No comments about A Field Guide to Household Technology.

No comments about Modern Residential Wiring: Based on the 2008 NEC.

No comments about Operating, Testing, and Preventive Maintenance of Electrical Power Apparatus.

No comments about Major Appliances: Installing, Troubleshooting, and Servicing.

5 comments about Ortho's All About Sprinklers and Drip Systems (Ortho's All About Gardening).

1. Although I am stating that this book is a little to basic, maybe what I was looking for was just more then this book was intended to deliver. I was looking for a book to help calculate how many zones were needed, what type of sprinkler heads, etc. This book had great photographs and basic knowledge. If you are ready to design and install your own system you might want a more detailed book.



2. Book does a pretty good job at hitting all the points in planning and installing your irrigation system. Installing a system kind of feels like a major undertaking at first, but after reading the book I feel pretty comfortable about it (although I've only begun my installation, guess we'll see if things stay nice and comfy). I liked some of the side points in the book where it went into a little more detail about certain aspects of the job, however, in other areas I felt there should have been more detail. Book seemed like it might be a little dated as a few topics seemed to stick with more old-school standards (e.g., poly-pipe is now used in many new areas to hook-up from the meter to the house, but the book assumed that you would only find copper, galvenized steel, or PVC (stiff white) pipe for this application). I also think a book like this should provide as many "common mistakes" as possible, this books only has a few.

   Although my gut feeling says 3 stars, I have to upgrade to 4 because there isn't that many books our there like this one and relative to those it seems to be a winner.




3. Just like most fields, irrigation is evolving quickly as regards new materials, products and standards. Overall, I feel the Ortho book gives good solid information for a do - it - yourselfer. There was no "BAD" information per se, and it does demystify the home irrigation system. You can save a lot of money installing your own system. You can also cause a lot of damage doing it incorrectly. This book can give you a good idea whether you can tackle installing a system or not. Use this book along with careful planning, to know what questions to ask either a sprinkler supply distributor or to hire an irrigation contractor.



4. Far too basic. If you want a glossy introduction to sprinklers, but have no plans to actually install a system, this is the book for you.
   
   If you want to install a sprinkler system, there are maybe 5 pages of useful information in this book, and not near enough detail to actually break ground. Find another source of information.



5. I've never done any irrigation work until recently. So I took a one day course from a pro and bought this book. Since a one day course can't cover all contingencies, I found that this book filled in a lot of gaps. My interest has mainly been in drip systems, not sprinklers. I now have a good working knowledge and sound like less of a fool when I order stuff from experts.
   
   BTW, I think with this book and all the free specialized information on the Internet, most folks don't have to go much further to study the subject.

3 comments about Cheap and Easy! Refrigerator Repair: Written Especially for Do-It-Yourselfers, Trade Schools, and Other "Green" Technicians! (Cheap and Easy).

1. Quick solutions to problems. Layed out in an easily followed format, a diagramed diagnosis led me right to the problem. Total cost of repair including book was $45.00, a trip to the parts store and 20 minutes installation time, for a defrost timer.



2. It is pity to see all the legacy refrigerators going to waste. You can see the appliance store back lots filled with them and garage mechanics selling fixed ones for $150 in the WantAds.

   This excellent book with lots of illustrations beats out books from Time-Life, Masters, OEM mfgrs, and others. The author has already been there and done that...he doesn't need a big publisher masthead and lots of high priced editors and photographers.

   Refrigerators are really quite simple but there are some trouble-prone areas which includes icemakers. It has good detail diagnostic flow diagrams so you can determine which subsystem or component is bad.

   In my case for a 20+ year old Frigidaire with top mount freezer intended to be used in an office, where a new one costs about $600. This fridge cooled great at first, but after about 1-2 weeks would not cool or freeze any more.

   With this book, I easily diagnosed that a defrost heater was burned out, p37. With its good illustrations, was able to take apart the freezer section, lift the evap coils, and find the heater. Described it (1" dia x 17" long) over the phone to a appliance parts store. Picked it up for $27, and voila! it is still running after 3 months.

