| DAY 1
HVAC CONTROL BASICS,
TROUBLESHOOTING & TESTING
OVERVIEW
HVAC system problems can be divided into three major categories - Air Distribution, Electrical or Mechanical. The part that causes most service headaches is the electrical portion, and most of that can be traced back to control problems. So day 1 of this seminar concentrates on overcoming the most common service problems encountered in HVAC systems by teaching students to understand, troubleshoot and test HVAC Electrical Controls.
During this seminar, students will learn the basics of electricity including Ohm's law and how simple series and parallel circuits are used in HVAC systems. They will learn how to troubleshoot both line voltage and low voltage in their systems. They will learn how to identify an electrical problem and determine a solution for it by testing both operating controls and safety controls. Specific situations unique to air conditioning and heat pumps will be discussed as well. Students leaving after the first day of this seminar will be confident in their HVAC electrical control knowledge and armed to go back to their workplace to immediately apply what they have learned!
DISCUSSION TOPICS
1. Basic Electricity
Basic Electricity & Ohm's Law
- b. Meters & Tools for Taking Electrical Measurements
- c. Electrical Circuits
i. Series
ii. Parallel
2. Control Circuits
- a. Schematics
- b. Ladder Diagrams
- c. Developing Wiring Diagrams
3. Controls
- a. Overloads
- b. Relays
- c. Contactors
- d. Control Transformer
- e. Starting Relay
- f. Defrost Timer
- g. Thermostat
- h. High Pressure Control
- i. Low Pressure Control
- j. Oil Pressure Control
4. Troubleshooting
- a. General Troubleshooting Techniques
- b. Common Problem Areas
- c. Commercial Air Conditioning
- d. Heat Pump Control
- e. Pump Down Cycle
DAY 2
Practical Solutions
for Air Distribution
OVERVIEW
Many common problems found in HVAC systems are relatively easy to correct, but are often overlooked. These problems are not electrically related at all even though many times we can get tricked into thinking they are. Yet a non-electrical problem can be as frustrating to find and fix as an electrical one, and may be even more discomforting to the people who have to live with it. So the second day of this seminar concentrates on the most often overlooked and ignored problems in HVAC systems - the "V" in "HVAC" - or ventilation, air distribution and air balancing!
We have all heard the complaints of "too hot", "too cold", "not enough air" or "I feel a draft". So in this second day of the seminar students will learn how to solve the problems that cause people to say these things. Students will learn how to handle a problem like when one area is cooling, but another is not; why 400 cfm per ton is important and why it is used; how refrigerant piping affects air conditioning performance; how to determine proper blower and duct sizes for your system; what to do when you have an undersized duct; what causes noise in a system and the tricks you can use to control it; how to troubleshoot and perform tests on air handling equipment, exhaust fans and air make-up equipment; how to properly balance an air system for ideal comfort - and so much more. The primary goal of this day is to help you minimize the complaints heard from the people working or living in your building. Once completed, students leaving this class will have all that they need to handle any complaint that may come their way.
DISCUSSION TOPICS
1. Determining and Improving Air Flow
- a. 400 cfm per ton
- b. How many square feet per ton?
- c. Air mixture at the cooling coil
2. Exhaust Air
- a. Positive pressure
- b. Negative pressure
3. Make-Up Air
- a. Positive pressure
- b. Negative pressure
- c. Conditioning the make up air
4. Troubleshooting the Air Distribution System
- a. Temperature difference across the coil
- b. Balance in the system
- c. Short cycling
- d. Duct sizing
- e. Noise
- f. How to use a Ductulator
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