While training in the HVACR industry begins to really take hold at the secondary/post-secondary level, continuing education spans a career.
A Wealth of Knowledge
Trane is one manufacturer that offers continuing education courses for contractors, techs, and other HVAC personnel. Chris Walmsley, manager, technical service training, said the company offers factory training for commercial systems’ service, maintenance, and operation; codes and standards system design and control classes; and HVAC design and analysis software training. “These courses are designed to increase technician competence and confidence when servicing HVAC systems and controls,” he said.
He added that Trane’s commercial offerings range from entry-level a/c service to chilled water system service to technical courses for troubleshooting HVAC electrical systems to servicing specific equipment and controls, and more.
Trane offers its classes in various formats, including instructor-led, hands-on classes; webinars; online learning; and through videos. The in-person courses are held at factory locations, and offer onsite training for customers. Participants may also utilize the training in 24/7 e-learning modules.
According to Walmsley, Trane’s most popular classes generally are those that focus on the products because, “Trane is uniquely qualified to offer the best training for Trane solutions,” he said.
As new products are released, Trane’s technical training group works with the engineering development teams to create new courses on those products. Walmsley said courses are currently being developed for the recently launched RTAE Stealth Chiller and CVHS CenTraVac Chillers.
In High Demand
In 2013, the three most popular Trane courses for contractors and technicians, according to Walmsley, were:
1. RTAC/RTWD Rotary Chillers;
2. CenTraVac Mechanical Service; and
3. Precedent/Voyager Rooftops.
RTAC/RTWD Rotary Chillers
Through its online course catalog, the RTAC/RTWD Rotary Chillers course is noted to cover “the operation, diagnosis, and troubleshooting for Model RTAC and Model RTWD rotary chillers and CH530 micro electronic control systems with additional coverage of refrigeration system components. Emphasis will be placed on operational characteristics of the GP2 compressor, falling film evaporator, and the E-coil design condenser. RTWD water-cooled condenser construction, operation, and troubleshooting will also be discussed.”
The course also covers information on the units’ oil distribution system and oil return circuits. Chiller operation using Trane wiring diagrams is covered, with emphasis on understanding the Adaptive system control logic. Occurring principally in a classroom, the course is intended for contractors and in-plant HVAC service technicians who work or will work on a regular basis with the RTAC and/or RTWD units.
CenTraVac Mechanical Service
According to the catalog, the CenTraVac Mechanical Service course addresses variations in mechanical components of various Trane centrifugal chillers; how to properly maintain, troubleshoot, and repair chillers with differing lubrication and cooling system designs; how to use factory-recommended procedures to overhaul a Model CVHE CenTraVac chiller compressor and motor; how to properly inspect compressor and motor components for compliance to factory specifications; and how to properly diagnose problems for centrifugal chiller refrigeration systems. The course is designed for technicians who have experience in other HVAC chiller products and are starting to work with centrifugal equipment. Technicians who have experience working on centrifugal service but have no formal centrifugal training or experience with CenTraVac chillers may find the course useful as well. This course has a lab component to it, wherein students learn to properly disassemble, inspect, and reassemble a CVHE compressor, and includes a plant tour.
Precedent/Voyager Rooftops
The Precedent/Voyager Rooftops class is designed to provide service techs in-depth comprehensive coverage of the Precedent™ and Voyager™ rooftops with ReliaTel™ controls. Upon completion, participants will be knowledgeable in starting up, maintaining, and troubleshooting requirements for these products. The course is meant for rooftop service technicians who have a good understanding of constant volume and variable air volume (VAV) rooftops and systems and who need extended knowledge of Precedent and Voyager rooftop units. Students will learn the products’ airflow properties, dynamics, and adjustment procedures; how to employ proper mechanical cooling and heating system start-up procedures; heating components operation and troubleshooting; proper techniques to service, diagnose, and troubleshoot Precedent and Voyager rooftop units with ReliaTel controls; and the operation of the ReliaTel economizer with CO? and demand-controlled ventilation (DCV). Part of the class time will be spent in a lab.
For more information on each of the courses highlighted above and other Trane classes for contractors and techs, visit http://bit.ly/Tranetraining2013-14.
Publication date: 4/14/2014
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