Allow Meter:Custom to reference other Meter:Custom objects

[joseph-robertson]

General Summary

Currently, custom meters cannot reference other custom meters. If this is attempted, an Meter:Custom="abc", contains a reference to another Meter:Custom in field: Output Variable or Meter Name="xyz". warning is thrown, and results for the referenced custom meter are not used. This is consistent with the current version of the IO Reference.

Also note that for Meter:CustomDecrement, currently both the source meter and referenced key-variable/meter groups can be custom meters.

Detailed Description

It would be much more convenient and straightforward to allow custom meters to reference other custom meters, vs. having to repeat all the referenced custom meter's key-variable/meter groups.

For example, the following leads to the E+ warning:

Meter:Custom,
  unit1_Electricity_Critical,             !- Name
  Electricity,                            !- Resource Type
  ,                                       !- Key Name 1
  unit1_Electricity_Facility;             !- Output Variable or Meter Name 1

Meter:Custom,
  unit1_Electricity_Facility,             !- Name
  Electricity,                            !- Resource Type
  unit1_interior_lighting,                !- Key Name 1
  Lights Electricity Energy,              !- Output Variable or Meter Name 1
  unit1_clothes_washer,                   !- Key Name 2
  clothes washer:InteriorEquipment:Electricity:Zone:unit1_CONDITIONED_SPACE, !- Output Variable or Meter Name 2
  ...

Whereas the following does not:

Meter:Custom,
  unit1_Electricity_Critical,             !- Name
  Electricity,                            !- Resource Type
  unit1_interior_lighting,                !- Key Name 1
  Lights Electricity Energy,              !- Output Variable or Meter Name 1
  unit1_clothes_washer,                   !- Key Name 2
  clothes washer:InteriorEquipment:Electricity:Zone:unit1_CONDITIONED_SPACE, !- Output Variable or Meter Name 

Meter:Custom,
  unit1_Electricity_Facility,             !- Name
  Electricity,                            !- Resource Type
  unit1_interior_lighting,                !- Key Name 1
  Lights Electricity Energy,              !- Output Variable or Meter Name 1
  unit1_clothes_washer,                   !- Key Name 2
  clothes washer:InteriorEquipment:Electricity:Zone:unit1_CONDITIONED_SPACE, !- Output Variable or Meter Name 2
  ...

Possible Implementation

No response

[JasonGlazer]

Good idea