Welcome to all New Guests going Pro? Do not post equipment questions in this forum

[adymkingBTU]

I joined the U.S.N. at the age of 17. I signed up to go to Aviation Electrician "A" school. Graduated 3rd in my class and learned to drink beer on a professional level. After i got out i didnt know what i wanted to do except that it did not involve aircraft maintenance or dungarees. Short stint as a porter for a bus line named after a dog, and a warehouse technician? Started working part time for a plumbing and HVAC service company my aunt and her husband owned answering the phones, billing, ap and ar. Me and my wife had our first child and I knew i needed a career, not just a job. I would see the plumbers come in at the end of the day muddy (it wasnt just mud) sweaty and tired, and the HVAC techs come in mostly just sweaty and tired and figured i think i'll go with that one. My aunts husband offered me a helpers job and all the hours and free training a I wanted. I loaded a jansport backpack with some basic tools and jumped on the truck at the start of the spring (in mississippi this could be any time from january to december) eager to learn. I realized after 2 weeks on the job that because of my electrical troubleshooting background that i was ahead of most the "service techs" because i knew how to properly use a multi-meter and read schematics (even ladder diagrams which still are a mystery to a lot of techs i know). That was 15 years ago i have enjoyed and loathed every day since. My aunts husband was very knowledgeable and was all about education, i attended every class, sales promotion and manufacturer training available and found that i had a skill and a career that has proven to be fun and profitable. After 3 years of answering my techs question "what do you think it is" I decided I could run a truck by myself. My wife and i were in the hospital having our 2nd child, my tech called me and told me he quit, it went kinda like this "Hey adam i just quit I'm gonna look for another job" me:"Ok" click... (sound of numbers dialing) "Hey aunt's husband don't hire another tech I want to take the position...Ok sounds good see y'all wednesday" and thats how it all started. I no longer work for this company but I appreciate the training and help and job they provided. I had a failed attempt as a maintenance man (no offense to anyone out there but i won't make that mistake again) and now work for a company that I love. I love this career and work everyday at fighting the stigma attached because of an abundance of techs with a whole lot of work and not a lot of sense or customer service skills. This site looks to be a great fit to me and I look forward to interacting with members and continuing to educate myself. Well...guess that's about it never posted on a "forum" or started a "thread"? (yeah that sounds right) so thanks and we'll holler at y'all later.

[obob22]

Wow! That's a small horse!

Actually Quarter horses can be quite large

[lifeline]

Here's my experience in the trades. 25 years ago I started in the electrical trade as a apprentice. 4 years later I became a journeyman red seal electrician. For the next 7 years I continued in the electrical trade specializing in residential and commercial service and trouble shooting. During that time I also worked in school maintenance. In 1999 I decided to switch to refrigeration. I apprenticed in refrigeration and got my journeyman red seal ticket as well as my gas fitters license. The last 11 years I have been a contractor in refrigeration and electrical (mainly refrigeration because that is where my passion is) specializing in commercial and light industrial refrigeration. The list of things I've work on is too long for this post. Ask me a few question about what I've worked on and I'll let you know. Anything I haven't worked on before, which is probably still alot, I'd love to learn. Not afraid to dive into new things.

[Dghvac]

Started fresh out of high school. Quit being a pizza delivery guy to running flex for a resi company. 10 years later fully lisenced running service calls for an industrial/ commercial company. Learn something new everyday and never think I'll ever see it all. Take it a day at a time. Learned a ton from these threads and look forward to sharing some of what I've learned.

[PewHeretic]

It took a long time to read through all 98 pages of this thread but I finally made it to the end.

Raised on a farm in Texas and learned to fix things on the spot to keep life running. Joined the Navy when the gub-ment ran us off our farm and dove in to the Submarine community as a Missile Technician learning 3000 # hydraulics, 4,500 # air systems, electronics and preventive maintenance management. Took as much college and trades school as I could afford, got a couple useless pieces of paper saying I completed and just kept fixing crap as people needed me to. Tools build up over time. Experience never ends. I seem to get the jobs no one will tackle or jobs that EVERYONE has tackled and couldn't fix. I usually couldn't fix it either but it's always good experience!

