Code Check Electrical: A Field Guide to Wiring a Safe House [Paperback]

Redwood Kardon (Author), Paddy Morrissey (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Code Check | Publication Date: April 17, 2000

With extensive information on electrical code requirements and the principles behind them, Code Check: Electrical summarizes national and international electrical code specifications.

Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Taunton Press; 2nd edition (April 17, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561584088
• ISBN-13: 978-1561584086
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,119,072 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Sketchy, April 20, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Code Check Electrical: A Field Guide to Wiring a Safe House (Paperback)

I suppose if you are already familiar with all of the code sections involved in an electrical code inspection, or at least the portion presented in this form, this would be a helpful form. However, if, even as a building inspector, you need occassional reminders of exactly what an electrical code section involves, this may force the user into guessing what is meant by a particular item on this form.

Unfortunately, as a result, I firmly believe, inspections done using this form will not represent a reasonable degree of accuracy. Some of the diagrams are useful. However, a great deal is still lacking in helping the inspector, layman or professional, in understanding exactly what they are looking for.

For instance, one of the items under "Other Services" in the "Temporary Power Pole" section reads "Identify insulated neutral at both ends". If the National Electric Code Section referenced (200-6b) is accurate, then this actually means that non-white wires in temporary power systems that are #6 or larger, but not the commonly used #8 copper, must be marked with a white identification tape wrapped around the insulation of the wire in the junction boxes in which both ends of the wire terminate. I'm not sure many of my fellow professionals in the building inspection profession, much less the layman, would know these specifics from this short identifying phrase provided in the form. Furthermore, it could take several books, including a copy of the National Electric Code itself, for someone to fully understand what this code section means.

As a result, I don't believe that this form is designed for the layman at all. I don't believe it will be useful to the typical home buyer having a home built. I think they could be much better served by the local code inspectors. If they were not convinced that a local code inspector would be likely to serve them well, for whatever reason, they should consider using the money to help pay for a full-fledged private inspection by a local home inspector who does new construction inspections.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Overly simplified - don't use, August 4, 2001

By 

CARL R GILBERT (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Code Check Electrical: A Field Guide to Wiring a Safe House (Paperback)

Be careful using this. It really is just a light skimming of basic code, usually not drawn out into enough detail to keep you out of trouble. It is more like someone's handwritten notes of common questions, not at all at 'authoratative' level that a 'code check' type of title might lead you to believe. You could maybe catch basic violations of someone else's work, but do not use it to convince yourself that someone else did their work correctly, and do not use it as a guide in your own work.

12 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Newest version of Code Check Electrical is based on 99'NEC., May 7, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Code Check Electrical: A Field Guide to Wiring a Safe House (Paperback)

The second edition of Code Check electrical that is being offered here is based on the 99' NEC. Many states are still on the 96'(CA, OR etc.) NEC and the first edition is still available to them directly from the publisher, Taunton Press.