As the most comprehensive reference and study guide available for engineers preparing for the breadth-and-depth mechanical PE examination, the twelfth edition of the Mechanical Engineering Reference Manual provides a concentrated review of the exam topics. Thousands of important equations and methods are shown and explained throughout the Reference Manual , plus hundreds of examples with detailed solutions demonstrate how to use these equations to correctly solve problems on the mechanical PE exam. Dozens of key charts, tables, and graphs, including updated steam tables and two new charts of LMTD heat exchanger correction factors, make it possible to work most exam problems using the Reference Manual alone. A complete, easy-to-use index saves you valuable time during the exam as it helps you quickly locate important information needed to solve problems. _____________________________ Since 1975 more than 2 million people preparing for their engineering, surveying, architecture, LEED®, interior design, and landscape architecture exams have entrusted their exam prep to PPI. For more information, visit us at www.ppi2pass.com .
I didn't really find this helpful as a study guide. It's more of a referance manual/encyclopedia. I did find that I used it much more during the test than I expected.
Edited to add: I passed! I wasn't sure if I'd passed or not (the test was HARD), and so I believe I probably only passed by a small margin. There were a handful of problems I wouldn't have been able to solve without this reference. Therefore, I would have failed without this referance. So it gets my full recommendation!
This is a wonderful book to have of you are taking the NCEES proctored Mechanical Engineering PE Exam. Just about every topic you need for the exam is covered in simple, but effective manners. The references in the appendices are great. Steam tables for common materials, fatigue tables, material properties, statistics constant tables, etc. This book and a stack of notes from review classes were all I brought to the PE exam. I never used the notes and passed the exam the first time. Make sure to get the practice problem book that accompanies this book. The problems are well thought out and the solutions are very detailed. I use this book or loan it to other engineers in my group at work all the time.
I took the HVAC test in April 2011 and PASSED!!. I used this book for 75% of the test and ASHRAE fundamentals for 15% and didn't have the right book with me for the last 10%. I bought the problems book and read all the HVAC and thermal chapters and worked thru the problems. I just glossed over the machine design and didn't read all of the general chapters in the back except the electrical. The electrical came in really handy and I should have read the engineering economy chapter. It worked great for the test but I have yet to use it again.
This book is filled with everything a mechanical engineering examinee could want. But now we are going to digital exams, i'm not sure how relevant this will be in the future. Great resource but definitely recommend taking a course, doing practice exams and reading the ASHRAE books as well.