And thus it begins.

Well, I figured I was overdue for another update so here it is. Things have been going very well. So far we haven't hit any concepts that I couldn't understand, so I am feeling pretty good about everything. I had a private meeting with my teacher this week and she told me she didn't have any concerns about my work either. I'd tell you more about the meeting but then it wouldn't be private any more.

A little background on my class. I was hoping that maybe there would be some older guys in the class (by older I mean close to my age) but everyone is in their early 20's or younger except for the next oldest guy who is still 10 years younger than me. As I am writing this his wife is having their first child. She was supposed to be induced today but we are still waiting to hear about the little one actually popping out. Good luck to Patrick and his wife and their new baby. A very exciting journey is just beginning.

Anyway, getting back to the class, I took a couple of pics of the classroom and workshop. To the right is our classroom. There is 8 desks with two chairs each and a computer on each desk. These computers are linked with each other and the instructors computer, but we don't have any internet access on these machines. We have had a couple of chances to look at the refrigeration simulators and practice circuits on these units which will be very helpful for designing and trouble shooting as we learn more about how the systems work.

The next picture is of the workshop, or at least part of it. The room is at least twice this size and has a bunch of simulated A/C and refrigeration systems as well as actual heat pumps and air conditioners. We also have a hot room where we do all the soldering and brazing that goes with plumbing refrigeration systems (lots and lots of copper tubing). We each have our own toolboxes (the day class has to share theirs) and work benches. This is where the fun stuff happens. I'll post some pictures of the things we are working on when the projects are complete.

We also have a computer lab at the University Campus (these other rooms are at the Cowichan High School) that we use on Thursday nights. Those computers have full internet access so we can research different projects and concepts.

Our subjects are moving fairly quickly right now, but not so quick that it is hard to keep up. Actually a large part of what we have been doing so far is math. All the math I learned in high school and thought I would never need is haunting me again. We have to calculate the unknowns in DC circuits, and figure out the values for pressure, temperature and volume equations. Other than that, it has mostly been learning and understanding definitions relevant to the industry (types of heat, heat transfer, states of matter, specific heat, gravity and pressures - you know - refrigeration stuff).

Anyway, its getting late so I think I'll wrap it up. I still have some reading to do before tomorrows class so I had better get to it.

Talk to you again soon,
Rob

P.S. One of the first things I learned is that the word "refrigeration" doesn't have a "d" in it. I always thought it did.