No comments about Modern Residential Wiring: Based on the 2005 NEC.

5 comments about Smart Home Hacks: Tips & Tools for Automating Your House (Hacks).

1. SMART HOME HACKS: Tips & Tools for Automating Your House
   Gordon Meyer
   O'Reilly Media Inc.
   ISBN: 0-596-00722-1
   
   For years we have heard of how computers can provide benefits around the house. Television news programs show research labs using computers in conjunction with special equipment for recording or controlling test. I have often wondered, "How is this accomplished?"
   
   Smart Home Hacks introduces you to previously hidden benefits our computers can provide. With software available for Macintosh and other operating systems we learn to control many items in and around our home from our computer's CPU.
   
   How is this done... using the existing 120 VAC wiring in our walls to transmit and receive signals via X10 transmitter and receivers around your house. Whether controlling 12 volt landscaping lights, the timing cycles for your pool pump, or simply turning lights and sound on and off for security reasons, from the ground up Gordon Meyer's Smart Home Hacks explains the process.
   
   Your computer can send messages to your cell phone, pager, or e-mail account. Driveway lights can be set to come on and remain on for a given period of time, and sprinkler systems can be controlled by your home computer. Meyer takes readers from the basics of X10 codes to starting your hot tub and having it ready when you get home.
   
   For those wanting a computer to work for them this book even shows you how to monitor and plot heating oil fuel consumption. With broadband Internet service you can monitor Fido's actions when you are away from the house by adding video camera(s) and a link to the Internet.
   
   To add cost effectiveness to a home, SMART HOME HACKS: Tips & Tools for Automating Your House is a great addition to a home library. Additionally, it should be considered as an ideal gift.



2. "Smart Home Hacks" provides a basic introduction to X10-based home automation, a technology that's been around since the 1970s. For the most part, the book just scratches the surface of the subject and often goes off on unrelated tangents, such as an example of how to build a robot lawnmower. What's missing is a more comprehensive overview of X10-compatible modules and the different ways they might be used to solve home automation problems. For example, irrigation is a very practical application that's ideal for a computer, and there are X10-based models, such as the Rain8 made by WGL designs. But the author chooses to ignore irrigation because of a perceived flooding hazard, even though the Rain8 has an internal limiter that shuts off the water even if no X10 "off" signal is received. Many pages are devoted to computer automation systems sending text-base messages, but no mention is made of voice-based solutions which are much more practical and cost-effective. The newer software applications that are available are impressive but it's amazing how primitive the available hardware is. The book fails to mention one of the biggest obstacles to X10 deployment: the need for a "neutral" (white) wire in household wiring. Since most light switches are wired with a simple 2-wire loop-back for economic reasons, it would require expensive re-wiring to use X10 switches. And, unless I missed it, it fails to discuss the problem of X10 signals not being passed to the "other side" of typical 2-phase house wiring. Only a passing mention is made to the new INSTEON technology that improves upon the old X10 protocol. So, although the book appears to be "current" it reads like it was written five years ago. "Smart Home Hacks" works best as sort of an idea cookbook. You'll find yourself bouncing around from one "recipe" to another but often finding most cool ideas can't be cooked up because of various obstacles (cost, permits, electronic expertise, obscure hardware, and so on).



3. This book presents a great variety of ideas for using the X10 protocol. I'm sure every reader will find several ideas or projects interesting enough to try.
   
   Although I've been using X10 products for over five years, I have found this book to be a very useful reference. What I like about it is that it starts off with the very basics and move through to the esoteric ... something for everyone.
   
   I recommend this book to the beginner or to the experienced. I'm glad I bought it: I refer to it all the time.



4. I am very into the X-10 gadgets and have been for several years. This book was intended for the average homeowner interested in inexpensive home security. The only thing it lacks is diagrams and layouts for the systems it covered.



5. I'm a SW developer and I just got this book because I was curious about Home Automation, I had no idea about it and this book really cleared my mind easy reading and amazingly easy to implement If you're a beginner I totally recommend it!

5 comments about Electronic Devices: Conventional Current Version.

1. In my first studing the subject of electronic , my teacher decide to using its, and the grade is E in the end term . its not a good news for me and depression in my heart . In the strain , i do my best to read this, but i deed don't know what's is BJT CMOS pnp npn and what the DC current differents the AC current .
   the resistance how to work , and how to compute the stand side by side or in the string .

   i don't like this book so the rate of this book is 2 stars
   i know its right .
   
   i recommand the mircoelectronic ( sedra/smith) 4th and millman mircoelectronic (2nd 1989) its a bible for electronic which i thinking .




