Are you looking for a detailed Black & Decker’s Complete Guide to Wiring Review? Stay tuned if yes.
Some time ago, I watched my dad work on our circuit breaker in an attempt to restore electric power in some parts of the house. And he did that while talking to an electrician over the phone.
I imagined how effortless it would have been if he had a simple paper guide to work with instead.
This review is about a complete guide to wiring, the type I wished my dad had. It provides all the needed instructions on how you can fix the wiring problems in your home.
It is the Black & Decker’s Complete Guide to Wiring, Updated 7th Edition: Current with 2017-2020 Electrical Codes.
If you cannot stand faulty wiring and you want the electricity in your home to provide comfort while ensuring safety then this guide is for you. Keep reading to find out its features, functions, pros, and lots more.
What the Black & Decker Complete Guide to Wiring is and who it is for?
Like I mentioned earlier, this book by Black & Decker is a complete guide to wiring. It contains detailed instructions on basic and complex wiring in the home including most modern devices and needed tools.
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This Black & Decker Wiring Guide is for anyone that wishes to understand the wiring in their homes and also to know what to do when something goes wrong.
Even if you have not handled any electrical projects before, you will do a good job with this book because every instruction is well detailed with pictures.
If you are already an electrician and just need a little direction here or there, this wiring guide might be a bit boring for you. Going for a more advanced version is not a bad idea.
Before buying this Black & Decker Wiring Guide, think about the safety of your home and whether you are willing to work with electricity.
Also, consider the cost of the book and the fact that it will be updated regularly. With every new invention, there will probably be a new edition and your book will need a replacement.
Again, this wiring guide was written with an American home in mind. It will not be suitable for use in a UK home. You should bear this in mind as it is not made clear in the book’s description.
If you live in the UK and you require a similar book, you can request a guide that is suitable for your location from the publishers of this book.
Features & Functions of the Black & Decker Wiring Guide
The top features of this book include 800 clear colour photos and over 40 diagrams that describe the correct information on home electrical service. You will also find the most common circuits, recommended techniques, as well as the most essential tools and materials.
The goal is to help you carry out projects that meet national writing codes. Unlike the articles and videos that you will find online on wiring, this wiring guide by Black & Decker has passed the arduous test that qualifies it as the best DIY series.
Furthermore, this wiring guide is part of the Black & Decker Complete Guide series. It is the 7th edition and it contains 2017-2020 electrical codes.
It is available in kindle, e-book, spiral-bound, and paperback formats. The paperback format is a preferred option as you can hold it in your hands and flip the pages.
It has 336 pages and it is written in English. The book measures 8.4 inches by 0.8 inches by 10.8 inches so it is not bulky to hold in the hand. It was published by the Cool Springs Press.
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If you are a newbie homeowner and you wish to understand the electrical system in your home and gain the confidence to tackle projects, this wiring guide will come through for you.
Comparing the Black & Decker Wiring Guide to Wiring with related products
This book by Rex Cauldwell is a similar product to the one being reviewed. It contains relevant information on home wiring including expanded AFCI and GFCI protection in homes, new approaches to ensure the safety of photovoltaic (PV) electrical systems, and new methods to distribute low voltage power.
It features 350 full-colour photographs, 120 instructive illustrations, and information on lighting, inverters, and electrical vehicle chargers.
When compared to the Black & Decker Complete Guide, this book is a bit advanced and will be mostly maximized by individuals who have appreciative knowledge in electrical.
The Black & Decker Complete Guide is a better option for you if you are a newbie in the electrical world.
Wiring Guide 2020: The Complete Indoor and Outdoor Wiring Guide Including Smart Home Wiring In 2020 Paperback
Here’s another similar book by Neal Johnson. It makes DIY home wiring very easy. You can rewire an entire house by following the instructions contained in this book.
It features a complete A-Z guide on how to wire indoor and outdoor electrical, smart home wiring, 7 critical mistakes most electricians make and how to avoid them, and how to install solar to be green and save money, etc.
As you can see, this book is a good choice for experienced individuals; if you are not used electrical projects before now, the Black & Decker Complete Guide is a better option for you. Need more info about this book?
Practical Electrical Wiring: Residential, Farm, Commercial, and Industrial Twenty-second Edition, Twenty-Second
The last related product on our list is this book by Herbert P. Richter and Frederic P. Hartwell. It is well detailed with the theory and practice of installing electrical wiring. It also features techniques that help to prevent or solve all wiring problems.
It is designed for professional practitioners, students, and apprentices. It also contains handy tricks that may prove useful. This book can be shipped to different countries. However, it is more expensive than the book being reviewed.
How does the Black & Decker Wiring Guide to Wiring work?
Using this guide is quite simple. First, you have to identify the electrical fault that you need to fix or the project you want to carry out. The next thing is to find the page with the solution you need. Then you follow the instructions strictly to get the job done.
In using this wiring guide, be sure that you are following the instructions pertaining to the exact situation that you are handling. If you do not confirm that you are on the right page, it could pose an entirely different problem. Imagine working on a Series Circuit with instructions for a Parallel Circuit. Oops!
Pros of the Black & Decker Complete Guide to Wiring
A major pro of this Black & Decker Wiring Guide is that the instructions are simple enough for a layman to understand. Not to mention the colourful pictures, well-done illustrations, charts, diagrams, and example layouts.
I think of it as a DIY basic manual. Whether you intend to wire an entire house or simply do around the house repairs yourself, this book is one to go for.
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Another pro is that this Black & Decker Complete Guide answers the questions on how to address electrical wiring issues of an old home.
Homes that have portions of its original 1917 wiring with maybe remodels and additions were done in the ’60s and ’90s can get confusing. With this book, you will understand how it was done over the past century. It will also show how to you incorporate 21st century Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in the mix.
Needless to say, this wiring guide will cut down the time you spend scratching your head to get a project done. All instructions are comprehensive and well detailed. They are also very accurate. All information inside has been created and reviewed by professional electricians and experts at BLACK+DECKER.
Also, the publishers of this wiring guide, Cool Springs Press, is a leading publisher of step-by-step how-to books for both DIY gardening and home improvement. They only publish books bearing content that meets national standards.
Cons of the Black & Decker Complete Guide to Wiring
In this book, it was not mentioned that ‘dedicated smoke detector circuits’ is a kind of AFCI circuits though it was stated clearly that AFCI circuits should be used in all livable rooms. And it is important to have a smoke detector in such rooms.
A second con is that the e-book format of this guide lacks a table of contents. This makes search time-consuming. To help yourself here, you can bookmark your topics of interest or better still go for the paperback format.
Conclusion
A lot of damage can occur when something goes wrong with the wiring of a home. With this Black & Decker Complete Guide to Wiring, you can ensure electrical safety in your home. And being able to do electrical repairs by yourself will save you the cost of investing in an electrician.
I hope you found this review helpful. You can share it with friends that need this guide. Also, let us know any concerns you may have in the comments section.
Thanks for reading!