When I got out of the Navy I helped a buddy in his fledgling AC business for seven years before he died very unexpectedly. I already had an AC license so I just kept working at it. Seems like I've always worked in the repair/service field. I've never taken a loan or begged any bank for money. I've only got three trucks and seven employees and I don't intend to "grow my business" and make a permanent mark on the Milky Way. I just work locally fixing ACs and appliances and I keep those that work with me happy and well taken care of. I don't want or need a bigger piece of the pie nor do I believe that I'm providing life-critical services to the mindless dumb masses.....I fix ACs and appliances. I don't sell kidneys or offer a cure for cancer.

We're suppose to post examples of jobs we work on and give some experience lessons so I'll do that later. Figured I had better get the basics out of the way first. Nice to see so many vets on here! Lots of military and ex-military. Way to go, guys (gals)! Never stop plowing! Hit the decks running shipmates!

[Toby Williams]

The story of how I "fell" into the hvac/r field? My wife and mother-in-law worked at a local restaurant. The owner is a longtime family friend. He was showing us a bill for service work that had recently been done. Due to the rural location you can just imagine the trip charge associated with this service call. The owner knew I was unhappy as a deputy sheriff and wanted a new profession. He suggested trying classes at a local Vo-Tech school. I heeded his advice and went to the classes. I have always liked to take things apart and find out how and why they tick or tock, so I my curiosity was in overload. I then attended classes at Oakmulgee Technical in Oklahoma. I returned home and quickly found a new job as an install helper. This was in the early 90's. A heat wave attacked Oklahoma/Texas about this time and I wondered "What the heck was I thinking." It is now 2013 and I wonder that same thing from time to time as we all do. I am happy I took my friends advice.
I do like what I do. I have seen a lot of technology change, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse, but always intriguing to say the least. In our area we do see quite a large diversity of equipment. One of the "odd" ones that I am still happy have gone the way of the dodo bird is the ARKLA gas units. the theory, while still used today, is sound, I have had anhydrous ammonia sprayed in my face by these relics. Most of the ARKLA units around here are now gone, mainly replaced with dual fuel systems. I prefer commercial/industrial service personally. Residential service is a staple of most all companies, servicemen do unfortunately become complacent in it. C/I service work will keep you on your toes to say the least, or maybe its just me.

[BAS-atechs]

I like this qoute!!! as soon as you do learn it everything changes.

When I started, I knew nothing and knew that I knew nothing.

Then I learned a little and thought I knew a little.

Then I learned a little bit more and I knew that I knew everything.

Now, I know a little bit more and know that I will never completely understand this stuff.

[ristin]

I've been in the building services for about 25 years, at the same place.
Started off as a janitor, I've always worked on things, so soon as a maintenance job came open, I took it.
A bottom rung job unloading trucks, changing light bulbs and choking toilets.
Took some collage in electronics, started doing their CCTV and alarm systems.
Then that position was outsourced, a position came open in the data center.
That's when I got into the HVAC/R trade, went to RETs collage for my HVAC/R schooling & Universal license.
Then started working on Liebert CRAC units, York centrifugal water chillers, Trane open air screw compressor chillers, etc...
After all these years, I've started getting the HVAC guy's chronic problems; bad back & knees.
But it's been a good job, sad to say a lot of the younger crowd aren't getting into the trades.

[timebuilder]

There is a 15 post rule for the Membership Committee to process your application for Professional Membership here. "Joy" posting doesn't count.

So, how do you bring your post count up and give pertinent information for the MC to consider? Easy, post in this thread about your experiences and the jobs you have been on. Speak to each other about how and why you decided to get into this business and how you expect to advance in this trade. Tech School?? Talk about your classed and what you were taught.

Before you know it your 15 will be 60. Good luck and Welcome to H-Talk.



.

I think it is stunning that Dad's sticky about attaining Pro Membership has somehow been interpreted as an invitation to post responses in the same thread.

Guys, the idea in the Member Into area is for each of you to start your OWN thread, where you introduce yourself, tell your story if you like, and and maybe what you would like to get out of the experience.


Make sense now?

[Chuck]

It took a long time to read through all 98 pages of this thread but I finally made it to the end.