2. I am an instructor and find all of Floyd's books to be excellent...the problem is that many students like the ones in this forum are ill prepared in algebra, trig, basic calculus and just plain old problem solving, plus some don't read English well enough. Let's face it, a lot of [people] are trying to become technicians and engineers when they should be preparing themselves for fast food service.



3. My teacher used this book (fifth edition) in a basic electronics course (university). The book begins with some semiconductor basics, the pn-junction is explained and this chapter is OK if one just needs the very basic understanding (which in some schools might be enough). The second chapter contains some diodeapplications and power supply filters, the third chapter is about zener diode applications and some special purpose diodes. Then he goes on with the BJT, FET and the opamp. The physics behind the BJT is very superficially covered but he explains the operation of the BJT in principle. The book considers the basic transistor amplifier circuits but a lot of important material is left out. He uses the r-parameter model as the transistor smallsignal equivalent model, which is not a very common smallsignal model. The FET transistor comes as the next chapter, and here I miss the physics behind the FET. Of course one can design circuits without knowing the physics behind these devices, but knowing the physics will give you a much better understanding. It should also be mentioned that this book is limited to low frequency applications. Further, he doesn't say anything at all about feedback in transistoramplifiers which is one of the most important concepts in electronics. One should know that without feedback you are more or less limited to one-transistor amplifier stages, at least for the practical situation.
   The chapters contaning the opamp is good as starting point, although the basics could be explained in more detail. Most of the material in these chapters are limited to simple opamp circuits, and you will therefore run through these chapters without the need for any deeper analysis.

   What an electronics engineer should learn isn't all contained in this book, neither in any other book, but I must say this book is unsuccesful because almost everything in the book isn't deeply enough covered. You will probably not learn to design anything (at least not well enough), you just learn to calculate nodevoltages and the amplifier gain in different basic circuits. What is also left out is a general discussion about some certain problems, such as practical considerations for example. You will neither develop your basic mathematical skills using this book, because the author has left out most of the math (although very basic math), formulas are sometimes just stated without a derivation and so on. This book is just big and heavy because of the big font size and the many big pictures.
   One might think that I do not need a book that consideres everything in very detail. The problem is that this book is too far from that and isn't therefore intended to students at a university level. I neither think that the author wrote a book, which can be compared to other "more serious" books in the field. This is a book for those who wants to learn the basics without any deeper mathematical insight.

   There is a lot of books in this field, and I could mention a couple of good books that gave me a much better understanding of basic electronics. If you wanna learn op amp circuits, "Design with operational amplifiers and analog integrated circuits" by Sergio Franco, is just superior and contains everything you need about opamps, and is also well written. Books which covers transistors quite good are "Mircoelectronic circuits" by Sedra/Smith and "Microelectronics" by Millman/Grabel. The book by Sedra/Smith is quite easy to understand and contains very good homework problems. The only thing I'm missing here are some practical considerations.




4. Needed to cancel the order after I was given incorrect information by my instructor. The cancellation was handled quickly with no difficulty.



5. I have several college electronics text books. Compared to the others this one was basic enough for me to understand the bare basics. Only after using this book have I been able to use the more advanced books.
   
   I appreciate this book does not have the depth others have, but that is exactly why it helped me get started in electronics. I am self studying so I really needed the simplicity.
   
   I want to thank the author for inviting me into the fascinating world of electronics design.

5 comments about Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology.

1. This is an excellent technicians-level text for students training for jobs in the semiconductor industry. The book covers the full range of topics important to the industry, from semiconductor materials to assembly and packaging.

   I especially like the format the authors have selected to present such a wide range of technical material. Each chapter begins by clearly stating the chapter's learning objectives, and then proceeds to present the relevant concepts in a clear and lucid fashion that are easy for the student to understand. In addition, the text is profusely illustrated with several hundred high quality black and white drawings that enhance the comprehension of the material presented in the accompanying text.

   Finally, each chapter ends with a list of key terms presented in the chapter, exercises for the student, as well as references and URL's for further research.

   This is a beautiful book, and is ideal for students at the technician level, or for management personnel who want to learn more about the technology of semiconductor manufacturing. Until something better comes along to replace it, this book will remain the standard in its class.




