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The plan is to put up lighted crown molding to add dimension and indirect lighting to the room and to remodel the ample closet space into a bureau cum mini-closet cum desk area.
To accomplish my goal, the project required some rewiring of the room, so 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.
For my own project, I found the circuit maps for 26 common wiring layouts of greatest help. With the aid of this feature and the Cauldwell book, I was able to draw on paper the likely arrangement of the present wiring in my spare bedroom, and plan in the pathway to and from the projected new outlets. The diagrams on pages 155-167 also gave me a clearer idea of which wires connected to which specific sites on the receptacles, and what the pathway of the current would be. I was thrilled when I turned on the wall switch in the room, and the lighted crown molding actually came on, first try!
Wiring 1-2-3 is another group-effort type book like the Black and Decker. It'd made a splendid gift for the new home owner or prospective buyer. It provides the most extensive information on inspecting the home for electrical problems and providing measures for repairing them. The table of contents highlights almost every conceivable project, and each project has a list of materials, a skill scale that projects the level of difficulty to expect, and the amount of time that would be required by the experienced, the handy and the novice. It also makes some suggestions regarding the selection of a professional electrician for difficult projects, and does not urge the novice to go beyond their comfort level.
Although I didn't use the Home Depot book for actual planning and wiring, I found it was especially helpful with the messy stuff, things like drilling holes through the attic to route wires, the nitty-gritty of fishing for wires, and repairing the damage to walls where holes had to be made to route wires. In general these books are useful all round books.
I'd give all three books a 5, each for its own area of usefulness. If you're a person who likes to have a multi-perspective approach to your projects, then I'd recommend all three. Certainly the Home Depot book would be a very nice house warming gift.
2.) Current information
Reviewed by: Stephen McHenry Olney, MD USA
Rating:
This originally was two separate books, Basic and Advanced Wiring, that B&D combined into one book. Extremely well written, with lots of photographs, this is an excellent book for a do it yourselfer with a project in mind, or for a home owner to keep on hand to have when the need arises. The book covers basic repairs and maintenance, with a not too complicated introduction to electricity, but quickly gets down to the basics, with chapters on Wall Switches, Receptacles, Light Fixtures, Doorbells & Thermostats. The second half covers how to do more complicated electrical tasks. The first half is repair and maintenance, the second half moves into renovation and remodeling, with chapters on project planning, tools & techniques, Wiring a Room Addition, Wiring a Remodeled Kitchen, Installing Outdoor Wiring, etc. From this book I learned how to install new breakers in the main fuse panel, a project I was terrified of trying. This really is a very good book for the non-professional. It was a good idea to combine the two books into one, a handy reference and guide
There's a good example of adding a sub-panel if you're up to that task. They warn that if you want to re-wire or replace your main panel, you should hire an experienced electrician. That's a task not recommended for even the handiest of homeowners. Good advice....
There's tons of info here. If you are reasonbly handy and willing to heed all of the safety warnings, this book is a great one to have.
There's examples of wiring room additions, kitchens, etc., that are very informative.
I also have the Home Depot "Wiring 1-2-3" book. It's good also. Arranged on a task by task basis... sort of cookbook-like. Most taks homeowners would tackle are in there but the Black & Decker book covers more issues. I also see that there what I believe is a new edition of this book (Mar '01 vs Apr '98 publication). Haven't seen contents but maybe that's the one to get.
5.) Best of the home wiring books
Reviewed by: Ann B. Winslow Somerville, MA USA
Rating:
I started out knowing nothing about home wiring. I bought all of the books I could find, and this one was the best. I've used it many times for small and large projects in my house. I've repaired lamps and rewired a gut-renovated bathroom. Explanations for making circuti changes in your service panel are excellent.
I didn't buy this book from Amazon.com, although I wish I had, I would have saved some coin, but it was so good that I felt the need to write a review. This is my first review and I'm not one to praise, but after reading the book and wiring my workshop, I was compelled to write this. Enjoy and don't look further.
9.) Excellent Book
Reviewed by: For What It's Worth Private, CA USA
Rating:
I consider myself mechanically inclined but have never touched anything to do with electricity before. Well I bought a house a few years ago and it's either learn how to do it, or pay double and hire someone.
Most books always leave me with only 75% confidence to do the job myself but there are always some important parts that are confusing. Not with this book, it is step-by-step with full color detailed photos.
I went to Home Depot and got circuit breakers, receptacles, switches, GFCI's, etc. and they are exactly the same thing that are in the photos.
So far I have completely wired a 250sf addition, outside lights, and run a full 50amp sub panel to my garage with a dedicated 240 volt circuit for my compressor and welder. All from this one book.
Highly recommended
10.) Best book for amatuers
Reviewed by:
Rating:
This book is for the do-it-yourselfer. And what a fantastic job this book does of explaining house-hold wiring and much more. Great visuals and extraordinary explanations. Worth every cent.
