What Book Do You Use ?

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Krim

Krim

Senior Member
Location
Maryland's Eastern Shore
Hey All,
I'd like to know what books are the most commonly used by the working electricians for making the necessary electrical calculations on a daily basis.
I know that there are several pocket size reference books as well as text books available , but I'm curious as to which are the most widely used not just purchased. Please let the rest of us know what you use.
Thanks,
Carl :smile:
 
NEC, Ugly's, ElectriCalc Plus calculator (best $100 I ever spent, great for the lazy Electrician):grin:
 
EBFD6 said:
NEC, Ugly's, ElectriCalc Plus calculator (best $100 I ever spent, great for the lazy Electrician):grin:
Click to expand...

I've been contemplating buying one of those 'electricalc pro' calculators, but $100 versus my $20 (on sale) scientific is a huge price difference to me, and it looks a bit complicated itself as to knowing how to use it. :confused:
I currently use the NEC, Dr.Watts, & an older Uglys along with my scientific calc. & the forum myself. I posted this topic out of curiosity to see what everyone else is using.
Carl :)
 
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Krim said:
I've been contemplating buying one those 'electricalc pro' calculators, but $100 versus my $20 (on sale) scientific is a huge price difference to me and it looks a bit complicated itself as to knowing how to use it. :confused:
Carl :)
Click to expand...


That's what I thought too untill I was working with a guy who had one and he showed me how to use it. It does take a little bit to learn how to use it, but once you figure it out it's a huge time saver and actually is very easy. Let's say you are going to wire a motor, input the motor hp and voltage, whether it's single or three phase, and the calculator will tell you anything else you need to know by just pressing the appropriate buttons - FLA, starter size, overload size, fuse size, wire size, conduit size for number of conductors, etc........

The calculator basically has every chart in the NEC. ( well, I might be exaggerating a little) but it really is a very useful tool for a service guy like myself. So far when I have occasionally double checked the calc. w/NEC it has been right on the money. It even has a little chip in the back that you can replace with every code update so the program stays current with the NEC tables! Worth the hundred bucks IMO
 
EBFD6 said:
That's what I thought too untill I was working with a guy who had one and he showed me how to use it. It does take a little bit to learn how to use it, but once you figure it out it's a huge time saver and actually is very easy. Let's say you are going to wire a motor, input the motor hp and voltage, whether it's single or three phase, and the calculator will tell you anything else you need to know by just pressing the appropriate buttons - FLA, starter size, overload size, fuse size, wire size, conduit size for number of conductors, etc........

The calculator basically has every chart in the NEC. ( well, I might be exaggerating a little) but it really is a very useful tool for a service guy like myself. So far when I have occasionally double checked the calc. w/NEC it has been right on the money. It even has a little chip in the back that you can replace with every code update so the program stays current with the NEC tables! Worth the hundred bucks IMO
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Hey , are you a salesman for 'em ? With a pitch that good you should be getting a commission ... sounds like I might hav'ta buy one next check now.
You know how us guys are when it comes to new toys for the trade ... at least this one will pay for itself in time savings .
Carl
 
The great thing about my softcover NEC is that I can drop it in liquids, off a lift (if for some reason I took it up one), or beat it with a hammer and it doesn't break. :D

With that, and the little regular calculator on my phone, I don't need a $100 calculator. :)
 
I'm sure many of us have our own little mental book of standards and SOP's devised from various sources over the years.

Otherwise my favorites would be the NEC of current adopted cycle of my state in handbook form - Ugly's and occassional use of the American Electricians Handbook/bible....
 
America electrcian handbook is very detailed but at the sametime broad also. It not only covers things related to the NEC but also the NESC.
 
I'm sort of a book nut, and have many hundreds of books on electrical topics. No single one jumps out at me as being best for calculations.

At the moment, vintage texts appeal to me most. It's neat to see how the old timers did things, and why.
 
72.5kv said:
America electrcian handbook is very detailed but at the sametime broad also. It not only covers things related to the NEC but also the NESC.
Click to expand...
72.5kV,
Does the AE cover Point and Zonal illumination design? (I.e. Photopic, scotopic spectral wavelengths, LED efficiencies...etc) rbj
 
Krim said:
I've heard about that one ... Is it informative on a laymans' level or is it more of a highly technical ie.. electrical engineers level ?
Carl :)
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It's the self-professed "Bible" or Torah Koran what have you.... Like those examples it is kind of a chronological history and dissertation on a level that is understandable as a 'reference to the initiated'. ;) While I doubt that someone without an understanding of the basics could find it interesting reading and find it easy to learn from - it is a wealth of knowledge. It is however a little dated - much of it (>1500 pages) was written in the 30's or so, then added to in it's many editions over time. While they up-date it to every code cycle, very little of it is code content. And as technology has changed - they have added to it as well - but it really hasn't changed all that much... So much of the language, and most of the illustrations are circa its original 1913 printing IMO. (Also a big re-vamp in the 60's with pictures!?) Then again the generation and distribution of electricity really hasn't changed much either.... Rotating magnetic field, transformers, fuses and breakers...

While there is a little bit of everything you need to know - it also - a benifit IMO - has a lot you don't need to know. Like when's the last time you needed to remember how to tie conductors to glass insualtors? (For me that was 1993) Or needed to know about mixing oil for transformers??? (Never...)

That said - I think it's a good buy.... Would you use it every day? No....
 
gndrod said:
72.5kV,
Does the AE cover Point and Zonal illumination design? (I.e. Photopic, scotopic spectral wavelengths, LED efficiencies...etc) rbj
Click to expand...

I was recently told that "Electricians" no nothing of "design" ("designer" not realizing I was wiring the joint - must of dressed too good that day...)

LED's no..... Lighting design.... no..... But it does have some cool stuff on arc lights!!!!! :grin:
 
uglys
electrical pal
electrical engineerings pocket handbook
1940s audels wiring diagrams for light and power (for k/t houses)
code check electrical (quick code ref, residential...and its laminated)
2005 nec handbook
MIKE"S FORUM (nothing like having a room full of experts in all areas of the field at your fingertips, literally)
 
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