Raised on a farm in Texas and learned to fix things on the spot to keep life running. Joined the Navy when the gub-ment ran us off our farm and dove in to the Submarine community as a Missile Technician learning 3000 # hydraulics, 4,500 # air systems, electronics and preventive maintenance management. Took as much college and trades school as I could afford, got a couple useless pieces of paper saying I completed and just kept fixing crap as people needed me to. Tools build up over time. Experience never ends. I seem to get the jobs no one will tackle or jobs that EVERYONE has tackled and couldn't fix. I usually couldn't fix it either but it's always good experience!

When I got out of the Navy I helped a buddy in his fledgling AC business for seven years before he died very unexpectedly. I already had an AC license so I just kept working at it. Seems like I've always worked in the repair/service field. I've never taken a loan or begged any bank for money. I've only got three trucks and seven employees and I don't intend to "grow my business" and make a permanent mark on the Milky Way. I just work locally fixing ACs and appliances and I keep those that work with me happy and well taken care of. I don't want or need a bigger piece of the pie nor do I believe that I'm providing life-critical services to the mindless dumb masses.....I fix ACs and appliances. I don't sell kidneys or offer a cure for cancer.

We're suppose to post examples of jobs we work on and give some experience lessons so I'll do that later. Figured I had better get the basics out of the way first. Nice to see so many vets on here! Lots of military and ex-military. Way to go, guys (gals)! Never stop plowing! Hit the decks running shipmates!

Welcome here! Sounds like one of the real pros that this trade needs more of!

Thanks for your service!

[Chuck]

I think it is stunning that Dad's sticky about attaining Pro Membership has somehow been interpreted as an invitation to post responses in the same thread.

Guys, the idea in the Member Into area is for each of you to start your OWN thread, where you introduce yourself, tell your story if you like, and and maybe what you would like to get out of the experience.


Make sense now?

I'm sorry, but you are the one that has it wrong this time. This thread was started to give new members the opportunity to get their post count up so they can apply for pro membership. Actually it is an invitation to post in this thread and carry on a conversation about where they are at in their jobs.

Go read the opening post again. Thank-you.

[Poodle Head Mikey]

I've been doing it all a good long time and my back and knees are fine.

Maybe I haven't been doing it right after all?

PHM
------

I've been in the building services for about 25 years, at the same place.
Started off as a janitor, I've always worked on things, so soon as a maintenance job came open, I took it.
A bottom rung job unloading trucks, changing light bulbs and choking toilets.
Took some collage in electronics, started doing their CCTV and alarm systems.
Then that position was outsourced, a position came open in the data center.
That's when I got into the HVAC/R trade, went to RETs collage for my HVAC/R schooling & Universal license.
Then started working on Liebert CRAC units, York centrifugal water chillers, Trane open air screw compressor chillers, etc...
After all these years, I've started getting the HVAC guy's chronic problems; bad back & knees.
But it's been a good job, sad to say a lot of the younger crowd aren't getting into the trades.

[timebuilder]

I'm sorry, but you are the one that has it wrong this time. This thread was started to give new members the opportunity to get their post count up so they can apply for pro membership. Actually it is an invitation to post in this thread and carry on a conversation about where they are at in their jobs.

Go read the opening post again. Thank-you.

You are right. The sentence does include the words, "in this thread."

So, maybe you can clear this up for me, as well.

1) I recall the thread title "New Guests Going Pro?" to be an answer to why new members were showing up with essentially "instant" pro status. It included an explanation that these "instant pros" were industry reps and their company's individuals who purchased advertising.

Perhaps the original post was edited, and I didn't catch it. My bad.

2) I also recall that new members who desired Pro status were supposed to be taking part in meaningful discourse in the open technical forums, in order to allow the membership committee to better gauge the understanding of the trade among these new members.

Perhaps that was tossed out the window in favor of merely having 15 posts here, and the ability to tell an interesting story. I may have missed that part as well.

So, if you remember the original post and the reason for the now cryptic title, "New Guests Going Pro?" then you can tell me if you remember it the same way as I do.

[Chuck]

You are right. The sentence does include the words, "in this thread."

So, maybe you can clear this up for me, as well.

