Black & Decker The Complete Guide to Wiring, Updated 6th Edition: Current with 2014-2017 Electrical Codes
Product ID: 1609335
Vanity lights on the sides of the mirror provide good lighting. Vanity Lights Many bathrooms have a single fixture positioned above the vanity, but a light source in this position casts shadows on the face and makes grooming more difficult. Light fixtures on either side of the mirror is a better arrangement. For a remodel, mark the mirror location, run cable, and position boxes before drywall installation. You can also retrofit by installing new boxes and drawing power from the existing fixture. The light sources should be at eye level; 66" is typical. The size of your mirror and its location on the wall may affect how far apart you can place the sconces, but 36" to 40" apart is a good guideline. How to Replace Vanity Lights in a Finished Bathroom Tools & Materials Drywall saw, drill, combination tool, circuit tester, screwdrivers, hammer, electrical boxes and braces, vanity light fixtures, NM cable, wire connectors, eye protection Step 1 Turn off the power at the service panel. Remove the old fixture from the wall, and test to make sure that the power is off. Then remove a strip of drywall from around the old fixture to the first studs beyond the approximate location of the new fixtures. Make the opening large enough that you have room to route cable from the existing fixture to the boxes. Step 2 Mark the location for the fixtures, and install new boxes. Install the boxes about 66" above the floor and 18" to 20" from the centerline of the mirror (the mounting base of some fixtures is above or below the bulb, so adjust the height of the bracing accordingly). If the correct location is on or next to a stud, you can attach the box directly to the stud; otherwise you’ll need to install blocking or use boxes with adjustable braces (shown). Step 3 Open the side knockouts on the electrical box above the vanity. Then drill 5 ⁄8" holes in the centers of any studs between the old fixture and the new ones. Run two NM cables from the new boxes for the fixtures to the box above the vanity. Protect the cable with metal protector plates. Secure the cables with cable clamps, leaving 11" of extra cable for making the connection to the new fixtures. Remove sheathing, and strip insulation from the ends of the wires. Step 4 Connect the white wires from the new cables to the white wire from the old cable, and connect the black wires from the new cables to the black wire from the old cable. Connect the ground wires. Cover all open boxes, and then replace the drywall, leaving openings for the fixture and the old box. (Cover the old box with a solid junction box cover plate. ) Pellentesque Blandit Install the fixture mounting braces on the boxes. Attach the fixtures by connecting the black circuit wire to the black fixture wire and connecting the white circuit wire to the white fixture wire. Connect the ground wires. Position each fixture over each box, and attach with the mounting screws. Restore power, and test the circuit. Review: they are well done and easy to understand - essential book for the beginners and the seasonned professionals. all the steps are generally well described with added actual photos. when graphics are used, they are well done and easy to understand. plus, the current codes are indicated so that your work will pass inspection. Review: Helped me wire a room in my basement! - This book helped me rewire a room in my basement. I did duplex outlets, single pole switches, difficult three way switches, and changing breakers. I read about half of it to understand code, electrical best practices, and things to keep me alive. The diagrams were the most helpful part of the book. I supplemented my learning with lots of youtube videos about electrical wiring. (I suggest the "HouseImprovements" channel with Shannon.) I started there first, but realized I was in over my head. I used this book to learn the basics, learn the dos and don'ts, and then applied what i learned. I bought the kindle version on my ipad and was able to zoom in to view the diagrams. The only problem I encountered was that their example pictures and labeling of 3 way switches did not match the brand of 3 way switch I purchased. This is not the book's fault, but it would have helped to know their labeling wouldn't match all brands. In this instance I had to read the manufacture's directions.
| Best Sellers Rank | #2,665,268 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #701 in Electrical Home Improvement (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 562 Reviews |
C**S
they are well done and easy to understand
essential book for the beginners and the seasonned professionals. all the steps are generally well described with added actual photos. when graphics are used, they are well done and easy to understand. plus, the current codes are indicated so that your work will pass inspection.
N**Z
Helped me wire a room in my basement!
This book helped me rewire a room in my basement. I did duplex outlets, single pole switches, difficult three way switches, and changing breakers. I read about half of it to understand code, electrical best practices, and things to keep me alive. The diagrams were the most helpful part of the book. I supplemented my learning with lots of youtube videos about electrical wiring. (I suggest the "HouseImprovements" channel with Shannon.) I started there first, but realized I was in over my head. I used this book to learn the basics, learn the dos and don'ts, and then applied what i learned. I bought the kindle version on my ipad and was able to zoom in to view the diagrams. The only problem I encountered was that their example pictures and labeling of 3 way switches did not match the brand of 3 way switch I purchased. This is not the book's fault, but it would have helped to know their labeling wouldn't match all brands. In this instance I had to read the manufacture's directions.
