Wiring 1-2-3

Well written lots of pictures.

I found this book to provide the basic information really well with lots of pictures and tips. I think this book provides the common skilled home owner with enough information to handle easy to medium high projects by themselves. There might be some better books out there however I decided to buy and use this one and I am glad I did.

...I found three books that seemed to have the information I needed: Wiring 1-2-3 by the people at Home Depot, The Complete Guide to Home Wiring by the Black and Decker people, and Wiring a House by Rex Cauldwell. Each is an excellent book with much to offer, but I definitely found that each had a slant that made it specialized in some way. Of the three books, only the Cauldwell book was written in a person-to-person format. The author is a third generation electrician with years of experience, and as he says quite charmingly, "I have written this book from lifelong experience and knowledge--some of which has been passed down through each generation. However, there is no one within my family to pass the gauntlet to--no fourth generation to pick up the trade. Therefore, by reading this book you will become heir to my knowledge and experience. You, in effect, will become the fourth generation (p. 1)." His style is very much master of the craft to learning apprentice, explaining all facets of his field from how electricity is produced, how it is measured, what types of wires carry it to and into your home, and what tools one needs to do electrical work. He not only provides the information, he tells the reader the "whys" of what is, which I find helpful because it permits one to problem solve and trouble shoot more effectively. Particularly useful are those things that he tells the reader to avoid and what can happen when they aren't! The drawings are very helpful, particularly as they are clearer than photographs can be. Sometimes less is more in this regard. The schematic of the main floor of a house (pp. 22-23) which detailed how wiring is arranged for each room was quite helpful for my project, since it described what I should (and did) find in the walls when locating my power source and routing new wiring. I also found that the information on materials to select was helpful. I was able to go to the store and pick out just what I needed without any trouble at all.While the Cauldwell book is a good one to read from cover to cover because of it's clear and thorough discussion of electrical wiring and its many helpful hints (which I did), it really did not help with my specific plans. It does cover some types of project, but I found that The Black and Decker book was more useful for my specific wiring goals. It's definitely a "how to do it" book with information on trouble shooting current wiring for potential problems (pp. 122-143), on code requirements (pp. 145-146), on how to calculate electrical loads and when to upgrade. It also includes simple repairs for the home owner, everything from checking which fuse controls which part of the house, to replacing plugs and repairing fluorescent lights. It also provides some advanced projects, like rewiring a kitchen or installing outdoor wiring. Of particular interest to my husband, the computer guru in our household, was the information on the home network wiring systems. Fo

We recently had a 16x12 workshop built in our back yard. I decided to do all of the electrical work myself, something I had never done before. With Wiring 1-2-3 at my side, I was able to complete all of the electrical work in a professional manner and--thanks to the book--I knew exactly what I was doing. I later added an additional branch circuit to our service panel (something I never would have considered before reading the book) and plan on doing all of the electrical work when we refinish our basement starting next month.As an unexpected side effect to reading Wiring 1-2-3, I actually found some things that the original electricians did incorrectly when our house was built (most notably the fact that our GFCI outlets are wired incorrectly). I can now fix these problems and avoid trouble in the future thanks to the book.

I just bought a new server for my home that requires a 20A circuit, and a NEMA 5-20 connector (most homes do not have these outlets and are wired for 15A). I was pretty daunted by the task. However, after reading this book, I am very confident at being able to achieve it.The pictures are excellent. There are diagrams, there are pointers (such as telling you to wire in Cat-5 cable whenever you do wiring, an EXCELLENT pointer!!), and helpful hints throughout the entire text.I have a little electronics background (I'm an IT guy and used to work with Automotive Electronics), so I wasnt too scared going into it. But I can see how the text is friendly enough for even a novice to be able to start with small projects and work right into the bigger ones (such as installing track lighting, appliances, and, like me, even new circuits in the house).Recommended to anyone.

Just when you think you've read all the great DIY (do it yourself) books on the market, one comes along to blast your toolbox wide open! Wiring 123 is part of a practical book series by the experts at The Home Depot. With their usual expertise, the editors have put together a wonderfully organized, easy-to-read book that is sure to take its place on your library (or garage) shelf.Whether you need an introduction to understanding the basics of wiring, are planning an electrical repair, or need to tackle a major project, I urge you to read this book first. Your circuits will thank you!