2. I am non-technical person in the financial community and have used this text as a resource on a regular basis. I have found it very accessible despite the fact that I have no engineering degree. I recommend this book to any reader who wants a detailed summary of semiconductor manufacturing from wafer fabrication to packaging and test.



3. This book is well worth the price if you are looking for an understanding of how semiconductors are made. Although it would be useful to have an engineering degree in order to understand all of it, it isn't necessary. The first couple of pages in each chapter are easy to read and as you gain knowlegde, the book simply expands for you. If I have a complaint, it would be that the book doesn't fit easily in my briefcase!



4. I feel the authors have accomplished exactly their stated intent. I have used this text as a Fab Manager to train technicians new and old, and I have used it in academia to instruct students. It is superbly presented and easy for ANYONE to understand. It is worth purchasing for the glossary alone which is an excellent tool in helping the un-indoctrinated sift through the tons of jargon associated with this technology. This book is not for in-depth study of the subjects covered- it just explains the basics very well.



5. Nice book. It helped with my understanding of nano technology. Best if used in conjunction with a class requiring it so the teacher can explain some of the processes better than the book because it is vague on some concepts.

1 comments about Audel Electrical Course for Apprentices and Journeymen, All New Fourth Edition.

1. I've got 10 guys in line to get their license on my crew but not a lot of time to go to school. And if they're going to school get the school to use this book. If you've got the same situation, just have your guys pick this coursebook up. It's amazing and from a great old electrical name-Audel!

No comments about Microcomputer Repair (4th Edition).

4 comments about Troubleshooting & Repairing Consumer Electronics Without a Schematic.

1. Well I don't know why Amazon let's reviews go through that are obviously not appropriate as the last one is. This book deserves the highest rating for a book in this class. I do not own this book yet but will soon. I have reviewed it in book stores and found it to be a valuable reference text. It provides basic typical schematics for the most often found circuits in consumer electronics and provides a clear and detailed narration on how to troublshoot problems. I can't wait to get my personal copy and put it on my reference shelf.



2. I recommend this book as a good reference, but it helps if you aren't a novice. Sometimes schematics aren't available and you have to learn how to improvise. A person bitten by the electronics bug typically endures hours of frustration and failure before gaining enough experience to troubleshoot and repair electronic equipment. This book should guide you in the right direction and hopefully save you some time.



3. I do have this book and it is a disappointment. It list some problems you may have and some steps to try. But if your problem is not listed in the examples your kind of stuck. Trying to list the problems and steps to take that can come up with the millions of consumer electronics devices is not going to work. I don't know what is, but this book doesn't really do what the title says. I have some other H.Davidson books and they are not that helpfull. There seems to be a bag of tricks you can try when repairing things. i.e. ESR meter, flowcharts, curver tracer, overheating chip, call the manufacture, etc. But when those don't work I think you have to study how the circuit works and understand what is happening and what happens when certain parts fail. This can take a long time. Maybe there is a better system, but it is not in this book.



4. i found this book obtuse and very hard to read. if youre not an advanced electrician i would start somewhere else first as this title spends very little time on the basic mechanics of electronics and is mostly full of 'helpful case histories" which i found pretty much useless. the publishers should take the title and rewrite the entire contents instead of adding on to an esoteric book written 20 years ago in the most confusing venacular ive ever attempted to read. thumbs down.

5 comments about Delmar's Standard Textbook of Electricity.

1. I've used different revisions of this book for years as I've progressed through my schooling in the electrical trade. This book is easy to read with many helpful illustrations. (yes I like books with pictures) This is the best textbook on electricity I've seen.



2. This book was puchased for a class. It was a good selection for a textbook. It is written clearly and has many pictures and examples to further explain the theory. There are helpful summaries and review questions at the end of each unit. A great overall textbook.



3. The textbook that I purchased was exactly what I needed for my class. It was in PERFECT condition and I got it quickly. The purchase process was very easy and and the book was delivered as I had anticipated. Thanks!



4. This is an AWFUL textbook. One person in our class has the 2nd edition, and it doesn't have any of these mistakes! The THIRD edition is a piece of GARBAGE! It was so difficult trying to comprehend complex formulas when the examples given arent even correct! Wrong values, wrong, math, wrong symbols, mislabeling...and we're only to chapter 30 so far.
   
   Simple things are OVER covered to the point of exhaustion, but when the chapter on filters came up, there was nothing to give examples of how to figure out how to do the problems at the end of the chapter. Power factor correction is barely glanced upon, and the author gives complex formulas when basic Ohms law could be used instead.
   
