Can someone recommend a book for basic household electrical work? I'm looking into running some new grounded outlets for my old (1950's) house with no grounds inside the house. I'm also looking at moving my 220v line for the air compressor underground. I'm pretty good with 12v stuff, but not so much with household electrical.
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Good "electrical for dummies" book
- Thread starter d33pt
- Start date
MrMark
Well-known member
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1600852564/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I have the prior edition, which was riddled with errors. I assume they corrected them in this edition. Most of these books are riddled with errors so I would go with this one because this one has been reviewed and revised several times. The Rex Caudwell book is nowhere near as good as this one.
I have the prior edition, which was riddled with errors. I assume they corrected them in this edition. Most of these books are riddled with errors so I would go with this one because this one has been reviewed and revised several times. The Rex Caudwell book is nowhere near as good as this one.
MrMark
Well-known member
The errors were obvious for the most part. Mainly with the picture schematics of circuits. For example, showing two romex, hooked to a recepticle at the end of a run. Like I said though, the errors were in the prior book. There's some stupid stuff in there too, like guys tightening recepticle screws with Dewalt drills, but you can only laugh at that.
This revised edition should be thoroughly vetted. The Taunton "Complete" series books seem to be good.
This revised edition should be thoroughly vetted. The Taunton "Complete" series books seem to be good.
bochnak
Well-known member
Check out the local library. I have borrowed a dozen including the NEC book.
When I was preparing to wire my garage, I used these two books:
http://www.amazon.com/Wiring-House-4th-Completely-Revised/dp/1600852610/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1292957399&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/Wiring-Simplified-Based-National-Electrical/dp/0971977933/ref=dp_cp_ob_hi_title_0
I took them out from my local library. But with late fees, It would have been cheaper to buy them.
http://www.amazon.com/Wiring-House-4th-Completely-Revised/dp/1600852610/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1292957399&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/Wiring-Simplified-Based-National-Electrical/dp/0971977933/ref=dp_cp_ob_hi_title_0
I took them out from my local library. But with late fees, It would have been cheaper to buy them.
i applaud your desire to learn, but I have a feeling your house will present you with situations not covered in these books ie: the grounding.
also, whats this 240v compressor line underground?
the 240v line runs from my house roof to the detached garage roof. I want to put it underground.
I plan to put in new grounded circuits, and leave the old stuff alone. The books should cover that.
It's not rocket science right? I can do this.
(famous last words)
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
the 240v line runs from my house roof to the detached garage roof. I want to put it underground.
I plan to put in new grounded circuits, and leave the old stuff alone. The books should cover that.
It's not rocket science right? I can do this.
(famous last words)
Is this the only power going to the detached garage? If there are other circuits, code only allows one circuit to a detached structure, in which case you need to run a suitable sized sub feed to a sub panel in the garage and power everything off of that.
Charles
the 240v line runs from my house roof to the detached garage roof. I want to put it underground.
I plan to put in new grounded circuits, and leave the old stuff alone. The books should cover that.
It's not rocket science right? I can do this.
(famous last words)
no its not rocket science, but it is not as simple as some make it out to be -not to mention it is possible (and common) to have a very dangerous situation and never realize it because 'it works'.
give some more detail about what you are doing, and post a picture of your existing panel (s) with the cover off.
there's a 120v circuit going to the garage too.
as soon as it stops raining here, i'll take some pics of what i'm dealing with. it's a mess, and i'd like to clean it up.
i suspect it may be one of those "it works" situations that i have currently.
as soon as it stops raining here, i'll take some pics of what i'm dealing with. it's a mess, and i'd like to clean it up.
i suspect it may be one of those "it works" situations that i have currently.
cant have both a 120v and 240v circuit going to the garage. you're going to have to install a subpanel. 4 wires (hot-hot-neutral-ground) from the house to the garage, seperate neutral and ground bars in the subpanel, two ground rods, and bond any metal piping. All 15 and 20 amp 120v receptacles have to be GFI protected (best way is first receptacle in a string and feed the others from the load side of the GFI receptacle)
i might have to run a whole new line from the main panel then. the 240v lines look to be about 8 or 10ga. not sure if that's beefy enough to run both the compressor and all the 120v stuff.
you will anyways as you need 4 wires and the compressor is only going to have three (presuming there is a ground)
mkbrower
Active member
I was a Navy electrician so I had a grasp on electrical theory and wanted to to tackel the wiring for a complete remodel of my kitchen. I bought several "how to" books but "Wirng a House" by Rex Cauldwell is by far the the most complete and easiest to understand with lots of drawings, charts and pictures
Mark
Mark
Start reading all the posts at this forum http://www.electriciantalk.com/. Start with NEC Code Forum then move on to the Residential Electrical Forum. That is what I've done and it shortened the learning curve greatly. One thing only professionals can post there you will have to post questions at http://www.diy-forum.net/.