1) I recall the thread title "New Guests Going Pro?" to be an answer to why new members were showing up with essentially "instant" pro status. It included an explanation that these "instant pros" were industry reps and their company's individuals who purchased advertising.

Perhaps the original post was edited, and I didn't catch it. My bad.

2) I also recall that new members who desired Pro status were supposed to be taking part in meaningful discourse in the open technical forums, in order to allow the membership committee to better gauge the understanding of the trade among these new members.

Perhaps that was tossed out the window in favor of merely having 15 posts here, and the ability to tell an interesting story. I may have missed that part as well.

So, if you remember the original post and the reason for the now cryptic title, "New Guests Going Pro?" then you can tell me if you remember it the same way as I do.

1) I don't remember that being the purpose, but I could be wrong, maybe that was.

2)New members are still vetted by the MC to make sure they are in the trade before they are approved for pro membership, as far as I know that has not changed. This started when AOP started to give new guests another avenue to chat about their position in the trade. Hence the title, "new guests going pro" refers to the ones aspiring to pro membership.

I don't believe the OP in this thread has ever been edited, Dad would know for certain.

[timebuilder]

Sure, regular members are vetted for Pro status. I was a regular member for a looooong time before I got around to applying. I was just too busy.

I recall being told that the MC wanted to see substantive posts, along with the fact that there were 15 of them. Like I said, maybe that changed. Many sites that use this software have unlimited editing turned on. We have a timer on ours, here. However, the Mods don't have that restriction, which is why I think I found the reason that the post now says "in this thread."

Of course, that was several years ago now (over 2 1/2) and I could be completely wrong. However, the thread titles can't be edited, and that could be the breadcrumbs left behind, IMHO.

When we added AOP, I don't recall any discussion of the AOP providing new guests in the industry with another avenue for posting. In fact, it was the opposite. That's why the * was instituted, so that only HO types could post questions, and only Pro* members could post responses.

No, it's not that big a deal. I don't run the place, and if that's what they want, fine. That would also mean there is no need for any introductory forum other than this one thread, either.

It seemed a lot easier to find individuals who are new, and to interact with them, if they posted in their own thread, like so many do. In a single thread, they get buried.

[jpsmith1cm]

I don't believe the OP in this thread has ever been edited, Dad would know for certain.

Nope.

Doesn't look like it from what I can see.

There's a fairly extensive edit history on the thread, including quite a few spam posts and a couple of thread moves, but the Original post doesn't appear to have been edited.

[timebuilder]

How about the post that explained instant pro status as I described?

Is this not that thread?

[jpsmith1cm]

We have a timer on ours, here. However, the Mods don't have that restriction



However, the thread titles can't be edited, and that could be the breadcrumbs left behind, IMHO.

This is correct.

However, If a mod edits a post, it leaves a notice showing when the post was edited, by whom the post was edited and why it was edited.

Thread titles can be edited, too.

[jpsmith1cm]

How about the post that explained instant pro status as I described?

Is this not that thread?

Don't know for sure.

There are a number of membership classifications and Dad handles that stuff.

[Chuck]

Sure, regular members are vetted for Pro status. I was a regular member for a looooong time before I got around to applying. I was just too busy.

I recall being told that the MC wanted to see substantive posts, along with the fact that there were 15 of them. Like I said, maybe that changed. Many sites that use this software have unlimited editing turned on. We have a timer on ours, here. However, the Mods don't have that restriction, which is why I think I found the reason that the post now says "in this thread."

Of course, that was several years ago now (over 2 1/2) and I could be completely wrong. However, the thread titles can't be edited, and that could be the breadcrumbs left behind, IMHO.

When we added AOP, I don't recall any discussion of the AOP providing new guests in the industry with another avenue for posting. In fact, it was the opposite. That's why the * was instituted, so that only HO types could post questions, and only Pro* members could post responses.

No, it's not that big a deal. I don't run the place, and if that's what they want, fine. That would also mean there is no need for any introductory forum other than this one thread, either.

It seemed a lot easier to find individuals who are new, and to interact with them, if they posted in their own thread, like so many do. In a single thread, they get buried.

I didn't mean AOP was ever for new guests to post in. I meant that when AOP started it eliminated one place that new guests could post in to get their post count up.