Mark Eatherton!

Wayco Wayne

I wanted to get your input for a class I've signed up to teach at the local community college titled "Boilers and Hydronics." I know you are experienced here and wanted to ask some questions, mainly on how you approach the subject with beginners. We start next week and I already have several gueat speakers lined up from the Hydronics field. Don't worry I won't ask you to fly in to DC from Denver. The text is IBR's modern Hydronics. My E-mail is wacrump@aol.com

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Jerry Boulanger_2

I teach hydronics as well and

always like to point out to neophytes that they have hydronic heating in their automobile. There's a boiler (engine) that heats a fluid (anti-freeeze) that gets pumped through a piping system to a terminal unit (heater core) whose output is controlled by the occupant for comfort. It seems to help overcome the 'fear of the unfamiliar'. Hope this helps you, too.

Wayco Wayne

Thanks for the input Jerry

That's a good example. I'm thinking of starting with boilers and then branching out from there to emmitters and then piping systems. There's a lot of stuff in the IBR text that they have already gone over, such as venting or troubleshooting, or stuff they are learning in another class such as heat load calculations that I don't need to repeat. Also the history of steam engines is interesting to me but maybe not to a class of tired workers attending a 3 hour class after a hard days work. I'm trying to keep it fresh. I've lined up Bob from Munchkin to bring his trailer set up with a working Munchkin. and Dan Foley to show his pictures of his radiant projects. If that doesn't light a fire under them then I don't know what will. Still looking for other folks willing to spend some time and share their knowledge. I also have Siggys text book as a personal reference. It's a little technical at times but these guys are in their 4th year of journeymans school, a little math shouldn't be too daunting. WW

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Mark Eatherton1

Hydronics heating...

Wayne, my Fall course lasts for 15 weeks. I start out with the basics, heat loss calcs, convector sizing, boiler sizing, distribution sizing, pump sizing, controls, trouble shooting and so on and so forth. I've tried to put it together so that it mimicks real life from the time you get a set of blue prints to the time you throw fire in the hole, with lots of personal experiences and tricks of the trade.

I'm trying to find time to put my sylabus information for the course up on an internet sight for all to see (instructors as wel as students.) When I get it done, I will post a note here on The Wall.

Good Luck to you and thanks for propping up the industry.

Another suggestion to you as well as any other instructors reading this, buy Dans book on "How to Teach Technicians (without putting them to sleep). This is a VERY useful book. I've purchased copies of it and given them as gifts to instructors I work with. Some are offended, others are not.


ME

Wayco Wayne

Hey Mark.

Thanks for the input. I'm always a little daunted when I take something new on like this. I have'nt fallen on my face yet however, so I probably shouldn't be. I have by the way ordered Dans book on Teaching Without putting the students to sleep, along with Carol Feys book on troubleshooting. The more I read it the more I like Siggys textbook Modern Hydronics. Also finding out where the students are as far as knowledge and experience will dictate somewhat where I start building their understanding, (and fortifying my own). A plus for me is, Dan H. is having a seminar here in DC Oct 22nd on The ABC's of Hydronics. If I can convince them they need to go, that will be more grist for the mill, and a great exprience for them. WW

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[Deleted User]

Siggys book

is the primary book for two of my classes. I haven't seen the IBR book yet.

ME