Who would be a refrigeration engineer? [Archive] - Refrigeration-Engineer.com forums

WebRam

13-05-2004, 09:12 PM

By Tony Deith

What kind of person do you have to be to become a refrigeration engineer? Do you have to be extremely clever or in some cases extremely stupid? Have you ever come across a particular problem or customer and think, why am I doing this?

Being a refrigeration engineer requires many different personalities or hats in order to be able to go about your job with as little hassle as possible. The first hat required is that of a dogs-body, this is worn when we first become trainees. However, this will change later to the hat of a human being once it is realised that we can now perform certain tasks, such as clean condensers and change the odd fan motor. Eventually we progress to that of human being with a personality that can perform a wider range of tasks, such as 24hr call and sometimes the odd first fix. Then comes the scary part - out on your own and without back up. When this stage is reached you have become an engineer (or you think you are.)

You are now out on your own and have a van (that is what it says in the logbook) and a set of tools, but use the term TOOLS lightly. The calls are now flooding in - literally, as most of them are water leaks, this is when you don the hat of a plumber and are now the face of the company in the customers eyes and always will be. As your confidence grows you, begin to feel that you can fix anything, but in reality, half the service department is following behind you and you are affectionately known as the rubber ball as everything you hit bounces. This will disappear over the next year and you will receive the title of engineer who is all right - especially when he covers my 24hr callout. At this point, you empty out all the hats from the bag and put them on at the same time, very fetching.

These hats cover a multitude of sins, firstly the communication hat that is used when bull****ing, I mean explaining to the customer what the problem is or when having a good moan about the job, as if we do that. The next hat is that of diplomat especially as you are the fifth engineer to attend the same problem this week (reference-rubber ball) and the customer is rather upset. Also, reference communication. The majority of engineers are blessed with common sense and some are not. But we are not all perfect, we all have our weaknesses and strengths whether it be in the mechanical or electrical hats that we wear when performing the role of refrigeration engineer, some people wear these hats well, some not so well and some not at all. Some people claim to have these particular hats, but nobody has ever seen them.

Everybody wears their hats differently and in their own style, which shows through in their personalities. Refrigeration engineers are a breed of their own who thrives on overtime and gossip, the juicer the better if you ask me. Over the last few years, good engineers are thin on the ground and less skilled personnel are tagging themselves as refrigeration engineers. That is not to say that not every body who comes into this trade from another trade makes the grade, but a few give the trade a bad name. Now that ACRIB are more involved and the trade is now better regulated the standard of apprentice to engineer should become better.

Tony Deith

archstanton

19-01-2006, 01:54 PM

bigman go to sleep

Tycho

29-09-2006, 08:30 PM

gonna give this a kick back to the top :)

It's very good, how about making it a sticky?

US Iceman

29-09-2006, 11:19 PM

Hey Tycho,

Good call. This should be refreshed for additional input and further reading.

Being a refrigeration guy is not as easy as it looks, right?

winfred.dela

30-09-2006, 07:51 PM

. . . . .
The first hat required is that of a dogs-body, this is worn when we first become trainees. However, this will change later to the hat of a human being once it is realised that we can now perform certain tasks, such as clean condensers and change the odd fan motor. Eventually we progress to that of human being with a personality that can perform a wider range of tasks, such as 24hr call and sometimes the odd first fix. Then comes the scary part - out on your own and without back up. When this stage is reached you have become an engineer (or you think you are.)

You are now out on your own and have a van (that is what it says in the logbook) and a set of tools, but use the term TOOLS lightly.
. . . .

Based on the above:
1st stage - Refrigeration Trainee
2nd stage - Refrigeration Technician
3rd stage - Refrigeration Supervisor
Final stage - Refrigeration Engineer. May have the tools minus the van . . . . :(

That's quite a good ladder to climb, but a fresh graduate may get scared when given this idea/ladder in one helping.

