Review of Knowledge Publications Material:
I ordered some materials from Knowledge Publications.
I am disappointed that they messed up the order (Shorted me some fresnel lenses, but otherwise I did get everything ordered); The Sunshine to dollars is a tight spiral bound 8.5x11 computer printed booklet, but it does have some good information and is well illustrated but only 40 pages. It is full of PRACTICAL information. Some of the solar books I have read are much longer but mostly theoretical. In the 40 pages are quite a few experiments you can do, and then scale up from there. I would have liked a nicely professionally bound book for 20.00 but I am generally satisfied with the value of information provided.
Roy McAlisters book is Professionally bound like other normal paperback books with ISBN numbers. There's lots of chemical equations, tables, and illustration. Although I have not had time to read it yet, a brief scan reveals it does have an index, and looks to be packed full of scientific data and I am very pleased with the quality of the product.
The Hydrogen Car DVD is done like a college lecture class and has some very basic information that is boring for those who have had some automobile vocational training, and basic chemistry and physics, but as the authors point out, their target audience is the average individual who may not have an in depth knowledge of chemistry, physics, and mechanical engineering.
(Roy and Steve make several comments urging children to get a good education in chemistry and physics and sciences in general. I like the subtle and not so subtle hints and would agree with them. With that type of knowledge one can actually produce something of value rather than suck like much of the other worthless professions like lawyers do.) After watching the DVD I think someone who can (on a lawn mower engine) change the oil, adjust the fuel air mixture on a carburetor, and knows how to gap a spark plug could easily make the engine modifications with no other documentation than what is contained in the DVD. If you have never done these things and don't know how, this DVD will not guide you step by step, so you will have to get some further information. It may be in the Solar Hydrogen Civilization Book, but I have not read it yet so I don't know if it is contained in there. I did briefly scan it and it has tables with burn rates, graphs, and pictures of engine internals. I'll let you know more after I have read the book.
After watching the DVD I was thoroughly shocked and let down, when Steve did a cost/BTU analysis and showed that you're better off using gasoline; however, after he burst the free energy bubble, he did show how hydrogen enriched fuels (with home produced hydrogen and alternative fuels) can be made for less than 1.00 Gallon Gas Equivalent (GGE) at 2005 prices. I look forward to the Diesel Engine DVD and how to make TURPINE and Alcohol DVD's they talk about making. The Hydrogen Car DVD was done in 2005, so I presume they are working on the others right now.
Overall I am pleased with the value/price offering, and it looks like you can convert a small lawn mower engine for about $25.oo to experiment with and gain knowledge for larger engines. The mechanical principles are the same. I Will keep y'all posted when we start experimenting. At the moment I have other projects that need completion.
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