Peter, HVAC "techs"

Peter,
What is about you guys that you really don't understand about some voltage service entrance types and the method you use to check incoming supply? What's up with any formal training? Is it just in my area?

Once again, I had a HVAC guy (new but from the same firm I've been using for many years) up on the roof today and he came down and told me we had a power issue/problem!!! This happens EVERY time I get a new "tech" on the site and he goes to work on one of the units running off one of our 480 grounded "B" phase service entrances. They keep checking each leg to ground instead instead between each leg. Of course they will not see voltage to ground on the "B" phase. Is the whole HVAC industry trained to be absolutely stupid???

BTW, I got really pissed when he didn't even bother to Ohm out the compressor legs to ground and just put a new fuse in. Guess what, the new fuse popped immediately!!! I guess I should hane gone up on the roof with my DMM myself! However, this week has been "hell"!! I have one key maintenance guy on vacation and I've actually had to get my own hands dirty this week!! The owner of the HVAC contractor has a voice message!!! I love the guys and have used them for MANY years, but, they need to know what their own "techs" lack! correct?

You lost me at "480 grounded "B" phase service entrance"   

Pete although i am only in the residential sector I have been in the trade since 1984 and i have also seen the same trend of tech school kids getting a "parts runner job" out of high school.they then seem to go out on their own after two yrs of making mistakes . they then fail in business quickly and then seem to fade into the corn never to be seen again. its weird. I think there is a big demand out there for a union style apprentice program.I think the problem seems to be in part that companies cant spend the time or money to get new hires into trade related seminars that for me tuned me up and enlightened me to techniques and new ideas. those training sessions along with working with the older guys were the best.

The sad thing about this whole scenario with the grounded B phase is many have been knocked on their tail ends thinking there wasn't power on that leg!! Then, hopefully they did ask someone to explain to them why nothing shows up on the VOM/DMM when checking that leg!   

I talked with one of the owner/partners this morning about another problem (we have over 60 roof top HVAC units). It was interesting that HE brought it up to me that he did have a "little" talk with his young tech that checked out the compressor. (his own tech evidently spilled his own beans!!) He reminded his "tech" that it's always a good idea to Ohm the unit out BEFORE just replacing fuses!!!    The owner removed the cost of the fuses off the bill!!!

Peter and Joe,
I'm lucky that one of the owner/partners of the HVAC service company I use is familiar with the grounded B phase. Unfortunately, as mentioned some of his people aren't!! I've got a feeling that he did get knocked on hid butt one day!

BTW, Last fall, I had to call in the big boy union guys when my normal (same HVAC guys) told me they would not work on the hot deck/cold deck modulating controlled system I have in one of our buildings. 20K later, it is working!! New steam coil and a new evap coil as well as head gaskets and "stop leak" on the refrig side. Peter, i took a chance - have you ever used the stop leak on a refrig system? So far, it's holding!! The leak they found was very small and in a area that would have required MAJOR plumbing work.

peter1234 wrote: Pete those training sessions along with working with the older guys were the best.

Same in Ohio Gary.....new guys just could not understand why some of us had the jobs, areas and trucks that we had earned. Plus they spent way more time complaining than they did listening. Hard to believe but I bet I barely talked for the first 2 or 3 years I was at my first garage.

john (on Moorfoot's computer)