efficiency | Automated Academy

USB to RS-485 adapter on stacked US bills. Adapter is black with green terminals.

The Best $20 Investment I Ever Made in: USB to RS-485 Adapter

The best $20 in BAS? A USB-to-RS-485 adapter. Tap MS/TP & Modbus, see the token, catch the culprit, and prove the fix, fast.

Alex Khachaturian

Oct 299 min read

Frost-covered coils inside a metallic air conditioning unit, with icy buildup. The setting appears industrial, with textured metal surfaces.

Freeze Protection: The Winter BAS Checklist That Prevents Cracked Coils

A field-tested freeze protection guide for BAS: what to check, how to test AHUs, hydronic loops, and snowmelt, so you prevent cracked coils and costly calls.

Alex Khachaturian

Oct 277 min read

thermal image of a condenser unit with temperatures displayed

Thermal Cameras Don’t Lie: The Fastest Way to Catch Hidden BAS Failures

Thermal cameras expose BAS failures you’d never catch otherwise, leaks, overheating relays, airflow issues. Here’s how to use them.

Alex Khachaturian

Oct 154 min read

Young man focused on phone in park, foreground. Four friends laughing and talking in the background. Green grass and trees surround them.

Screen Time Is Quietly Rewiring Your Brain (And How to Take It Back)

Screen time is quietly rewiring your brain. Here’s how it hijacks dopamine, and how to reclaim your focus, sleep, and time.

Alex Khachaturian

Oct 114 min read

Smiling person in a server room surrounded by tangled blue and yellow cables, holding up a phone. Bustling, tech-focused atmosphere.

Creating Order in Chaos: A Leader’s First Job

Leadership’s first job isn’t brilliance, it’s creating order in chaos. Here’s how to bring clarity when everything feels on fire.

Alex Khachaturian

Oct 104 min read

Laptop on desk showing a cheerful yellow cartoon character on screen. Background features a potted plant and window with soft lighting.

The Most Overlooked Tool in BAS? Your Graphics: If They Don’t Match the Field, You’ve Got a Cartoon

A mismatched BAS graphic isn’t just ugly, it’s a cartoon. Here’s how to make graphics match reality and build operator trust.

Alex Khachaturian

Oct 84 min read

Technician truck completely disorganized with Packout storage, not clean and unprofessional.

If You Treat Your Truck Like a Dumpster, You’ll Work Like One Too: Why Every Technician’s First Office Is on Wheels

Your truck is your first office. If it’s chaos on wheels, your work will be too. Build discipline with simple habits.

Alex Khachaturian

Oct 65 min read