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Siegenthaler 2nd edition free software OS?

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wvukidsdoc
wvukidsdoc Member Posts: 2
in THE MAIN WALL

So this is a bit of an odd question. Somewhere in my house I have a copy of the 2nd edition of the Siegenthaler book, with its included CD software. So long ago, I was a mechanical engineer, and actually did some hydronic design. I bought this book in 2007 years after I changed to another profession to help me with a system installation in our house in AK and it and the software served me well (I substantially downsized from a massively oversized boiler, resolved a lot of short cycling, improved overall $$ performance.) Now that the Slant Fin free heat loss calculator is no longer accessible, I would really like something to do some estimates for my parents house. Before I tear apart my house looking for the copy of this book, or buy a used copy off of eBay, I’m wondering what OS this would’ve worked with, and if I could even run it on a more modern computer. I do still have a laptop running Windows 7 which seems like about current with that edition of the book.


Anyway, it’s a sort of stupid question, and I’m sure I’m going to have other stupid system design questions, so I apologizing in advance

Comments

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 27,610

    Not stupid at all. The odds are very good indeed that if it worked on any flavour of Windows in 2007, it will work on your Windows 7 machine. It may — or may not — be happy with Windows 10 or 11, but it wouldn't hurt to try it.

    If you were using an Apple back then… can't help you. Apples and I don't get on well with each other…

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 17,632

    the used copy i have did not come with the software. i think it is all pretty basic stuff that you could do with a spreadsheet. If i remember the examples in the book just used a command line interface and if that is the case it should run in pretty much any version of windows.

  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 27,933

    there is a free demo at hydronicpros.com

    Or 99 bucks for a new version, if you cannot find yours

    The Uponor design program is online and it has long hand forms for load calcs

    IMG_2751.png IMG_2753.png
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
    Steve Minnich
  • wvukidsdoc
    wvukidsdoc Member Posts: 2
    edited 6:30PM

    Thanks all, I just popped $30 for a copy off of eBay that still has the unopened CD as the realistic chances of finding mine are slim so of course I also need the book itself. From what I gather most windows NT software (which I think it is and what I was hoping to confirm) should run on my Windows 7 machine so I’m gonna hope that it works. I’m recalling that there is more to it than just the heat loss calculator. Seems to me I actually used this for some system design at the time, as I did primary/secondary piping in my AK system and recall laying out flow loops in the software. But it was 20 years ago so I could be entirely off. Anyway for $30 no great investment.

  • GGross
    GGross Member Posts: 1,999
    edited 6:46PM

    if it doesn't work natively you can typically emulate older windows operating systems though it requires more power to emulate than run natively. if you have a newer computer or for others looking for a single project you can usually get a free demo or trial of the loop cad software.

    I am using the free draw.io to draw diagrams for piping, and instead of traditional stencils i take real product images and run them through the free remove.bg website and then import the no background product image, works excellently once you have it set up, and there is a browser based version of draw.io available as well

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 18,745

    You might try the various "compatibility modes" included in Windows 10 and 11, if it doesn't run right in the normal environment.

    All Steamed Up, Inc.

    Baltimore, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting

  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 27,933
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1900197#Comment_1900197

    You can always drop Siggy a line ans ask.

    I have a beta version of the HDS 3.0, it needs Windows 11 to operate.

    If you have a Mac, you can run Parallels, which is a bit more complicated.

    I bought a PC with Windows 11 loaded,

    Screenshot 2026-07-16 at 2.32.21 PM.png

    online for $274 to run the new HDS version. Amazing how tiny they are!

    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • Steve Minnich
    Steve Minnich Member Posts: 2,907
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1900195#Comment_1900195
    Minnich Boiler Room.jpeg

    I still use John's HydroSketch, but I didn't know Uponor's software was back online. I'm fairly sure it was gone for a while? Here is my new, very simple, hydronic heating system. I'm seriously considering getting back in the game. I've forgotten many things. Hydronic design is not one of them.

    Steve Minnich
  • HydronicMike
    HydronicMike Member Posts: 385

    I thought 3.0 was supposed to be out a year ago. I had 2.0 on an old Windows 7 laptop. I put a VM on a Windows 11 laptop and it works fine. Along with the Slant Fin program.
    I wish he made a version I could put on an iPad. I use that mostly, and don’t really want/need to bring a laptop on-site.

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