11.) Great photos, great information
Reviewed by: Manish Laxmikant
Rating:
This book is an excellent reference when you have to tackle electrical jobs around the house, yourself. Honestly, I still don't have great ambitions like wiring a brand new room in the house or anything. I bought this to simply be informed. However, after reading some of the well-explained fundamentals and going over some of the projects clearly explained in the book, I've gained enough confidence to venture into projects of my own.
At first, I thought that when I hire an electrician to do some minor changes around the house, I won't be confused or fall for double-speak that I don't follow - because I would have information from the book.
After the book de-mystified some tasks and explained some basics, I was able to open up some ceiling lamps and change them without getting killed or abandoning the project.
Then when my cooktop was malfunctioning, I was able to trace the problem and fix it. I could read the wiring diagram attached to the cooktop and figure out where the problem was. The book doesn't show you how. But once you know a few things, you can build on that knowledge.
A part of my house lost power. I tracked the problem down to a covered box that had wiring held together with electrical tape and some of the wires appeared to have oxidized because of the bad connection. I cleaned up and joined the right wires with connectors, and fixed the problem.
My next step is to add a few ceiling fans in my home. Then maybe a wireless switch so I won't have to walk to my door in pitch darkness. Wire my yard for low-voltage lighting. I feel very inspired, because I feel very informed. And the book definitely paid for itself.
12.) This book really shines the light on home electric projects
Reviewed by: You haven't lived until you've dived. Roseville, CA USA
Rating:
I used to install communications and radar gear worldwide, but was hesitant and unclear on home wiring due to significant differences in materials, tools and codes. This book, typical of the Black & Decker series, begins with the basics and gets into some advanced territory. It is clearly written, illustrated with hundreds of step-by-step photographs, and guides one through sometim4es tricky codes. circuitry and materials. It is logical, clear, methodical, and written with the safety in mind that this kind of work demands. I heartily recommend this book for homeowners and handypersons.
13.) excellent book
Reviewed by: Carla J. Schroder
Rating:
Highly recommended- it has high-quality photographs and wiring diagrams, and good clear instructions. It does not dig very deeply into theory, but it does give some in context. I was able to complete a number of home projects that ordinarily I would have hired an electrician for. As getting an electrician to even return a phone call around here is nearly impossible, let alone show up, I needed a good reliable howto manual, and this is it.
The Rex Cauldwell book is a good companion for this book, for readers who want the advanced course.
14.) An Excellent book. Has it all.
Reviewed by: Gus Toledo, OH United States
Rating:
I never installed a light bulb before! Well I did change a bulb, but never really opened an electric box, or ran electrical wire or installed a light fixture. That is until I got this book. It is an excellent book with all the details and has superb colored photos. If you have to do any electrical work at all, this is the one to have. I love it!
15.) Perfect starting place for me.
Reviewed by: Arise Therefore Orange, MA United States
Rating:
This book is an excellent place to start to learn about home wiring. I own an old home (c.1905) with wiring technologies from all eras including old knob and tube. This book has enough information in it to have educated me on what is is I have and what I could/should do to improve it. Another thing that is stunning about this book is its production. Whoever was in charge of this book project hired excellent support. The photos are gallery quality, the writing thorough and concise. It's a pleasure to work with.
16.) All Thumbs
Reviewed by: gonefishing
Rating:
Where I live electricians are in demand now and it can be weeks before you can get one to come over. None of my projects are what you would call at the urgent level so I've been putting them off until spring. Then my wife brought this book home and it's changed things. I can tackle many of the simpler tasks myself. Its been a big boost to my ego and an education for my son who is ten. The directions and illustrations can be followed by anyone who has mastered the fifth grade and owns a screwdriver and electrical tape.
17.) All you need for basic to intermediate home-wiring projects
Reviewed by:
Rating:
I recently renovated 100% of my home's electric (which was largely knob and tube prior to this). I had no previous electrical experience, and this book walked me through everything I needed to do this work, pass all inspections and stay safe. I always keep it handy as a reference when I am working with electricity. The "general inspection guidelines" in the middle of the book is particularly useful.
18.) This book saved me $4,000.
Reviewed by: Bryan
Rating:
I used this book to completely wire a new bathroom. I used flex conduit and solid copper wiring to add two 20 amp circuits from my main service panel. I've never installed new electrical work before, but this book allowed me to install four receptacles, a pair of recessed lights, a pair of wall sconces and a combination exhaust fan/heater with no problems. Everything worked the first time I tried it (with absolutely no assistance from anyone).
19.) Excellent reference for a do it yourself homeowner
Reviewed by: M. Thompson
Rating:
Great reference book. I had some basic electrical knowledge but minimal hands on skills. This book gave me the boost of knowledge and confidence I needed to do all the electrical on a room addition. Not only did I learn wiring basics but also general "good design practices" and became familiar with various wire gauges, types of romex and switch/fixture options to buy the right stuff the first time. Based on this I looked at circuit loads and determined based on general residential 15 amp breakers how many circuits were needed. I installed the breakers and ran the 3 new circuits from the breaker box. I wired and installed three way switches, two way switches, dimmers, canned lights, ceiling fans, standard wall outlets and a series of GFI protected outlets. It took me a bit longer to do the work than a professional but it was well worth it. Based on estimates from electricians I saved over $1000 on the labor.
