5 comments about The Easy Guide to Solar Electric Part II, Installation Manual.

1. I found this book at the public library in my search for a good guide to solar electric systems. I found a small amount of the information useful but, most was a waste of my time. The writer does not explain ideas in a very coherent manner. He uses a great deal of book space attempting to be funny and expressing his political views. If you are interested in a good solar electric book this is not it. I am still looking.



2. Pieper has a lot of practical knowledge but some things he writes are plain wrong. On page 17 he writes: "The frequency of the sine wave is measured as Hz per second" (should be cycles per second which is Hz). On page 18 he says: "the sine wave [is] 220 volts between two peaks" (should be 311 v; 220 is the RMS voltage). On page 23 he says: "amp hours [are] also refered to as amps per hour or amp/hours" (not true). In page 27 he writes: "At some point, the resistance gets so high that it creates heat inside the conductor" (there is always resistance and heat, the problem is the temperature rises too high). He also is convinced the minerals in petroleum jelly help conductivity on the battery terminals (pp. 123&159) and says "search current" when he means "surge current" (pp. 120&125). Whole pages are such confusing technical nonsense that it is impossible to to give a short account. He self published - he should have had a technically competent person help him with theory and a good how-to book editor help with the practical stuff. I'm sure he is a very competent electrician and there is some good practical information in the book, but it is nowhere near as advertised.



3. This book is great. It covers the bases and gives the information one needs. It's a core book for this subject.



4. For me, this book was terribly bad; not worth the buy. It might appeal to a different crowd.



5. Having just recently moved into a solar house I've been trying to broaden my education on solar electricity. Both of Mr. Pieper's books, part one and two have been very educational for me. Very easy to read and understand without previous technical knowledge!

2 comments about Digital Fundamentals with VHDL.

1. Very easy to read and a good introduction to digital logic circuits. Too many books on VHDL try to teach the hardware design language assuming the reader knows how each of the logic circuits are modelled or the books skimp over timing issues. This book takes the time to show you how logic circuits operate, how timing works and then gives you the VHDL scripts to model the circuit. Though not particularly advanced with the projects that are presented in the book, I do like the emphasis on timing and troubleshooting circuits. Definately not a reference for the intermediate or advanced digital designer, but a good book to get you started thinking about how VHDL relates design process. The book loses a star for its overly simplistic coverage of CMOS and DSP technology. Get another book for that.



2. this is one of the terible book that i ever have in my life. This book i would say it is belong to digital terminology rather.

1 comments about Electronic Troubleshooting.

1. My grandson had listed this book on Amazon for his Wish List and was thrilled to receive it.

5 comments about Electric Motor Repair.

1. started as a plant electrician and kept learning thanks to this book now repair light fixture to refrigeration



2. This book is great. I've read many books on repairing electric motors , but none of them have given me a practical & theoretical view on the subject as this book has. I recommend this book to students, and fully quallified engineers. The best...... My greatest thanks to the authors.



3. If your looking for a book that is all meat, if your looking for the "bible" of motors, if your desire for motor knoweledge is from the most basic to advance knoweledge.....YOU have to buy this book. I am an electrician, and industrial controls technician and I have found no better book. I am looking through my well used second edition, that was given to me while in college in 1984, and if you could see just my first page of the book, at how much highlighting and notes in the margins there are, you would see that nearly every sentence in the book is packed full of useful information,...IF... you take the time to read it. I believe it is as clearly written as you can get on a technical subject. I consider myself just a slightly above average student, and even I could understand this material. From casual interest in motors to engineer, this book needs to be on your technical bookshelf, unlike other technical books at this price that I threw out after college, this is a keeper. Check out all the other reviewers here, then buy the book.



4. I am an electrician whose job requires trouble shooting different types of equipment for different customers in many different environments. I see all kinds of motors and machines and jury rigs. This book is invaluable for troubleshooting any motor on the planet. It gives excellent reference schematics and diagrams that coincide with the different chapters. It has helped me on many occasions. It's really meant for poeple who
   re-wind motors more than trouble shooters but you will not regret owning it if you do any kind of maintenance or trouble shooting on a variety of machines.



5. I received this book in High School as part of the "Electrical Installation" curricullum in January of 1986. At the advice of my instructor, Mr. Bergovoy, I didn't return the book at the end of the school term. I ended up having to pay for the replacement. However, this book has paid for itself thousands of times over the last 20 years. I recommend it to electricians ranging from the student to the master level..

5 comments about Schematic Capture with Cadence PSpice (2nd Edition).

