Refrigeration for HVAC TEchs

[nchvac]

What is the feasibility of this book being able to teach an HVAC tech how to work on Refrigeration equipment enough to read it, learn it, and go out and do it?

[pauls heating &]

to me..if you understand the concept of the basic cycle of ac..refrigeration isnt much different..except controls/refrigerants

[GT Jets]

to me..if you understand the concept of the basic cycle of ac..refrigeration isnt much different..except controls/refrigerants

X2, but to add, if a weak HVAC guy, will be a weak refrigeration tech.

Our guys can do both heating, air conditioning and dabble in refrigeration...

I would rather have somebody be able to do a little of everything than a everything of one thing....


GT Jets

[Paul Bee]

The last commercial company I worked for was mainly air conditioning on the installation side of the company, but the service department covered most of the fast food chains in town. Just A/C and refrigeration no hot side repair. I agree with GT Jets if a guy really understands an A/C system he will do OK with refrigeration. Nobody said it would be easy though.

[targetman]

The book is one of the best in my collection. It not only helped me with refrigeration, but it also helped me become a better AC tech.

[nchvac]

I understand what you mean about making you a better HVAC tech. I read some excerpts from the book on an online preview, and just that little bit helped me understand more of what is going on inside of the refrigeration cycle.
HVAC wise, I am pretty good until you get to the new variable speed motors and some of the residential zoning, because I have not been exposed to either, but I have done a lot of commercial and industrial, including chiller work. I just haven't had the restaurant and convience store type equipment to work on like I would like to have the experience on before I go offer my services to work on that style equipment.

I know a guy that owns a refrigeration company about 50 minutes from my home. I have thought about asking him if I could ride along or be a helper for one of his guys for a month or so to see what is out there and do some learning. I don't know if he would go for it or not. Maybe that isn't needed????
I have worked on some icemakers, which mostly has been board issues, and some prep stations, and water coolers, air dryers and process chillers, so maybe I am not in as bad of shape as I am thinking.
I do like the refrigeration side of AC work better than these new controls that they are coming out with that are basically making residential HVAC resemble Commercial. I think this is going to be the downfall of the HVAC industry in the publics eyes because the techs out there do good to understand what we have now, much less what the engineering geniuses can come up with next, but I degress.

[nchvac]

How about the book---Refrigeration Home And Commercial by Edwin P. Anderson, Mark Richard Miller, Rex Miller.
Does anyone have it, and what all does it cover? It has over 700 pages of something.

[engineerdave]

A number of years ago, when I was first getting exposed to Supermarket Refrigeration, I was told by all the guys on the crew and even the boss, that if a guy gets good at markets, then he'll have zero problem stepping into c-stores, resi & commercial a/c, ice machines, transport, you name it.

I found out that not only is that not true, but it's probably the single biggest load of crap I've been fed since my wife said "I love you".

Each niche is without a doubt a trade within a trade. I have no knowledge of the books you guys are talking about, but I would caution you to not lean on any book as the ultimate guide. There is no substitute for experience, the word of the 'old-timer'. That's not to say textbooks aren't useful, wish I'd read more myself. Hence the time I spend on this site. Just be careful.

[rcac101]

So you want to be a refer man fine. Get an old unit and take it apart learn the components figure out what is wrong with it using this list or others in the field then fix it sell it if you can give a 30-90 day warranty then find an ice mkr ect. Also remember all commercial equipment has a factory tech support team use them will make your transition smoother.

[hvacpope]

I found this book to be very helpful http://www.amazon.com/Commercial-Refrigeration-Air-Conditioning-Technicians/dp/B002CLV5BS

[FSE_]

A book is just that, something to read and pick up a few tips. I can't read a book about mountain climbing and tackle Mt. Everest. Experience is the only true teacher.