Now.....this is my "go to" electrical book as a home owner. Using the quick reference pictures (which are excellent!!!)and some common sense I handle all my routine electrical work. I don't do 240V work but I do the 120V stuff and continue to learn. This is a great book!!!
20.) Thorough and Complete
Reviewed by: 430752 west orange, nj
Rating:
I just got this book a couple of weeks ago and was impressed. It cost double of its thinner, more limited sister edition, but well worth it. Seems to cover just about everything - including sections on phone, stereo wiring and computer networking cables (albeit those items in a limited catch-all section). Good focus on older wiring and switches for those of us with houses older than ourselves! Great photos, easy to understand descriptions. I agree that few people will need to go beyond this book for electrical info. Highly recommended!
21.) Excellent coverage of the basics
Reviewed by: jsgeorgian Shrewsbury, MA United States
Rating:
Very well laid out with easy to follow diagrams and sample wiring layouts. If you are looking for a book to cover the basics and intermediate jobs, this is it.
22.) One of the best
Reviewed by: Bradlore Dartmouth Nova Scotia
Rating:
I have this book on order now, My fatherinlaw ordered it for me yesterday when he was showing me Amazon.ca.
This book sits in my room on loan from the library along with several others, I own the Home Depot 123. Its a great book as well but not as good as Black & Decker, Im a do it yourselfer for the smaller jobs and this book covers alot more than do it yourself stuff you can learn tons in here,
I also ordered Black & Decker home repairs book, I have had this out from the library as well its very good..
Looking forward to my books coming in,
Have a great day.
23.) VERY helpful book!
Reviewed by: Jesse L. Kaufman
Rating:
I'm completely gutting and redoing the upstairs in my house built back in 1902. Using this book as a resource for planning new circuits to replace all the old knob-and-tube wiring. This book gives GREAT sample diagrams showing not only the circuit view, but a realistic "this is what it looks like in the real-world" views. Very helpful at figuring out and simplifying more complicated circuits (such as 3-way and 4-way light switch circuits, etc). Got this on a recommendation from a friend and it was WELL worth the money!
24.) Outstanding reference for jobs big and small
Reviewed by: Iceman Minnesota
Rating:
I have Wiring a House-by Pros for Pros, and though I think it's a good refence, I think the Black & Decker book is better yet. I have a cabin built in the 1930s that had a cobbled-together electrical system that needed to be completely redone, and this book gave me all the tools I needed to do it. I've done electrical before, but this project required more thorough knowledge, and this book gave me exactly what I needed. The assortment of wiring diagrams is very helpful and easy to follow, but rather than stopping there the author provides worksheets for determining whether the electrical panel is sufficient for the application, and also provides a worksheet for calculating the anticipated load that a planned circuit will carry. It's this planning stage that's omitted from a lot of other electrical books, and if you're doing anything beyond simple fixture replacement, it's a must. There's even a 2 page list of highlights from the 2008-2011 National Electrical Code, which does a great job of highlighting some of the key elements that will impact what the average person might choose to tackle. I had also ordered the Home Depot 1-2-3 book, and after a couple of hours reviewing them side-by-side, the HD book went straight back to Amazon. It's good for someone who wants a very basic treatment of wiring, but the Black & Decker book has everything the HD book does and a lot more.
25.) Excellent Book
Reviewed by: Dex L San Ramon, CA USA
Rating:
I am a novice do-it-yourselfer with some basic understanding and skills with home wiring. I thought the book was a great overall book on describing and depicting the various wiring scenarios you see in a home.
There's a good troubleshooting section that describes a lot of common problems and how to fix them.
One thing I wish it would have more info on is adding new outlets, lights, etc in a home with the walls finished. But still a great book.
26.) A very helpful guide to understanding household electricity.
Reviewed by: Isaac T Smith
Rating:
I found the book to be a very informative guide to understanding the residential electrical system. Very clear discriptions, and pictures guide you through the history of home wiring. Modern electrical systems are described as well as old. A very straight forward and simple guide to understanding one of our homes most misunderstood systems. A good choice for those wanting to understand home electricity better.
27.) A handy boom for a handyman
Reviewed by: JT Portland, OR
Rating:
In my trade I have to constantly teach new guys the ABCs of home electrical installation. This book shortcuts that. I make all of my new hires buy it.
28.) The Complete Guide to Home Wiring - 3rd Edition: Includes Information on Home Electronics & Wireless Technology (Black & Decker
Reviewed by: Ryan I. Ali
Rating:
I've purchased many books on these topics but this series is really well done. The illustrations are excellent and the overall layout makes it really easy for a first time do it yourselfer. I'm currently collecting all of the titles in the Black & Decker series and can't wait to begin using them in my home projects. Highly recommend for first timers. Good Luck!
