Controls Internship

[UpNorthHVAC]

Hey guys,

Next summer(2012) I am going to be doing an internship for my bachelors degree from Ferris State here in Michigan. My real passion is controls & programming so I would really like to focus on that during the internship.

There are places here in Michigan that Ferris can help set me up with, but I would like to go somewhere out of state if I can. Just feel like I need to get out of Michigan, whether it's just for the internship or if I decide to stay I think it would do me some good.

Do any of you know of any places around the country that offer internships? I know JCI, Trane, Honeywell, Etc. do and I can check their listings easily enough, but if anyone has any more ideas/advice it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[desert guy]

JCI will be your best bet. It is the best training ground with the best product and most support and you will get the most exposure to a wider gambit of controls so find a city and contact Corporate or the local branch for an Internship, but don't wait too long or you will be SOL.

[dapper]

JCI would not be my first pick as I don't agree with most of the statements above.

[UpNorthHVAC]

Thanks for the replies, JCI in this area seems to be pretty good from what I have heard. Which reminds me, I am also interested if anyone knows of any good internship opportunities within Michigan. I am not totally set on leaving the state, especially if I could get a really good one here.

[TheCiscoKid]

UpNorthHVAC,

Cheers on your accomplishments and future endeavors. If you wanted to go outside the box of the big 3, you should definitely take a look at American Auto-Matrix. I personally believe they maybe a little underrated in the grand scheme of things. They are number 6 out of 450 control manufactures with the most BTL-listed controllers on the market and in my opinion one of the best BACnet lines in the industry.

If controls and programming is your passion, broaden yourself and dive in with the Fume Hood and Lab Control. They have one of the most advanced and compatible BTL-listed systems out there. These controllers can do the open loop and closed loop sash-based control like phoenix as well as far superior control, with AAM's "Auto-Flow," where the face velocity is actually being measured and adjusted every 50ms.

They are just about everywhere within the United States if moving is an option, as well as I'm sure there is a local rep close to you in Michigan if you decide to stay. If you wanted to travel abroad, there are many dealers in various countries throughout the world. Take a look at their web site and give them a call. I'm sure the folks at the corporate office can answer any questions you may have or give you names and numbers of dealers throughout your region and a far.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do and again, congratulations!

The Cisco Kid.

[kontrolphreak]

You could look at some of the other manufacturers websites, most have a page for positions open with them and their dealer network.

http://www.deltacontrols.com/about/careers/job-postings

http://www.automatedlogic.com/careers/

http://www.reliablecontrols.com/corporate/employment/

http://www.distech-controls.com/About/Careers.html

You get the idea.

kontrol out

[controlgeek]

JCI will be your best bet. It is the best training ground with the best product and most support and you will get the most exposure to a wider gambit of controls so find a city and contact Corporate or the local branch for an Internship, but don't wait too long or you will be SOL.

ROFL

[TheControlsFreak]

JCI will be your best bet. It is the best training ground with the best product and most support and you will get the most exposure to a wider gambit of controls so find a city and contact Corporate or the local branch for an Internship, but don't wait too long or you will be SOL.

Yeah... ummm... nevermind, no comment.


UpNorth, if you were looking for a paid position I would love to hire someone with a desire to learn and is good with the computer/CAD/programming side of things. Unfortunately, I would really hate to spend the time to REALLY teach someone and then see them leave a couple of months later.

If your plans change and you are looking for something more permanent in the way of a career PM anytime! Good luck.

[reissman]

I sent you an email. If you did not get an email let me know try PMing me.

[blackbelt3677]

JCI is the best!:Yeah censored: right! Try Automated Logic or Delta Controls.

[TheControlsFreak]

<--- Delta Controls fanboy...

[UpNorthHVAC]

Thanks for the recommendations guys! I have a couple companies in mind here in Michigan that Ferris could set me up with. Honestly I don't really even care who the internship is for or what controls they use, I just want some experience. Right now I am working behind the counter at a local wholesaler, which is a decent job, but I don't think selling sheet metal and Goodman furnaces is really helping me advance in my career, ya know? So really I just want to do anything controls related and get my foot in the door.

If I decide to just do the internship here in Michigan I do have another question though, there are a few positions at schools, GVSU & MSU hire a couple interns each year. I don't know what brand of controls they work with but I know it sounds like the interns do a lot of retro work on the older buildings and commissioning and that sort of thing, do you think that would be a better or worse opportunity than going to lets say a Honeywell or JCI branch?

Honestly

Thanks again guys!

[dapper]

If what you say is true about the work duties of the interns then I would think the internship at the schools would be more beneficial. You will probably get to see an assortment of different manufacturers control systems and it sounds like you will get plenty of hands on work.
There may be some benefit to working at a manufacturers branch because they may send you to training. My biggest concern with interning at a manufacturers branch is that it many cases they are union shops and you will do little more than run for coffee and pull wire.
Of course both situations might be found at either location but I would opt for the college as you will likely find a broader array of systems there.
Just my 2 cents.

[gidgolden]

How did the internship turn out? Would you recommend the school?

[paulir]

Thanks for the recommendations guys! I have a couple companies in mind here in Michigan that Ferris could set me up with. Honestly I don't really even care who the internship is for or what controls they use, I just want some experience. Right now I am working behind the counter at a local wholesaler, which is a decent job, but I don't think selling sheet metal and Goodman furnaces is really helping me advance in my career, ya know? So really I just want to do anything controls related and get my foot in the door.

If I decide to just do the internship here in Michigan I do have another question though, there are a few positions at schools, GVSU &amp; MSU hire a couple interns each year. I don't know what brand of controls they work with but I know it sounds like the interns do a lot of retro work on the older buildings and commissioning and that sort of thing, do you think that would be a better or worse opportunity than going to lets say a Honeywell or JCI branch?

Honestly

Thanks again guys!

I have a MS grad working for us, email me if your interested in Windy City