HVAC Excellence Master LC-AC study plan
HVAC Excellence Master LC-AC · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Air Conditioning
Label the four legs of the refrigeration cycle on a blank diagram and state pressure and state of refrigerant at each point without notes
Convert between gauge and absolute pressure and between saturated temperatures and pressures using a PT chart for R-410A and R-32
Explain superheat and subcooling in your own words and compute each from a set of gauge and line temperatures
Describe how a thermostatic expansion valve responds to load change and identify the three forces acting on its diaphragm
Your checkpoint
A one-page hand-drawn cycle diagram with all four legs labeled, plus 10 worked superheat and subcooling calculations scored at 90 percent or better
Air Conditioning
Diagnose five written air conditioning faults (low charge, restriction, airflow, overcharge, non-condensables) from given gauge, superheat, subcooling, and delta-T readings
Size and interpret airflow using sensible heat equation and a wet-bulb to dry-bulb delta-T target
Explain the role of metering devices, accumulators, and crankcase heaters in system protection
Describe latent and sensible load components and how indoor wet-bulb shifts total capacity
Your checkpoint
A troubleshooting matrix covering five faults with the gauge pattern, superheat and subcooling direction, and corrected action for each, written from memory
Heating
Draw and annotate the combustion process for natural gas and propane, listing the products of complete and incomplete combustion
Calculate combustion air requirements and draft pressure targets for a Category I appliance
Sequence the startup and shutdown of a standing pilot and an intermittent ignition furnace, naming each safety switch in order
Interpret flue gas readings for CO, CO2, and oxygen and state the corrective action for each abnormal value
Your checkpoint
A combustion analysis worksheet with 8 given scenarios, each assigned a diagnosis and a corrective action, scored at 90 percent or better
Heating
Trace the sequence of operation of a two-stage gas furnace from call for heat to blower off-delay, naming every component that must prove before the next step
Explain how a hot surface igniter, flame sensor, rollout switch, and pressure switch each fail and what symptom each failure produces
Describe hydronic and steam heating basics including circulator control, expansion tank function, and air elimination
Match heat pump balance point and auxiliary heat staging concepts to cold-weather comfort complaints
Your checkpoint
A written sequence-of-operation narrative for one two-stage furnace, at least 300 words, cross-checked against a manufacturer wiring diagram with no missed safety step
Refrigeration
Compare R-410A, R-32, R-454B, and R-134a on glide, saturation pressure, oil compatibility, and safety classification A2L
Explain A2L handling requirements including charge limits, ventilation, ignition source control, and leak detection
Describe compressor types (reciprocating, scroll, screw, rotary) and match each to an application
Trace the function of receivers, oil separators, suction accumulators, and liquid line accessories in a commercial system
Your checkpoint
A refrigerant comparison table with at least 5 columns and 4 refrigerants, plus 15 flash-card style questions you wrote yourself with answers
Refrigeration
Diagnose low and high side pressure faults in a commercial walk-in cooler from a written data set
Explain defrost methods (air, electric, hot gas) and the controls that terminate each
Describe pump-down, evaporator pressure regulating, and head pressure control valves and when each is applied
Calculate superheat at the evaporator and at the compressor and explain why the two differ
Your checkpoint
A completed case study of one walk-in cooler fault with a written diagnosis path of at least 300 words and a verified root cause
Electrical and Controls
Calculate voltage, current, resistance, and power in series and parallel circuits using Ohm's law and the power formula
Read a ladder diagram and a wiring diagram and identify the load, switch, and control path for a contactor coil circuit
Explain the function of capacitors, potential relays, current relays, and defrost timers and test each with a meter
Describe lockout and safety control circuits including high and low pressure switches, freeze stats, and float switches
Your checkpoint
A solved set of 12 circuit problems with all work shown, plus a labeled sketch of a contactor coil control circuit drawn from memory
Air Conditioning & Heating & Refrigeration & Electrical and Controls
Take two full-length timed practice tests and score each domain separately
Re-study the two lowest-scoring domains using your own notes and flashcards
Review every missed question and write a corrected explanation for each
Rehearse safety and code topics including electrical lockout, refrigerant recovery, and combustion air
Your checkpoint
A final score report showing each domain at 80 percent or better, plus a one-page personal weakness list with a correction plan for each item
Milestones
Week 2: Score 85 percent or better on a self-made 25-question air conditioning quiz covering cycle, charge, airflow, and metering
Week 4: Recite the full sequence of operation of a two-stage gas furnace aloud from memory with no missed safety step
Week 6: Correctly diagnose at least 4 of 5 written refrigeration faults and justify each with pressure and superheat reasoning
Week 7: Solve 10 of 12 electrical circuit problems correctly, including at least two parallel circuits and two capacitor checks
Week 8: Complete two timed practice tests with every domain at 80 percent or better and a written correction for every missed item