No comments about Fundamentals of HVAC Building Systems Design, Vol 2.

No comments about Introduction to Electrical Mechanical Drafting with CAD.

2 comments about Guide to the E.P.A. Refrigerant Handling Certification Exam.

1. This book should have filled a very important void as the only source available which includes samples of actual questions one might find on the EPA exam. However, many, many of the answers given for the sample questions are wrong, which can only be attributed to poor proofreading and checking.

   The questions are not coupled with explanations, and many of the questions cover topics not even mentioned in the reading material. Taken together with the number of wrong answers supplied, in my opinion, it makes the book practically worthless.

   Many of the questions are misleading. If these are truly direct from the EPA, then the book could have done a great service in explaining the subtle differences in the answers and helping the student develop a rationale for addressing similar questions on the exam. Instead, the student is left to their own resources to figure out why certain answers are supposedly correct. Often, the answer cannot be obtained from the reading material contained in the book, but forces the student to go elsewhere. As noted, when the material in the book does cover the material in the question, the student often finds the author's supplied answer is wrong.

   The book is poorly organized. It follows the predicted structure of the Core, Type I, II, and III exam material, but a lot of the basic material is included in an Appendix. This is information that should be reviewed by the student before taking the practice exams, but is not even addressed until you have made it completely through the book. If you get "stumped" on an exam question, more often than not the material will not be covered in the chapter you have just reviewed, or in the prior chapter or the introduction.

   The book contains an enormous amount of "filler" which is obviously supplied just to make the book thicker. This includes information such as how to take an exam, a glossary, and copies of the Clean Air Act. It is such a naked attempt to just add pages to the book that it is insulting.

   The high price adds injury to insult. I recommend you save your money. Buy the esco institute phamphlet for a quarter of the price and, except for the sample questions, you get the same basic material.




2. The "authors" failed to include much of the information needed to answer the questions in their "pratice tests". The information they do include is poorly organized and hard to locate when checking answers. All in all this book is more of an environmental propaganda manual than a study guide for the EPA refrigerant handling exam. You would be better served studying your refrigeration books. The ONLY worthwhile information in the book is the dates of the laws and of refrigerant production/use curtailment. Is this a refrigerant handling test, or a history test?

5 comments about Welding Essentials : Questions and Answers.

1. With the purchase of a brand new Miller GMAW welding machine (wirefeed electrode), my boss entered us into the world of welding. Even though a 30 minute tutorial at the welding supplier was enough to get us started, I bought this book at a local retailer as a reference.
   
   The format is one of simple question and answer that reads easily. The content is organized logically by type of welding activity. I opened to the first chapter on oxy/acetelyne cutting and read down the list as I fired up an OA torch for the first time. I found it supremely reassuring to have such direct instruction coupled with stern warnings. Apparently if I did not know what I was doing, I could have caused a serious explosion. I found nearly everything I could ask for in this book exept for practice welding. Of course I have lots of time for that now that I did not blow myself up.
   
   Highly recommended for beginning welders or curious persons.



2. This is a very good book if you weld or just need to have info on welding
   a must have



3. A good "text book" stye publication covering a very wide range of welding and cutting methods, but not an ideal book for persons looking for an "introduction to welding" manual. I would have liked to see the author add some basic projects, leading the reader thru all the steps with some good photos of common mistakes and how to avoid them. Still a very worthwhile reference manual to have...



4. This book gives good generalized information on welding principles and practices. Also gives practical general welding repair methods. An asset to any bookcase.



5. Having 10 or so books on welding text book type and the others. Most bog you down with a lot of info that you will never need if you are an artists/hobbyist or even a certified daily working welder. And they all seem to lack the info that comes up from time to time that we all need.
   
   It is in a question and answer format that covers what is the most asked questions on safety, general welding of most types, as the contents page lists. With out all the theory and mumbo jumbo the text books put in.
   In its 500 plus pages it has a great glossary with clear to the point definitions. Good clear illustrations. And a simple to understand safety info. Some fun stuff, ok I'm an fact geek for off beat info. Like what do all those numbers mean stamped on the neck are of the tanks etc.
   
   The Second edition does have updated info. Along with a survey of other welding methods. And chapters on subjects of interest to a person doing art/hobbyist or occasional welding. But could prove useful to a daily welder as a handy reference guide.

No comments about Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology: A Spanish Reference Manual.

5 comments about Modern Hydronic Heating (Heating Ventilation/Air Conditioning).

1. 
   This book is quite comprehensive, covering every component of a hydronic
   heating system in detail, along with exercises and system diagrams of
   numerous variations. Even simple components such as air purge devices
   and expansion tanks get sections or even chapters to themselves.
   
   There is a very good chapter that lays out about 10 different methods
   of designing the distribution system.
   
   Lots and lots of information and tips on tubing layout, as well as
   surveys of the different methods of putting the tubing down (thick
   slab, thin slab, dry on top, under the floor, etc)
   
   It's definitely in textbook format, and would probably be the type of
   book you'd use for a hydronic heating course at your local community
   college IF you could find such a course.
   
