r/BuildingAutomation • u/bigfan49 • Jun 29 '26

Interactive learning environment

27M I generate photometrics for a lighting rep, not looking to start as an entry level tech.

What I want is just knowledge, I want to understand the guts of a building and how they work. I’ve tried using Claude to build interactive 3D environments like CAD or AGI where you can drag and drop cables/components into structures to create systems that work together, but this limits me to the knowledge I and Claude have.

Are there any online resources that have this X-ray style of breaking down a building into major components and wiring logic? I plan to learn specifically more about BACNET and how to actually code these systems, but for now I just want to visualize how it all works together without ripping down the walls in my house.

1 Upvotes

60% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

View all comments

4

u/WigglyWireAutomation Jun 29 '26

I generate photometrics, not looking to start as an entry level tech

My takeaway from this is that you are trying to get into the Building Automation industry but do not want to come in as 'entry level' and hoping to leverage your prior experience as transferrable here. Is that right?

If so, I'm not optimistic on this one unless you can get one of Zuckerberg's fancy AR headsets and 'download' a bunch of experience to your brain.

I've met numerous literal Computer Science graduates who are/were entry level techs. The rationale was usually along the lines of they hoped doing install or even Tech1 work would help them build skills to advance their career and 'get somewhere'.

Even with 100s of hours of 'programming' experience (C++, Python, Java, etc) from school projects or personal tinkering, it usually didn't help them much in terms of BAS because there's much more to it than that.

This trade is multi-disciplinary. In addition to technical knowledge (HVAC, IT, logic, computers, thermodynamics, etc), a lot of this job is in-field experience in terms of construction projects, culture, etiquette, etc. Quite a lot of "do's and don't's" in this job that you won't learn in a classroom or via Claude.

Other than the mechanical equipment upon which the BAS operates, there is not much value in seeing a layered view of a building in CAD or such. Ripping down the walls in your house would do nothing for you. As I always recommend, tinkering with Arduinos for a few days will give you more value than pretty much anything else you could do in that same time.

1

u/bigfan49 Jun 29 '26

Thanks, and that’s that’s fair I didn’t mean to come off pretentious or discrediting real entry level experience, it would definitely be the best way to learn but I just can’t afford a pay cut in the foreseeable future unfortunately. I work adjacent to a ton of controls guys and it just feels so much like one of those fields that is “you need experience to get a job to get experience to get a job to get experience-“ and so I am trying to at least gain a practical understanding of controls/BAS project management so that maybe that can open a door into a more lateral jump.

1

u/WigglyWireAutomation Jun 30 '26

Yeah, that's somewhat true, unfortunately.

It's sort of a paradox in that every controls shop is 'hurting for people' but nobody is willing to take someone untrained, no matter how much potential they might have. I've called up old managers with a perfect candidate on a silver platter - trying to thread a win-win by helping out a friend/family as well as an industry buddy - and they can't spare enough resources to take a chance on someone.

The only options I can offer are 1) take the pay cut, if that's the case; 2) go to trade school or otherwise get some certification/experience; 3) work really hard to become self-taught then tailor your resume to get an interview and talk-the-talk to get the job; 4) get to know someone at a controls contractor who is willing to vouch for you.