A**R
Very good book with excellent illustrations, but has some editing mistakes
Overall this is a very good book with great illustrations. Unfortunately, like other books on residential wiring I have seen, it hardly offers any information on multiwire branch circuits (MWBCs). Most older North American houses have a few of these, and I think it is vital that DIYers be given a rudimentary understanding of the theory and practice behind MWBCs. Without that, it would be all too easy for someone to wire or modify a MWBC incorrectly (e.g. both lines from the same leg in the panel) and overload the neutral conductor, which would be a fire hazard. Separately I have run across some editing errors that should be fixed. The egregious example is the photo on page 76, in which the service entrance conductors are mislabeled. The SE cable on the left is black, but is labeled as the neutral service wire. The middle cable is clearly recoded to neutral with white tape, and the ground bond is clearly tied in right next to it, but the label incorrectly describes it as one of the hot wires. The rightmost cable is recoded red (as the other hot leg) and it is labeled correctly. Separately, I have spotted a few instances in the text of "THNN" wire where I believe THHN was intended.
S**N
Idiot's Guide to wiring - just the right reference
This is it. I've purchased several DIY wiring books and this one is clearly the best. Specifically I was looking to uncover the mysteries of how to wire a room for lighting and the switches that control that lighting. I wanted the book to have pictures that would show which wires are for what...and why. I wanted to know how three-way switches do their magic (it's the traveler wire), and I wanted to know tricks of the trade about how to put a switch in the middle of a "run" of lighting wires or at the end, and how would I properly tie into existing circuits. This book does all those things, and it has color diagrams and plain talk instructions to help the novice learn what, why, and where. As I said at the start, it's the best I've found...and I'd been looking for awhile. Search is over.
T**I
Great Guide!
Purchased this because I am working on a remodeling project and want to make sure I get the electrical in the building done right....I often prefer ebooks but for this I thought the real thing would be best....So far I love this book. Great explanations, diagrams and pictures of everything....covers everything I need at this point so I highly recommend this book for folks like me who are just trying to DIY.....
P**E
Doesn't just try to sell you stuff.
Much better than expected! Very clear, written for novices but covering projects from the extremely simple (replacing a wall switch) to the ambitious (replacing a circuit breaker panel). As a hack DIY electrician, I have learned a lot just browsing through it. I've come away with a much better understanding of "the right way" to do things, and why. Extremely tasteful product placement for Black and Decker--you basically never notice it. I assumed it would be one big advertisement... nope.
C**S
It's a good general book
I found B&D Advanced Home Wiring (half the length) better organized and usable, but unfortunately out of date. I repeatedly went back to the older version to clarify things, or get more detail. This new version is annoying, because it covers some things without giving adequate instructions, and in some cases the instructions aren't great. For instance, using an accordion duct for a bathroom vent. Years ago, I was able to put in a service panel with the older book and a little online research. When I tried to do that with the new book I couldn't. Had to retrace the old way. One really basic thing this book failed to address was how to mechanically fulfill the current code demands of getting all the additional wires with their pigtails into outlet boxes. Saying, "use bigger boxes" isn't sufficient. I used bigger boxes, and adding just one additional line into a bigger box results in nine 6+" wires, plus 3 shorter wires to pigtail=12 wires plus their connectors and the outlet itself. I know you aren't supposed to cram, but even with a bigger box I crammed a lot. [To my way of thinking, the new code is way badly-conceived and will result in much greater fire hazard due to the inevitable cramming.] Maybe the book just tries to cover too much ground, and thoroughness on any particular topic gets compromised.
J**N
Great resource and easy to understand
This book has already paid for itself. It definitely is a complete guide and provides a ton of helpful information. It will give me the confidence to go forward with projects knowing the correct way to wire. I was always curious about wiring and I’ve even replaced some outlets that were old and cracking. Now that I’ve read this I’m ready to plan my hardwired smoke detectors! One of the best parts about this book I wasn’t expecting was the helpful instructions on how to route wire in finished locations.
J**M
Really good book for a DIYer
This is a really great book. It's quite thick and has all kinds of information ranging from general chapters on working with electricity and how it works, to detailed step by stem instructions on specific projects you might do around the house. Perhaps the most useful to me is the fact that it includes up to date information on the electrical codes. If you've ever tried to read the actual codes it's pretty cryptic and hard to navigate. This book simplifies all of that and tells you what is required by the current code for each of the projects inside. It includes pretty much any electrical job an handyman/person might want to do in their home. If you're looking to do your own electrical work - I'd definitely recommend picking up this book. Cheers and good luck.
G**M
Excellent
Fantastic
M**.
Aviod
Given 1 star because I have to give it something. A waste of money. It's best described as a poor DIY manual. Not a single British fitting in sight. no simple explanation for anything. Avoid at all costS
M**.
Útil
Buena fuente de información para quienes iniciamos y para los que ya tienen conocimiento de instalaciones eléctricas
P**U
Three Stars
good book
Trustpilot
5 days ago
3 weeks ago