Codebook. (decisions,decisions)

[Twoskinsoneman]

I bought tabs for the 2008 NEC, I ended up cutting them all back off. I found that they only got it the way.

There have been a couple of times the tabs got in the way slightly....but I found them really worth it doing calculations where you have to go back and forth from code sections....those sections being tabbed make it very nice....

Like going back and forth from table 430.248 to table 310.16
Or from table 310.16 to chapter 9 table 8&9.

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

I have been teaching field electricians for test preparation for 8 years now.

With the advent of the changes of the formatting of the '05 NEC, I persuade the students to not use standard tabs.

I try to help them become familar with the formatting of the code (Table of Contents) and have them tab specific locations within the NEC...but I have them put tabs at the top of the page, not the margine. This way the tabs do not slow them down when trying to turn the pages.

They generally will put about 15-20 tabs at the top of the pages. Too many more, and then it is a struggle to locate the tab itself and too much time is wasted. Each guy will follow the 15 tabs I suggest and possibly add an additional 5 tabs for their personal preferences.
Highlighting for oneself based on typical test questions is essential to becoming familar with the NEC.

"One can only reap what one sows"

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

BTW:
I tab my book the exact same way. :grin:

 

[eletricmedic]

code tabs

code tabs

Charles R Miller has a great set of code tabs for taking an exam. and a great exam prep book.

 

[frankgi]

You guys are lucky, in NC you can't carry your code book into the exam room, a code book, pencil, calculator, and scratch paper is handed to you when you enter, you better be prepared mentally when you take an exam.

NJ is like that as well. We can bring our own calculator and pencils though, but we have to "rent" the codebook....$5.00! :-/

 

[Karl H]

The last book were I used "Tabs" was the 99 NEC. I found that I became
to dependant on them. When I got a new code book or borrowed a co-
workers book that wasn't Tabed, I noticed I fumbled around trying to
find articles, so I trianed myself to navigate the NEC by placing my hands
on the top of the book and flipping thru the pages looking at the
underlined headings at the top of the page. I was able to pass the California
4-hour Cert. Exam where they do not allow you to bring in your personal
NEC, in 68 minutes with a score of 98 using this method.

Another method that I use is replacing "Key" words with ARt.#'s.
An example would be if a test question has the words ,bond,ground,
GEC,EGC,OCPD,OCPD over 600v,clearance,wire ampacity,etc.
I'll actually see the numbers in order such as,250,250,T-66,T-122,
240,490,110,T-310.16. This method saves me a lot of searching and "Index"
time.:smile:

 

[George Stolz]

I got to thinking about it, I lied. I meant to say I never had the factory-made tabs for the NEC.

I did tab my 2002 myself, starting out, so I could access 250.66, 250.122, 310.16, and articles relevant to residential quickly, come to think of it. When the 2005 came out with the code section numbers in the top corner of the page, I didn't see a point in tabbing anymore.