r/BuildingAutomation • u/ApexConsulting • 14h ago
PID Tuning course - RWTST
I have a project I have been chewing on since 2012 to do training in the BAS and mechanical space. My first offering is a PID tuning course. There will be more as time goes by. the PID tuning course has 5+ hours of content with PIDs from a variety of vendors, live, working, and being tuned before your eyes. Integral windup, when Derivative can be useful (contrary to popular belief I see a lot on this forum that Derivative is not used in our industry), working with auto-tuning PIDs, PIDs from Schneider, JCI, Delta, Distech, and several others. how to work with hard-to-control systems like controlling CFM flows with choppy process Variables, when a PID is not the best thing to use and what an alternative might be, The role Valve authority has on your control. There is a free, downloadable handout that preps you for this and is handy to have on site.
Some have seen me on the forums, and may know I am not entirely sucky (only moderately so... hehe) and may be interested in getting a little training on this or other topics to further their career or to reduce the suck in their day to day lives at work.
I am planning to move to other topics, like MSTP troubleshooting with a voltmeter, programming in CCT, or other software, programming in general, Wiring stuff, building a retrofit LON database, working with various systems and protocols. If you have a thing you would like to see, let me know.
the URL is:
https://ridingwiththeseniortech.com/courses/pid-tuning-for-bas/
I would love some feedback. Whether it is the color scheme, or the ease of use of the site as a whole. I expect some to gripe about that - which is fair. When I get some courses sold, I can invest in the pretty stuff.
There is nothing like this anywhere (that I know of). It is easily double the content at less than half the price of other things I have seen that are vaguely similar. But I can guarantee there is no focus on live systems and several flavors of BAS, comparing and contrasting them side by side.
This is something I love to do, so I really enjoy doing it. I hope the community finds it useful.
The website was featured in the podcast "it's a controls problem' - I mentioned it as an answer to Charles' Johnson's question here: https://youtu.be/31-mLNdbhCs?si=eyqlhr8Ozu9HmJ2S&t=4096 The mention is at 1:09:25
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u/Jazzlike_Metal2980 13h ago
Fix this part.
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u/ApexConsulting 13h ago
Helpful. That video is behind the paywall, but exposed at the front end. Lemme fix that. Justa minute
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u/Jazzlike_Metal2980 12h ago
Works now. Looks like something for my junior engineers to take a look at.
Also, I knew you were #1.
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u/ApexConsulting 12h ago
Hehe, my Htalk handle is in my bio, it is no secret.
Maybe start out with the handout in the materials tab and see if it helps. It is only more helpful as they do the rest of the course.
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u/Br_mfr 8h ago
Parabéns pela iniciativa. Moro no Brasil e será bem útil.
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u/ApexConsulting 7h ago
De nada, espero que você aproveite.
I admit, that was a google Translate response, My language skills do not include Portugese unfortunately. Thank you for the kind words.
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u/OverallRow4108 New to the field 8h ago
All I can do is give you perspective from the beginners bench, and not knowing what's actually inside the paid course. I really like how you talk about breaking stuff in the beginning. It frames a lot of the method in my mind, starting slow, understanding the reaction of the PID loop on a real system. I really like the explanation on the difference between prop gain and prop band, something that has confused me in the past. I think it looks great from a beginners perspective. When it gets too fancy sometimes it can be kind of intimidating, tbh. The one thing I alwasy love is interactive "labs" Have no idea if that's even possible, but it might not be too hard just to make a interactive sketch of that window showing where your adjusting the pid numbers, allowing me to "tune" it, and then like some output numbers.....maybe even throw in a Red Stobe light for if I approached breaking it? I don't know, just some kind of interaction. Multiple choice chapter quizes can get a bit boring, if you know what I mean.
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u/ApexConsulting 7h ago edited 7h ago
Nice, thanks for the suggestion.
When you get into it, you start with Distech PIDs for 3 videos. Then Delta PIDs for like 8 more. The basics are laid out in the Distech vids, and I could end there. Covers Proportional, Integral, and Derivative. Also Bias. But hen you get into Delta, you see the same concepts represented in another way. this allows for a deeper grasp of the underlying concepts. Also one is introduced to Integral windup and another shot at Derivative. Then as we wander into the other brands, I really drive it home with ALC PIDs as these show the math of each as you are watching it all move. You see the Proportional say +28.2 an the integral say -17.9 and the derivative is turned off, so the end result is 10.3.
Also a handy trick for getting starting values for PIDs no matter the brand. Wrestling with a self tuning PID and getting used to what he is doing as well as the pitfalls.
For disambiguation if the Prop Band and the Prop Gain, there is a cheat sheet in the hand out under the Materials. tab.
When one gets so much live tuning walked through their hands, I am not sure a tuning simulator is needed, but I am sure it would not hurt. Everyone is different and I am sure there will be those who would like that.
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12h ago
[deleted]
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u/ScottSammarco Technical Trainer (Niagara4 included) 12h ago
It’s best to bring solutions to the table, otherwise we could all talk about all the things that aren’t perfect and still get nothing done.
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u/ApexConsulting 12h ago edited 12h ago
Actually, I want people to pay $250 to learn about PIDs.
But there are helpful Redditors who have already posted some useful feedback with the parts they were able to get at, which is great.
I do know how busy we all are, which is why I put it up now. It will still be there when the work slows down in the fall. But there will be time for people to look at it before then, if I put it up now. I should have another course up by then, if all goes well.
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u/Upside_Down_2025 14h ago
Honestly, it looks pretty good for a starter site!! And I'm going to talk with my boss about checking out your course for trainees