Trades Exam Prep is a free, daily podcast by OpenExamPrep covering the most in-demand skilled trades licensing and certification exams — including EPA 608 (HVAC refrigerant), FAA Part 107 (drone), Master Electrician, Plumber, General Contractor, ASE automotive, NATE, OSHA 10/30, Welder Certification, and more. Each 5-minute episode breaks down one exam topic with concrete examples, common exam traps, code references, and field-ready memory tricks to help you pass on your first attempt. No fluff, no filler — just the concepts you need to know, explained the way the exam tests them. This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation for everyone — from journeyman to master license, from apprentices to seasoned tradespeople. For free practice questions, AI-powered explanations, flashcards, and full study guides, visit https://open
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Trades Exam Prep
NATE HVAC Exam Prep 47, Gas Furnace Service and Combustion Diagnosis
Oct 4, 20264 min
This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Understanding the exact step-by-step sequence of operation for gas furnaces on the NATE exam - Identifying why pressure switches must start open before inducer activation to pass safety checks - Measuring flame sensor rectification correctly in microamps DC to diagnose ignition lockouts - Differentiating between automatic reset high limits and manual reset flame rollout switches - Calculating temperature heat rise and interpreting combustion analysis to detect airflow and heat exchanger faults For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
NATE HVAC Exam Prep 46, Heat Pump Service and Defrost Diagnosis
Oct 3, 20264 min
This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to diagnose reversing valve internal leakage using temperature differential checks across valve bodies. - The operational differences between time-temperature and demand defrost initiation and termination rules. - How to distinguish normal frost patterns from abnormal icing caused by low refrigerant charge or airflow restrictions. - Key definitions and exam applications for thermal balance point and economic balance point. - The complete defrost sequence of events using the HOT ICE mnemonic for quick recall. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
NATE HVAC Exam Prep 45, Diagnosing Electrical and Control Failures
Oct 2, 20264 min
This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to isolate step-down transformer failures and identify secondary short circuits on the NATE HVAC exam - How to differentiate between mechanical causes and electrical failures in pressure switches and limit switches - How to test run capacitors and motor winding resistance using exact NATE pass-fail threshold standards - How to measure voltage drop across contactor contacts to diagnose nuisance trips and high-resistance connections - How to apply the TEST mnemonic to systematically troubleshoot low-voltage HVAC control sequences For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to differentiate between low indoor airflow and low refrigerant charge using superheat and subcooling readings on the NATE HVAC exam. - Why verifying airflow, static pressure, and thermal load must always be completed before attaching gauges or adjusting refrigerant levels. - The specific system symptoms of dirty filters, blower faults, and coil fouling, including low suction pressure, low saturation temperature, and low superheat. - How to recognize thermostatic expansion valve and fixed orifice restrictions by analyzing high superheat paired with elevated condenser subcooling. - A clear mental shortcut—Air Low Low, Charge Low High—to quickly solve diagnostic scenario questions and avoid common exam traps. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to analyze suction pressure, discharge pressure, superheat, and subcooling together to diagnose NATE refrigerant circuit faults. - The critical diagnostic difference between an undercharged system and a liquid line restriction. - How TXV systems and fixed-orifice metering devices respond differently to refrigerant overcharge and undercharge conditions. - How to identify metering device failures including TXV stuck open versus TXV stuck closed diagnostic patterns. - How indoor and outdoor heat-transfer airflow restrictions impact system operating pressures, superheat, and subcooling values. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
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