Where do you get your Codebooks?

Where do you get your Codebooks?

  • My employer buys it for me.

    Votes: 10 13.2%

  • I purchase my own.

    Votes: 55 72.4%

  • The office gets me one, but I buy more for my own use (such as for posting here!).

    Votes: 4 5.3%

  • I?m crafty enough to swipe someone else?s.

    Votes: 1 1.3%

  • I get it as a gift from someone.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Other source.

    Votes: 6 7.9%
  • Total voters
    76
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I pay for my own......It is just like having to puchase your own personal hand tools. Tom Henry the Ultimate...tabbed and hi-lighted....about $180.00 I have since 96'
 
Pierre C Belarge said:
Why do you believe your employer should buy your Code Book?
Does he buy your hand tools?
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He does not buy my hand tools.
I take my hand tools home with me everyday.
My code book stays in the company owned van. In my opinion, the code book would belong to the company. If I need one for my personal use then I would have no problem purchasing it myself.
 
I get a free one from both the IAEI and the NFPA (one lives in my office at IPL and the other one lives next to my computer at home). IPL also purchases an electronic version of the NFPA NEC Handbook for home and work so I don't get to purchase one for my own use. :)
 
charlie said:
I get a free one from both the IAEI and the NFPA (one lives in my office at IPL and the other one lives next to my computer at home). IPL also purchases an electronic version of the NFPA NEC Handbook for home and work so I don't get to purchase one for my own use. :)
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Yeah but it really isn't free, is it? :D
 
iwire said:
IMO an electrician does need a code book for 'personal use' at least if they do electrical work.
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If I do only electrical work for my company or do you mean if I do electrical work outside of my company?
Let's use comunications as an example. My company provides for us a comunication system so that we may comunicate. I dont pay for it, the company does. It's a two way through Nextel. Now, my radio has phone capabilities. I sometimes have to talk directly to our contractors or customers. I take my radio home with me. Now at first my boss was charging me 30$ a month to have phone capabilities just to comunicate with work related contractors and customers. I eventually disputed since I did not use this radio for personal use. I no longer have to pay that 30$ a month.

EDIT:
Dont get me wrong. Im pretty sure I will end up buying my own code book. It's just my opinion based on my circumstances.
 
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I don't understand...

I don't understand...

I have been buying my own code books since I have been in the industry. Yet, I worked for someone else for quite a while.

The information from reading and learning code make me a more valuable commodity (Okay, so at least I think it does :grin:), therefore, it is my expense and not the company's expense to purchase one.

I know not all agree with this, and that is fine. JMHO
 
aftershock said:
Yes and if I do study at home it is for work related jobs.
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I keep forgetting that there is a life besides the code. I commend you for being able to seperate the two. As long as you reference the code for work related jobs thats good. A lot of electricians do not have a code book on the job.
 
I got my 2008 from Chris Kennedy. Ring binder type. He also gave me a Mike Holts "illustrated changes to the 2008 NEC code" for free. We have some great people on this forum. Chris helped me when I was down.
Thanks Chris.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
Yeah, but it really isn't free, is it? :D
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HMMM . . . I get the copy from the NFPA for participating on a panel; yep, I work for that one. I am a member of the IAEI and that is from the dues; yep, I pay for that one. I get the electronic version from IPL; yep, I do a lot of Code work for that one. OK Dennis, yep, you are correct. :D
 
charlie said:
HMMM . . . I get the copy from the NFPA for participating on a panel; yep, I work for that one. I am a member of the IAEI and that is from the dues; yep, I pay for that one. I get the electronic version from IPL; yep, I do a lot of Code work for that one. OK Dennis, yep, you are correct. :D
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LOL-- yeah people even think the books at the library are free....:D
 
John Valdes said:
I got my 2008 from Chris Kennedy. Ring binder type. He also gave me a Mike Holt's "illustrated changes to the 2008 NEC code" for free. We have some great people on this forum. Chris helped me when I was down.
Thanks Chris.
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John I think that was a great gift to a great guy. I know you will pay back the community in your own way, :smile:
aftershock said:
Yes and if I do study at home it is for work related jobs.
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Aftershock, you need to change your way of thinking, that would be like saying "I don't need a bible, they have them at church so I'll read it when I am there."
Now I am not a very religious person but I think as far as work goes (in this industry) the code book is our "work bible" in a way. (I hope no one crucifies me for my simile) You need one and you need to study it, I would add you should get some of the other educational books that go along with it, like the Mike Holt books "understanding the NEC" they will only make you a better electrician. The problem with not doing this is you don't move forward as a fast as you could, Just look at how many guy's take continuing education "night classes" on there own time and at their own expense. I don't believe the union pays its guy's to go to night classes, but they require it.
Understanding the code and the way it is laid out is not something easily figured out by ones self sitting in a truck between job tasks. The Tables alone and how to read them is well worth the time.
Also it is the guy that shows he is willing to learn on his own time that gets the better jobs and the bigger pay check.
 
acrwc10 said:
John I think that was a great gift to a great guy. I know you will pay back the community in your own way, :smile:


Aftershock, you need to change your way of thinking, that would be like saying "I don't need a bible, they have them at church so I'll read it when I am there."
Now I am not a very religious person but I think as far as work goes (in this industry) the code book is our "work bible" in a way. (I hope no one crucifies me for my simile) You need one and you need to study it, I would add you should get some of the other educational books that go along with it, like the Mike Holt books "understanding the NEC" they will only make you a better electrician. The problem with not doing this is you don't move forward as a fast as you could, Just look at how many guy's take continuing education "night classes" on there own time and at their own expense. I don't believe the union pays its guy's to go to night classes, but they require it.
Understanding the code and the way it is laid out is not something easily figured out by ones self sitting in a truck between job tasks. The Tables alone and how to read them is well worth the time.
Also it is the guy that shows he is willing to learn on his own time that gets the better jobs and the bigger pay check.
Click to expand...

I agree with everything you have said. In Aftershocks defense,
He's showing that he is educating himself just by coming to this
forum.That's a choice.

When I joined this forum I real quickly learned there are way
more educated people when it comes to electricity and code than I.
So i bought Mike's complete library of books and dvds and studied the
material like my life depended on it for a year.I must say that was
money and time well spent. Now I spend all my time just trying to
keep up with all the IMO brillant minds on this forum. I may need
to quit my day job to do so.:D
 
iwire said:
That too, :D I did buy a NECH on CD-ROM in 2002 but I will not do that again.
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Bob I'm just curious what did you not like about the CD-ROM version. I ask because I am thinking about purchasing the handbook addition for my laptop.

As far as the OP I buy the handbook combo from the NFPA and my employer supplies me with a softcover that has the MA ammendments. The company also provides a the 15 hr code change required for license renewal.
 
I buy books used on Amazon.com. The conditions are generally good for my taste.

I recommend covering textbooks with paper bags. It helps with regular wear and tare.


JJ
 
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