Ran Chen, EA, CFP®

Trades Exam Prep

Education EN ↓ 169 episodes

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...

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: open-exam-prep.com

Author

Ran Chen, EA, CFP®

Episodes

NATE HVAC Exam Prep 29, Comfort Loads and Equipment Operation 16.09.2026 4:09

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: - The distinction between ACCA Manual J load calculations and AC...

NATE HVAC Exam Prep 28, Humidity Control and Condensation 15.09.2026 4:06

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 oversized cooling equipment leads to short-cycling and ele...

NATE HVAC Exam Prep 27, Ventilation and Outdoor Air 14.09.2026 4:10

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 outdoor air ventilation dilutes indoor contaminants accord...

NATE HVAC Exam Prep 26, Filtration and Indoor Air Quality 13.09.2026 4:03

NATE HVAC Exam Prep 25, Blowers Fans and Performance Tables 12.09.2026 3:48

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: - Differences between forward-curved and backward-inclined fan b...

NATE HVAC Exam Prep 24, Duct Design Leakage and Distribution 11.09.2026 3:43

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 ACCA Manual D equivalent length and fitting friction impac...

NATE HVAC Exam Prep 23, Airflow CFM and Static Pressure 10.09.2026 3:45

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 measure and calculate total external static pressure by...

NATE HVAC Exam Prep 22, Sensible Latent and Total Capacity 09.09.2026 2:56

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 sensible capacity from latent capacity an...

NATE HVAC Exam Prep 21, Psychrometric Properties of Air 08.09.2026 3:55

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: - Key difference between relative humidity and humidity ratio on...

NATE HVAC Exam Prep 20, Electrical Troubleshooting Sequence 07.09.2026 3:55

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 apply the seven-step electrical troubleshooting sequenc...

NATE HVAC Exam Prep 19, Electrical Meter Testing in HVAC Systems 06.09.2026 4:15

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 apply the Live-Dead-Live verification protocol before t...

NATE HVAC Exam Prep 18, Reading Schematics and Wiring Diagrams 05.09.2026 4:18

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 schematics represent all switches and contacts in their de...

NATE HVAC Exam Prep 17, Thermostats and HVAC Control Logic 04.09.2026 4:09

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: - Core 24-volt thermostat terminal assignments for R, C, W, Y, a...

NATE HVAC Exam Prep 16, Relays Contactors Sequencers and Safeties 03.09.2026 4:26

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: - Distinction between relays, contactors, and sequencers in HVAC...

NATE HVAC Exam Prep 15, Transformers and Low Voltage Control Power 02.09.2026 4:13

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 calculate maximum secondary amperage using transformer...

NATE HVAC Exam Prep 14, Motors Capacitors and Starting Circuits 01.09.2026 4:32

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: - Key operational differences between shaded-pole, PSC, and ECM...

NATE HVAC Exam Prep 13, Alternating Current Inductance and Power Factor 31.08.2026 4:42

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 frequency and inductance create counter electromotive forc...

NATE HVAC Exam Prep 12, Series and Parallel HVAC Circuits 30.08.2026 4:05

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: - Voltage drop rules for closed versus open switches in series c...

NATE HVAC Exam Prep 11, Voltage Current Resistance and Power 29.08.2026 3:53

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 apply Ohm's Law and Watt's Law to calculate voltage, cu...

NATE HVAC Exam Prep 10, HVAC Fundamentals Calculations and Exam Traps 28.08.2026 3:30

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 correctly convert temperature between Fahrenheit, Celsi...

NATE HVAC Exam Prep 9, Combustion Venting and Carbon Monoxide Safety 27.08.2026 4:14

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: - Key differences between complete and incomplete combustion and...

NATE HVAC Exam Prep 8, Refrigerant Piping Oil Return and Line Protection 26.08.2026 3:38

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: - Suction line velocity requirements to ensure proper oil return...

NATE HVAC Exam Prep 7, Superheat and Subcooling Fundamentals 25.08.2026 3:46

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 calculate evaporator superheat, total superheat, and co...

NATE HVAC Exam Prep 6, Pressure Temperature Relationships and Saturation 24.08.2026 4:22

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 saturation temperature, boiling, and condensing function a...

NATE HVAC Exam Prep 5, The Refrigeration Cycle and Component Roles 23.08.2026 3:10

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: - Tracing refrigerant temperature, pressure, and phase changes t...