Legendary coach Vince Lombardi used to begin every new football season in the same way. Holding a pigskin high above his head, he would say to his players, "Gentlemen, this is a football."

Lombardi understood a key principal to winning, and it’s the reason why the NFL championship trophy bares his name: training, even at its most basic level, makes the difference between success and failure.

That’s why GE ECM by Regal-Beloit is dedicated to offering second-to-none training programs for dealers, distributors, and educators – we believe that contractors who understand the ins and outs of ECM technology are better prepared to sell, install, service, and troubleshoot equipment in the field.

"Changing equipment standards and new technologies are always on the horizon, and there’s just no substitute for a personal commitment to continuing education," says Christopher Mohalley, Certified Master Trainer for GE ECM.

"Whether you’re a seasoned lifetime veteran or are a new technician fresh out of school, training helps you stay up-to-date on industry changes and gives you the background you need to be able to address unexpected problems in the field."

GE ECM by Regal-Beloit has announced several major initiatives for providing training resources to contractors and technicians: the ThinkTank™ ECM Training Series, service training videos, and the new Instructor’s Corner area on theDealerToolbox.com.

In early March, GE ECM by Regal-Beloit introduced a new training series that invites students to come study directly from the manufacturer itself. The classes were hosted on-site at the company’s locations in Fort Wayne, IN and Springfield, MO. More than 60 students attended the first classes, including contractors, manufacturer representatives, instructors, and students from local trade schools.

The class was an in-depth course on ECM residential blower motors, including theory lessons such as an overview of ECM technology, motor communication, applications, and benefits of variable speed, as well as practical lessons like how to install, service, troubleshoot, and use diagnostic tools on the motor.

"I attended the ThinkTank training along with twenty students from my class and three technicians from my dealership," said Allen Wilson, an instructor at Vatterott College in Springfield, MO. "I don't think you can get any better training than from the OEM itself. We all thought that the class was very good and each learned a lot about the motors."

After the class session, attendees were given a tour of the GE ECM by Regal-Beloit facility. In Fort Wayne, IN, students were able to see motor testing arrays, engineering areas, materials labs, and the equipment sound lab. The Sound Lab features an anechoic chamber where Regal-Beloit engineers can isolate vibrations, rattling components and air movement noises, to help equipment manufacturers make new equipment operate more quietly.

In the Springfield facility, a new training area was built from the ground-up to facilitate new class sessions. Flat-screen computer monitor displays, product diagrams, and demonstration units helped students see the effect of ECM technology first-hand. After the class, students were taken to the factory floor, where they could see internal motor components and watch the manufacturing process take place.

"I've been to eight different manufacturer training classes in my time as a contractor, and this was the best one I've had so far," Brandon Jones, operations manager for Heartland One Hour Air in Springfield. "I know for a fact that my guys attend more training than anyone else around – we do it to provide our customers with the best possible value for their money. This class is a must-have for my men."

GE ECM will also be using the class to help expand the library of ECM training videos that are available to contractors. The Fort Wayne class was recorded on video, and is currently in the post-production process before it will be put on DVD and made available to contractors.

Said Mohalley, "Class sessions are a great resource for those who can attend, but we want to be sure that distance is not a barrier to anyone who wants to learn. With the ThinkTank Service Training DVD, contractors will be able to follow along with a full-length training class as if they were there in person."

The Dealer Toolbox website already offers a wealth of information for contractors, students, and technicians, including sales tools, installation guides, white papers, and online service-training videos. The newest addition to the site is the Instructor’s Corner training section.

Instructor’s Corner has everything necessary for leading a class on ECM: course materials, handouts, presentations, and hands-on aids, all available in one central location. The site also encourages feedback for what new features students and teachers would like to see. As requests are made, the Instructor’s Corner will add new documents, answers to common questions, and links buy troubleshooting tools that technicians have found useful in the field.

"I’m from what you might call a tech support center for service technicians," said Kenny Davenport, a Trane Indoor Product Performance Specialist who attended the training. "We really wish for more technicians who take advantage of manufacturer training and support tools. It would definitely mean fewer phone calls to us."

Professor Wilson added, "I think that a lot of technicians are afraid of variable-speed because they just don’t know what’s going on with the technology. The thing is, these motors have been around for almost twenty years, and there’s just no question that it’s where this industry is heading."

GE ECM has found that the majority of field-service problems stem directly from mistakes that can be easily avoided with proper training. For example, many ECM warranty returns come from misdiagnosing a motor that is still working flawlessly. Other issues can arise when a variable speed motor is applied to a situation that will cause future problems, such as when a constant-airflow motor is attached to a home with undersized ductwork.

"The most important thing brought up in this class is that the ECM has limits – it can’t overcome bad duct sizing," agreed Jones. "Our dealership was told by a supplier that variable speed motors would cure problems with static pressure. It’s pretty much the exact opposite: you need a good ductwork setup for the machine to work properly. We figured that out, but it was only after a lot of unnecessary heartache."

"I knew it wasn’t the motor that was the problem; it’s a good motor, but you have to make sure it’s going into the right application. Now we know how to address the root of the problem. Now, to the techs who say that they don’t need a class, say that they can rely on a rule-of-thumb? Listen. There is no rule of thumb when it comes to static. Check it; you just don’t know what is in there until you measure it."

Interested in attending a ThinkTank training class? Visit the training section of theDealerToolbox.com for future dates and locations across the country.

>> View Dates for Coming ThinkTank ECM Service Training Classes