1. Marc Herniter writes good clear PSpice books. I have three of his PSpice books (including this one).
   The book is written in a clear straight forward manner. The program itself is not friendly and easy to use. Possibly, it appears unfriendly because it is complex, powerful and with many good features. The author describes and explains the complex concepts in a clear manner with good examples.
   For users who are familiar with previous versions of PSpice that used Schematic to enter a circuit and start an analysis, the book provides direction on how to switch over and employ Capture.
   The only reason for only 4 stars is that some of the graphics are poor quality. It is not uncommon to find black text on dark grey background which is difficul to read. Color graphics would be nice, but it may be too costly.
   Anyone starting with Capture and PSpice will benefit from this book. It certainly is better than the documents provided by the program originator.



2. The item was sent very quickly. Excellent condition. Kudos to all who were involved.



3. During my undergraduate school, I used this book extensively. It gave me a solid advantage over other students. Other students would still be struggling, after a week of a lab, to do its related simulations, while I used to finish my work on the same day we had the lab. If you want to learn how to use PSpice, this is the book. Its style to teach by example and all the examples are on the CD along with a student version of the PSpice which is good enough for learning purposes.



4. Fair price; quick delivery. Good communication from the vendor. Able to track the entire way



5. Very good book, full of clear explanations. If you do not have previous experience with Schematic Capture softwares, this book makes it easy to learn how to do it.

No comments about Stallcup's Electrical Design Book, 2008 Edition.

5 comments about Home Workshop Explosives, Second Edition.

1. Everything the everyday Joe could ask for on hard-to-find information about explosives! A step-by-step guide by the master himself! Uncle Fester! An underground legend in his own time!



2. The title says very little about this most amazing book. I love high-explosives. I like to play with them. And I have a little bit of experience with it... I'm a former special-operations officer with 16 years of service in my country's intelligence agency (something like a "mix" of CIA/FBI/Secret Service, now extinct), and I have done years of overseas "contractor" work... I've been in five major guerrilla wars (Angola, Mozambique, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Lebanon), and alt. I had previous experience with improvised explosives, that old "Black Books" on improvising ordnance did not help me, when I needed it most. Old warriors never die (they only go to Hell to regroup), and I even ask some "insiders" on contrating me to work in Iraq, earlier this year, as a "security advisor", but they find me too fat & unfit to be of use in there... a close friend, former Royal Marine and veteran of Northern Ireland and Malvinas/Falklands, who lived in another big town here, go there, and now is doing what he was trained for... and alt. in all wars we once fought we can get any ammount of firearms, ammo, support weapons, you name it, there was a lack of high-explosives to we "Soldiers-of-Fortune" play with... If I had this amazing book with me on "my wars" back in the '80's, I could do things in a better, faster, more funny way, if you can get what I'm talking about. I love high-explosives, as I told earlier, even being outside of any war, and experiments with this books' fuel-air devices make me fell young again, even with the small earthquake people feel around... with the most potent "toy" described (and a very easy to use one), I get a fireball the size of a truck! I LOVED IT!!! Well, if you want real fun, this is the book for you. Stop reading feeble books that can only "instruct" you, or dangerous books that can only teach you how to blow yourself in hundreds of pieces. Uncle Fester knows what he writes about - and knows a LOT.



3. this book really has all you need to become a conoisseur of the finer explosives. It covers everything from material choice, recipes for the main high explosives through to detonators, safety and storage tips. Each recipe also includes a very good explanation on how to procure certain of the chemicals needed without leaving a paper trail 5 miles long. I can say from personal experience that these recipes do indeed work, and with a bit of creative chemistry one could convert these recipes to work with some of your day to day bathroom, tool shed or cleaning products to produce some crude yet effective explosives(I have succeeded in this without any chemical experience whatsoever).
   the book gives an insight that explosives are within the grasp of any DIY terrorist with even half a decent brain.
   learn how to protect yourself from them, BUY THIS BOOK!



4. I highly recommend this book for any one in military or law enforcement. Understanding how explosives are made helps you recognize the signs of some one making explosives. Who knew you could use stump remover, drain cleaner, and drug store glycerin to make nitro glycerin? Along with a $200 chemestry set as well.



5. i bought this book wondering how good it really was in the start but taking note from the reviews of this book i kinda knew what i was in for in getting this. THIS IS THE MAN, THE UNCLE FESTER. In reading all that i have so far i am shocked, almost to the point of hitting the floor. in the time that i have worked in the pyrotechnics field i have picked up a few things but not all that is in this book, knowing all that is in here makes me happy i got this book seeing as i am sure some time that it will be taken off the market due to all that is in this book.

