Has Tom Henry's Book Company Changed Hands?

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Bullwinkle

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I am studying for an additional license and decided to purchase Tom Henry's 2008 Calculation Workbook. During my studies, I noticed what appeared to be a number of errors in that book. Maybe my observations were right and maybe not. So, I wrote the company and requested clarification regarding my questions in the interest of learning the right answer. I received the following response:

Wow, I sure have been wiring things up incorrectly then over the years! I just can't believe how much #14 wire I could have ran instead of #12 wire. I mean, heck with a load of 15.4 amps, dumb me I ran a #12 wire because the #14 wire only had an ampacity of 15 amps. Heck, I could have just dropped the .4 amps and made it 15 amps and could of used a #14 wire! Thank god I don't consider the NEC to be my bible, as some refer to it as.

Code Electrical Classes Inc.
7449 Citrus Avenue
Winter Park, FL 32792
1-800-642-2633
www.code-electrical.com

I find it difficult to believe that this response came from Mr. Henry, himself. It seems more like something from a boy having a difficult time with adolescence. Has Tom Henry?s book company been sold or otherwise taken over by someone else. Just not the same caliber as it used to be.
 
I suspect it is quite a large outfit as Mike Holt also has and I am certain Tom does not answer those emails. I would probably call up and see who you could complain to.
 
SIRSPARKSALOT said:
Regarding the book itself...One of the best to use IMO for preparing for the exam.
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If any textbook is providing incorrect answers, its worth is questionable. If the author cannot support his answers, the textbook is worthless, in my humble opinion.

Perhaps we are talking about difference study materials by Tom Henry. The Tom Henry Book I have criticisms about is the 2008 Calculations Exam Questions and Answers.

I found a number of mistakes; as verified by others. Additionally, there are numerous annoyances with formatting. For example, some of the answers cross reference in the in answer key in the back multiple choice letter answers for some groups of questions but not others. The chapters on Taps and Motor Controls look like and read like a complete after-thought.

Admittedly, some of these criticisms are nit picking. Other criticisms, however, are legitimate such as not providing the correct answers to questions. The errors are extremely frustrating if the goal is to learn the right answer. Who needs someone’s sloppiness to make learning what can be mind-numbing material even more difficult?

The response by the Customer Service Department is inexcusable. Remember service what you sell?
 
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I understand what you are saying, and I do agree that the lack of support is inexcuseable.

I will also say that I have taken many code change classes and continuing education classes where the provided materials had numerous errors. As a matter of fact, while I was youger and unlicensed, the boredom brought on by an instructor prompted me to read and correct an entire text. I was so sickened by it that I requested and received a refund from the publisher after sending them the book with my corrections. This was a very reputable author/publisher.

I am not saying that the Tom Henry book is perfect, but I believe that it gives a very good outline as to what one needs to know for the exam. I used that book and MH's grounding versus bonding book in preparation for my exam. I missed acing the exam by two questions, and I was finished with the exam in an hour and twenty minutes.

Lastly, I did not purchase the book. Someone gave me a copy. Therefore, I was probably not as upset by the errors I found since I did not spend anything for it.

I would pursue getting a refund or at the very least a satisfactory explanation.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
I suspect it is quite a large outfit as Mike Holt also has and I am certain Tom does not answer those emails. I would probably call up and see who you could complain to.
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[FONT=verdana, geneva, lucida, lucida grande, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]The reply came from Tim Henry, Vice-President and Instructor.[/FONT]

[FONT=verdana, geneva, lucida, lucida grande, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]His qualifications page has the following quote:

[/FONT]CEC instructors are not only excellent in teaching, they are experts in the electrical field. You'll learn proven ways as they address your questions individually. We know what issues are important to the electrician as we listen to the daily feedback we receive from electricians taking exams throughout the United States.
 
SIRSPARKSALOT said:
I understand what you are saying, and I do agree that the lack of support is inexcuseable.

Lastly, I did not purchase the book. Someone gave me a copy. Therefore, I was probably not as upset by the errors I found since I did not spend anything for it.

I would pursue getting a refund or at the very least a satisfactory explanation.
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Personally. I find it unacceptable that Tom Henry does not spend the necessary resources on things like editing. If this was electrical work, it would be rejected. Good editing can easily eliminate most all of these mistakes, but that costs money. Obviously, money is more important to the Tom Henry enterprise than turning out accurate study materials.

This particular book, Tom Henry Calculations Exam Questions and Answers NEC 2008 Edition, is riddled with mistakes and really sloppy formatting, some of which I have posted elsewhere at this site in addition to this one. It is obvious the publication was rushed to press to meet some deadline, with care and accuracy a distance second concern.

Be that as it may, the intolerable part for me was the response I received from Tim Henry when I informed him of a mere question regarding a possible error. For those of you who don't know, Tim Henry is Vice President & Instructor at Tom Henry's company. His exact response was:

Wow, I sure have been wiring things up incorrectly then over the years! I just can't believe how much #14 wire I could have ran instead of #12 wire. I mean, heck with a load of 15.4 amps, dumb me I ran a #12 wire because the #14 wire only had an ampacity of 15 amps. Heck, I could have just dropped the .4 amps and made it 15 amps and could of used a #14 wire! Thank god I don't consider the NEC to be my bible, as some refer to it as.

My fellow electricians, demand quality and hold others responsible. Post mistakes on these sites and make the incompetent publishers pay. They are costing all of us. Personally, I will never buy another Tom Henry product. Mike Holt posts corrections at his web site for any mistakes that arise from his materials.

http://www.mikeholt.com/
 
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