Illustrated Guide to the NEC: Based on the 2005 National Electric Code

I found the book a good reference for electrical wiring and NEC 2005. Basically the book is targeted to electricians and installers. I failed to find any information on calculations of available short-circuit current (ASC) for service equipment. Industrial installations versus the code was not well addressed in book. In doing calculations of commercial and dwelling units one deals a lot with NEC Table 220.55 and the associated FNPs (foot notes). These FNPS are horrible cumbersome to explain the solution when dealing with multiple Ranges with different values of range's KWs. The author did vey litle in explaining and expanding this area of the code. Joseph

My review is from a handyman perspective, rather than an electrician's. The 442 page Illustrated Guide to the National Electrical Code® is organized into 5 sections: fundamental provisions, single-family homes and townhouses, multi-family dwellings, commercial buildings, and special occupancies, areas, and equipment (health care facilities, elevators, churches, etc.) Homeowner's can stop on page 188, the end of the single-family dwelling section. The primary feature of this Guide is the picture-is-worth-a-thousand-words approach. See Customer Photos for an actual example from the book. The book describes each NEC "rule" in English, and further explains it through a captioned drawing. This writing style makes it easier to understand the material. Here are the types of questions answered by this book: 1. How close to an outlet box does the first cable staple (or equivalent) have to be? 2. How tightly can you bend 12/2 NM cable around corners? 3. Is it OK to use 20-amp rated receptacles on 15-amp circuits, and vice-versa? 4. Attaching a ground wire to a steel box, and what kind of screws cannot be used. 5. How are you supposed to staple cables to studs when the cables were fished through a finished wall to a new outlet box? 6. What amp circuit must be used for bathroom receptacles, and what else can be on that circuit? 7. Does a laundry area require a dedicated circuit of a specific amperage? The Guide answers these and hundreds of other questions. If you plan on getting an electrical permit, this book will help you pass inspection. Even without an inspection, it would be comforting to know that tried-and-true installation techniques were used in the house we're remodeling. If you are planning on any but the simplest of wiring jobs, this Guide would be a good start.

The single most important reference in the electrical industry, the National Electrical Code (NEC), is updated every three years and outlines minimum standards for all types of electrical installations. Each time the National Electrical Code® is significantly revised to keep pace with technology and enhance protection against electrical fire and shock hazards. This is a valuable reference to help you get in position to advance your knowledge and be prepared with the newest codes. This book is like an annotated and illustrated version of the NEC 2005, explaining in a clear and understandable language that is additionally supported by clear to follow diagrams every important aspect covered by the NEC. This book is loaded with solutions designed to provide better safeguards, add greater usability, and bring provisions in line with technology trends. Absolutely a must for anyone involved in electrical design, installation, or inspection, the 2005 NEC provides 100% of the information needed to meet Code® and avoid costly errors in electrical installations of all types.

Of the many reference and educational books I have read, this is one of the best. This book, the NEC Code and Practical Electrical Wiring by Herbert P. Richter and Frederic P. Hartwell have given me a thorough understanding of the NEC and the essential things I wanted to know before wiring a new residence. Highly recommended.

The National Electric Code, also knows as NFPA-70, is the standard that building officials use to define what is legal to use in electric services of all kinds. NFPA is the National Fire Protection Association. The Electric Code began almost as soon as Edison wired some of his new lights in New York, and the first electricity caused fire happened. Soon thereafter the National Fire Protection Association began writing safety codes aimed at preventing fires and promoting safe wiring techniques. Today, more than a century later, the Electric Code is republished every 3 years. As new inventions and new applications for electricity are ever expanding the code book expands and is revised to define the new applications. The 2005 edition has been updated to include recent developments in available materials and equipment. The code has 772 large pages detailing every electric installation from common house wiring to installation requirements for 35,000 volt transformers. The tables detailing how many conductors you can put in a conduit go on for 50 pages in the appendix. The problem most people have with the code comes from its complexity and scope. If you are a handyman, or even an electrician, it takes years of study to learn all its requirements, and even then they change it on you. The code is so long and complex that other books are needed to help professional and amateur electricians understand the code, translating it's stilted language and detailed requirements into plain English for common applications. The "Illustrated Guide to the National Electric Code," by Charles R. Miller, is one of the better code translations. Miller covers just about all aspects of common wiring for residential and commercial buildings. He tells you what you need to know in a simple easy to understand prose. He lets you know how to wire single and multi-family residences, businesses, and commercial applications. Where the electric code only tells you what you have to do, Miller tells you something of why that is required, so you understand the need for doing it that way. For the home handyman it's indispensable. Even a journeyman electrician may not have wired a film projector in quite a while, for example, and want to read up on the latest code requirements before proceeding. There are also review questions at the end of each chapter for those who are studying for an electrical certification or license. Over the years I've had to straighten out so many bad and dangerous wiring messes that I recommend every handyman and electrician read this or a similar book before proceeding with any project. Read the latest version every 3 years when the code revisions come out. This edition is based on the 2005 code and will be current until 2008.