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1 | # New Hire Fundamental Training Program |
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| 2 | ||||||||
| 3 | **Program Purpose:** To provide all new hires with minimal electrical knowledge the fundamental skills, safety training, and company-specific knowledge required to begin their career path in Building Automation Systems (BAS). |
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| 4 | ||||||||
| 5 | **Prerequisites:** None - designed for entry-level employees |
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| 6 | ||||||||
| 7 | **Estimated Duration:** 3-6 months |
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| 8 | ||||||||
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9 | **Next Role:** [[training-structure/roles/installer]] |
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10 | |||||||
| 11 | --- |
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| 12 | ||||||||
| 13 | ## Assessment Methods |
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| 14 | - Written examinations for theoretical knowledge (80% passing score required) |
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| 15 | - Practical demonstrations with supervisor observation and sign-off |
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| 16 | - OSHA 40-hour certification completion |
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| 17 | - Safety protocol comprehension tests |
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| 18 | - Hands-on tool proficiency evaluations |
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| 19 | ||||||||
| 20 | --- |
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| 21 | ||||||||
| 22 | ## Core Training Modules |
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| 23 | ||||||||
| 24 | ### 1. Electrical Fundamentals for BAS |
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| 25 | **Topics Covered:** |
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| 26 | - Basic electrical theory: voltage, current, resistance, power (Ohm's Law) |
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| 27 | - AC vs DC power systems |
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| 28 | - Understanding electrical circuits (series, parallel, series-parallel) |
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| 29 | - Reading basic electrical schematics and symbols |
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| 30 | - Wire gauge, insulation ratings, and conductor types |
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| 31 | - Low-voltage vs high-voltage systems |
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| 32 | - Grounding and bonding principles |
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| 33 | - Basic transformer operation |
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| 34 | ||||||||
| 35 | **Practical Components:** |
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| 36 | - Build simple circuits on a training board |
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| 37 | - Use a multimeter to measure voltage, current, and resistance |
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| 38 | - Identify wire types and proper applications |
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| 39 | ||||||||
| 40 | --- |
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| 41 | ||||||||
| 42 | ### 2. HVAC Systems Overview |
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| 43 | **Topics Covered:** |
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| 44 | - Basic thermodynamics and heat transfer principles |
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| 45 | - Major HVAC equipment types and their functions: |
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| 46 | - Air Handling Units (AHUs) |
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| 47 | - Variable Air Volume (VAV) boxes |
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| 48 | - Chillers and cooling towers |
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| 49 | - Boilers and hot water systems |
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| 50 | - Pumps and piping systems |
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| 51 | - Fans and ductwork |
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| 52 | - Understanding zones, thermostats, and temperature control |
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| 53 | - Heating, cooling, and ventilation sequences (basic level) |
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| 54 | - Mechanical drawings and HVAC symbols |
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| 55 | ||||||||
| 56 | **Practical Components:** |
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| 57 | - Tour of actual building mechanical rooms |
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| 58 | - Identify major equipment components in the field |
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| 59 | - Trace airflow and water flow through systems |
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| 60 | ||||||||
| 61 | --- |
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| 62 | ||||||||
| 63 | ### 3. BAS Industry Introduction |
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| 64 | **Topics Covered:** |
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| 65 | - What is Building Automation and why it matters |
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| 66 | - Evolution of controls: pneumatic → electric → digital |
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| 67 | - Common BAS protocols and communication methods: |
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| 68 | - BACnet (BACnet/IP, BACnet MS/TP) |
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| 69 | - Modbus (RTU, TCP/IP) |
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| 70 | - LonWorks (overview) |
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| 71 | - Field devices: sensors, actuators, dampers, valves |
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| 72 | - Controllers: DDC (Direct Digital Control) basics |
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| 73 | - System architecture: field level → automation level → management level |
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| 74 | - Introduction to Human-Machine Interface (HMI) graphics |
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| 75 | ||||||||
| 76 | **Practical Components:** |
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| 77 | - Hands-on with actual sensors and actuators |
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| 78 | - View live BAS system graphics |
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| 79 | - Observe communication between devices |
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| 80 | ||||||||
| 81 | --- |
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| 82 | ||||||||
| 83 | ### 4. Safety Fundamentals |
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| 84 | **Topics Covered:** |
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| 85 | - **OSHA 40-Hour Construction Safety Training (Required Certification)** |
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| 86 | - Hazard recognition and prevention |
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| 87 | - Fall protection and ladder safety |
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| 88 | - Electrical safety and arc flash awareness |
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| 89 | - Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements |
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| 90 | - Confined space entry procedures |
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| 91 | - Excavation and trenching safety |
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| 92 | - Material handling and storage |
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| 93 | - Fire prevention and emergency response |
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| 94 | - Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures for electrical and mechanical systems |
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| 95 | - Job site hazard assessment and daily safety checks |
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| 96 | - Incident reporting procedures |
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| 97 | - Working at heights and scaffold safety |
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| 98 | - Hot work permits and requirements |
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| 99 | ||||||||
