Websites for Learning About Electrical Wiring?

[AR-Trvlr]

Are there any websites that you'd recommend for learning the basics of residential electrical wiring?

I know how 12v automotive works, but the A/C stuff just seems like voodoo. A website that starts with the theory would be great - I need to understand the big picture before I get down into the application part of things....

Thanks!

 

[trythis]

I am going to recommend your public library if Winder GA has one. Its much easier to flip through a basic wiring book and there will be several if the library is of any size.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Along with the basics of wiring, you need to know the rules. If you want to learn, I certainly did, invest in a current NEC book, and a "helper" book. Here is what I suggest.

Paperback copy of the full National Electric Code 2011 (older versions are available, and your locale probably uses either the 2005 or 2008 version, but get the 2011 and be done with it.)

An excellent "helper book" is Illustrated Guide to the National Electric Code 2011 6th edition,

These books will NOT help you with how to install a wire nut on a bunch of wires, or how to properly mount a ceiling fan box, but it will help you with what you can and cannot do, and why, and where in the code to find the rule pertaining to it.

There are two issues here, the mechanics of doing proper electrical work, and the technical or legal side of it, both very important.

Charles

 

[Grumpy365]

For code reference I would recomend searching http://forums.mikeholt.com/

These guys are NOT WELCOMING to home owners /handy man. They have electrical licenses and think anyone who doesn't is a hack. BUT the info is TOP NOTCH.

 

[neverenoughtools]

Check out the wiring do it yourself books at your local HD / Lowes

 

[Falcon67]

This is 2005 code, but I have an older copy and it's extremely helpful as well as detailed in the code requirements and sample procedures.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0971977917/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Oops - here's 2008
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0971977925/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[acer66]

I like the Tauton Press Code Check Books, they are easy to read and cover the basics.


Can I update my copy of the 2005 NEC handbook somehow?

Thank you

 

[sberry]

http://forum.doityourself.com/electrical-c-d-c-9/ Very good to do some study and they are used to DIY type questions. After a while code makes sense but is poor for DIY instruction, there are some decent books out there.

 

[acer66]

Some helpful folks are also at http://www.selfhelpforums.com/

 

[Stuart in MN]

I wouldn't try to get into reading the NEC just yet, it can be tough to figure out even if you know what you're doing. To start, I'd pick up one of the DIY books from the local Home Depot. You can probably find something similar at the local library, too.

 

[MrMark]

For code reference I would recomend searching http://forums.mikeholt.com/

These guys are NOT WELCOMING to home owners /handy man. They have electrical licenses and think anyone who doesn't is a hack. BUT the info is TOP NOTCH.

haha.......

 

[AR-Trvlr]

Thanks for the websites. I'll start checking them out.

Thanks for the book selections, too - I'll look them up when I get home.

I'm currently working in Afghanistan right now, and probably will be here for the next year or so. The mail runs between 2 to 8 weeks, so I probably won't see them for a while if I did order them.