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[Cousin Tony]

How do you Control guys like your job? I'm a refrigeration tech. ( ice machines, R/I and W/I ) thats been invited to do controls for a shop asking me to go out of town alot. Are controls stressful or is it pretty chill?

[simsd]

If you are jumping from being a refrigeration tech and just getting into controls, and you are going to be going out of town a lot, then you will probably crash and burn. If you are hired specifically for that position, then they are going to expect a lot.

Honestly, the way you phrased the question means you have no business doing it yet - but you can certainly spend the next few years learning and then move into it full time.

[Cousin Tony]

The shop i'll be working for knows i don't know ****. They'll teach me. I'm just wondering if you like it? Just curious what the general concensus might be?

[tudormatt]

I am sure that they have told you that they will send you to school and that Mr. senior control guy will be a phone call away. Then the truth comes out. They expect you to "work through" the problem, you can't get Senior tech on the phone and you should gt some field time before you go to school.
I am a tech with 14 years in. I have seen this before. No one wants to do this to a promising worker but without the right supervisor it can end badly.

Good luck in your decision

Cheers

[The Reaper]

Hi CousinTony,
I love being in controls.I made a similar move that you are considering 10 years ago and I haven't regretted it yet. With that being said, it can be stressful. You will always be the first one blamed for everything that goes wrong. I mean the building could be on fire and the owner will be calling you complaining that your controls aren't keeping the building cool enough. It definately helps to have a mechanical background. If I were you , I would give it a shot. If you put the effort into learning the business, you will reap the rewards down the line. You also have a powerful tool in this forum. There are a bunch of seasoned veterans that frequent this site and from what I've seen , they will help you out in a second. Good luck.

[sysint]

You can only fail at it. Even so, you still learn something.
I'd give it a shot. Apparently the traveling is an issue for others. That's why they think they are willing to put in education from scratch for you. Otherwise the position would be filled already....

[matt8085]

I made the exact same switch. Did commercial refrigeration & HVAC service for 8 years. Do it and never look back. I think alot of mechanical guys have the impression that control techs have it easy and their job can't be all that hard. Well that is simply not true. If you're going to a place that has a good training program and you're eager to learn, you'll be fine.

[gbfromsd]

If you can travel, its a no-brainer man. Your system level knowlege should be a great benefit to them. Reefer work is hard labor.

[24X7ProjMgr]

If you've been up-front with them about your background; I assume that they are ready to help you make the transition in every way. Working on Ice Machines, Reach-Ins, and Walk-ins does not do anything for you in the controls aspect. This is especially true if you are going to work for a company that does mostly BCS work. If the company does mainly Supermarket EMS control work; your background would be handy, but without a rack service background you may struggle a little more.

Look on the bright side. Get some miles under your belt and enjoy the adventure. If you don't like it; your background is in high demand anyway...

[d ward]

I guess I am a little different that most I came from the maintenance side, went to work installing systems for 5 years as an electrician switched to controls and have been commissioning and programming for the last eight. I would not go back for anything. To me the hardest thing to get used to was having to prove that it is not my problem. It was harder for me having limited exposure to HVAC prior to the switch. Since the switch I have taken classes and got certified so that I can carry on an intelligent conversation about the equipment. My advice to you would be, get it in writing. It’s easy to back out of promises; they are less likely to back out if they wrote it down.

[DiodeCutter_2K]

The control techs tools are a heck of a lot lighter...

But the controls guy ultimatley is responsible for every loop being at setpoint...

Or he can expect to be blamed by the MC GC or owner. Just know your stuff and be able to explain your controls work in a language they can understand.



How do you Control guys like your job? I'm a refrigeration tech. ( ice machines, R/I and W/I ) thats been invited to do controls for a shop asking me to go out of town alot. Are controls stressful or is it pretty chill?