Now am asking myself, when did i start the thought that i can consider myself already a Refrigeration Engineer. :confused:

This may take a while to ponder. . . .
Hope i get my answer in this lifetime :)

Tycho

30-09-2006, 10:40 PM

Hey Tycho,

Good call. This should be refreshed for additional input and further reading.

Being a refrigeration guy is not as easy as it looks, right?

It's not a job, it's a lifestyle :D or maybe a state of mind :)

US Iceman

01-10-2006, 03:11 AM

For a service person every day is a new adventure.

Especially in the summer...:)

mickandlee

18-10-2006, 12:06 PM

Josip

18-10-2006, 07:12 PM

ME ME ME

I've had over 50 years in refrig and AC fom skinny apprentice to fat and sixty odd - service, installation, sales to trouble shooting and everything inbetween - from fractional hp to 5000TR what a life.

I've met nice guys, b.....s, crooks etc and thats just my guvenors.

Customers from friendly (who usually want somthing extra) to down right nasty, some who know it all and most who dont

But its given me a great, interseting and ever changing though sometimes stressful life and I would not have changed it (well a rich old frigy maybe)

50 odd years in the industry and still learning and loving every day.

This Forum and its contributors are one of the best and most interesting developments in our industry for years.

Remember KEEP IT UP and KEEP IT KOOL

Mick

Nice words Mick:)

Yes, me too;)

Until now I have only 27 years in industrial refrigeration. I must admit, pocket ref plants were never ever of some big interest to me. I am supporting the use of natural refrigeration gases but I know for some good reasons we have to use other gases too, hope day by day lesser.

Of course every day there is something new to learn and this forum definitely contribute a lot, maybe the reason is because all of you are here;)

Best regards, Josip :)

arcticmonkey

21-10-2006, 11:11 PM

you must admit that there are less people entering into this business (apart from pissed off plumbers who think they can do fridge)and nowadays all the apprentices do 2 days at college and think they know it all.gone are the days of spending the whole 5 years working alongside an engineer all you get nowadays is cleaning a/c filters and oil strainers for the whole 5 years then told to go out and do the best you can!!!!

Mike W

24-10-2006, 06:07 AM

[quote=WebRam;15087]By Tony Deith

What kind of person do you have to be to become a refrigeration engineer?

Usually the son of one, who leaves school and doesn't know what to do.:p

MTKkeefy

24-10-2006, 11:25 PM

and nowadays all the apprentices do 2 days at college and think they know it all.

Bloody hell! You don't know the half of it mate! As I mentioned in another post I only work on admin side of things for a Thermoking dealer, so technical knowledge is very much limited, although growing slightly when I come on here to look something up!

However, bloke I have the annoying task of siting next to at work thinks he knows it all because he has..... a brightly coloured fault code chart and AN ELECTRONIC PARTS CATALOGUE!

:rolleyes: Maybe it isn't so bad actully doing the job rather than billing people for having the job done :rolleyes:

Handyman-1

17-11-2006, 12:39 AM

you must admit that there are less people entering into this business (apart from pissed off plumbers who think they can do fridge).

Maybe after training some plumbers and helping them learn Refrigeration, they will consider entering this business for good.

I have seen some who did well that started with plumbing and have gone to Refrigeration works.

Andy

20-11-2006, 10:45 PM

paltilvasudeo:)

sorry we cannot understand your english please post again.

kind regrds Andy:)

Greg W

30-12-2006, 08:08 AM

Engineer to me builds things , I only Fix and maintain large scale comfort cooling systems. A Tech like me has to be the jack of all trades and a master of most. I have lost count of all the service calls ive done , I lost count of the miles ive gone and systems repaired , I have even employed homeless people to mind my wet filters whilst I kept on working Inside. I talk to all levels of people in and out of the boardroom and train my apps to be most outstanding if I think they going to make It however If they dont show the skills needed , I tell them not to waste time. An Engineer is a selfproclaimed tittle of how high you are in chain.
I would never consider myself as an engineer .because IMO i dont rate myself highly. Its a blood job ,and I would say that there are better jobs to have. Like ones the dont involve hot roofs , hot roof spaces , dust ,gases, sh1ty customers and lotts of ladder work to name a few... Conditioning Air for people that only ever noice when its not working ,Lacks meaning. No one rarely says thats some good air, because it cost them a heap of money to cool the minds of there workers/customers.

