Replies

1. 
   brownbagg | Oct 15, 2004 04:15pm | #1

   go to http://www.do-it-yourself.com go to the electrical section, talk to a guy name Nelson.

2. 
   BillHartmann | Oct 15, 2004 04:38pm | #2

   http://www.homewiringandmore.com/switchoutlet/3way/3way.html

1. 
   rjw | Oct 16, 2004 03:43pm | #9

   Bill, for somereason that link sends me to a 404 not found page,

   perhaps this will hwork: http://www.selfhelpandmore.com/homewiringusa/2002/pictures/index.htm

   BTW, thx for the linkGod never gives us small ideas.

   Sojourners: Christians for Justice and Peace

1. 
   BillHartmann | Oct 16, 2004 03:54pm | #10

   Since I posted that the other day I see that they completely redid the pages.

   I don't think that these pictures are as clear as what they had.

1. 
   DaveRicheson | Oct 16, 2004 07:58pm | #11

   I think Hubbel, Leviton or Pass Seymore has the diagram he is looking for on the back of a three way switch box. Spec grade.

   Kill two birds with one stone. Buy the switches, and get the install diagram w/o buying a book, but sounds like the book would be a wise investment.

   Dave

2. 
   pghdan | Oct 18, 2004 06:49pm | #15

   The best book I have found for wiring lighting circuits is "Basic House Wiring" by

   Monte Burch.  No photos but great diagrams showing power thru the switch, thru the

   lite, switch to switch then lite etc.....!  Always consult it before wiring a 3-way or

   4-way lighting switch.

   Dan

3. 
   greggo | Oct 15, 2004 05:56pm | #3

   Mike :

   Black&Decker has a decent book out on electrical and it has a lot of wiring diagrams in it(Iv'e been using that and a great Tauton book,How to wire a house by Rex Cauldwell.Between the two (and some great help here)I completely wired my new house

   Greg

1. 
   brownbagg | Oct 16, 2004 01:11am | #5

   B&D is a nice book but there a couple mistakes in the book.

1. 
   GreekRevivalGuy | Oct 16, 2004 07:26am | #8

   Do you recall where the errors are in the B&D home wiring book?  I also have the B&D plumbing book ... both are very good for beginners (like me) ... beautiful photography ... good basic info without getting hugely technical

2. 
   greggo | Oct 17, 2004 08:07am | #12

   I like the B&D book mostly for the diagrams,very easy to figure out.Like I had no idea that there were three ways to wire a three way switch and so forth.What mistakes did you find in the book?

   Greg

1. 
   brownbagg | Oct 18, 2004 11:05pm | #16

   I bought the book couple years ago when I did my house, its been about three years. i like it fot the pictures. But somebody else on the web pointed out the mistakes. I just cannot remember off the top of my head. I use the taunton book too. I have to do some research on the book.

2. 
   toolbear | Oct 16, 2004 02:06am | #6

   Amen to that. Have both. Have the previous editions. Worth the $

   B&D's "The Complete Guide to Home Wiring" is excellent and the photos are very clear. Quite lovely, in fact. Have yet to see a job site that clean.

   If you are wiring a whole house, get Cauldwell's book. If you need to learn the standard motifs, B&D covers them in very clear photos and diagrams.

1. 
   greggo | Oct 17, 2004 08:10am | #13

   Great books for guys like me.If anybody has something better (chime in)

1. 
   Taylor | Oct 18, 2004 01:04pm | #14

   In addition to the B&D book and Caldwell's Wiring a House book, I've liked these:

   Wiring Simplified (Richter, Schwan, Hartwell)

   Intended to explain NEC to the layman (now in 40th edition), I found it the best intro explanation to wiring, switches, etc. Nothing magical about 3-way switches after reading this.

   Your Old Wiring (David Shapiro)

   The pictures unfortunately suck the big one: grainy B&W photos. And no diagrams. But a book that spends a chapter on splicing techniques? Safety is covered over and over again, a serious dose of reality after some of the other books. And of course it talks about BX (but not MC, unfortunately).

   The B&D books have nice photos, but they way oversimplify things. I wonder how many people have had to scramble to find a pro to finish things off after they got in way over their head with a B&D project.

1. 
   greggo | Oct 20, 2004 01:49am | #17

   Thanks I'll have to check them out. After building my new home I have to say that I liked doing the electrical the best.

   Greg

4. 
   marv | Oct 15, 2004 06:16pm | #4

   Go to Home Depot book section and read up a storm.

   You get out of life what you put into it......minus taxes.

   Marv

5. 
   pm22 | Oct 16, 2004 06:40am | #7

   Through the magic of Favorites and copy and paste, I bring you this: the precise answer:

   http://www.danswiringpage.com/

   Hope this helps.

   ~Peter

   My cat invented the three way switch.