Tool bag, what's missing?

[QcTodd]

So I just started in our local schools HVACR/MAR program and we received our tools today. What else do you guys think I need to add to these? I can already tell you a tape measure and flashlight is on the list.


Soft Tool Bag
Ratchet Wrench
3/16" Hex Key Wrench Insert
5/16" Magnetic Long Driver
Wire Stripper
1 1/4" Telescopic Mirror
Channel Lock Pliers
10" Adjustable Wrench
1 3/4" Pliers
6 in 1 Screwdriver
Left Aviation Snip
Right Aviation Snip
Fieldpiece Multimeter
Yellow Jacket Manifold with Hose

[jpsmith1cm]

Manometer
Thermometer
Psychrometer

Socket sets (yeah, you'll want a couple)
Cordless drill and impact driver

[newoldtech]

I think you have more than enough tools for just starting School.

I would wait until you get a job before buying much else.

[doc havoc]

1/4" magnetic nut driver
Pocket or torpedo level for mounting stats
Needle nose pliers
Wire brush for cleaning burners

[QcTodd]

I think you have more than enough tools for just starting School.

I would wait until you get a job before buying much else.

Sounds good to me! I was Hoping that the kit the school put together would be enough to get started.

[QcTodd]

1/4" magnetic nut driver
Pocket or torpedo level for mounting stats
Needle nose pliers
Wire brush for cleaning burners

What I posted was the list the gave us but I'm pretty sure I saw a 1/4" nut driver, torpedo level, and needle nose pliers. I know for sure no wire brush tho.

[maxster]

allen keys standard/metric,metal shradder valve holder,check you local auto stores for those bargin bins see if you can get one of those small socket sets with the driver...great for those crazy motor terminals nuts....caliper.

[Cooked]

This day in age, I would think an infrared thermometer would be a good idea.

[Rcb2875]

Yellow Jacket Manifold with Hose

Might want to get two more hoses to complete the set.

later on add some ball valves for hoses, thumb screw core depressor ( worth their weight in gold)

I wouldn't spend money on high end equipment yet as most employers supply those. I would get a good pocket thermometer and maybe an electronic psychrometer for target SH, wet bulb and relative humidity determination and delta T measurements.

[pjh008]

You will figure out your own "special tools" later but i'll tell you one for now. Get yourself a 3 foot or more extention for your socket set. Makes compressor change outs easier.

[Dog1]

I'm currently in school as well. I went ahead and bought a hvac Fluke combo multimeter/ clamp ammeter. I was told 80% of all problems are electrical so it made sense.

[Kaleun494]

A telescoping magnet helped me more than once when I dropped screws in hard to reach places.

[XcelTech]

Make sure what ever multimeter you get it not only has ammeter clamp but it can do Capacity. I find to many techs who diagnose a bad compressor for several hundreds to replace and it is actually a capacitor that costs under sixty bucks.

[Rcb2875]

Make sure what ever multimeter you get it not only has ammeter clamp but it can do Capacity. I find to many techs who diagnose a bad compressor for several hundreds to replace and it is actually a capacitor that costs under sixty bucks.

I hope you are kidding on the compressor diagnosis.

[newoldtech]

I hope you are kidding on the compressor diagnosis.

I agree.

I know there are alot of incompetent techs out there but any tech that would "mistake" a bad capacitor for a bad compressor is probably just trying to scam the customer, or has no business being allowed to run calls.

[QcTodd]

This is the meter we got, thoughts?

http://www.fieldpiece.com/clamp-meters/sc53

[Rcb2875]

Good meter.

[XcelTech]

oops hahahaah! I meant fan motors not compressor. But no I am not. I see it all the time. I had a personal friend in Austin who ran into that problem not two weeks ago. His AC stopped working and called a company to come look and they told him the fan motor on his condenser was bad. Luckily my friend is no moron and didn't trust the tech. He called me and I talked him through it over the phone. The capacitor was bulging and all.

I use to work at DFW international Airport. I worked for 6 months for a company that had an AC contract. They tried to replace 7 fan motors during that 6 months that had bad caps. and good motors. They tried to replace two that had perfectly working motors that were over amping due to load issues.

I can't tell you how many people I watched condemn 3 motors on the same system because they installed it with a fan blade they pulled of a back shelf.

I watched another guy condemn 4 HOA switches before the boss went hold up because he wasn't getting voltage readings through it when he turned it on.

I watched a manager condemn a PCA motor that cost thousands of dollars because the motor over amped while the airplane duct work wasn't attached.

I watched a second manager condemn a perfectly good circuit board, transformer, and two relay because the amp over load was tripping on a short he wired wrong in the remote switch box.

Yeah, there are a lot of people who couldn't use a meter right to save their life.

[Rcb2875]

Well if they are using that logic on fan motors they are surely doing it to compressors as well unless they are just trying to make a quick easy sell and install on a quick fan motor swap. These same people probably check AH fan amp draw with the panel off.

[XcelTech]

HAHAHAHAHAHAH!!! I am sure they charge that way too.

It is freezing up! Must be low on R-22. Okay fill her tell it stops freezing.