Master Samurai Tech Radio

Triage tools for appliance repair service calls are all the rage today. Whether based on a frequent parts replacement database or more sophisticated database queries and constructs using AI, there's lots of talk about these products. Team Samurai weighs in on this topic to discuss the proper and improper use of these tools. In the hands of a skilled tech, they can be a time saver. But triage tools cannot make a skilled tech out of PCMs. Lots of nuances to this topic so listen in. Link to the "Errors, Omissions, and Dummy Directions" video mentioned in this episode: https://appliantology.org/blogs/entry/1259-video-errors-omissions-and-dummy-directions-in-service-manuals/ Learn real appliance tech skills at Master Samurai Tech Online Appliance Repair School: https://mastersamuraitech.com/online-appliance-repair-courses/ Get service manuals, continuing training, and peer-to-peer tech support at Appliantology.org: https://appliantology.org/blogs/entry/1027-tech-memberships-at-appliantology/

Special guest, Justin Duby, with Just-in Time Appliance Repair in Grantspass, OR, joins us to talk about his experience selling new appliances and offer tips and advice for anyone thinking of adding this to their appliance service business. Also, at the end of the show, we give an update on the developing Facebook data-selling debacle that's unfolding. More info on this in my blog post at Appliantology. https://www.youtube.com/embed/95TRIFr2iO4 You can listen to just the audio portion of the vodcast in the player below:

The Samurai and Mrs. Samurai share some highlights from the inaugural Appliantology Peer Group meeting. One of the topics discussed was the idea of doing electronic control board repairs as part of an appliance repair business. https://www.youtube.com/embed/EsN33ri1_2o You can listen to just the audio portion of the vodcast in the player below:

The Samurai and Mrs. Samurai give you some straight talk about the bidness of appliance repair and other topics: Customer relations and strategic market targeting Culture of dumbass among some techs Free Appliance repair expos like in the HVAC industry Upcoming Appliantology Peer Group web meeting https://www.youtube.com/embed/IlDQ_h_9b5E You can listen to just the audio portion of the vodcast in the player below:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/7XnsCtMg5Hg This is an update to our last podcast episode giving some new, verified information on one of the big things we talked about: access to GE technical information for independent servicers. You can listen to just the audio portion of the vodcast in the player below:

https://youtu.be/cUi7TI7CHLI In this special episode, we explore the question of size of the Samurai's ego. Turns out that it's so massive that we needed a whole episode devoted to it. Yes, size does matter! Also: - Upcoming ASTI in St. Petersburg - Tech training challenges - Three stumbling blocks to becoming a better tech - What makes Appliantology so great? - MST Alumnus program You can listen to just the audio portion of the vodcast in the player below:

https://youtu.be/XvGHkrP3V-g - Industry news: Consumer right to repair laws coming to a state near you. Consumers will have the right to purchase appliance service manuals from the manufacturer. What does it mean for you as a professional appliance repair technician? - The Ten Step Tango troubleshooting procedure: Troubleshooting techniques for any appliance brand or type. If you aren't already registered at the site, click here to sign up for the free TST course. - Tech training webinars at MasterSamuraiTech.com and Appliantology.org - Monitoring the training progress of your technician who is enrolled at the Master Samurai Tech Academy. Online appliance repair training: Master Samurai Tech Professional appliance technician support: Appliantology.org You can listen to just the audio portion of the vodcast in the player below:

https://youtu.be/yh5l7Qf1bZk Introducing the mysterious Son of Samurai (yes, the actual spawn of Samurai), the man behind the scenes running Appliantology.org and MasterSamuraiTech.com. He's also a certified Master Samurai Tech and the Samurai's service call partner. In this episode we talked about: - Son of Samurai, who he is and what he does to keep our websites running - Behind the scenes at Appliantology - Common user questions at Appliantology - What it takes to be a professional appliance repair technician today - Getting the most out of your Professional Appliantologist membership at Appliantology.org Subscribe to this podcast at http://mstradio.com Subscribe to our newsletter at http://mst.buzz You can listen to just the audio portion of the vodcast in the player below:

Memorial Day 10% tuition discount Two new FREE and fun courses: - Internetology: Basic Internet for Everyone - Appliantology 101: Your Guide to the Ultimate Appliance Repair Information Tool Weekly tech training webinars and recap of the most recent one Circuit Fu - bringing back the lost art of appliance repair The MST newsletter is chock full of appliance repair goodies, subscribe now at MST.buzz https://www.youtube.com/embed/3f-IsPPI4K0 Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or Android and listen to past episodes at mstradio.com You can listen to just the audio portion of the vodcast in the player below or subscribe on iTunes/Android:

In this long-awaited episode: - Mr. Appliance tech training website powered by Master Samurai Tech - ASTI 2016 recap and discussion - Industry news - trends in the evolving appliance repair profession - Tech training webinars at Appliantology.org and MasterSamuraiTech.com - Bidness Talk: "Where can I hire good techs?" - Tool Talk: Information tools for more effective appliance repair service calls Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or Android and listen to past episodes at http://mstradio.com https://www.youtube.com/embed/1GB42_rKtR0 You can listen to just the audio portion of the vodcast in the player below or subscribe on iTunes/Android:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/POhAKGCBL8E Industry Talk: - BSH- what's the "H" stand for? - Charge your smart phone from your refrigerator *wirelessly* with WattUp technology. Master Samurai Tech news: - New post on how loose electrical connections, like splices and terminals, can produce enough heat to burn wires and insulation. https://mastersamuraitech.com/loose-electrical-connections-and-heat/ - Recapping the dismal and outdated state of appliance repair training today. YouTube makes hands-on disassembly training obsolete. What we need today is BRAINS-ON training! Learning the theory of operation and the underlying technology in modern appliances today so you can figure out weird problems without relying pattern recognition (if this problem, replace that part). Real technicians today are skilled in the lost art of troubleshooting: following a cause and effect chain of reasoning to its logical conclusion and identifying the defective component that is no longer operating within specifications. Business Talk: - How to handle those tricky service calls where there was no problem found. Tech Talk: - Troubleshooting scenario: electric dryer element not getting hot. Good power supply. Known good element. Element connected: have 120vac from each end (L1 and L2) to N, but 0vac across the element terminals. What conclusion can you draw? Voltage vs. voltage drop; 120/240 single phase-split phase household electrical power supplies; loads in series.

- We're back from our bidness trip last week but Mrs. Samurai has a cold so this episode is mostly Tech Talk. - Visit to American Appliance in Golden, CO, one of Sub-Zero's premiere partners. - Recap of Dacor training in their Android-controlled ranges - GFCIs and AFCIs. What they are, what they do, how they're different, and current NEC requirements. - Voltage and current in series and parallel circuits.

Industry News: an interesting twist in the legal drama surrounding the GE-Electrolux merger. GE’s biggest laundry product launch in 20 years: yet another top-loader? Future tech: are ultrasonic dryers on the horizon? Appliantology News: Traipsing through the various incarnations of the Samurai’s online appliance repair forums and groups (first one on the internet in 1997!) right up through the present incarnation as Appliantology.org. Discussion of the various membership groups at Appliantology. Link to blog post that explains the recent change in focus at Appliantology from DIYers to supporting the tech community and the current membership groups: http://appliantology.org/blog/1/entry-831-appliantology-is-changing-with-the-times/ Samurai Live! Have you checked out Periscope? It’s a cool way of doing live, spontaneous videos on your smartphone that anyone else and drop in and watch. Your followers get notified when you start shooting and can watch, too. We talk about our plans to use it for sharing live videos from interesting service call situations. https://www.periscope.tv Linear compressors: The Samurai gives a quick rundown of the three types of compressor motors used today in home appliances: split phase, BLDC, and linear, then explains how linear compressor motors work and how to test them. Phishing alert: We expose an authentic-looking phishing scam we recently received in our email claiming to be from Samsung. We detail this and also explain phishing in general-- what it is and how to spot it. Hotel reservation scammer alert: We describe a recent hotel reservation scam where a company calls and wants to book your hotel reservations at a conference you're planning on attending, like an appliance repair training conference. In our case, it was for the upcoming ASTI in Miami.