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#1 Photo Products - Wiring a House (Best of Fine Homebuilding)
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List Price: $34.95
Our Price: $36.75
Your Save: $ ( % )
Availability:
Manufacturer: Taunton
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 621.31924
EAN: 9781561581139
ISBN: 1561581135
Label: Taunton
Manufacturer: Taunton
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 240
Publication Date: 1996-11-01
Publisher: Taunton
Release Date: 1996-11-01
Studio: Taunton
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating: 
Summary: Different info than other wiring books, but still missing some
Comment: This is a decent book but shouldn't be your only reference. This is probably the third "how to" book I have on wiring. Thinking this would be the best of all of them, I read through it only to realize that what I really need is the NEC book. So my plan is to search the college bookstores for a used one that is a few years old, and stick it on the shelf for reference.
Don't get me wrong, this is one of the better books. You would do well for yourself if you also bought the Creative Homeowner book on wiring. It compliments this one.
My house was built in 1927, and the previous owner was not an electrician though he thought he was. Like many of the previous owner projects, I will have to undo much of his work and redo it in a way that better lends itself to user friendly planning and future upgradability. In addition to that, I have to see what he did that is against code so I can identify the worst areas first - I'm looking at a big and expensive job that stops just short of a full house rewire including a new panel. Whatever I can do on my own will help.
I bought this book hoping for a better guide on planning, and in particular I wanted to identify some options for wiring rooms with separate circuits for lights only and outlets only, especially in kitchens and bathrooms. There really wasn't anything like that in the book. Right now I have random junction boxes that have absolutely no logical layout - outlets in different rooms are mixed with lights in other rooms in the same circuit. I want to undo all of this, and dedicate single circuits to lights and outlets per room - but before I get too crazy I have been looking for examples. None here.
So, like I said, probably if you are this far you need the NEC book. Also, if you're like me, you'll have to grit your teeth while the well-meaning and all-knowing recommend that you call an electrician, happy to say that when it's not their money.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Not a very systematic guide
Comment: I can only recommend this book as a supplement, not as a primary book on wiring a house. I purchased it for background on what I need to know to create circuits for the house I am building, and, believe it or not, there's not a single word on how to create a circuit in this book. It's useful if you already have a good foundation on the principles of house electricity, and you want to pick up some handy tips and tricks, but it should not be purchased as a primary book on the topic. I also found the book mediocre in a number of other ways, such as the illustrations not coinciding with the subject matter on a page (poor book design), or with the author not providing enough background material. The beginning description on the nature of electricity was so simplistic that it was deceptively incorrect: the analogy that electricity is like water pushing through a garden hose is flat-out wrong: unlike water, electricity can only flow when there is a circuit. The author also makes no mention that electricity is a naturally occurring phenomenon, that it is everywhere and only when it is channeled into a circuit does it become useful for energy or power. From there it would have been easy to explain what grounding is, but the author does not make this connection.
Customer Rating:
Summary: How-To-Do-It-Better Book
Comment: This is a great resource for a Journeyman or advanced handyman and covers just about everything you would need for any residential wiring project.
What I really like it that is a current work compliant with the 2008 NEC. It covers AFCI's (and testing them) which are mandatory for new residential dwellings and proper installation of transfer switches which is sorely needed in my area (Southern Louisiana) and I'm sure other locales as well.
The book is thorough and well illustrated, and could be a bit intimidating for the inexperienced. Seasoned professionals may not get much from it either if you tend to go above code in your own work.
Not a how to book, but a how to do it better.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book - Explains How to Wire Right
Comment: First, let me say that I'm a do it yourself guy, and have been finishing my 1600 sf basement. This is the first large project that I've undertaken. This consisted of a large theater, bathroom, equipment room, exercise area, wet bar, and large common area. I added 53 outlets, 25 can lights, and a number of switches.
I'm rather handy and like to build things, but I always need a good reference that I can use to ensure that I understand the principles and tricks of whatever I'm working on. This book was the answer to all of my questions. It was in depth enough that I was able to fully understand the concepts as well as the practice of various wiring situations. It covered the "WHY'S" as well as the "HOW'S". Electrical is one of those trades that really needs to be done correctly, and there is little margin for error. This title is the only one that you will need when undertaking a large project such as a remodels, additions, etc. I wouldn't recommend it for the casual outlet addition, new light install, etc as it is much too comprehensive for folks completing these tasks.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Never received
Comment: Since I never received it and supplier will not response to email request on order I recommend not ordering it unless you just want to lose your money.
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Editorial Reviews:
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This classic reference book on home wiring for homeowners, electricians and apprentices has been completely updated to reflect changes to the electrical code since it was first published in 1996. New material on home generators, lightning protection and wiring "above code" has been added to this edition. New design and color photos and illustrations throughout are featured.
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