz does not work with new SketchUp installation. Runs fine in 2013, but same as a couple of others here from March, which I don't see any posted solution? Files are listed in new plugin location AppData/Roaming/SketchUp/SketchUp2014/SketchUp/Plugins/

Both skelion folder with multiple files and skelion.rb are here.

But all I get is an UI message box which looks to mean there is some bust in accessing the skelion files?

If I go to View and Toolbars, the Skelion extension isn't listed, so this seems to be where the bust is.
Guess just have to stick with 2013 so I can use the Skelion extension.

If this gets worked out, will it be posted somewhere for those who do want to get this working in 2014?

Thanks for the Skelion. Great tool. But I would think your PRO sales are gonna die quickly with this issue on 2014?

norcaldave

SketchUp 2014

I just posted a note on the no access to extension. I just went and installed the SketchUcation Plugins Manager and the access to the Skelion is busted here also.

If I open up the extention manager and try to move skelion from Disabled Plugins to Loaded plugins, it shows the correct file pat in the dropdown bar, but the note at the bottom of the manager says;

"Plugin data is not available" There is something wrong with the files from Skelion????

Hope this gets cleared up

TIG

Is a Plugin is not hosted in the PluginStore, then in its 'Plugins Manager' entry it has that generic message - 'Plugin data is not available'.
A few un-hosted Plugins , like su_ and 'helpers', may have a somewhat different 'short description'.

This comes about because each Plugin's 'Plugins Manager' details are assembled from the entries which the author has provided in its PluginStore data-base.
'Skelion' has a thread in the forums - BUT it is not hosted in the PluginStore.
Therefore it has no available data to use in the 'Plugins Manager'.

However, if an any Plugin is also created as an 'Extension', then whatever details the author has provided within his own code itself will then be available to use in its 'Extensions Manager' listing.
So even un-hosted Plugins which are Extensions get details in that Manager...

garysolar86

Hi !
Can you please tell me that is there any plugin except Skelion for Solar PV , since I am having Sketch up 2013 and Skelion new version doesnt install there?
i really need it for my Solar PV project

Please reply

TIG

Why can't you upgrade your SketchUp ?
You have v2013 Make/Free...
You could have v2014 Make installed in parallel.
Then you can open v2013 SKPs to do Skelion processing, when you are finished do a 'Save_As 'back into v2013 format, so if you want to continue using v2013 that is an option ?

VeeDub

Hello

I'm new to Skelion and I'm trying to work out how to use it.

At the moment I'm trying to understand how to set True North. There is a short video on the Skelion site, but I didn't find that helpful.

According to the user guide (5.1), my interpretation of the instructions is that the orange axis is supposed to line up with the green axis. In my test site, that instruction doesn't make sense to me as the orange axis seems to be at the correct alignment (or very close to), while the green axis is almost aligned south.

Are there any other tutorial / training info that is worth having a look at?

Thanks
VW

kaiyer

Skelion is a great tool. However, I've upgraded to SKetchup 2015 Pro and Skelion v.5.1.7 fails at startup even in the free mode. Anyone in the forum who has Skelion working with Sketchup 2015 Pro?