| 100 | **Practical Components:** |
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| 101 | - OSHA 40-Hour certification course completion |
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| 102 | - Proper PPE donning and inspection |
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| 103 | - Lockout/Tagout practice scenarios |
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| 104 | - Emergency evacuation drills |
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| 105 | ||||||||
| 106 | --- |
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| 107 | ||||||||
| 108 | ### 5. Company Standards & Culture |
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| 109 | **Topics Covered:** |
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| 110 | - Company history, mission, and values |
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| 111 | - Organizational structure and reporting relationships |
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| 112 | - Quality standards and workmanship expectations |
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| 113 | - Communication protocols (internal and with clients) |
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| 114 | - Time tracking and payroll procedures |
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| 115 | - Tool and vehicle sign-out procedures |
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| 116 | - Dress code and professional appearance standards |
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| 117 | - Customer service expectations |
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| 118 | - Introduction to Service Fusion software system |
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| 119 | - Daily reporting requirements |
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| 120 | - Career progression pathway overview |
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| 121 | ||||||||
| 122 | **Practical Components:** |
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| 123 | - Shadow experienced technicians |
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| 124 | - Complete sample daily field reports |
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| 125 | - Practice using Service Fusion for time tracking |
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| 126 | ||||||||
| 127 | --- |
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| 128 | ||||||||
| 129 | ### 6. Hand Tools & Basic Test Equipment |
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| 130 | **Topics Covered:** |
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| 131 | - Essential hand tools for BAS installation: |
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| 132 | - Screwdrivers (flat, Phillips, precision) |
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| 133 | - Wire strippers and cutters |
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| 134 | - Crimping tools |
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| 135 | - Pliers (needle-nose, linesman, diagonal) |
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| 136 | - Wrenches and nut drivers |
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| 137 | - Drills and drill bits |
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| 138 | - Fish tape and cable pullers |
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| 139 | - Measuring tools (tape measure, level, laser) |
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| 140 | - Proper tool use, maintenance, and safety |
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| 141 | - Digital Multimeter (DMM) operation: |
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| 142 | - Measuring AC/DC voltage |
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| 143 | - Measuring resistance (continuity testing) |
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| 144 | - Measuring current (when safe to do so) |
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| 145 | - Diode and capacitance testing (if applicable) |
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| 146 | - Basic network testing tools (cable tester, tone and probe) |
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| 147 | - Proper test equipment care and calibration awareness |
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| 148 | ||||||||
| 149 | **Practical Components:** |
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| 150 | - Hands-on practice with each tool category |
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| 151 | - Multimeter exercises on training circuits |
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| 152 | - Wire stripping and termination practice |
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| 153 | - Proper tool storage and maintenance procedures |
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| 154 | ||||||||
| 155 | --- |
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| 156 | ||||||||
| 157 | ## Qualification Checklist |
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| 158 | ||||||||
| 159 | Before advancing to Installer role, the new hire must demonstrate: |
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| 160 | ||||||||
| 161 | - [ ] OSHA 40-Hour Construction Safety Certification obtained |
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| 162 | - [ ] Pass written exam on electrical fundamentals (80% or higher) |
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| 163 | - [ ] Correctly identify and explain the function of 10 major HVAC equipment types |
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| 164 | - [ ] Demonstrate proper and safe use of all essential hand tools |
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| 165 | - [ ] Successfully use a multimeter to measure voltage, current, and resistance on training circuits |
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| 166 | - [ ] Identify common BAS field devices and explain their basic function |
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| 167 | - [ ] Complete three supervised field observations with written summaries |
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| 168 | - [ ] Demonstrate proper PPE usage and LOTO procedures |
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| 169 | - [ ] Successfully complete time tracking and daily reports in Service Fusion |
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| 170 | - [ ] Receive supervisor sign-off on readiness for Installer training |
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| 171 | ||||||||
| 172 | --- |
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| 173 | ||||||||
| 174 | ## Cross-Training Opportunities |
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| 175 | - Attend project kick-off meetings as an observer |
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| 176 | - Visit the warehouse to understand inventory and logistics |
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| 177 | - Shadow the Dispatch Coordinator for one day to see the big picture |
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| 178 | ||||||||
| 179 | --- |
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| 180 | ||||||||
| 181 | ## Timeline Expectations |
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| 182 | **Typical Duration:** 3-6 months |
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| 183 | - First 2-4 weeks: Classroom training and OSHA certification |
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| 184 | - Next 8-12 weeks: Hands-on practice, field observations, and skill building |
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| 185 | - Final 4-8 weeks: Working under close supervision on actual installation tasks |
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| 186 | ||||||||
| 187 | **Note:** The timeline can be adjusted based on the individual's prior experience and learning pace. |
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| 188 | ||||||||
| 189 | ## Recommended Videos |
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| 190 | ||||||||
| 191 | - [Basic Electrical Theory](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0S9f49j6kM) |
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| 192 | - [Fundamentals of HVAC - Basics of HVAC](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_f42G-K7K8) |
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| 193 | - [Building Automation System (BAS) Training - BAS 101](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_uL1xP5c0M) |
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