Residential Wiring to the 2008 NEC (Residential Wiring to the NEC) [Paperback]

Jeff Markell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2008 | ISBN-10: 1572182040 | ISBN-13: 978-1572182042 | Edition: Pap/Cdr

Wiring for homes in new construction and remodeling work has to be safe, give trouble-free service and pass inspection. That means it has to comply with the latest National Electrical Code.

In this book you'll find the basics of residential wiring: tools and gauges, switch circuits, service entrances, rough and finish wiring, wiring additions, alterations to old work, troubleshooting, and repairs.

The author explains what every electrican needs needs to know about electricity -- how to select the right material, how to follow the plans, the types and spacing of outlets, and permissible loading on general purpose circuits.

This revised book is for anyone who wants to make a living wiring houses, but is new to, or rusty on current rules and theory for electrical work. Emphasis is on what the 2008 NEC allows, and how to avoid the errors new electricians often make. Includes over 20 pages of the 2008 NEC tables that you'll need and use the most.

Each chapter contains a set of multiple-choice questions based on that chapter. Test yourself to see if you need to go back and review any of the material.

New in this edition: a CD-ROM with the Interactive Study Center -- the Q & A in the book in fun-to-use interactive testing software. Click on your answer and choose either an instant response or a grade at the end of the entire test. More like playing a video game than studying, so you'll study more, do better on any state electrician's exam, and be better-equipped for the job.

Also on the CD: the complete book in PDF form. Use your computer's easy-search feature to take you directly to the information you need. You can even e-mail diagrams or installation instructions from the file to a worker on the job.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jeff Markell worked for over 30 years as a licensed general contractor in residential and commercial construction, and is author of several technical manuals.

As an instructor of electrical wiring to apprentice electricians, he looked for a practical manual that would supply hands-on instructions they needed to install wiring that complies with the latest NEC. Finding none, he wrote this book.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Craftsman Book Co; Pap/Cdr edition (July 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572182040
• ISBN-13: 978-1572182042
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,132,406 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At home with the NEC (from Electrical Apparatus Magazine 10/08), October 22, 2008

By 

William J. Grote - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Residential Wiring to the 2008 NEC (Residential Wiring to the NEC) (Paperback)

A licensed general contractor for more than 30 years, author Jeff Markell is also and instructor on electrical wiring to apprentice electricians.

As he points out in his introduction, this book "isn't a substitute for the National Electrical Code". However, it goes far towards making the Code clearer and more useful by providing numerous illustrations of Code principles and actions. Although arguments have raged for decades about the NEC's necessarily legalistic text, no other shortcomings in the Code comes close to its lack of illustration.

Easy to read throughout, the books 14 chapters begin with two on basic electricity, including circuits, power sources, and flow, and the effects of electrical energy. Safe use of tools and instruments, in Chapter 3, is followed by chapters on conductors and raceways: "electrical boxes"; makeup and reading of plans; and wiring -- devices, installation, and procedures.

Because electricians often encounter additions and changes to existing wiring (sometimes generations old and not up to current standards), Chapter 12 covers that subject.

Troubleshooting and repairs in Chapter 13 are followed by material on such supplementary installations as signaling, alarms and entertainment systems.

One surprising omission: although use of ground-fault interrupters is well covered, no mention is made of the arc-fault interrupter, expanded use of which is one of the more controversial requirements of the 2008 NEC.

For the book to serve as a self-study guide, each chapter concludes with multiple-choice questions (answers are at the end of the book). In addition, a CD-ROM is included containing the complete text plus all the study questions in interactive self-test software.

This isn't meant for the do-it-yourself amateur, but for "anyone who intends to make a living" as an electrician. It can be a valuable adjunct for an apprenticeship or license exam program. -- RLN

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A good book, but 2008 version is not really an update, March 2, 2010

By 

Art Vandalay (Livonia, MI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Residential Wiring to the 2008 NEC (Residential Wiring to the NEC) (Paperback)

I bought two earlier versions of this book; the 4th edition (...to the 1996 NEC) and the 6th edition (...to the 2002 NEC). The titling of the books is deceiving, as there is not a faithful correlation between changes in the code and the new edition of this book. If you have an older version, you know this is a usefull book. However, there is no need to spend money to upgrade to the latest edition. It appears that the publisher simply revises the title page and reprints the previous version. For example, in 2002, AFCI protection became a requirement in the NEC, but it is not mentioned anywhere in the 6th edition. As pointed out in another review for the 2008 printing, AFCI is still not even mentioned (meaning the latest book is out of date by at least two revisions of the NEC). I think this is unfortunate, since the title of the book implies that it is up to date.

The portion of the code relating to residences does not change dramatically, so it really can't be too much work to get that information into the book. There should be an appendix, preface, or chapter devoted to the changes in the latest code that are now included. This would give some demonstration to the user that this new version does actually contain the latest code information. Otherwise just title the book "Residential Wiring" and quit issuing new editions.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not what the title says, September 12, 2010

By 

Kedrigern (Fairmont WV) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Residential Wiring to the 2008 NEC (Residential Wiring to the NEC) (Paperback)

Useful for general wiring but it does not highlight the changes to the 2008 code from the 2005 version. Worse, it does not make mention of some of the more obvious changes that any inspector will catch as being allowed under the 2005 but not under the 2008 code. I am still looking for a book that will highlight the major changes.