Obi Wan

30-12-2006, 10:48 PM

[quote=winfred.dela;50918]Based on the above:
1st stage - Refrigeration Trainee
2nd stage - Refrigeration Technician
3rd stage - Refrigeration Supervisor
Final stage - Refrigeration Engineer. May have the tools minus the van . . . . :(

I think there should be two more stages;
4th Stage - Refrigeration Engineer. May have the tools minus the van...
5th Stage - Manager , take all the cr*p from bosses and engineers alike.
Final stage - Sub contractor with a Refrigeration Trainee.

Oh the cycle of life is wonderfull!!

Obi Wan

Lippygit

30-12-2006, 11:29 PM

I happened to "fall" into AC/ Fridge when I was asked to re-train from Electrician to A/C service , my training never happened due to a lost contract and I became an installer. However after a few years away from my family I chanced my arm going into service and was lucky enough to find a company who were willing to take me on and give me some training. I have now been in the industry for over 9 years and through the power of the internet and sites like this I feel I have made the grade. I am used by my present company as a troubleshooter when our younger engineers , and not so young (who have had all their college training) need assistance in getting to the root of problems. Although I appreciate proper and correct training is a good thing , you cannot beat the college of life, a good engineer is one who can teach himself and be open enough to listen to what others have to offer. Not all of us who move into this industry are cowboys.

Samarjit Sen

03-01-2007, 05:12 AM

A refrigeration engineer should be capable to guide the technician, have technical knowledge about refrigeration and other associated work, can design a suitable plant based on the latest technologies, good efficiancy and at the same low power consumption. He should never consider himself as a master in all , as noe refrigeration engineer can be. It is a profession which requires a lifetime of learning and educating himself in this field. He should be humble and willing and eager to learn more.

In the field of refrigeration, there is no end. We learn from our associates, technicians, books and others specially from this forum. One should be open and seek help and knowledge as and when required.

fatboydim

18-01-2007, 08:44 PM

aprenticeship= getting MEGGERed, burnt by solder, being another engineers b~tch, getting no thanks, getting dropped off miles from home...... would i do it again? NO!!!! but its my turn now :-)) REVENGE IS SWEET, KEEP THE TRADITION ALIVE !!!!!!!!!!!!

C COSTA

18-03-2007, 03:32 PM

I Work In Carrier For 11 Year`s And I Realy Enjoy It

snow

28-03-2007, 04:58 AM

Hello all I am new to RE and I am still currently a student graduating in may. I have landed a job in the refrigeration bussiness. I must be the exception because I an so nervous. Most of my training was for residential HVAC a little commercial thrown in. I am looking forward to the learning experience yet can't help but feel apprehensive. I am hoping to learn a lot from this forum before my first day. After a while I hope to be able to contribute back.

Gary

28-03-2007, 05:24 PM

Design Engineer
Service Tech
Installer

These are three very different (although related) job descriptions, requiring different mindsets and different skill sets.

The sooner we acknowledge this, the sooner we can start teaching people what they need to know in order to do their particular jobs.

Who would be a refrigeration engineer? Define which of the above is a refrigeration engineer.

Training? That's for design engineers.

Apprenticeship? That's for installers.

Service techs are simply thrown into the deep end. Those with mechanical aptitude survive. They spend their lives treading water, and as they gain experience they find themselves sucked under less often.

mr cool

28-03-2007, 06:57 PM

why do we do it, ive had a bad day and i seriously dont know why i am still in this stressfull, overworked and underpaid, undervalued,anti social, and disrespectful bloody job. are we mental or sadistic? i really cant make my mind up. and as for some other so called engineers that can wire a plug and drive a van, giving us all a bad name, i could go on and on. why do i bother any more!