29.) On Target, I review it before I do any project with wiring.
Reviewed by: Chuck Venter
Rating:
I find the answers to my "do it myself" questions in this book, sometimes I decide to let an expert do the work!
It's very clear and has helped my many many times!
30.) Nicely Illustrated
Reviewed by: Ronald Lambalot Dayton, OH
Rating:
I found this book to be an easy read. I have no prior electrical experience, and this book was very useful in explaining a lot of things. I own a 90 year old house, and they actually covered some of the old wiring and components that you would find in an old house. I found this to be well illustrated and thoroughly outlined. If you are new to home wiring or just unsure how to perform electrical work, I feel this book will be a good start to guide you. If you just need to replace a receptacle, install outdoor lighting, or even setup home automation, this book will be a good tool to aid you in the right direction.
31.) Could not have got along without it!!!
Reviewed by: a hillbilly grandpappy Kentucky
Rating:
I wired my entire house (new construction) using this book as my guideline. Much of the wiring was more than basic but I found what I needed in this book to get the job done. After the rough in inspection and when I got the power on I used this book to help sort out the little problems. All finished and absolutely could not have accomplished this task without this book. Explanations, instructions, diagrams, and pictures are absolutely invaluable. I fully recommend this book. And a very big thanks to the author. By the way, I am not an electrician and prior to tackling this project had very little experience in this field.
32.) Useful and practical
Reviewed by: Bacchuskitty Orange, CA USA
Rating:
This is the latest update of Black and Decker's book on residential wiring. It covers many common projects and provides a good overview of residential wiring. I've referred to it often to install recessed lights, light switches and wall outlets, installing new ceiling boxes, and wiring fixtures. I am not an electrician but am a homeowner experienced with home improvement projects and have found this book extremely useful. The diagrams and instructions are clear and easy to follow. It is designed for use by the practical homeowner and is thus limited to situations that most likely to be encountered in the home. I like having multiple resources and cross references, so I also bought the latest Taunton Press book on wiring (For pros by pros) at the same time. It is interesting to note that I received a notice of RECALL for that book due to incorrect- and potentially dangerous!- wiring diagrams. No such recall for the Black and Decker book!
33.) This book is excellent
Reviewed by: Mr Dave. albany, ny
Rating:
This book is excellent! It gives you tons of pictures and diagrams (which help immensely) and covers a very wide verity of options, situations, problems and solutions. I can see I'm going to have this out a lot when I'm doing electrical work!!!!!
34.) Great Book!...could use more specifie codes
Reviewed by: Joshua J. Dutt York, PA USA
Rating:
This is no doubt a great reference book. This book shows you basic wiring techniques. It also has many, more in depth wiring techniques, that can be used in a new or used home. This book has great illustrations and diagrams which are very useful, even if you want to rewire your entire home. Although this book at is great at demonstrating basic wiring techniques, there is still some information left out. This book could, but is not required to, have more in depth wiring codes for 2009. This book does give you basic wiring procedures and codes, but does not list the full range of wiring codes for 2009. Non the less, this book is awesome. It will show you simple to complex wiring and does, literally, illustrate basic wiring diagrams for the most common wiring techniques. I rate this book 5/5, but a 2009 code book is also recommended to help facilitate all up to date wiring codes.
I strongly recommend this book to the beginner or anyone who who is interested in wiring procedures.
35.) Great book for the do-it-yourselfer
Reviewed by: GB Houston, TX
Rating:
I have done quite a bit of home wiring and I still turn to this book. The newer versions talk more about home networks and stuff, which is nice!
36.) Best Wiring Book Out There for the Homeowner
Reviewed by: BK Chicago, IL United States
Rating:
I agree with most all of the reviews. This book is intended for beginner to intermediate level do-it-yourselfers. If you are a professional and are looking for guidance on a highly complex project, then this is not the book for you. The book is actually a very interesting read and is full of very explanatory pictures. I recently bought a house and considered hiring an electrician to install a couple extra sockets and light fixtures here and there. After reading through this book, I am quite sure I can do these projects myself. Furthermore, I'm having a detached garage built and was going to hire an electrician to run power out there, which would cost me at least $1,000 after trenching and a few lights. Now, I think I will be doing this myself. The book makes a very good point that you need to get permits for something like that. If you don't do something right, then the inspector will let you know and even give you some great advice on how to fix it. So if you're not confident in your abilities, then at least you will have a professional reviewing your work before you completely finish the project. Even if you don't do a lot of the work yourself, this book will help you understand what the electrician is talking about and help you make more educated decisions when negotiating electrical projects.
37.) Excellent book!
Reviewed by: Carolyn San Francisco
Rating:
Very pleased! This book is clear and invaluable for teaching you all about wiring - especially if you've never done it before!
