topic Re: Connector element will not output correct flow in Revit MEP Forum

Connector element will not output correct flow

Anonymous — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 14:01:41 GMT

Hi,

I've been struggling with this issue for some hours now and I could not simply find out how and why the connectors I added to my object will not output the correct flow. I have added 4 pipe connectors (2 in, 2 out, 2 hydronic supply ,2 hydronic return) and when I specify Flow ( Flow Configuration being set to preset) manually to each connector, it will not appear correctly when loading into the model. Either the return pipes have same value and supply has 0 flow, or other strange combinations...

Therefore I cannot size my pipes since there is no flow or incorrect value going out or in from my object.

Thanks!

Re: Connector element will not output correct flow

RobDraw — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 16:25:01 GMT

It is very hard to see what is going on from those images. It looks like the upper images are from the family editor but the rest of the content seems to show a piping system. The text is too small to read...

Clarification or, even better, the model is needed for any meaningful response.

Re: Connector element will not output correct flow

Anonymous — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 05:54:04 GMT

If you click the image and CTRL+wheel you can zoom in and see the images more clearly. But anyway I have attached the Fan Coil Unit family object here. You can add it in a new project and try to draw the 4 pipes exiting out of the object and see that the flow that is set in the family is incorrectly outputted withing the model.

Thanks for your support !

Re: Connector element will not output correct flow

RobDraw — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 11:45:06 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
If you click the image and CTRL+wheel you can zoom in and see the images more clearly.

Of course, I already tried that. The resolution is too low to read the text.

I'm having trouble figuring out what the problem is. I'll take another look later after my coffee kicks in.

Re: Connector element will not output correct flow

dmiller_SCE — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 17:29:36 GMT

Why is there a .06 flow difference for the total Return vs total Supply for the equipment connectors?

Re: Connector element will not output correct flow

Anonymous — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 01:31:10 GMT

I tried to figure out which pipe has which flow thinking that maybe there is an error between the connector “hydronic supply/return” setting in the family editor and the fact that I have my own sub-systems set up in the model (ex: CHW supply/return under Hydronic supply Systems and same for HW). I tried to put equal supply-return values for Hydronic supply and return for my CHW sub-system pipes and same for HW, but to no avail. Same issue happened, values are either 0 displayed or simply randomly distributed among pipes. (there should be actually only two values: for CHW pipes/connectors return=supply=say 0.26 l/s and HW ret=sup= say 0.06 l/s).

Thanks for your replies!

Re: Connector element will not output correct flow

dmiller_SCE — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 10:39:39 GMT

Ok. All you need to is Link the connectors together. Link One supply to one Return to propagate flows.

Re: Connector element will not output correct flow

dmiller_SCE — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 10:56:33 GMT

see screencast. You need to tell the family which connectors belong together by linking them. Also, I would create additional parameters to control the flow of the family within the project. I only showed you how to link the connectors in the screencast.

Re: Connector element will not output correct flow

Anonymous — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 11:57:54 GMT

Thanks a lot !! You're a lifesaver :). It works now. I also managed to figure out how to add parameters in the project by adding parameters in Family types and setting them to "Instance" so they appear under properties.

Re: Connector element will not output correct flow

Iev60047 — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 13:35:22 GMT

Looks like your post was marked as the solution - but your screencast is no longer available. @dmiller_SCE would you be able to re-upload the screencast by chance? Or does someone else have the answer to this problem? Thanks!

Re: Connector element will not output correct flow

iainsavage — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 14:17:58 GMT

Do you mean to link connectors? Select one, on the ribbon select Link Connectors and then select the one that you want to link to.

https://help.autodesk.com/view/RVT/2022/ENU/?guid=GUID-ED50E6C8-F71C-4AF8-AB4B-113A93C3F541

BUT note from that help page that "Linked connectors only have an effect when the System Type is set to Global, which is common for fittings and in‐line components such as dampers, valves, and pumps"

For other categories of connector you need to create parameters of type Flow and associate each parameter to the correct connectors.