Gary

29-03-2007, 09:05 PM

I once heard it explained this way:

When you start in the trade, fill your mouth with marbles. Each time you encounter a system that has you pulling out your hair, spit out a marble.

When you have lost all your marbles, you are a refrigeration engineer.

lana

30-03-2007, 11:53 AM

Lippygit

31-03-2007, 01:17 AM

We solve therefore we are , no one knows the answer , most often neither do we , a good technician never reveals the secrets of the master reset button ( the isolator) how many times has it pulled us all out of the proverbial

Sledge

05-05-2007, 12:21 AM

I see this job as one of the most stressful, but rewarding technical jobs you can have. It requires an analytical mind, a clear head, the ability to multi-task, organize, plan and implement. The trade is vast and varied enough that you can make this job as simple, or as technical as you can handle.
It allows you freedom to work in your own way, your own style, usually without supervision. Most jobs and bosses supervise their employees like rats in a cage, which isnt possible in this industry, making this a job ideal for a person who is a bit of a rogue.
Survival in this business requires performance. This isnt the job for a low performer. This is a job where a coaster quickly loses credibility and has trouble being employed.
I started at 16 as an elect apprentice, and once licensed, moved on to a HVAC refrig apprentcieship. Our climate has hot days up to 110F and very high RH down as low as -30F plus wind chill, making the trade in Toronto varied to say the least. Over the last 10 years I have worked in maintenance, both hands on and management, in the newspaper industry and the auto industry. Both those industries think that they have the bragging rights to being better places to work, with good conditions and higher pay. I can tell you that in my opinion, the refrig business is the place to be.

abdulazman

11-05-2007, 01:28 AM

Hi web n all you fellas,

ACRIB = A Complete Rest in Bed.

Adios Amigos

gas_n_go

24-06-2007, 06:48 PM

Ive always attributed being in this profession be linked to me being dropped on my head as a small child.

Funny you should use the hat analogy. I do that too. I once showed up at a service meeting in the dead heat of the summer wearing a firemans hat as a joke. I actually went as far as buying several hats from the dollar store and handed them out to everybody and we all paraded into the shop with our hats on, just to bust our supervisors chops.

Anyhow the hat thing, I often describe my job as one that requires many hats. Allow me to share with you thats I wear.
1: sherlock homes cap - sometimes you gotta be a detective collect the clues and figure out who is lying and who isnt.
2: doctors cap - we both have to be on call, we get called when our case is running a fever, First thing we do when we exam our patient is ram a thermometer up his ass, then we strap on gauges and get his blood pressure, we check his reflexes with our little multimeter, maybe a neurology work is called for, and after we bail them out of thier crisis and give them advice on how to prevent it from reoccuring that they inevitablly ignore, we send them a bill that they refuse to pay. The only difference really between us and them is they get a pretty nurse to chase around the office all day and we to look at our people like dan our moderater from jadeco every morning ( boy did i screw up in career decissions)
3: firemans hat: - summertime drill putting out fires
4: janitors cap - summertime over now its time to go clean up the messes we left out thier
5: dunce cap - self explanitory

airconadam

24-06-2007, 11:06 PM

hey arctic monkey i think you got a really good point ther ihave done 2 years in college been doing this now since i left school so 3 years now,iam out on my own and love it i learn more now than i did in colloege but i still lack in a whole lot of stuff as you will know but i always have my phone next to me hehe best tool in the box. i would like to go out with an older engineer now again and go to more complex fault etc rather than the drain leaking or lose flare nut or even go back to college but thanks again

adam:D:D

squil

13-09-2007, 08:52 AM

Hi web n all you fellas,

ACRIB = A Complete Rest in Bed.

Adios Amigos

Totally agree

yoelyeve

04-11-2007, 08:10 AM

Hey Tycho,

Good call. This should be refreshed for additional input and further reading.

