Electrical Wiring: Residential

by Ray C. Mullin

Electrical Wiring - Residential is a trusted resource for information on all aspects of house wiring, having been adopted as an essential component of numerous national training programs. One of the best selling books on residential wiring on the market for more than a decade, Electrical Wiring - Residential features hundreds of examples, calculations, plus full-color wiring diagrams, illustrations, and photos while conforming to the 2002 National Electrical Code (NEC-). The book explains the Code's new metric numbering system while utilizing both metric and the prevalent English system. The book begins by introducing readers to the basics of wire sizing, load calculations, and wiring diagrams. It then proceeds to address relevant NEC- rules and requirements, room by room, through an entire home. Discussion of the unique considerations of wiring a home for the handicapped, as well as an introduction to today's state-of-the-art home automation wiring, is also featured. A useful list of major electrical appliance manufacturers' web sites is provided in an appendix. When used together with the NEC-, Electrical Wiring - Residential offers its readers an unparalleled, hands-on learning experience."

647 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

Reviews

[East Bay J · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book for a course in residential wiring, as I had read the companion book, Commercial Wiring, for a commercial wiring course. Commercial Wiring, for me, left a lot to be desired. The information presented was often unclear or confusing. It may be that it was the 14th edition and that the recently published 15th edition is better. This, the 18th edition of Residential Wiring, seems clearer, better organized and more informative than the 14th edition of Commercial Wiring. A concept like box fill, for example, can be difficult to grasp and requires a certain kind of instruction. Residential does a better job of this than Commercial.

Something both books share is the difficulty finding answers for the review questions within the pages of the text. On the one hand, when reference is made to the NEC book, it's logical one would need to go to the NEC book to find the answers. However, instructional texts should, in my opinion, contain the answers to the review questions. Residential was better at this than my edition of Commercial.

Some of my preference for Residential may have to do with the fact that I know more about wiring than I did when reading Commercial. Many of the same general topics are covered in these books and the reiteration of these concepts likely aided in my comprehension with this text. Residential just seems better laid out and more intuitive.

I wouldn't necessarily recommend this book as a starting point for someone interested in learning how to do electrical work in their home. I believe there are better books out there. Still, this isn't a bad reference and the inclusion of plans helps immensely. If you need to know how to wire a house, this is a decent book to have on hand.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to read this book for my industrial electricity class. It's very informative. But also felt that it did not cover certain topics well enough. And I had to venture to other sources to find a better examples or more in-depth examples.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book if you want to see what goes into proper electrical work. Nice diagrams and thorough explanations. Not really a coffee table book, though.

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read it for school (6th edition). I just want to it count towards my reading goal lol