Tools for Leveling Up as a Tech

 So now you've been a technician, let's say six or 12 months, and you've gone from novice to somewhat of a beginner. You can do make ready as you're doing some repairs, you're learning about electricity or HVAC. So a few things that you'll need, and this is where you really start to separate yourself from someone that's brand new, that's just trying to learn as much as they can to sum on that is fairly proficient and can troubleshoot and repair.

Fairly, most of the systems and service calls that you'll get. So a couple things. Number one, get a small level of any kind for thermostats when you start doing HVAC. This is very important and you can find 'em in all shapes and sizes, but I like a small one that I can keep in my toolbox. Of course the voltage pen, and now a multimeter.

Now, when it comes to multimeters, there's plenty of different brands and people have, you know, varying opinions about which ones are the best. But I think undeniably fluke is one of the best brands you can possibly find. And if you look at the settings. Something that you really should look for is whether or not it can test capacitors.

This is one of the most common things that goes wrong or breaks down in an HVAC system, and this multimeter can detect whether it's good or bad. And we have a video about multimeters that really break it down and we get into great detail. The other thing that you'll need is called a clamp on ammeter.

So a multimeter like this can measure EV pretty much everything except for very high amperage. This one will measure high amperage. You clamp it around a wire. And then you can get readings as well too. Now, there are some that are made that where one of them does everything, but of course it's going to cost more.

And I personally like to have two meters, so I can have two measurements at the same time. So whatever you prefer. And then this is something I like to use quite often. This is called a kilowatt. If a resident says it's using too much energy, you plug this into the wall. Plug the appliance into this and it will tell you exactly how much energy it's using, what the amperage is, and how much it costs.

So when you start becoming a more advanced technician, the the meters, the more electrical troubleshooting that you're going to need. And of course, you have thermometers and all of the other hand tools. But remember, high quality tools usually lead to high quality work.