[dirtyboy103us]

having the basics down is the only way and most guys don't
whether in air movement to superheat the basics work in ac/refrigeration

its like anything else if you have a good foundation to build it will be easy to go from ac to refrigeration or the other way


what I've seen in the supermarket industry is they hire guys with no foundation and train them so they can never revert to their teaching or what they read and because the information that is being passed down in most cases is either wrong or vague and they make assumptions

if you are there long enough and can suck up you to can be the guy in charge and you know who you are :whistle::whistle::putergreet:

take a peak into where i got my start in supermarkets ( Winn Dixie ) and if you could see inside their work force and how many guys came up through the ranks with no formal training just got most of their knowledge passed from tech to tech and became the best part changers going if that didn't work change another part but that can last only so long till parts cost and utility's cost put you out of business or bankrupt,

I took a sporlan class and the guy started with his first sentence
A POOR REFRIGERATION MAN CAN PUT A SMALL SUPERMARKET OUT OF BUSINESS IN A FEW SHORT YEARS

SORRY GOT A LITTLE OFF SUBJECT

BASICS its all the same pressure and temp have a direct relationship compression and heat exchangers, static with natural convection and or water, forced with a fan its all the same with the basics

[fl ac]

having the basics down is the only way and most guys don't
whether in air movement to superheat the basics work in ac/refrigeration

its like anything else if you have a good foundation to build it will be easy to go from ac to refrigeration or the other way


what I've seen in the supermarket industry is they hire guys with no foundation and train them so they can never revert to their teaching or what they read and because the information that is being passed down in most cases is either wrong or vague and they make assumptions

if you are there long enough and can suck up you to can be the guy in charge and you know who you are :whistle::whistle::putergreet:

take a peak into where i got my start in supermarkets ( Winn Dixie ) and if you could see inside their work force and how many guys came up through the ranks with no formal training just got most of their knowledge passed from tech to tech and became the best part changers going if that didn't work change another part but that can last only so long till parts cost and utility's cost put you out of business or bankrupt,

I took a sporlan class and the guy started with his first sentence
A POOR REFRIGERATION MAN CAN PUT A SMALL SUPERMARKET OUT OF BUSINESS IN A FEW SHORT YEARS

SORRY GOT A LITTLE OFF SUBJECT

BASICS its all the same pressure and temp have a direct relationship compression and heat exchangers, static with natural convection and or water, forced with a fan its all the same with the basics
VERY WELL SAID!

[james122964]

If you want to be a better anything tech, get electrical training, I am a Journeyman Electrician, with heavy controls, troubleshooting experience, I walked right through, HVAC, light commercial -the walk-ins - the small refrigerated appliances, hot side, now I am in supermarkets, the GM told me it would take a year or two to get into the swing of things, but, they were taking on new resturuants so I would be a good fit, help with the new accounts and get worked in to the supers, well, I do supers 70 percent of the time now, and even got a help us out emergency call last weekend, with a servere leak and over 600 lbs of refrigant loss.

You can do it, electrical, schematics, motors, helps to also learn about valves, they are much more varied in supers but still a valve.

Jim

[Music Seeker]

having the basics down is the only way and most guys don't
whether in air movement to superheat the basics work in ac/refrigeration

its like anything else if you have a good foundation to build it will be easy to go from ac to refrigeration or the other way


what I've seen in the supermarket industry is they hire guys with no foundation and train them so they can never revert to their teaching or what they read and because the information that is being passed down in most cases is either wrong or vague and they make assumptions

if you are there long enough and can suck up you to can be the guy in charge and you know who you are :whistle::whistle::putergreet:

take a peak into where i got my start in supermarkets ( Winn Dixie ) and if you could see inside their work force and how many guys came up through the ranks with no formal training just got most of their knowledge passed from tech to tech and became the best part changers going if that didn't work change another part but that can last only so long till parts cost and utility's cost put you out of business or bankrupt,

I took a sporlan class and the guy started with his first sentence
A POOR REFRIGERATION MAN CAN PUT A SMALL SUPERMARKET OUT OF BUSINESS IN A FEW SHORT YEARS

SORRY GOT A LITTLE OFF SUBJECT

BASICS its all the same pressure and temp have a direct relationship compression and heat exchangers, static with natural convection and or water, forced with a fan its all the same with the basics

I concur! I however also agree to an extent with the original statement. Basic electrical will allow you to troubleshoot damn near anything, from a refrigerator, or air conditioner, to a lawnmower or car. Granted, getting a degree or at least more than a basic understanding from books is good, experience (as I've come to find out this summer) is the ultimate teacher!