Being a refrigeration guy is not as easy as it looks, right?

remember. super-heat is a measurement not OK or yes I think
and its easy if you know wat your doing

UTEserpentine

16-01-2008, 11:46 PM

do you have an area for equipment? Tube and wire bending?

ozairman

17-01-2008, 09:46 AM

remember. super-heat is a measurement not OK or yes I think
and its easy if you know wat your doing

I do tech support for a major AC brand, I usually get called an A$$hole when I ask technicians where I can get a set of gauges like theirs that reads in good,ok or normal. Likewise for the special thermometers they have which read out with words not numbers.

And I disagree the worst thing that happened to the service industry was mobile phones, just about everyone has lost the ability to fault find due to it.

The MG Pony

17-01-2008, 03:20 PM

I do tech support for a major AC brand, I usually get called an A$$hole when I ask technicians where I can get a set of gauges like theirs that reads in good,ok or normal. Likewise for the special thermometers they have which read out with words not numbers.

And I disagree the worst thing that happened to the service industry was mobile phones, just about everyone has lost the ability to fault find due to it.

Now days the McDonald lackies have the badge "Customer service engineer" Now with the lable like that you'd figure they'd at least get my order right!

A term all to loosely handed out it seems?!

Oh love the gauge line, got to remember that one, I've don that my self, bad habbit I guess.

Gary

17-01-2008, 07:23 PM

I do tech support for a major AC brand, I usually get called an A$$hole when I ask technicians where I can get a set of gauges like theirs that reads in good,ok or normal.

Better yet, they should report saturation temperatures. Then you wouldn't have to convert on your P/T chart. Reporting pressures just adds to the confusion.

TOTTIHS

02-02-2008, 09:36 PM

Methinks when you have been at it for double figure years,work upwards of 60 hours a week & call it an easy week, can recall a lot of the jobs you done 15 years ago & what a fool the operator/customer was, earn a good bit more than the average have at least 1 failed relationship have numbers in your phone & keys on your keyring of a lot of places you really shouldn't it's time you called yourself a Refrig FOOL
WHERE has my life GONE ??????
I told the guy the first day I didnt fancy it so what happened

richardb14

03-02-2008, 09:48 PM

well the salary hasn't gone up much in the last ten years, the cost of living has. when you consider that a plumber, sparky, joiner AND a plasterer make more than you - is it time to move on?

Sheffy

15-02-2008, 10:54 PM

all good if you do a few split ac units a week

ozairman

22-02-2008, 01:13 PM

all good if you do a few split ac units a week

Yaay the split basher the bane of the australian air conditioning industry, Sorry :D

ibraheem

23-02-2008, 02:12 PM

:cool:

My response to this interesting aticles in considering myself affilate to this said title, but to be sincere as we all know that engineering level is catigorically highly levelled person that already equipped with at least degree level in mechanical engineering and working exprience in the area of hvacr, and to be specific he might have a good experience in refrigeration more.
But I am really agree with all friends that every one of us have various capability that depends on field experience, should i look at my self and my experience that less than 15years in deferent hvacr field , start with field tech, tech coordinatior , installer, then sales , and project supervisor, till the day as refrigeration project sales engineer, i feel my knowledge in this very large field is little , as alway i need more information from other colleague , that make me realize that the title refrigeration engineer is by it self challenge for any one affilated to that, and that is the reason i joined this forum, and i will appreaciate to have personal friend of well exprienced person here in the field or installation and design of cold storage , i will appreciate any friend to give me his contact e-mail ,or let us have some interraction, provided the person is working in the cold storage projects with good experience.

Design Engineer
Service Tech
Installer

These are three very different (although related) job descriptions, requiring different mindsets and different skill sets.

The sooner we acknowledge this, the sooner we can start teaching people what they need to know in order to do their particular jobs.

Who would be a refrigeration engineer? Define which of the above is a refrigeration engineer.

Training? That's for design engineers.

Apprenticeship? That's for installers.