38.) basic home wiring
Reviewed by: tommy north dakota
Rating:
great pictures, easy to follow instructions a must for the do it yourselfer!!!
39.) Have no fear!
Reviewed by: Joseph Pometto Crofton, Maryland USA
Rating:
I'm Mr. Thumbs, but after a heart-seizing estimate, I KNEW I had to take the circuitbreaker by the horns!
GREAT PHOTOS and script walks you thru the projects! Am even ready to tackle the hi-proficiency stuff! A GREAT REFERENCE BOOK!
40.) Great Book for D-I-Y
Reviewed by: dsinsf San Francisco, CA United States
Rating:
This book is filled with simple clear COLOR illustrations. It is a great reference for everything from wiring 3-way and 4-way switches to kitchen remodelling. I used this book to help wire a four bedroom home and it was perfect.
41.) Excellent Resource for the Homeowner
Reviewed by: Jason Wiles United States
Rating:
I live in an older house and I have had this book for a while now. It gets referenced every time I need to do electrical work. Even if I feel comfortable with what I am doing I still reference the sections pertaining to what I am doing just to make sure I am doing it right. It is very thorough and it has helped me identify electrical mistakes in my house from the previous occupants, such as reversed polarity on outlets which I was changing over to GFCI. This book is an excellent addition to any homeowners library and very much worth the 17 bucks.
42.) Very Helpful
Reviewed by: K. Elsaesser
Rating:
This book was very helpful in giving you an overview on wiring your house and fixing simple electrical problems. I wouldn't say it tell you everything you will need to know but it certainly helps answer questions and steers you in the right direction. It also helps you with home networking and phone systems.
43.) excellent!
Reviewed by: handy guy CA, USA
Rating:
Excellent book and very well written with bright pictures. Thanks to it, I have installed a new electrical outlet in my garage, replace an old fluorescent light fixture with incandescent fixture, etc. I now understand how the home wiring works and gain confidence on fixing electrical devices.
44.) I like this book i saw BUT....
Reviewed by: Edgar NY, usa
Rating:
im taking an electrical course in NYC and this is for a NEC 2008, we are 3 years behind which means we use the NEC 2005... my question is should I buy or what... ita an intersting book but i dont want to follow and incorrect form in using the regulation of what NEC 2005 needs. I know there is a violation and its prohitied if an electrician in NYC follows the NEC 2008 what should I do???
45.) A simple book for simple minds - like mine
Reviewed by: Brian L Pratt Slayton, MN United States
Rating:
This book was just what I needed. If your a dummy like me & you want something very simpole to do some basic home wiring, then this is the book for you too! None of that bull-crap electrician nonsense schematics - actual pitures & diagrams that show where each & every wire in your cable goes! Info on codes you need to follow (granted these are based on the 1999 codes & not the new 2008's). I have already wired a bathroom & a bedroom & added them to the breaker pannel - & hey no fire or even tripping the fuses!!!
46.) Highly recommend this one!
Reviewed by: jasonm0817
Rating:
Whether your a novice or advanced in electrical this is a great reference. Always make sure you check with local building codes and if you do not feel comforatable with working with electric than leave it to a professional. However, if you have this book you will gain the knowledge you seek to get the job done. Good luck with you project.
47.) Home Wiring
Reviewed by: Dave Wiklanski
Rating:
This product is exactly what I thought it would be. I was looking for a basic book on home wiring. This covered everything that I wanted it to, and then some. It's also a great reference with all of the full color photos so I am able to see what my wiring is supposed to look like.
48.) Black & Decker wiring guide
Reviewed by: Bob Fillion
Rating:
This book is saving me a lot of money. I dont hook up to electrical boxes but I do the inbetween stuff and have an electrician look it all over and hook up for me. It is very thorough and it has helped me identify electrical mistakes in my house from the previous occupants, such as reversed polarity on outlets which I was changing over to GFCI. This book is an excellent addition to any homeowners library and very much worth the 17 bucks. I live in an older house and I have had this book for a while now. It gets referenced every time I need to do electrical work. Even if I feel comfortable with what I am doing I still reference the sections pertaining to what I am doing just to make sure I am doing it right.
49.) an excellent book
Reviewed by: Joseph Y. Wang
Rating:
It is an excellent book not only for handyman beginners but also for construction professionals to review electrical details.
50.) How much I didn't know!!
Reviewed by: Morgan C. Faulkner Jersey City, NJ USA
Rating:
This book has been very helpful in all aspects of home wiring. I learned things that I never knew before, even about basic wiring. It's a must have for do it yourselfers!!!
51.) Good book for moderately adept do-it-yourselfers
Reviewed by: Mike M Arizona
Rating:
This book os relatively comprehensive and explains how to wire various objects in detail. A worth while book to have for any homeowner.
52.) Very informative
Reviewed by: D. Smith MN USA
Rating:
Very informative, even if you have an understanding of home wiring. Covers many different topics, and situations.
