Week 4 Electrical

                                        This week we started talked about Protons and Electrons, the fundamentals of electricity Power source, Conductor, Resistors, circuits and how electricity flows. We cover how AC and DC currents look and their functions in our trucks.
                                                    

In this photo Mick used a glass of water to show us how water is a good resistor but, can also be a very good conductor if salt is added. By adding salt it knocks hydrogen loose and the plating off the roach grips turning the water a nasty beer color.

                                                     
Mick is Showing us how A/C current is made in an Alternator. Through positive and negative pieces on the gear. Changing polarity of magnets. Iron core in a magnet intensifies it by 2500x is also called a ARMATURE (chunk of iron in the middle) move in a magnetic field.

I always thought dielectric grease was used to help with bad electrical connections. We were told in class they're for protecting electrical connections. Is it used to improve a connection too?

Week 3 Refrigerant

This week we worked more on refrigerant and actually using our machines to reclaim and recharge the refrigerant from 2 different trucks. The refrigerant flow and all of the components actually click for me this week so I feel a lot more confidant in the A/C platform.

 In this picture is the standalone A/C circuit That we used to identify all of the components and the flow of refrigerant. The unit made it easy to identify High and low pressure lines and all of the components like Accumulator on a system will always have a Orifice Tube and a receiver dryer will have a expansion valve in the system. In the back of this picture Mick is showing us how to operate the rotary machine that acts as a drill or can rotate cylinder objects.

This is a fifth-wheel coupling or a Fifth axel. During this time I had always thought that the grease on these were meant to prevent rust and that why it was spread. Mick instructed us that it's used to prevent the axel from seizing. It has to be cleaned on maintenance intervals.

This whole week was really good for me, everything starting piecing together and I actually started to understand. Id like to keep up working on A/C components so I don't lose this knowledge. 

Week 2 Air Conditioning & Compressors

This week we started on Air Conditioning and the cycle in which the different types of refrigerant flows from the A/C Compressor to your condenser, expansion valve, evaporator and eventually starting over at the compressor. this process is was fuels the cold air into the cabin through the air ducts from the blower and motor.

Intake of a duel pistol compressor, center circles are the discharge from small metal plates that lift up on the compression of the pistons discharge. The other holes around the 2 center protruding are the intake holes that suck in the refrigerant.

This picture instructor Mick is showing us that this clutch field coil got hot and so it melted the seal and threw oil and refrigerant around the clutch pulley and everything else in the engine bay. Does running A/C add a lot of load to your engine while idling and while normal driving? 

Week 1 - Introduction To Safety In Diesel Electricity

During the safety week we were forced to endure gory video about what can happen if you don't wear proper PPE. Although I've been through this training before I've never actually known that you're supposed to wear goggle underneath your face shield. I learned during this work week that you never want to be under a vehicle without there being jack stands underneath.

In this photo we're watching a video on a man who's wearing PPE and w're supposed to be guessing what he's missing. In this moment it's telling us that you're supposed to wear eye protection behind face shields because materials can still fly underneath the face shield.

In this photo Mick is going over the tools we'll be using in the quarter. Mick is holding up a heel pry bar or another word for it would be Crows foot pry bar. Mich tells us about what tools he prefers and about different brands.

I really liked how mike talked about how arcing 12 volts would be less likely to piece through your personal bearer compared to 24 volts which'll actually shock you.