Training

Weezbo

you are smart money ahead looking into Tim's offer. i think an UGLY'S is an important book in any inspiring electrical /hydronic career.

Jason Quinn

Advice from the Pro's

I am a plumber learning hydronics. I have basic hydronic installation experience, yet most of my installs do not involve wiring or in depth controls. I am currently involved in the RPA's Radiant Basics online course; I have also read many of Carol Fey's and Dan's books and have "lurked" on the "The Wall" for a few years now. I am willing to make the effort for education and training- I am looking for advice on how others have done so- in particular with wiring and controls. At times, the knowledge required of wiring, controls and design can seem overwhelming. I also plan on attending Dan's Classic Hydronics seminar this month and the I=B=R seminar in a few months.

Ken_40

Jason,

Unfortunately, the I=B=R classes just barely scratch the surface of wiring, 'stats and controls.

Learning how to use a multimeter - all of it, including mA, continity, uA, ohms and of course the obvious one's: AC and DC-volts, is essential. Start off with a 20-dollar "wonder" meter and see if later on you need rectification readings like on large flame rectification burner controls, both Honeywell and/or Fireye.

You are obviously mechanically inclined. Translating the "visual clues" of mechanics into trusting what your meter says - is how to think about electricity. it IS mechanical, as long as you know how to read the meter! The meter's setup and dial are the map needed to find out where the electrons are, and what level their doing whatever they're supposed to be doing - or not doing.

Basic 'E' is something hard to glean from a book. It is hand-on lab dependent IMO. There are tons of basic 'E' books out there. None really all that good. Either so basic as to be childish, or so exotic as to be more confusing than helpful.

Unfortunately, the electronics on simple gas trains is one thing. The electronics of oil-trains quite another. When you get into larger, more complicated systems, it is yet different again!

Timie McElwain is among the best resources on the planet for gas stuff. George Lanthier the best on oil stuff. Both have all the know-how possible for the larger systems out there.

Perhaps they can help? I'll e-mail them both now.

If a book on-point exists, they'll know about it!

Ken D.

Wiring

Depending on your experience, a good basic electricity course like the RSES will go a long way. The RSES also has monthly free seminars that are very helpful. For advanced training, courses like Tekmar and Honeywell are well worth it.

Unknown

Jason what is your

location? I have a training center in Rhode Island called Gas Training Institute. I cover everything you need to increase your wiring and troubleshooting skills.

I have a series of 25 manuals listed here.

Service Manuals Catalog
* Denotes Manual used in Seminars

*1. Fundamentals of Gas Vol I (New in 2004)

Fuel Gases Natural Gas Facts
Combustion Gas Burners
Gas Pilot Assembly Gas Orifices
Gas Pressures Mechanical Controls
Burner Problems Gas Pipe Sizing
Measuring Input
Carbon Monoxide
Air for Combustion

* 2. Fundamentals of Gas Vol II (New in 2004)

Air for Combustion and Ventilation
Introduction to Venting
Venting Requirements, Specifications, Design
& Construction
Conventional Venting Systems
Masonry, Metal and Factory Built Chimneys
Gas Vents, Selkirk Metalbestos Handbook
Single Wall Pipe, Through the Wall Vent
Termination,
Vent Connectors, Vent Dampers and Tables from
NFPA 54/ANSI Z223.1 National Fuel Gas Code

3. Foreign Odor Complaint
Training on procedures for
investigating odor complaints, Gas Safety

4. Gas Ranges
Fundamentals of gas ranges - does
not include electric ignition ranges

5. Water Heaters
Fundamentals of storage type water heaters

6. Electric Ignition Ranges
All the different systems used
on Electric Ignition ranges

7. Basic Electricity
Electricity as it applies to gas equipment

*8. Circuitry and Troubleshooting
Volume I
(New in 2006)

APPLIED ELECTRICITY FOR GAS APPLIANCES
PARTS OF AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT
ELECTRICAL TERMS
ELECTRICAL RELATIONSHIPS
CIRCUIT COMPONENTS AND SYMBOLS
ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS AND DIAGRAMS
CONTROL CENTERS
TEST EQUIPMENT
COMPLETED WIRING DIAGRAMS OF HEATING SYSTEMS

