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Brownouts and How They’re Killing HVAC Equipment
CAT Ratings on Electrical Multimeters
Refrigeration Communication Troubleshooting Using Oscilloscopes
What is RS-485 Communication?
Oscilloscope Systems and Settings
Oscilloscopes 101
Estimating Made Easy with Unity Build
Buck-Boost Transformers
Switch Terms
Motor Tap Battle
Deploying Surge Protection & Voltage Monitoring w/ DITEK
Surge Protection Basics w/ DITEK
What Is Up With Blower Amps & Watts w/ Steve Rogers
Residential & Rack Startup and Commissioning (Part 1)
History of AWG – Short #186
Analog vs. Digital Sine – Short #179
Wiring Refrigerated Cases w/ Nathan & Phil
Grounding and Bonding Myths Podcast
High Voltage A/C Electrical Class
#electrical
Tech Tips:
HVAC technicians typically focus on diagnosing issues related to mechanical wear, refrigerant leaks, or control problems within the equipment. However, damage can also originate from external sources. For instance, a failed control board might be attributed to internal shorts or rubouts. Yet, the root cause could be external, such as the voltage spike that can […]
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If you have a multimeter for HVAC work, you most likely have a meter with a CAT III rating on it. Some might also be rated for CAT II at higher voltages or CAT IV at lower onesโor both, like this model of the UEi DL599 from our Multimeter 101 for HVAC 3D video. In […]
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This tech tip is the final installment in our short series on using oscilloscopes to troubleshoot communicating systems. This time, we’re focusing on troubleshooting communication issues in commercial refrigeration systems. Imagine this scenario: you’ve got a refrigeration system acting up, and the comms network, whether it’s LON or MOD-bus, seems a bit flaky. Let me […]
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This tech tip about RS-485 communication is the third installment in a four-part series about oscilloscopes. It’s a primer for the final installment about using an oscilloscope for diagnosis. I owe a special thanks to Jeremy Smith for sharing the information on Danfoss and for sparking my curiosity surrounding this type of communication. Let’s talk […]
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This is part two of our four-part series on oscilloscope fundamentals. Special thanks to Andrew Holden for his contributions. In our last tech tip on oscilloscopes, we learned about some safety basics, waveforms, and measurements. Weโre going to dive a little deeper into systems and settings on the oscilloscope in this tech tip. Systems are […]
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This tech tip is the first in a four-part series on using oscilloscopes. I’d like to give a special thanks to Andrew Holden for his contributions to this particular tech tip. When we want to measure voltage between two points, we reach for a multimeter. A multimeter can tell us the average electrical potential between […]
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Many of you may already know that our HVAC company, Kalos Services, is also a GC. We do a lot of construction projects with HVAC, plumbing, and electrical scopes of work. Estimating is a crucial part of winning those projects, and those of you who work on HVAC for new construction probably already have an […]
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HVAC systems often fail early or don’t perform well due to inconsistent power. While technicians can’t control a home’s main power supply, they can stabilize it at the system using buck-boost transformers. These devices adjust voltage up or down to meet the equipmentโs needs. As HVAC systems become more advanced, understanding buck-boost transformers will be […]
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A while back, I had a tech who was having some trouble finding a 35 PSI (2.41 bar) make-on-fall pressure switch. One adjustable switch in the catalog said (SPDT), but he didn’t quite understand what that meant. In that case, it means single-pole, double-throw, and the “double-throw” part means that the switch has terminals in both the […]
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Videos:
In this video we cover Basic Motor Wiring Run, Common and Start legs Multi Speed motors and whether the speed taps are common, run or start The location of a thermal overload in a multi speed blower motor If you have an iPhone, subscribe to the podcast HERE, and if you have an Android phone, […]
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Podcasts:
๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ Bryan discusses surge protection devices (SPDs) with Mike from DITEK, focusing on practical applications for HVAC contractors and how to provide value to clients. Mike emphasizes that surge protection is essential for modern HVAC systems, particularly given that they are typically the most expensive appliance in a home and increasingly rely on sophisticated electronic […]
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๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ In this enlightening episode, we sit down with Mike, a 20-year veteran from DITEK, a leading American manufacturer of surge protection devices based in Largo, Florida. The conversation begins with a brief discussion about recent hurricane impacts in the Tampa Bay area, where DITEK maintains its 65,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. Mike shares how the company, […]
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๏ปฟ๏ปฟ Bryan Orr and Steve Rogers dive deep into measuring power consumption in HVAC blower motors, particularly focusing on the differences between PSC (Permanent Split Capacitor) and ECM (Electronically Commutated Motor) technologies. The discussion stems from a question raised at an educators’ conference about the accuracy of clamp-on meters in measuring blower motor watt draw, […]
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๏ปฟ๏ปฟ In this episode of the HVAC podcast, Bryan and Max Johnson from Kalos discuss the critical role of a startup and commissioning technician in the HVAC industry. Max, who has experience in both residential and commercial HVAC, shares his insights on the importance of understanding the scope of work, equipment specifications, and code requirements. […]
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๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ In this short podcast, Bryan explains the history of AWG, or American wire gauge, which is the sizing system we use for conductors in the United States. Wires weren’t standardized before the 18th century (1700s). As fencing, telegraph, and electrical wires started coming out, there was a need for a standardized system. In England, […]
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๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ In this short podcast, Bryan breaks down the differences between analog and digital sine waves. Analog readings deal with an unlimited number of values; they are very precise and can have any number of decimals. As a result, the alternating current (AC) analog sine readings have very smooth curves when we read them on […]
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๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ Phil Barr and Nathan Orr join the podcast to talk about wiring refrigerated cases in commercial spaces, including convenience stores and supermarkets. Cases may be medium-temp (or high-temp, in some cases) or low-temp. Medium-temp cases can typically defrost on their own during the off cycle, and low-temp cases may have electric or hot-gas defrost […]
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In this podcast episode, Bryan talks about grounding and some common misunderstandings related to ground, neutral, ground rods, and lightning. The common phrase that “current goes to ground” is a myth. The transformer (or the power source) that feeds a building creates a potential difference in charges (voltage); current is the motion of electrons between […]
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This podcast is a high voltage A/C electrical class that Bryan gave to some of the Kalos apprentices. The high voltage journey begins with basic electrical theory. Basically, a difference in charge is needed for electrons to move and generate power. Motors, which are inductive loads, are the greatest users of power that we will […]
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