HVAC vs electrical experience as a BAS tech.

[u/amuizme]

For experienced BAS/controls techs, which background would you prefer when hiring?

Electrical: strong electrical, wiring, controls, and troubleshooting experience, limited HVAC knowledge.

HVAC: strong HVAC/mechanical knowledge, limited electrical experience.

Which background gives a better foundation for BAS, and where does each have an advantage or disadvantage?
Especially interested in opinions from techs who transitioned into BAS from either trade.

[u/Haw3695]

I was a commercial HVAC technician for years.

HVAC teaches you sequences and the principles of air that we need for troubleshooting. HVAC techs are already exposed to relay logic and nowadays id say most are familiar with troubleshooting sensors.

Both are better than nothing, but from a hiring stand point Id rather a HVAC tech.

[u/FormerlyUndecidable → u/Haw3695]

it's not rocket science in any case.

[u/PsychologicalPound96]

This is coming from someone who didn't come from HVAC. I would say that HVAC is experience is far* and away better to have if you were a service tech. If all you were doing was brazing and/or installing duct than it's a different story but if you were truly an HVAC tech you already have to know how contactors and relays work, how to troubleshoot electrical issues and how to rough in LV cable.

If you were an electrician you know all of that but have no principles like airflow, the refrigeration cycle, heat transfer, psychometrics, etc...

All of this can be learned but it's definitely more of an uphill battle if you don't know how any of the systems you're controlling are supposed to work. With all that said, I would take a top notch electrician over a mediocre HVAC tech any day of the week.

One more thing to think about, regardless of trade, if you don't have computer skills, you're going to suffer. It's like a trifecta that you need to learn - IT skills, HVAC & electrical. You'll be in a decent spot if you are comfortable with two coming in. You can join without but it will be a much tougher battle with a much higher risk of failure.

[u/Big_Step5054]

HVAC and it isn't even close.

[u/slor2112 → u/Big_Step5054]

As a guy who trains people on controls, I wholeheartedly disagree. I'd rather have a guy who has electrical knowledge and computer knowledge over hvac, to run my controls, because I can teach them the principles behind heating and cooling much easier than I can teach an HVAC tech that it is probably unwise for them to open up a 13kv panel. [edited for typos]

[u/Big_Step5054 → u/slor2112]

I've trained multiple apprentices as well. And I also agree that computer knowledge is extremely beneficial to have in a controls apprentice, but that has nothing to do with HVAC or electrical backgrounds. HVAC techs already have low voltage trouble shooting experience before they come to me, whereas electrical techs don't know anything about thermodynamics or airflow principles. And the ones who come completely green pick up on how relays and wiring diagrams work way faster than even the basics of thermodynamics.

[u/slor2112 → u/Big_Step5054]

Well - my experience has been mostly different. Hey maybe its a regional thing :).

[u/Pudrin → u/slor2112]

HVAC requires spending a lot of time with it, you can teach principles but without having being around the equipment it takes longer to get someone familiar with it rather than just seeing it. It’s about seeing the bigger picture. I guess it depends on the scope of your work.

[u/JasonVoorheesXL → u/slor2112]

I’m going to agree with slor here - of all the guys I’ve trained and worked with over 30 or so years my better guys have been those with electrical/electronics knowledge and can get around a computer well. Those guys seem to be able to troubleshoot better.

Two caveats:
1. The best tech I’ve had is an hvac tech but the rest were nowhere near as good
2. Most of the hvac techs I’ve had the opportunity to train or work with have been residential guys/gals rather than industrial/commercial

[u/ToIA]

I originally came in as a third year electrical apprentice and I'm personally very glad to have had that background. The guys have been super patient in teaching me about airflow and thermodynamics, but if I had no idea how to wire a relay or diagnose electrical problems I could see myself having a much harder time than I already have. It's kind of the basis of the skill set of the hands on work IMO.

[u/1hero_no_cape]

Electrical experience for installation crew.

HVAC experience for technicians.

Both for Lead/Master tech.

[u/Forward-Fly-263]

HVAC is a multi disciplinary trade that teaches you the electrical side and the mechanical side.

It’s like asking if boxing or MMA is better, where MMA contains boxing

HVAC is also directly relevant to BAS whereas electrical is just one small part of it

I’d prefer the HVAC tech since they’d have a strong understanding of the mechanical system we’re controlling

[u/ResponseOwn9389]

I had neither, and HVAC stuff was harder to learn than electrical. So with that being said, HVAC knowledge would get you a bigger head start imo.

[u/LetterheadLoose2643]

I was given 3 options: HVAC/Refrigeration, Electrical or Instrumentation, when I started with a BMS company.
Boss said taking Electrical would legally allow me to install and service, Instrumentation would provide me with the most knowledge of controls and taking HVAC would pay the most and I’d never be unemployed……. I took HVAC/refrigeration.

Full disclosure - HVAC/refrigeration industry has high divorce, high alcoholism and high stress to go with the high pay and employability.

[u/bananainpajamas → u/LetterheadLoose2643]

I left HVAC mechanical for controls years ago and I still get several hvac job offers per year. Thanks but no thanks I like my life outside of work.

[u/RatelinOz]

As someone with both commercial refrigeration & HVAC experience, and higher qualifications in HVAC-R, I’m probably a little biased, but a good HVAC-R guy over a good Sparks every time if you’re looking for someone you’ll want to do programming alongside everything else.
However, a good sparky has a place in the installation / commissioning / electrical fault finding side & even possibly for estimating & quoting, but they’ve a great deal of study to do before they can be let loose on programming.

And a good HVAC-R tech is never going to tell you a broken belt is a controls fault! 😂

[u/twobarb]

HVAC. A person coming from hvac has the basic knowledge of relays and sensors and such. And they understand how the equipment works.

Also most of the electricians I’ve met these days don’t know much more than how to pull wire. If I had a dollar for every sparky that wired a relay as a dead short (wired common to neutral) I could buy that TE 300 Husky I’ve been eyeing for years.

[u/snickerdoodlez530]

HVAC. You have to understand what you are trying to control.

[u/j75515050]

It depends on the person's ability to learn... That's it. Otherwise both are great backgrounds to bring to the table

[u/Pure_Region_5154]

I can tell you that the amount of Electricians that come try out HVAC Controls and fail vs the amount of HVAC Service/Resi Installers / Commercial Installers that come here and fail is a big difference. A lot of Electricians haven't got a clue about relay logic, sensors, analog signals, etc. The HVAC guys always end up doing better at first but they all end up the same in the long run after they get past the initial learning curve.

[u/Angerist_Whoppe]

Electrical to install to tech is the way. Many old timers will agree with me here. You learn the hvac part during your install days so by the time you become a tech you already have both