   I read this book from the local library and also saw another book by the same author, "Refrigerator Repair Under $40," ISBN 1-884348-00-9 which has about the same content. Highly recommended, would not been able to save this fridge without it.




3. I am not rating the book. No where to send my complain about sending me the two identical books. I have to use this column.

   Why send me two identical books? Hopefully not charge me twice. And I'll send you extra book back. Your web design is not user friendly. Probably too much ads cause the trouble.

1 comments about The Home How-To Handbook: Electrical: Tools, Techniques, and Quick Fixes (Home How-To).

1. This book is very well presented both graphically and with the text. Easy to follow and understand.

No comments about National Electrical Safety Code 1997 (National Electrical Safety Code).

No comments about Major Appliances (How to Fix It , Vol 2, No 20).

3 comments about Journeyman Electrician's Review.

1. To be compleatly fair I am currently half way through the book so my review is only based on my experience with the book so far. At this perticular molment in time I am compleatly feed up with this book. I have come across a number of typos including references to articles in the code book that don't seem to exist: example (in chapter 6 range table 220.19 should be 220.55). Explinations to answers seem to contridict the actual answer: Example (chapter 7 page 103, Answer is no but the explination goes on to say why the answer is yes!!!) WTF!
   
   The examples in this book are at times too complex in the "introductory" of the chapters, such as the examples in chapter 8 "overcurrent protection" which introduces the chapter and begins to go more into depth on the subject matter. Example: (And this is the shorter much simpler one): What is the maximum size time-delay fuse permitted to protect a 1-hoursepower 3-phase, 230-volt squirrel cage motor with a name plate of 3.3 amperes?) Then the explination to the correct answer goes on through 5 steps on how to come to the final conclution. Its too complex and doesn't explain enough as to how a person would know to refer to the given articles mentioned (unless you memorize every section in the NEC!). Also it mentions Table 430.150 but when you look in the book to try and follow Mr Loyd you find Article 430.128 and then the very next Article is 430.221!!! Then looking in Motors XIV "Tables" there are 7 tables and none of them are "430.150"!!! WTF, is this a joke! This is why I say Mr. Loyd needs teaching lessons, simply because you don't take someone who is trying to learn how to ride a bicycle and put them on a motorcycle! And tell them to rotate thier wrist if they want to slow down!
   
   Also explinations such as the one on Power factor (chapter 3) are horrable, I was compleatly disappointed when I read it as I was hoping the book would enlighten me on the topic, what is the cosine Mr Loyd??? If we already knew these things why would we buy your book! Also where are the sections that explain some of the basic types of electrical circuts that exist such as wye connected circuts and Delta connected circuts, shouldn't there atleast be SOME basic explinations of these circuts. Maybe one chapter to talk about 120/240 120/208 and so one, just a few paragraphs of each type and where you commonly see them (what enviroments)! Also how about explaining Demand factor and other electrical terms. The chapter in the book on Branch-Circuts and feeders hardly explained anything on how to caulculate circuts and loads, also they just copied the same examples found in the NEC code book, strait to thiers!!!
   
   Well, I could go on and on but I will leave it at that. Buyer beware! I did give it two stars because even with the chapters that misguide and confuse you you do end up learning the layout of the code book more or less so: (two stars to be fair!)
   
   -8 year electrician



2. I made 80% on the Journeyman test. This book was a great help. If you use this book you should be able to pass.



3. I used both of Mr. Loyd's books for the Journeyman Exams and Master Electrician Exams. Although there were typos, and the material wasn't exactly "polished," (and frankly a bit mundane) working through the material helped me to pass both exams on the first attempt, without any previous formal code training. If you grasp the material in these books you will pass the exam. The material he presented was a "bulls-eye." He helps write the exams so he knows the material you need to know. I teach in the local I.E.C. Apprenticeship school now and I am using it to prepare my 4th year students to take the Journeyman Exam.