In this episode, I discuss the feasibility of occupancy counting to control outdoor air ventilation.

Man, who would have thought that we would be having this discussion? Lately, it seems that I am seeing more and more ideas that are combining different technologies to achieve outcomes.

Case and point, I recently had a BAM nation member and personal friend Walter reach out to me with a question around the energy saving potential of using occupancy counting to reduce outdoor air flow.

In this episode you will learn:

• How outdoor air ventilation works from a technical and engineering perspective
• How to calculate energy savings from outdoor air reduction
• The effect of the engineering and contracting world on technology adoption
• How ASHRAE 62.1 determines the minimum outdoor air you need to provide

Most interviewers suck. They focus too much on appearances and gut feelings and make stupid hiring choices that they regret later. You don't have to experience that. In this podcast episode, I discuss my experience with hiring dozens of building automation professionals and I provide you step-by-step processes for making sure you hire a stud and not a dud.

In this episode you will learn:

• Why focusing on technical skills is a recipe for disaster
• How determining where you will use your new hire is more important than how
• The one trick I've used to determine whether someone has the hunger to succeed in the world of BAS
• How owners can apply the interviewing process to selecting their consultants and contractors

Application Programming Interfaces, also known as API's are the solution to every integration problem you have.

And if your BAS has an open an API then your integration options are unlimited.

Or at least that's what all the marketing folks would like you to believe. The problem with all the buzz around API's, SDK's, and system integration is that the folks writing and speaking on the topics couldn't integrate their way out of a cardboard box. So when a BAM Nation subscriber named Dave reached out to me asking me to help clarify how an API works I was thrilled to have the opportunity to discuss the topic!

In this episode you will learn:

• Why having an open API doesn't automatically mean integration
• What 3 steps you need to take before using an API
• The differences between an API and SDK
• Why you may need a coding background to work with an API... and why you may not...
• A walkthrough of the system integration process using an API

Interviewing sucks...

After you spend all your time getting through the HR screening and the "virtual colonoscopy" of pre-interview questions you find yourself in an artificial environment answering questions that you'd probably never be asked in the real world.

So how can you survive?

Back in 2007 I got let go from my first BAS job and called every controls company in the US to get hired back into the BAS world. Since then I've worked my way to leading the technical integration program for the largest building automation manufacturer in the world.

In this episode, I walk through the 7 tips that have helped me to pass interviews and move up in the world of BAS.

In this episode you will learn:

• The incredibly underrated value of vendor training
• How understanding the common questions can set you apart
• Why you should prepare for the future and how to do it
• The non-technical skills that will make you indispensable
• How you can use challenging opportunities to grow your skills

Have you ever wondered how a temperature sensor really works? What does the RTD mean and why is 1,000 ohms resistance so important.

What does the RTD mean and why is 1,000 ohms resistance so important?

In this week's Friday Fan Answers I discuss a question from Nick. Nick asks "Can you cover or explain the technical reasons for a 1000 ohm RTD sensor to suddenly begin to fluctuate drastically" Sure thing Nick!

Sure thing Nick!

In this episode you will learn:

• The best way to wire up a temperature sensor
• Why vibration can lead to huge temperature issues
• What this whole 1,000 ohms thing is about
• How often and how to calibrate your temperature sensors

Lately, several folks have asked me, "Phil how did you get into the world of BAS?". While it's always fun to talk about myself, what I think folks are really asking is "Phil, how can I get into the world of BAS?" and "What career path is there for me beyond just being a technician?".

Over the next 4 episodes, I'm going to tackle these exact questions. In today's episode, I'm going to explore my path in the world of BAS and what I believe to be the key traits you need to be successful in the BAS world.

In this episode you will learn:

• The path I took to develop from knowing nothing about BAS to becoming a BAS integration expert
• The skills you need to be successful in the world of BAS
• The multiple different career paths you can take

Welcome to the new podcast series called "Friday Fan Answers or FFA). Each Friday I will be answering a question from the BAM nation.

This week I am answering a question I commonly get asked. The question I often get asked how to find out what the IT requirements for different BAS devices are. If you are not part of the vendor organization this can be quite hard. Well, at least until now.

Throughout my career, I've learned a lot of tips. Most of the time these tips came from the school of hard knocks but sometimes I was lucky enough to have someone come beside me and share the knowledge they gained.

Well in this episode I'm doing just that! I'm going to teach you 7 of the most valuable tips I've learned in my career. Now at first glance, these tips may seem basic. However, their effectiveness lies in their simplicity. So sit back, relax, and get your learn on!

In this episode you will learn:

• My processes for working through almost any design or troubleshooting challenge
• Why the way you install your BAS has a tremendous effect on how you operate it
• How training your customer can massively decrease your warranty calls
• Why the as-builts you're creating suck and what to do about it
• The most common issue BAS folks experience with IT and how to solve it
• Why it's ok to bill your customer for 3 hours of work, even if you only worked for 15 minutes

Protocols define how pieces of technology communicate amongst one another.

But how much do you really know about the protocols that govern the "rules" of your BAS?

If you find BACnet to be a confusing topic you're not alone. The BAS world is already full of acronyms and confusion. This episode will help you to clear some of that up.

In this episode you will learn:

• The difference between BACnet/IP and MS/TP
• Tips for successful BACnet communications
• How BACnet objects are structured
• The difference between a BACnet object and a BACnet property
• How BTL listings, PIC's, and BIBB's come together to provide interoperability

For many in the BAS world information technology is a foreign topic. A lot of us who have entered the BAS profession have backgrounds in HVAC and electrical systems. Because of this IT can at times feel very unnatural.

That's why I've recorded this episode. I captured the 7 most common questions I get asked about IT and answered them in this podcast episode.

In this episode you will learn:

• How cyber security and hacks can or cannot affect your BAS
• The different options you have for connecting remotely to your BAS
• How to work with IT to get IP addresses
• The difference between a virtual machine and physical machine and when you should use each one
• What the cloud is and how you can or cannot use it with your BAS
• Is wireless safe for your BAS?