   If you use the 3rd edition in your classroom, PLEASE verify with your instructor so you dont struggle with the homework for no reason



5. Extremely important to have this book for the Electrical Maintenance student, Apprentise, or Journeyman. This book is truely the "backbone" of critical information used by all electricians! When you know your "Delmar", you will have gained an invaluable amount of knowledge and confidence in your work.

3 comments about The 8088 and 8086 Microprocessors: Programming, Interfacing, Software, Hardware, and Applications (4th Edition).

1. this book has been very useful in learning the basic concepts involved in the creation of a microprocessor.it has been presented in a way understandable by stdents coming from non-computing backgrounds



2. Now that I have completed my digital design course and using this required text at San Jose State University (home of the second author), I would like to comment on it.

   There are more mistakes in this 3rd edition than in the 2nd edition. Because of the errors, I found it hard to learn for two reasons. Either I've made the mistake (granted the book is correct), or that the authors and editors failed to do their jobs so I have to seek outside help. Even the solutions in the back of the book has obvious errors! I don't believe learning from and paying [this kind of money] for this book is fair to any customer! SJSU students have used the 2nd and 3rd editions as REQUIRED text and paid dearly. (I don't believe that students should be FORCED to buy a book because it is written by a faculty member, especially one this bad! )

   Suggestions and recommendations to the authors to correct blatant errors and make improvements were not implemented by the 3rd edition. How can a book create errors from one edition to another? Let me give one simple example. Figure 10-13 on page 470 has the input and output configurations for the 8255 reversed in the 3r edition BUT is correct in the 2nd edition. I also believe a spelling checker was not used as there are typos throughout the book.

   Granted there are new materials in the latter part of the book, the older core part of the book should be error-free by the third edition. It has been an extreme headache to study from this book. It has been frustrating, to say the least. To those who wish to waste their money and time, please buy this book. There are other texts less costly and probably better written. The authors need to be more proactive in producing the best possible product when their reputation is on the byline!




3. I am taking this class at FDU (where Professor Triebel is teaching this class) and I find that its a very organized text.

   there may be a few errors here and there, but it also helps to simply ask the Author for help regarding any possible errors.

   Professor Triebel retired from Intel and has intimate knowledge of the 8088/8086 core (as well as the new Itanium) so he's more than qualified in this field.

   We are also taking the lab to accompany this class (there's a separate lab manual) and that pretty much bridges the gap between theory and practical applications. The reason being that you can learn the theory behind the instructions in the lecture, but the lab allows you to see the instructions in action.

5 comments about Principles of Refrigeration (5th Edition).

1. In understanding the refrigeration cycle, Roy Dossat had 25 years in the field before teaching at the University of Houston. I was fortunate to attend the course taught by him in the 70's. It showed the man had much to offer even to the less experienced technician who needed to start on the basics. This book is easy to understand and a nice read for those who need answers to the complicated use of refrigerant and applications that drive the business. Refrigerant application is in constant change as environmental demands alter our lives. This book is a fundamental foundation and should be on the reference shelf of all engineers and technicians that want a straight foward understanding of the refrigeration cycle. debien@flash.net



2. This book covers all the details! I use this book everyday as refrence material. It covers everything from the basics, but also gets into complicated 2 stage design, and other design areas. From A-Z this book has it. If you are a refrigeration Engineer/ Operator this is a must for the text collection.



3. A great reference book for all HVAC technicians,interested in the entery-level refrigeration repair area .Relates the basics,in full detail.An excellent review of refrigeration hardware and applied principles.Rather than guessing at the chapter questions ,it does have an answer-checker,to verify your homework.Although,I don't think you would want to carry this around,in your trunk.It's a good library study-guide and for trouble-shooting residential refrigetaion non-operations.



4. This is the best refrigeration book in the market, highly technical but still easy to understand, come with a very good explanation about food preservation methods and spoilage factors, the refrigeration aspect are deep, slightly conceptual but mostly practical, a most have for anyone that want to gain true understanding of refrigeration and thermodynamics.



5. I learnt refrigeration from the 1961 edition of Principles of Refrigeration. So when I was asked to instruct junior staff members in this subject this book came to mind. I purchased one copy to see how it handles SI as well as imperial units and then purchased another six for the students. As always Amazon provided an excellent service.