Service techs are simply thrown into the deep end. Those with mechanical aptitude survive. They spend their lives treading water, and as they gain experience they find themselves sucked under less often.

techie

03-03-2008, 10:07 AM

u go man its so true worst thing is fix other peoples f###ups

abet_meneses

07-04-2008, 02:05 AM

:):)morning guys,as a refrigeration personnel with 21years behind on the industry,i started as apprentice,helper,technician,mechanic,foreman,project supervisor,project estimator,and now as refrigeration designer on supermarket refrigeration.aspiring to be a refrigeration personnel on industrial refrigeration with a limited experience on ammonia system,mr iceman maybe can help me find literatures,books,or drawings with valves installed on a complete system.

philfridge

08-04-2008, 10:28 PM

Yep i agree you gotta be pretty brainy to fiddle your sheets lol

PVA

17-05-2008, 01:04 PM

Hm-m-m-m, I like refrigeration and like my work as refrigeration engineer.

imci

18-05-2008, 08:02 AM

i am piping engineer but i like this forum.We can find great information here

Vishwaprasanna

15-09-2008, 01:31 PM

Hi
I am working in this profession as a lecturer since 20 years (theory as well as practical) So may I call me refrigeration engineer?

refri_holic

20-09-2008, 01:21 PM

hmm.... Who would be a refrigeration engineer??
if u try to love and understand about refrigeration... u would be!
there is a will.. there is a way..!

mcdapp

01-11-2008, 06:43 PM

I love my Job.. Repairing Domestic Refrigeration.. Meeting New Customers Every Day..Having Cups Of tea Made For You. Its a Wonderfull Job. Getting Job Satisfaction When you have Found The Fault And Repaired The Appliance..Then Move On To Get Your Next Cup Of Tea and Bacon Butty..Best

sunilkumarhvac

03-11-2008, 02:31 PM

I like my job as a Refrigeration engineer becuase I think only this job will required deep knowledge about so many fields(Electrical,Electronics,Plumbing,Mechanical&Few Civil jobs).To become a good RAC engineer anyone must know these things so I am very happy to say I am an Refrigeration and Airconditioning Engineer

Magoo

04-11-2008, 12:22 AM

Web Ram you are brilliant, this thread has gone on for fours years plus. Congratulations.
I have been in industry for forty one years and enjoyed every minute, wouldn't change a thing. To me refrigeration is a passion and hobby that I get rather well paid for. The wife has a diiferent veiw as I am seldom home. Even the children call me the stranger that sleeps with there mother occassionally, the youngest is 20.
I'm on call 24/7 and haven't had a holiday in decades, I've seen most arts of the world with work and had a ball.

magoo

johnanthonyhome

07-11-2008, 01:56 PM

Good sticky.

William Taylor

08-11-2008, 10:32 AM

After forty years in the refrigeration air conditioning industry, working on every thing form a beverage cooler to a central plant from installation to maintenance there is still so much to learn and the industry is going through so many changes. The technology is moving so fast. Experiencing and coming to know these new refrigerants and their short comings under different operational conditions is a challenge. For instance R410A does not like the Australian north due to the heat. It does some interesting things, like run for 4 hours and decides it is time for smoko. The refrigeration game is like a woman beautiful, challenging and you will never understand it. Just when you thing you have some idea every thing goes out the window. However, it is never never boring.

Ferdx

10-11-2008, 04:08 AM

:cool:This is my first post with this forum. So hello to everyone out there especially all the Aussie's.

Firstly I'll say that refrigeration wasnt my first pick for work, having to take up the trade after falling out of an electrical apprenticeship. Ill say thank god I did though, as the electrical background is essential for breakdown problem solving. I have worked in install tech and maintence and think that if u dont have the skills to do the breakdowns and preventative stuff, maybe installer is more ur cup of tea.

1 main problem I had was getting into the industry in the first place.:( Having a family full of Uni grads I always expected to goto uni till i hit year 12 and realised i didnt want to spend my life inside a fish bowl at work. I applied for an apprenticeship every year (during the main intake periods at the start of the year) and several times in-between. I have worked all kinds of work from sculpture's assistant to roof restorer, and prefer the higher lvl of responsibilty this jobs carries and the mental brawn required to work out how an ac system works without any manuals, wiring diagrams, and several modifications already in place.

