Testing, Training, Seminars, and Certifications

Online Training Opportunities

here!This is updated on an ongoing basis-Keep checking in!

RSES - Check out the great many past webinars on a multitude of subjects. For RSES members, log into the rses.org page, then click this link Click here! and for elearning, Click here!

Bryan interviewed Steve Rogers and Gary Nelson from The Energy Conservatory discussing Blower Door ACH50 measurements vs. Natural Infiltration rates. It is a good 1 hour talk – Bryan is a great host – and it is also a good opportunity to hear directly from some of The Energy Conservatory researchers – Steve (current President) and Gary (Founder of TEC, inventor of the Minneapolis Blower Door and Minneapolis DuctBlaster). Listen here.

There Energy Conservatory has an article on CAZ - combustion appliance zones and their testing failures, etc. Basically taking combustion appliance exhaust systems into account with structures. Read it here.

NCI training - Air Testing and Diagnostics - A self-directed program to sharpen your skills! Click here!

Resideo, a Honeywell company, has several online webisodes available to view at here. and a HUGE number of upcoming webinars here.

Tuesdays - Geary Pacific presents "90+% Comfort Bridge Installation and Commissioning" 2:00pm to 3:00 PST. Free. Click here at time of webinar or five minutes earlier to download Zoom to your PC.

Tuesdays - Geary Pacific presents "Charging with Superheat and Sub-Cooling" at 8:00am PST. 1 hour and Free. Click here or for the repeat on Wednesdays at noon, click here. Click at start time for Zoom webinar or five minutes earlier if you need to download Zoom to your PC.

Tuesdays - Geary Pacific presents "Air Distribution & Troubleshooting". 1 hour and free. Click here at start time of webinar. Repeats on Wednesdays at noon PST and you can click here at start time for that. If you need to download Zoom, click in five minutes early.

Wednesdays - Geary Pacific presents "Daiken Ductless Installation and Commissioning" from 6:00am to 7:30am pst. Free. Click here at start time or five minutes earlier to download Zoom to your PC. Repeats Thursdays at 10:00am here.

Thursdays - Geary Pacific presents "Ultra Low-Nox Furnace Training" Free 8am to 9am PST. Register here.

Anytime - Bryan Orr of HVAC School has many educational stories, videos, etc for you to review. Visit here for more information. Free.

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July 21 - Speedclean presents "Mini-Split Maintenance Best Practices" including how to clean coils, etc. Free. 11am to noon. Register here!

July 22 - There's an RSES webinar from 4-5pm PDT on the anatomy of Copeland scroll compressors with details on components such as safety pressure reliefs, lubrication, etc. Free. Register here!

July 28 - TACO presents "Bluetooth tech in Residential ECM Circulators" Free 9a-10a. Register here!

July 29th - NCI presents "Explore HVAC Field Performance" from 3-5pm PDT. $15.00. Learn more about it and register here!

July 30th - NCI presents "Grow Profitability With Airflow Upgrades" from 3-5pm PDT. $15.00. Learn more about it and register here!

July 31 - Geary Pacific presents "Inverter Technology" from 9am to 10am. Free via Zoom. Register here!

August 18th, 9am to 10am PDT. Taco presents "Load Match / Low Flow Piping Systems". Free. Topics includeWhat are they, benefits, how to design them using HSS software, and examples. Register here.

September 15th, 9am to 10am. Free. Taco presents "Air-To-Air Heat Pump Systems. Topics include what are air-to-air heatpumps, what is COP and how is it calculated, heating and cooling water temperatures, conventional system and chilled beam system configurations. Register here.

Sept 29th - TACO presents "Mod-Con Boiler Piping & Pumping" Free. 9a-10am. Register here!

That's it for now. Summer training is lighter than other times of the year, but we'll keep things up to date so check back!

Crankcase Heaters and Single Pole Contactors

By Bryan Orr on Jul 15, 2020 08:03 am

carrier

We keep 2 pole 40 amp 24v coil contactors on all of our vans. They are versatile, reliable and you can replace most residential A/C contactors with them.

There are a few things to watch for though, especially when you have a crankcase heater. Many brands power the crankcase heater constantly and shut it on and off with a thermostat, often mounted on the discharge line (here’s looking at you Trane). When you replace a single pole with a two pole contactor in this type you need to make sure you connect BOTH sides of the crankcase circuit across the L1 and L2 line side of the contactor to ensure the heater can function when the compressor is off.

Even more confusing that that…. Look at the diagram at the top and focus on the top left part of the diagram where the crankcase heater is located…

How does that work do you think?….. I will wait while you think it through…. Don’t cheat… Look at it.

This is a common Carrier Heat Pump crankcase heater configuration.

You notice that one side of the heater is going to L1 line side Terminal 1 and the other side is going to L1 load side terminal 2.

So the crankcase heater ONLY functions when the compressor contactor is OPEN and even then it does so by back feeding through the compressor common and back through the run winding of the compressor to the constant powered L2 side of the contactor.

This means if you replace this contactor wire for wire with a 2 pole contactor the crankcase heater will never work. You must put the compressor run wire (yellow) to the bottom of the contactor (L2 line side) instead of the top like it was if you want the crankcase heater to function in this situation…

All of this to remind you, DON’T BE A PARTS CHANGER! Know what you are replacing, why you are replacing it and what each wire and component actually does.

— Bryan

The Long Beach chapter of RSES occasionally hosts events that are in addition to our monthly educational meetings.

For the public and our membership, we make every attempt to hold exams for NATE (North American Technician Excellence) certification, EPA standard 608 certification for handling refrigerants within the U.S., and for Certificate Member (CM) exams which are for RSES members only. When needed, we will also try to accomodate Certificate Member Specialist (CMS) exams which are available for CM status members.

For more information on what NATE is, please select the NATE link on the "Blogsite & Industry Links" tab, or see below to see what to do to keep your certification.

Need To Study For Your Exam?

Here are some links to order study materials to help you. If you are participating in our NATE study session (see below, near bottom), we'll order the manuals for you!

For NATE: Study Manuals

For EPA-608 exams:EPA-608 Manual

For CM exams: There is a CM study PowerPoint available on the registration page for $20.00, if interested, and is offered when our chapter is hosting the exam. You must be an RSES member. You can order this via the registration link above. A link to download the PPT file will be emailed to you within five days. Note: You must have signed up for a CM exam this chapter is offering to be eligible to purchase the PowerPoint.

For CMS exams: You will need to study in the area of your exam. Exams offered are Commercial Air, Commercial Refrigeration, Controls, Domestic Service, Dynamic Compression, Heating, Heat Pump, and HVACR Electrical. Must be an RSES CM member.

R-410a - The seminar before the exam includes a book. It may also be available at the RSES.org website. Try these links...

SAM and Journal articles

R-410a study book

It has been 3 1/2 years since we've last offered this seminar and because it was so well attended and received, we wanted to offer it again!

Have you given any thought to obtaining a C-20 or C-38 license and going into business for yourself? This seminar covers most of what we hope are your areas of need...

Why should I need a license?
What is involved in getting a license and what are the pitfalls in doing so?
What kind of help might be available for small start-ups like mine?
Once you start your business, you may want some information on how to run it. Whether you want to be a "one man show" or build it up to several technicians, we'll have some suggestions for you to get you started.

Lunch will be provided. This is a one-day seminar.

Class to be offered in the spring of 2017. Watch for signup information after the first of the year!