Am I just dumb

[davidw71075]

I have a BBA and I also hold a Masters Degree in Healthcare Administration so I don't consider myself dumb.  I got burned out working for someone else, so I decided to venture out into the appliance repair business.  I have enrolled in the Tech Academy and have worked my way through the program to the Motors section.  It just seems overwhelming.  

 

Is there a point where things will all come together?  Will it eventually "click"? 

 

Any advice would be helpful. 

 

Thanks 

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

1 hour ago, davidw71075 said:

Is there a point where things will all come together?  Will it eventually "click"? 

Yes. It happens at different times for different people.

What you’re learning in Core is a fraction of the stuff I had to learn as a 17 year old high school dropout in the Navy in Basic Electricity and Electronics (BEE) and Aviation Electronics (AT) school. 9 months, M-F, 9-5.

I paired it down severely in Core to what I actually use in appliance repair. No vectors, no imaginary numbers, no reactive circuits, no transistors, no MOSFETs, no IC chips, no op amps, no signal generators, oscilloscopes or logic probes. Just basic circuits and technology.

When I got out of A school, I had all this crazy stuff in my head. It didn’t all come together until I was assigned to my squadron and had to start applying my training to fixing navigational radar systems used in P3C antisubmarine aircraft. I was troubleshooting these computer controlled radar systems down to the component level on the board and then making the repair and reissuing the gear back to the squadron. Had some great mentors in the radar shop, all 1st Class Petty Officers and very experienced techs. (Aka, “shit hot techs” in Navy speak.) That’s when it all clicked. But without that foundational knowledge, there would have been nothing there to click! 

The moral of the story is that you are learning the foundational skills right now that you will use for the rest of your career, whether troubleshooting problems or learning new technology as it comes out. Without this, you’re stuck in PCMville— “if this problem, replace this part.” 

Hang in there and stick with it. It will click as you start running calls and then post here for troubleshooting help.

Trust the process. This is how professional technicians are trained. Brains-on training, hands-on practice. 

[dfphoto]

I spend a good 3-4 hours a day studying (I have been flaking on my adv classes though) my next jobs and plights of others trying to absorb information. In my opinion, unless you're electrically inclined all of this is foreign and it takes while to look at a page with wires vs looking at a real machine. First 20 are going to kill you the next 80 will get easier and harder... I've posted 1700x in 1..2 years talk about someone who needs their hand held. Finally at 220 jobs, I'm getting a little smarter figuring things out.

You should start at your house and work on your own dryer and see if you can understand how each section works, follow the electricity.. Especially how to get into diagnostic mode and taking it apart, I find both are hard at times.  Don't book more than 1-2 jobs at first you will  get overwhelmed.

Get on the Signal group and ask questions. don't forget to disconnect the power before working, sparky city is no fun ask me how I know.

BTW watch the dojo videos and the tech training videos very helpful... I watch some over and over and redo the voltage drop and ohms law sections. I have to use that all the time, you will get the incorrect specs at least 40% and you have to figure it out like on a drain pump.

Edited January 26 by dfphoto
sickneess and bad keyboard

[MisFixIt]

I took a 6 month break in core after I got frustrated by a live voltage test video where I felt like I didn’t understand what chassis ground meant and it wouldn’t be safe for me to continue… anyway I got over that and completed core and doing advanced classes now. It helps if you have been burned in every other profession available to you and have nothing to lose. I watched my ex husband go from zero to hero bc of his engineering degree and realized I had to get into tech. This wasn’t my 1st tech venture.  I shot for the stars and landed on the moon. I have a high level of intuition and I know when to not take risk that could be bad.  Take things slow like Dave said. I made $400 this month and have another customer tomorrow. In my opinion karma matters and happy customers matter. 

[davidw71075]

20 hours ago, dfphoto said:

I spend a good 3-4 hours a day studying (I have been flaking on my adv classes though) my next jobs and plights of others trying to absorb information. In my opinion, unless you're electrically inclined all of this is foreign and it takes while to look at a page with wires vs looking at a real machine. First 20 are going to kill you the next 80 will get easier and harder... I've posted 1700x in 1..2 years talk about someone who needs their hand held. Finally at 220 jobs, I'm getting a little smarter figuring things out.

You should start at your house and work on your own dryer and see if you can understand how each section works, follow the electricity.. Especially how to get into diagnostic mode and taking it apart, I find both are hard at times.  Don't book more than 1-2 jobs at first you will  get overwhelmed.

Get on the Signal group and ask questions. don't forget to disconnect the power before working, sparky city is no fun ask me how I know.

BTW watch the dojo videos and the tech training videos very helpful... I watch some over and over and redo the voltage drop and ohms law sections. I have to use that all the time, you will get the incorrect specs at least 40% and you have to figure it out like on a drain pump.

What is the Signal Group?

[Mrs. Samurai]

7 hours ago, MisFixIt said:

anyway I got over that and completed core and doing advanced classes now

I just wanted to say kudos to @MisFixIt for becoming a more active participant in her training at Master Samurai Tech. She sets a good example of using the resources we offer (such as the Ask the Teacher Forums) to get help when needed and thus the confidence to keep proceeding. I hope this will encourage others to do so if they have not!

 

[dfphoto]

download the signal app  then ask Mrs Samurai how to get added or on MST there's info...

BTW I see this myself and reading other MST who are newer... Try to get used to taking voltage and amp readings right away... Ohms only for little things like thermostats and wire continuity even that is better with voltage... On switches  you need live voltage....

My  meter does AC and DC amps which I think is helpful... most don't worry but I like it only used it 3-4x though.

Last thing buy piercing meter attachments a lot of washers and refrigerators have really tiny wires and the harness does not allow back-probing so you need to pierce the wires. I bought liquid electric tape black gooey stuff I use a tiny screwdriver to apply after I pierce so no chance any water can enter. Rhubarb Tau has a video posted in the Blog section on how to use them. Also buy small thin needle probe attachments... Once you do your own dryer do the washer and then look at the refrigerator... etc..I wish I would have done that.

Edited January 27 by dfphoto

[Mrs. Samurai]

3 hours ago, davidw71075 said:

What is the Signal Group?

Signal is a messaging app that we have a private group on for MST students. It is another way that you can ask questions about the course material, for those who like that type of format vs. the Ask the Teacher Forum. Students also will converse with each other about their work, etc. 

See this page for more info: https://mastersamuraitech.com/new-help-channel-for-mst-students-on-the-signal-app/

[longbeachbull562]

You’re good homie. Don’t put yourself down. It does click after a good min. I crammed it and should have took a step back to absorb it a bit more im going to actually redo a lot of sections to brush up.