I have been lucky in that I have been able to work on my own from almost the first day on the job and by that statement it has meant that I was in the deep end almost all the time. I had an employer through my apprenticeship that gave me a phone and said dont call me, you solve it. Spent a lot of time working out wiring diagrams till I knew exactly how the darn thing went and where to find things like the safety circuit.

I have worked on almost every major roof of my home town, police evidence rooms:p, particle accelerators:confused:, models change rooms;), whorehouses:eek: and every house from the poorest to the loaded. The range of places I get to goto and see are unrestricted, and it sure beats sitting at a desk looking at the same road or building across the street for year after soul draining year.

One point I have is that engineer I consider to be someone that done a uni degree in engineering. I know in New Zealand their fridgy's are called engineers even though they dont goto uni. In Australia, our fridgy's are tradesmen not engineers but our ticket gives us a free ticket into uni. Either way I dont really care.

Finally, the wages for a fridgy isnt bad, subcontractor can be good and bad but generally the money is good, specially if there is plenty of work. And contracting for the right section of the market can be a license to print the stuff.

Mazdamike

23-12-2008, 11:19 PM

Hi Gary

Close description of my "training". Started out as electrician but got bored. Joined a fridge company, on strengh of electrical, then completed my college on my own time and expence at the age of 21. Now completed 37 years and still learning.

Regards from accross the pond.

Mike

WINJA

08-01-2009, 10:52 PM

draining year.

One point I have is that engineer I consider to be someone that done a uni degree in engineering. I know in New Zealand their fridgy's are called engineers even though they dont goto uni. In Australia, our fridgy's are tradesmen not engineers but our ticket gives us...........
They dont call the ones that qualify anymore engineers , the apprenticeship standard has been lowered significantly , the call them techs now. I have one of the old school certificates that says "engineer" but when i did it we had a very comprehensive electrical and refrigeration course which meant going away for about a month at a time and staying in Wellington(a dump) and getting acessed and tested and re tested both practical and theory.
Some of the fridgys coming thru these days is to a very low standard, its like in this pc world every one is equal and every one gets a pass , when i did my apprenticeship about only 2 out of 3 of us passed , the company i worked for fired half the apprentices for not passing exams , the guy in the same year as me at our branch got fired for making too many mistakes, maybe its a good thing.
I like to call myself a fridgy in oz the called me a mechanic:D

spacemanmark

08-01-2009, 11:29 PM

I love being a refrigeration engineer and have done so for the last 20 years, it’s a shame that the old school ways have gone, back in the days when you would work on installation and service and your work mates were as close as family. You would all turn out for Sat night refits and work 30 hours, with an hours sleep in an arm flex box if you were lucky.

On standby you could work 80 hours in 4 days and sleep in the van between calls.

You respected your senior engineers and supervisors and their time served.

Did this make us good refrigeration engineers? Yes, it was a training back ground second to none and now sadly seldom repeated.

For those that were willing to share their knowledge and experience made the best Refrigeration trainers ever and for every time I got a slap for not listening, Thank You.

The refrigeration industry is the greatest of industries and that’s down to the character of the engineers that work, play and live within it.

That’s why we are Refrigeration Engineers.

cmhood

20-01-2009, 08:28 PM

are you tony ex nrc livingston

spacemanmark

21-01-2009, 10:51 PM

Hi cmhood,

Sorry mate, I am not Tony.

Cheers

Mark

william_wye

29-01-2009, 03:05 AM

For those that were willing to share their knowledge and experience made the best Refrigeration trainers ever and for every time I got a slap for not listening, Thank You.

Apprentices today have no respect for there seniors. I have been in the trade since 1989. In those days we respected our seniors ,even a slap in the head made us respect them even more coz that made us aware of what we'd done wrong. Its different today. Should we follow in the footsteps (smack them in the head) of our old seniors. Im afraid not...the law forbids. What do we do??????

Gary

01-02-2009, 07:22 PM

I have trained a lot of techs over the past forty years... and managed to do so without smacking any of them in the head.

