Recommendations for electrical info research

[Disco Biscuit]

My garage is detached from my house and currently has 30 amp, 220V service running to it. I'd like to upgrade to 60 amp service as I'm planning to add circuits to the panel and wire up a workshop on the back of the garage w/ more juice.

I have a family member who worked in electronics (NOT electrician) and wired his house when it was built ~10 years ago who is happy to work w/ me on this (for anyone getting alarm bells, he'll do it on the condition that we have the work inspected by a licensed electrician). That said, I'd like to go into it with more knowledge of the whole process (codes, how the lines work, what the hardware is, safety protocols, etc.) than I do currently so that I can be a competent partner and also not leave the burden on him to teach me everything (he's not a great teacher, anyway...).

Do any folks, especially electricians, have suggestions for books or other resources I should seek out? There's a plethora out there and it's tough to narrow it down to the best stuff.

Thanks in advance.

[andy85]

following for answers. I plan on having my entire garage completely rewired at some point within the next year or two. I'll have an electrician friend do it, but I'd still like to learn the basics beforehand so I know what I am getting into.

[lthenderson]

In my state, the local community college is partnered with the State Licensing Board to offer classes on all ranges of topics related to electrical work that anyone can take.

[paddedhat]

IMHO, best general purpose DIY electrical book is Stanley Complete Wiring, by the Stanley tool folks. The other must have would be Code Check Electrical, by Redwood Kardon. 

Generally, I would lean toward a 100 Amp 20 circuit " Square D Homeline brand "Remodeler's pack" from the big box stores. This gives you a panel, panel cover, 100 amp main breaker, and a few smaller breakers, for a stupidly cheap price. You start with a new 100 amp breaker in your house panel, then run a four wire feed to the garage panel. This subpanel feed has two "hots" or 120V lines (one black, one red) that combine to make 240 volts, a white neutral wire, and a green or bare ground wire. The exact details of this wire are dependent on the distance between panels and if you are talking about an underground feed, or overhead. The garage is grounded via. this subpanel feed, and there is no separate ground rod, or isolated ground wiring in the garage.

[BudgetSlasher]

I second code check electrical as a great quick reference manual for the basics and it is much easier to read when compared to some of the written by a committee of lawyers codes.

[sokoloff]

As I read NEC 250.32, a grounding system (in practical terms: a UFER or two ground rods) is required for a detached structure with a sub-panel, as of the 2008 NEC.

If your AHJ hasn't adopted the 2008 changes, you might not need it to pass inspection, but I think it's a good idea in any case and isn't that expensive nor difficult.

[paddedhat]

I would definitely run the grounding past your local inspector. What I described is still common in my area, and there are a lot of "interpretations" as to exactly how individual agencies want to see a totally detached building grounded, and even the definition of a detached structure.

[Disco Biscuit]

Thank you all for the recommendations; I really appreciate it!

[zolotiyeruki]

I have a copy of the NEC handbook, and it's super helpful. It basically walks through the code and provides exclamations, clarifications, and illustrations.