53.) Simple and effective
Reviewed by: Mike Zuro
Rating:
The book starts off for beginners, covering everything from wire types and modules and then expands into more detailed info.
Great for the home do-it-yourself reader.
54.) GREAT book
Reviewed by: ampoule Roseburg, Oregon
Rating:
I highly recommend this book. It is loaded from beginning to end with extremely useful information. In particular, there are multible diagrams on wiring complicated circuits which is very impressive. This is a GREAT book.
55.) Must have for any do-it-your-self
Reviewed by: Donato Brea Bonilla Santo Domingo
Rating:
Great book. A must have for any one who wants to know the basics on home wiring.
56.) Great Book.
Reviewed by: Robert J. Talbot NY
Rating:
It Does go into some technical, but its understandable. Very basic book, I would recommend this for anyone doing home improvements.
57.) I love this book.
Reviewed by: S. Vinson Birmingham, AL United States
Rating:
I bought this book because I was clueless about residential electrical wiring. Everything in this book is well illustrated in full color. Also, new electrical installs are covered, as well as upgrading/modifying existing wiring. This will be my "go to" book for electrical wiring for years to come.
58.) Outstanding Quality
Reviewed by: Alan Santa Ana, CA
Rating:
The book is incredibly rich with photo's showing details of each topic. I have not read through all of the content yet but what I have read is very thourough and easy to understand. The pictures tell an incredible amount of the story. I also like all of the references to related information in each section.
59.) Great for the average homeowner.
Reviewed by: jlhelsing Boston, MA
Rating:
I bought this because I am an avid DIYer and wanted to run electricity to my shed but was unsure exactly how I wanted to do it. Not only did this book show me what I needed to know, but it gave me more ideas for the future.
60.) Excellent book
Reviewed by: Faz Atlanta, GA
Rating:
Covers everything from power generation to it coming out of your outlets!
Must have
61.) 1/3 less than at your local home and garden retailer
Reviewed by: JoDav North Carolina
Rating:
The Black & Decker Complete Guide to Home Wiring was definitely a purchase resulting in much satisfaction from my point of view. For me, the deciding factor was "price". I was able to acquire this guidebook (through Amazon) for approximately 1/3 less than what the "exact same book" would have cost me at any standard home and garden retailer.
62.) awesome home wiring guide
Reviewed by: Henry Ahdab
Rating:
This book is in my opinion the perfect electrical guide even for the narrow minded electrical apprentice.
Henry A.
63.) Fast delivery, book in new condition, i would buy again.
Reviewed by: Webonaut TN, USA
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sorry, i have not read the book yet but it has lots of great pictures
64.) Very good starter book; not ideal for those with experience
Reviewed by: Rus Healy Canadice, New York
Rating: 
If you've never wired anything in your house, but are a hands-on person, this book is an outstanding way to get started. It treats the title subject well, starting with the basics--in fact, that's also one of its weaknesses. Those who have some wiring experience will have little use for the first one-third of the book.
This book makes excellent use of photographs and four-color diagrams throughout for illustrating principles, tools and materials. It's laid out in a logical manner and is organized so that it's easy to find what you're seeking.
This book's greatest value is its focus on clearly illustrated layout diagrams and techniques. It contains over 20 example circuits of various common types, including some subtle variations on themes such as three-way switched circuits that have not-so-subtle differences in implementation. It includes a clear and complete section on wiring a bedroom/office addition with a bathroom and closet, using various types of circuits, from the ground up.
The text is light on code-related issues, probably to avoid the need for frequent revisions to keep it current with the NEC's three-year publication cycle. This makes it more difficult to rely on information it presents as authoritative when it comes time to meet the electrical inspector.
I found this book a useful blend of text and graphics for learning the basics of house wiring. To take the next step, I strongly recommend Rex Cauldwell's "Wiring a House." It's far more substantive and NEC-compliance-oriented.
65.) Amateur to Journeyman
Reviewed by:
Rating:
I used this book to add four circuits to my service and finish my basement as a completely usable space. I had no experience with electricity before this project, and the book gave me enough confidence to finish the job completely. Each part of my project had easy-to-follow examples in the book. I installed four new circuit breakers, 25 outlets, a two-way light switch, 18 recessed lights, two GFCI outlets, and a bath vent fan and light. This book saved me a lot of money. I know I did the job more carefully with better materials than a hired electrician would have used.
66.) The Complete Guide to Home Wiring
Reviewed by: Mick Herman Catheys Valley, CA United States
Rating:
This is an excellent book for the novice home electrician. I knew very little about wiring and after reading this book was able to completely wire my barn and tool shed. I had a friend who was an electrician stop by to check out my work after I was finished and he found absolutely nothing to change! This book is easy to read, easy to follow, and will serve in my library as a great reference tool for other electrical work I may decide to take on in the future! I highly recommend it.