Slatts

03-02-2009, 12:25 PM

Apprentices today have no respect for there seniors. I have been in the trade since 1989. In those days we respected our seniors ,even a slap in the head made us respect them even more coz that made us aware of what we'd done wrong. Its different today. Should we follow in the footsteps (smack them in the head) of our old seniors. Im afraid not...the law forbids. What do we do??????
Maybe things are different in Figi William. I've been in the trade since 76 and nobody has smacked me in the head. It most certainly wouldn't have instilled respect for them in me if they had.
I've trained lots of apprentices in my time and if I can't work with them, they become 1st class workshop cleaners. in most cases a week of that and a quiet chat is all it takes to get their attention.
An apprentice fetches and carries tools for me, cleans up after me and empties the bins in the work shop. in return, I teach him a trade.

thanlwin

05-02-2009, 04:34 PM

i would be refrigeration and aircon engineer,how to ry and learn,pls advice me .also want to learn of RE ,if uyou can saw training school ,pls guided me .
thanks

Slatts

06-02-2009, 10:05 AM

i would be refrigeration and aircon engineer,how to ry and learn,pls advice me .also want to learn of RE ,if uyou can saw training school ,pls guided me .
thanks

Hi than. I don't know how things are done in Singapore but I'd suggest you contact a refrigeration or air-conditioning company there and tell them of your interest. They should be able to point you in the correct direction. Good luck.

Sridhar1312

14-02-2009, 03:34 AM

Yes Learning is a continous process NO end at all. I came in to Refrigeration &air conditioning after graduating in Chemical Engineering and has 32 years in the field and have learnt a lot and continue to learn also. I have many friends who are basically Electrical Engineer and are experts in refrigeration . Basic engineering degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical engineering are adequate plus interest in the Refrigeration is adequate to go ahead make a good carreer as Refrigeration is useful from INCUBATOR to MORTUARY

tomma

15-02-2009, 01:21 PM

I have been in refrigeration many years an still love it! what i like most is the variation! I still get a buzz when i have completed an install an appreciate what lots of years in the trade gives you,when you attend a service call, instinct.Most important quality a sense of humour, and being observant helps, an a turbo on the vans good.

07211@refri

29-03-2009, 01:22 PM

surely i want become the one if not why i'm the faculty but sure frist because i don't have any idea what i will study at next step of education an then here i'am stuck in the bussiness but still somehow the thing is become more and more interesting. somehow myself fine that i'am glad to be here
so wish me luck guy that i can finish my study smoothly and finaly become the one!!:)

Drop Out is the Reaper

mrfreezeit

04-04-2009, 12:03 AM

In most States in the US, engineer can not be used without a degree. The term used in most places is Technician.

josei

15-04-2009, 10:59 PM

I agree with American Refrigeration & AC Engineers Society ASHRAE. Membership grades description are awarded to applicants based on their experience and participation in the industry.

The grade of Member is awarded to individuals who have twelve or more years of qualified industry-related experience. Credit for industry related experience can be earned from any combination of approved education, work experience and professional registration.

donyap

18-04-2009, 05:46 AM

I am not sure whether I am a refrigeration engineer. I started off working with Carrier for 1 1/2 years as R&D Engineer designing AHU coils, then I was given a project to design refrigeration system, it was very limited resources but I have to tried to get it done the first cold room in R&D lab. It goes minus -20 degree for the first time I was very happy. But I found another job and it's really a refrigeration company. It's a manufacturer of Unit Blowers and Condenser. I have been working for 6 years now in this company, working on branding this unit blowers & condensers from start and now it's international brand. Maybe I am just good in heat transfers i.e. Unit Blowers, Condensers and special coils (steam coils, chilled water, dx coils, hot water coil). I hope I can learn more from you guys here in this forum. There isn't much association like this in my country. I wonder why not many new fresh graduates engineers would like to join refrigeration industry in my country. I got a degree in Mechanical Engineering. By reading this threads, many of u with 10-40 years in experience... I am consider one of the youngest here. :)