   Only a couple of nitpicks.
   --It's a pricey book. I passed over it until I found a $9 copy
   on the sale table.
   --my first edition is still talking about polybutylene tubing
   and tankless hot water heaters are not mentioned. I don't have a copy
   of the 2nd edition to compare.
   --given that PEX has become widespread for this type of application,
   more information on PEX would be appreciated.



2. I am a Master Plumber who was asked to design and install a Hydronic Heating System. I hoped this book would provide a step-by-step engineering process for designing a radiant heating system, but it does not.
   
   What it does provide is a somewhat scattered knowledge of Hydronic Heating, at the engineering and scientific levels, but does not bring them together to create anything useful like how to design a system. If you are to use this book to design a system, you are on your own. You must conceptualize the design yourself and choose the applicable engineering from various chapters in the book. I find it very frustrating.
   
   I don't care how many BTUs/lb it takes to convert water to ice or vice versa, or the specific heat of steel. I just want to create a Hydronic heating system without being dragged through a lot of unnecessary knowledge.
   
   If you new to Hydronic Heating you will need several days to familiarize yourself enough with the math and concepts presented in this book to design a system. Hope you have the time!



3. I've found this text to be extremely helpful as I am planning and building a new shop with hydronic heating. It is very well written with excellent photos & illustration, Good technical detail with graphs and equations to enable the reader to create a design with confidence. Definitely a good investment for my library.



4. The newest addition to my hydronic heating library thoroughly covers a complicated subject. Perhaps best suited for the seasoned professional, given so much information; proper application could be a challenge. The design formulas are certainly here for the discerning professional.
   
   Well-done Mr. Siegenthaler!
   
   Morgan M. Audetat
   BadgerBoilerService.com



5. I am a DIY'er with an engineering background and this book is great! It walks you through various systems and associated calculations.
   
   This book is assembled like a text book and comprehensive. It is not like a DIY brochure you'll find in your hardware store. This book covers everything you need to know to design and build a hydronic heating system and why you do what you do. As an engineer, I needed that level of explanation, however, some folks might not.
   
   In summary, I found the book to be absolutely invaluable in designing and building my hydronic baseboard/boiler system and I highly recommend it.

1 comments about Modern Welding Technology.

1. This is not your typical welding book. It is exceptional. I have maybe 20 books on welding, but to keep only one book, this one would be the hands down choice. It is the most complete treatment of combining metals I have seen in one volume. However, if you are only interested in OA, SMAW or GMAW for example, maybe half of the book would be of little interest. This book covers the gamut of welding technoligies in surprising detail. Every welding method is discussed with sections also on brazing and soldering.
   What I liked most were the numerous photographs that accompany the discussion of each technology. They help make understanding fast and clear when combined with well written text. This is one of those rare welding books you can actually read without getting bored with either too much theory or rambling discussions of things not explained well.
   The information is there. I also liked the internal cutout views and descriptions of the equipment. It helps you understand the process much better when you understand both the equipment and the metals.
   'How-to' and 'What you did wrong' discussions are included for the core manual welding technoligies. Sections about 'designing for welding', 'distortion', 'failure analysis' 'repair', 'inspection' and 'heat forming and straightening' were interesting to me.
   This book is for someone who wants more information than is normally found in the average book on welding. It is authoritative. It is a valuable reference for the welding professional or student.

1 comments about Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (3rd Edition).

1. This textbook was used in my class at tech school. It is very poorly organized and written. I would recommend the air condition and refrigeration textbook by Whitmnan instead.

1 comments about Heat Pump Technology (3rd Edition).

1. Although the info section states "Previous edition: c1989.", this book was actually published in 1983. You will see this if you scroll further down to Product Details. This is old, outdated information. Spend your money on something more up to date.

1 comments about Industrial Maintenance Workbook.

1. This book is all what maintenance people don't need: tones of vague explanations that should show author's broad knowledge, but are very complicated and incomplete at the same time - and no practice at alll.
   
   Authors all the time state that broader explanations should be searched for somewhere else. But then why to introduce so many complex terms, for instance in chapter dedicated to variable frequence drives, and then not to finish a single theme in a manner anybody could use it in practice.
   
   Talking about practice - practical tips in 750 pages book stated as handbook for maintenance people are squezeed in no more then 2 pages of very general talk.
   
   And what about theory? In addition to what is mentioned for variable frequency drive here is an exemple how authors cover grounding: one or two sentences like "grounding is good measure for protection and you can find details in NEC" (!!!)
   
   I could find many different examples, but the "thin line" in the book is a feeling that it was never intended to be useful to anybody but the authors that want to make many on careless buyers (like myself sometimes).
   
   To conclude, maintenance people should totally avoid this book.
   
   And what a price! You can find valuable maintenance books full of practical tips, experience and cleverly explained theoretical thems important in maintenance for $20 (IPT or Audel books) and look at the price of this book!
   
   I would really like to sell my copy but it would be unfair not to warn possible buyer...