*8A. Circuitry and Troubleshooting Volume II
THERMAL ELECTRICITY AND ELECTROMAGNETISM
THERMOSTATS, GAS VALVES, TRANSFORMERS

9. Kitchen Heater/Space Heater
Includes all conventional Kitchen and
Space Heaters in addition to unvented,
Dynavent, unit heaters and floor furnaces

10. Advanced Electricity
Transformers, relays, multimeters,
capacitors, solid state and electronic
flame safeguard

11. Fundamentals of House Heating
Principles of heating, thermostats,
settings, transformers, gas valves and pilots.

12. House Heating Systems
Steam and Warm Air systems,
Wiring Diagrams different systems

13. House Heating Systems
Forced Hot Water, wiring diagrams,
Zone Valves, Series Systems, Powerpile
Systems, Gas Actuated, Motors/Circulators

*14. Hydronics
Introduction
Aquastats
Relays
Switching Relays
Aquastat Relays
Transformers
Electric Ignition System
Zone Valves
Troubleshooting

*15. Powerpile Systems

*16. Electric Ignition Systems

*17. Advanced Electric
Ignition Systems

*18. Conversion Burners/Combustion Testing
Includes installation, troubleshooting
and combustion efficiency testing

*19. Combustion Testing Designed Gas
Equipment Volume I (New in 2006)


*19A. Combustion Testing Designed Gas
Equipment Volume II (New in 2006)


*19B. Combustion Test Equipment
(New in 2006)

*20. Air For Combustion
Carbon Monoxide
Heat Exchangers

*21. SmartValve™
Same information as in
the Advanced Electric
Ignition Systems on SmartValve™
Generation I, II and III


*22. Multi-Zone Panels

23. Troubleshooting Gas Electric
Ignition Systems

70 pages of excellent troubleshooting
procedures a must for every technicians truck

INCLUDES

Intermittent Pilot Systems
24 volt EI system on Burnham Boiler
Hot Surface Ignition systems
Integrated Controls


24. Integrated Boiler Controls Manual

The GAS Integrated Boiler Controls Manual is comprised
of procedures for troubleshooting and determining correct
operation of Gas Boiler Systems using such controls.

It is a combination of:

OPERATING SEQUENCES
WIRING DIAGRAMS
QUICK CHECK METHODS
CONTROL SPECIFICATION SHEETS
MANUFACTURERS INSTRUCTIONS


25. Integrated Furnace Controls Manual

The Integrated Furnace Controls Manual contains procedures on a number of different IFC’s being used on a number of Gas High Efficiency Warm Air Furnaces today. It has procedures for troubleshooting and determining correct operation of systems using such controls.

It is a combination of:

OPERATING SEQUENCES
WIRING DIAGRAMS
QUICK CHECK METHODS
CONTROL SPECIFICATION SHEETS
MANUFACTURERS INSTRUCTIONS


I also have a series of 62 different Troubleshooting Guides.

mikea23

Wirsbo

Wirsbo camps are great and the people there are top notch I found with wiring If you compleatly understand the system and what you want it to do. the wires are simple but looks harder then it is.

Jason Quinn

Thank You

Thanks to everyone for their input. Once again "the wall" comes thru. I'm really glad I asked. You have made some excellent recommendations- ones that I never would have thought of on my own. Tim, I have received your course schedules in the past and am definately planning on attending; also considering starting out with a manual. Please e-mail me a price list for the manuals. I am on your e-mail list. Thanks again to everyone for taking the time to share.

Shane_2

I am a plumber also learning hydronics, I thought I was quite an expert till I started coming to the wall a year or two ago. I continue to learn everything I can. I will look forward to meeting you in Piscatatway(sp?).

Shane F.

allenleo

message to tim

tim, how far out of boston is the school ? how long is the drive from boston ? how long is the course ? do you have all classes available at night ? what nights, if any, do the classes fall on ? does the course cover all the material listed in the 25 manuals you listed ? what is the cost of the course ?


hope to hear from you, thanks.

Unknown

I will send you

an e-mail response to some of your questions.

As to distance from Boston it is less than 1 hour. We are located in Warren RI.