No comments about Electronics Technology Fundamentals - Conventional Flow (2nd Edition).

3 comments about Code Check Electrical: An Illustrated Guide to Wiring a Safe House, 4th Edition.

1. All these code check books are excellent resources for contractors and field inspectors.
   However, I am very disappointed about the fact that Code Check never puts down what version of code book referenced. Instead, they simply put "updated to the latest version of xxx code"
   As we all know, every State adopts a new code every few years (typically 3 years).
   HOW AM I SUPPOSE TO KNOW IF THE CODE CHECK IS CURRENT IF THEY DON'T TELL US WHICH CODE IS IT BASED ON ?
   This product is getting 3 stars from me because without knowing which code it's referenced, it's no different than any "build a safe house" for DIYers, which we already have tons of these laying around in any hardware store.
   If Code Check takes the time, compare and update their content concurrent with the code updates, then it's worth 6 stars.



2. Excellent information. I also liked the hard cover pages to keep from getting damaged. Very easy to understand also.



3. I am not an electrician but as a licensed builder and home inspector I find the various Code Check's (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, etc) to be outstanding references, and the illustrations are a great help. Contrary to another rating comment, all the Code Checks I have do identify the particular code and year, either on the front cover or in the introduction. Anyone who pounds a nail or shops the electrical section at the local "big box" store should have copies of Code Check. Homeowners are notorious for saying (especially with electrical repairs) "Well that's the way my father taught me." Times and codes have changed and Code Check will keep you up to date and SAFE.

2 comments about Troubleshooting and Repairing Major Appliances, 2nd Ed..

1. I have a 13 month old dishwasher that cost me $650. It started making a loud noise while in use. I called the company's repair center and they gave me a rough estimate of about $400-500 to repair. According to Consumer Reports, I should have trashed the washer and bought a new one! I had to search high and low to find any books on appliance repair. Evidently, this knowledge is a state secret! I guess our disposable society doesn't want to fix anything. I did a lot of searching on the web and did find some general info on dishwasher repair, but they didn't offer any concrete details. This book saved the day. I read the repair chapter on dishwashers, grab my tools and removed the dishwasher, diagnosed the problem (bad motor--after ruling out other issues), went to the company's web site, located the motor and ordered it for $225. The motor arrived, I removed the old motor and popped the new one in, reconnected the electricity and water supplies, restored the power, ran a cycle and eureka, IT WORKED! The cost of the book, some of my time and I was able to saved my self hundreds of dollars and not be a prisoner of some repairperson. The book offers chapters on using the tools, multimeter, etc. you will need to diagnose the problem. They are clearly written and not overburdened with "technobabble". The chapters on each appliance help you troubleshoot and rule out other possiblities. To be fair, I do have a strong tool background, so I have the equipment needed. If you don't have a multimeter, etc., you would be better off calling a repair tech, but if you do have to tools for the job, grab this book and fix the problem yourself. The sense of satisfaction and competence you feel by doing something for yourself and saving your appliance from the landfill make the effort worthwhile!



2. Having had used the old Time-Life books or Franklynn Peterson's book to repair most of my appliances for the past 25 years I was highly unimpressed with this book. Unfortunately, someone "borrowed" my oldest Time Life major appliance book that covered front load washers and they didn't cover them at all for 10 yrs so when my frontloader acted up I needed a newer book.
   
   So when I saw the title and the fact it was a 2007 book I figured (wrongly) that it would cover current appliances and might be a something I could use. There might be some areas with useful stuff in there but but on first job that came up it failed.
   
   The first illustration of a washer is a front loader, but, all maintenance and repair information and all diagrams are for older agitatator models when it is covered at all. Also the list of symptoms has nothing to do with the repair contents or at least not on logical basis.
   
   For example when you go to the washer section and you look up Symptom "water will not drain" it gives possible causes but does not reference what page you would find that information on, there is no diagram of what the inside of the washer looks like, no illustration of what the pump looks like. Where it gives info. like check for air lock in the pump it never covers instructions on how to check for air lock,in the case of check to the sure that the motor is not runing in the agitation direction there are no instructions on how to check that or what to do if it is.
   
   So far for me it started with a total failure first time out of the mailer. Doubt I will ever pick it up again to even bother checking it on other items.
   
   By the way I have rebuilt 1 electric stove, rebuilt two diswashers, two washers and one dryer in the past so none of this is new to me is just been 8 yrs since I had to repair a washer and this one is 20 yrs younger with newer controls so I thought an updated book would help.