67.) Excellent Source for Basic Information
Reviewed by: speerhead Walnut Creek, CA United States
Rating:
The Black & Decker series is generally very good and I think The Complete Guide To Home Wiring continues this tradition. This book contains useful information for wiring new and retrofit projects. The only reason this book is only rated 4 stars is because I was hoping for more information. For several projects I have been forced to turn to other sources for wiring information. There is not a lot of information about newer technology wiring for home automation or telecommunications. Overall an execellent source for general wiring information.
68.) Absolute necessity
Reviewed by: Kevin D. Foster Central Illinois
Rating:
I've been working on home wiring projects for 25 years. I bought this book to catch me up with the times. It includes all the information a person could use to install new and old wiring in a home. The pictures are highly detailed and easy to follow. The book includes most - not all - situations you will find in a home. Buy it. You won't regret it.
69.) A great reference for DIY electrical work.
Reviewed by: Joshua Senecal Livermore, CA USA
Rating:
We recently bought our first home, and discovered that the previous owners had wired up many things incorrectly, to the extent that some of what they had done was extremely dangerous. I set about to remedy the problems, and after looking at several books on electrical wiring, chose this one. I'm not a stranger to electrical wiring, but I didn't know enough to complete the tasks at hand. I found the diagrams and text to be easy to comprehend, and most of what I wanted to know was contained in the book. It covers a lot of material. It's actually quite a nice read, and easy to use.
Using this book as a reference, I've found and fixed a lot of the electrical problems the previous owners left behind, and I installed and wired AC-powered smoke detectors. There are more tasks to do, and I'll be going back to the book as needed.
The nice thing about electricity is it follows physical laws. Electrical requirements and wiring methods were developed in accordance with those laws. Once you understand *how* electricity works, you'll grasp *why* wiring is done the way it is. This book will teach you these basic principles, and it won't be too long before it all makes sense.
Some things to keep in mind: every city, county, and state has its own electrical code. This book obviously does not contain your local electrical requirements in it. Be sure to find out what the local laws are, and get a permit for your work if required. That way your work will be inspected, and you'll know you did it correctly. You'll sleep a lot easier, I assure you.
Finally, let me state the most important thing: while this book gives (in my opinion) a lot of great instruction on wiring and electrical things, it won't (and can't) have everything in it. As you use this (or any other book) to perform electrical work, make sure you know your limits. The book will not make you an electrician. You are likely to come across a task that you do not have sufficient skills to handle. In that situation, to not hesitate to call a qualified electrician. Better to pay to have the job done right, than do a substandard job and risk fire or injury.
70.) Very descriptive
Reviewed by: R. Amborn
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The book has tons and tons of photos and explains things to the point that people with no previous knowledge should be able to understand.
71.) Instructor
Reviewed by: Sparky Vermont
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I am a Master Electrician and teach a class in Residential Wiring and I am always looking for good referance materials. This book has the best pictorials and easies reading that I have seen for a coule of years. I work basically with adults and they are finding the book helpful even after the class is completed. The book is clear and concise the chapters are well written. The only down side to the book is there are still items in the books both physical and written that do not meet or follow the 2008 NEC as advertized. The pictures are and can be misleading and the verbage can be also. None of the problems fall into the serious realm where someone can be hurt but they are just not the approved method of doing things today.
All in all the book is worth the money and the time that is takes to read it. It is easy to follow as I told the class that even a cave man can do it. I will purchase it or the next edition again.
Sincerely,
Larry Fadden
72.) Well written and illustrated.
Reviewed by: Fulgaar IL
Rating:
I thoroughly enjoy this book. It is well illustrated and informative. I would recommend it to anyone. One thing it cannot do is tell about "local" restrictions and regulations but it does let you know that there may be local restrictions on some methodologies. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
73.) Wiring Guide
Reviewed by: Koby Colorado
Rating:
Very helpful and informative. Detailed and illustrated step by step procedures helps take the "guess work" out of wiring.
74.) a good basic guide
Reviewed by: Carson B. Wilcox
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this book has alot of basic information as well as scenarios. you might not use the exact situation they diagram out, but through them you will see most of the situations you will run into, and how to wire it.
75.) wiring help
Reviewed by: Ronnie W. Corkrey California
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I bought it for my son who was having a terrible time figuring out some old wiring in his house in order to add some fixtures to it. The book solved the problem for him.
76.) Solid Book
Reviewed by: reviewIT Northern VA USA
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Knowing very little on this subject this book is great and covers most jobs anyone would want to take on themselves at home and maybe in other places
77.) Excellent, Comprehensive Guide
Reviewed by: D. Lewis Falls Church, VA
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I was very pleased with this book. I am planning a home addition and I plan to rewire my house myself from scratch. All the information I need seems to be covered in the book.
78.) awesome book
Reviewed by: N. Corrieri USA
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More illustrations need to be added of examples of circuits and setups of connecting to breakers..
But excellent book. I think its THE BEST i have seen!
