willshak wrote:
bud-- wrote the following:
willshak wrote:
Bill wrote the following:
"willshak" wrote in message

The McGraw Hill 2008 NEC Handbook is not expensive.
http://www.amazon.com/McGraw-Hill-Na...3229808&sr=8-1

or:
http://tinyurl.com/yfsdlrt



The above is not *the* NEC Handbook which is this...
http://www.nfpa.org/catalog/product.asp?pid=70hb08


I didn't say it was the 'official' NFPA NEC handbook
I said it was the 'McGraw-Hill' 2008 NEC Handbook.
But it is a handbook based on the National Electrical Code, never the
less.
The OP is not an electrician and just wants to do some residential
electrical wiring to meet code.
Why spend 3x more for a professional electrician's bible?


I would say they are both "the NEC Handbook"

For an amateur I think both have problems
- They are organized around the NEC. If you are installing a
receptacle you need information from multiple code sections
(grounding, box fill, branch circuits, receptacles, Romex, ...) An
amateur does not know what sections are relevant.
- When reading the NEC the text can often refer to other sections
which you then have to understand.
- The NEC covers the broad range of installations. If you are just
working on a house most of it is irrelevant. (There is a residential
version of the NEC.)

I would suggest finding a book that aimed at amateurs and is partly
oriented around jobs (installing a receptacle) but has the scope that
is required to understand the rules (where is AFCI and GFCI protection
required). I don't have any titles. You won't become competent overnight.


Well, he did ask if there was an "NEC for Dummies" book :-)
Is there one?



I borrowed an older version of this book

http://www.amazon.com/Electrical-Wir...3253744&sr=8-1

when I bought my house and I found it helpful. However, make sure you
are referencing the correct code against which you will be inspected
(likely either 2005 or 2008.) I never bought a more recent copy now
that the NEC is online. Might also want to see if your library has a copy.

nate

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