The Refrigeration Mentor Podcast

Learn more about Refrigeration Mentor Customized Technical Training Programs at www.refrigerationmentor.com/courses Join the Refrigeration Mentor Hub here In this episode, we cover electricity basics for refrigeration technicians - using and checking a meter, electrical safety, and key terms including voltage (electrical pressure), current (flow of electrons), resistance (opposition to flow), and Ohm's Law. We'll also review electrical terminology and walk through circuits, finding breaks in the path, the difference between series and parallel circuits, AC vs DC, conductors vs insulators, open/closed/short conditions wiring diagrams. Strong electrical fundamentals are critical for refrigeration technicians and will help you reduce troubleshooting time, callbacks, and jobs stress. In this episode, we discuss: (00:47) Meters And Electrical Basics (02:21) Voltage Current Resistance (05:18) Ohm's Law (06:16) Power Watts And Horsepower (08:10) Circuits And Breaks (10:01) Series Vs Parallel (11:46) AC Vs DC Power (14:05) Open, Closed And Shorts (15:39) Wiring Diagrams And Electrical Safety Helpful Links & Resources: Episode 371. A 6-Step Process for Faster Electrical Troubleshooting Episode 323. Electrical Troubleshooting 101 Episode 259. CO2 Experts Live: Electrical Troubleshooting with Rusty Walker

Learn more about Refrigeration Mentor Customized Technical Training Programs at www.refrigerationmentor.com/courses Join the Refrigeration Mentor Hub here In this episode, we're talking about why the technicians who consistently invest in themselves are the ones who level up the fastest. Technical skills are only one part of becoming a great refrigeration technician—communication, customer service, leadership, problem-solving, and personal development all play a major role. I'll share real-world examples of technicians who have grown into leadership roles, built new areas of business, and even outgrown their companies by putting their careers ahead of simply doing their day jobs. We'll also discuss the value of mentorship, structured learning, finding your biggest knowledge gaps, and deliberately working on the things that make you uncomfortable. In this episode, we cover: (03:00) The Skills Beyond Technical Troubleshooting (04:00) Moving From Technician To Manager (05:00) Why Mentorship Can Accelerate Your Learning (06:00) Learning From Other Technicians' Experience (07:13) Developing Communication And Customer Service Skills (08:00) Dealing With Difficult Customers And Repeat Service Calls (10:00) The Difference Between Average And Great Technicians (12:00) Using Manuals And Resources To Solve Problems (13:00) Building Your Own Learning Library (16:00) Putting Your Career Ahead Of Your Job (17:00) Building A Broader Portfolio Of Refrigeration Skills Helpful Links & Resources: Episode 39. Invest In Your Refrigeration Knowledge Episode 413. My 4-Pillar Framework to Learn CO2 Refrigeration Faster Episode 392. Transitioning From Technician to Manager: Building Leadership Skills in Refrigeration with Todd Ernest of Climate Pros

Learn more about Refrigeration Mentor Customized Technical Training Programs at www.refrigerationmentor.com/courses Join the Refrigeration Mentor Hub here In this episode, we're talking about the growing skills and knowledge gap in the refrigeration industry and why that gap represents a massive opportunity. With more experienced technicians retiring, increasingly complex equipment and new technologies like CO2 and A2Ls entering the field, the demand for highly skilled refrigeration technicians continues to grow. We talk about specialization, learning controls, startups and commissioning, becoming more resourceful, and building the skills that allow refrigeration technicians to solve harder problems and command higher wages. In this episode, we discuss: (00:48) The Growing Refrigeration Skills Gap (02:00) Why Refrigeration Technicians Are In High Demand (04:00) The Versatility Of A Refrigeration Technician (06:00) Why Refrigeration Skills Create Career Opportunities (08:00) Specializing In CO2, Controls And A2Ls (12:00) Identifying Your Biggest Skill Gaps (14:00) Learning Controls  (16:00) Why Modern Refrigeration Systems Are More Complex (22:00) The Importance Of Mentorship And Asking Questions (24:00) Specialization In Startups And Commissioning (28:00) Adapting To New Refrigeration Technology (30:00) Why Refrigeration Is A Recession-Resistant Career (32:00) Adapting To The Next Generation Of Technicians (34:00) The Opportunity Ahead For Refrigeration Technicians Helpful Links & Resources: Episode 374. Growing the Refrigeration Industry Globally with World Refrigeration Day Founder, Steve Gill Episode 364. Addressing Technician Shortages & Oil Analysis Episode 288. The Payoff of Investing Time & Money in Training with Jesse Stewart

Learn more about Refrigeration Mentor Customized Technical Training Programs at www.refrigerationmentor.com/courses Join the Refrigeration Mentor Hub here In this episode, I'm sharing some of the tips, resources and materials refrigerators should be checking out to learn refrigeration faster. These tips and resources need to be utilized both on that job and after work, things like manuals, processes, checklists, and investing in additional training after hours. We'll also discuss documenting service call steps, reviewing for missing details, and using on site data AI to refine concise checklists and get to the root of issues. These are the keys that the best techs use to stop guessing on service calls and solve issues faster and more confidently. In this episode, we cover:  (01:51) Writing Things Down to Learn (02:43) Repetition Builds Mastery (03:14) CO2 Procedures Step by Step (05:16 Teaching Like a Mentor (07:08) Building A Framework for Any System (08:55) Using AI in Refrigeration (09:57) Knowing Normal Data (11:20) Building Habits That Stick Helpful Links & Resources: BOOK: Atomic Habits by James Clear Episode 413. My 4-Pillar Framework to Learn CO2 Refrigeration Faster Episode 288. The Payoff of Investing Time & Money in Training with Jesse Stewart

Learn more about Refrigeration Mentor Customized Technical Training Programs at www.refrigerationmentor.com/courses Join the Refrigeration Mentor Hub here In this episode, we're reviewing a recent field story from inside the Refrigeration Mentor Community of handling a "compressor proof/safety failure" alarm. Upon arrival, the compressor was running. But instead of assuming a nuisance trip, this episode walks through how confirm the cause of issue by running diagnostics using free manufacturer software (Copeland CoreSense). Being able to accurately to validate findings builds technician confidence, speeds up troubleshooting time and helps prevent future costly failures. In this episode, we discuss: (00:48) Compressor Trip Alarms (02:23) Copeland CoreSense Basics (04:02) Laptop and Cable Setup (05:42) Connection Pain Points (07:09) Fixing the Wiring (08:42) How Validation Builds Confidence (10:19) Refrigeration Troubleshooting Skills Helpful Links & Resources: Website: Copeland CoreSense Episode 378. Field Stories: Compressor Failure, Case Freeze-Up Troubleshooting, and Electrical Safety Episode 295. A Compressor Story: The Key to Faster Troubleshooting