79.) Good Information
Reviewed by: John Pierce
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This book has lots of good information for all sorts of wiring situations in the home. Very complete.
80.) The Complete Guide to Home Wiring-3rd Edition
Reviewed by: Cyclone Fan
Rating:
Clear,consice descriptions of the electrical process as well as accompanying photos
81.) OK book
Reviewed by: Mother of Five Maine
Rating:
Didn't tell me how to wire a three pronged dryer outlet. My dryer is three pronged. It should mention useful things like the fact that I can easily upgrade my dryer power supply to a four pronged. I didn't know anything about (hence the purchase of a how-to book.) As usual, I figured everything out on my own. They sell cords at home improvement chain stores. They are cheap. All you do is unscrew where the other one is attached, pull it off, and screw the new one in. Simple. The screws hold it on because the wires have little copper horseshoe shaped ends that fit under and around the screw.
82.) This book was in good condition.....
Reviewed by: Boricua 36 The Great Midwest
Rating:
This is a great used book and it was in excellant condition. That is until the shipper rolled it into the smallest box possible, creating a permanent wave in the binding. I am all for recycling materials but would love to see the day when used book sellers ship books flat!!! Please eliminate the roll. Take the time to ship in rugged envelopes or find some boxes you can mail flat items in. Books never roll well.
83.) mess up your electronics
Reviewed by: sam la la land
Rating:
if you've ever dreamed of turning on the stove for your speaker volume, the is for you. you can learn just how to fix/ mess up the whole house. if the neighbors come over, you can simply open the fridge in the basement to turn off the tv. how cool is that? it's also useful for fixing your home electronics. house builders and di-it-yourself husbands will find it useful .
but I have just shared what I would use this for. it also is useful for putting in a new light, doorbell, etc. etc
84.) Good for an overview, but not for adding circuits or anything more complex
Reviewed by: Never enough tools Solana Beach, CA
Rating: 
I was getting ready to add a couple rooms to my house and wanted to do the electrical myself. I'm an electrical engineer and have done plenty of wiring throughout the years, but none of it that necessarily complied with the NEC. Oh sure I used 14 awg for 15 amp circuits and 12 awg for 20 amp circuits, but that was about the extent of the code compliance (out of ignorance of the code, not contempt). Well, I wanted to start following the letter of the law so I got the B&D "Complete Guide to Home Wiring".
Did this book meet my needs? No. Is it a bad book? No. The book just doesn't go into enough detail (and has errors) to give you all the information you'll need to wire a house. On the other hand, if all you're looking to do is replace some existing wiring or add on to a existing branch circuit, this may the book for you. If you're really wanting to understand the NEC (in a very straight forward manner), I would recommend getting "Electrical Wiring Residential" by Ray C. Mullin along with the NEC Pocket Guide to Residential Electrical Installations. Those two books alone will provide 99% of what you need to know for your remodel.
P.S. When I wrote to the editors of the B&D book to point out the errors that it contains (direct contradictions from one page to another), I got no response back from them. I guess they sell enough of them not to care.
85.) Good book for the do-it-yourselfer
Reviewed by:
Rating:
This is a good book for the beginner who doesn't have a lot of experience with electricity. It tries to cover the most common wiring jobs that a person might have to do around the
house. It is a entry level book with many color photographs
to help you understand what to do.
86.) OK, but not very advanced
Reviewed by: k_d_o_s Northeastern Ohio
Rating: 
This book is fine for basic electrical work. But there are much more informative books out there which cover basic through advanced electrical work such as Richter's "Wiring Simplified". Richter's book doesn't have the snazzy photos, though.
87.) very basic
Reviewed by: D. low long beach, ca
Rating:
This is a very basic book on electrical.The drawings showing electrical hookups are misleading because that's not how an electrician would wire.You don't go in and out of a receptacle with the hot and neutral on the receptacle itself; you pigtail. My fear is that some home owner will try and tackle these projects with no understanding of electrical theory
or on the job training
The difference between electrical and other trades is that if you make a mistake you could be dead or burn you're house down.
88.) NO USE FOR THE UK
Reviewed by: Susan-UK
Rating:
Very disapointing as I didn't recognise any of the diagrams and looks like it was written for the USA/CANADIAN market NOT the UK.
This book is is of no use to me unfortunately, and would like to return it, if I knew how.
89.) Usually ships within 1 to 4 months?!?!
Reviewed by: A. Stewart Philadelphia, PA United States
Rating: 
Make sure you note the fact that this book will not arrive at your door tomorrow or next week or the week after that. I ordered it on September 8th and the delivery estimate is between tomorrow and December 14th. I'm canceling the order and going to the bookstore where I originally saw it, for five dollars more. I think, in this case, the extra money is worth it. Seriously, Amazon, FOUR MONTHS? Is this the 1800s? Do you need to send out to the nearest printing press to get it done up? For that amount of wait, I half expect this thing to be leather-bound with various precious gems inlaid into the cover. Jesus.
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