// 26 Articles

The Blog

Code changes explained without the committee language, calculations worked end to end with real numbers, and the field tips that only come from doing the work.

Written by a licensed electrician who still pulls wire. Everything here is paraphrased for education and is not a substitute for the official NFPA 70 publication or your AHJ.

Field TipsAugust 2, 2026

Wire and Bolt Torque: What NEC 110.14(D) Actually Requires

The NEC torque requirement in plain English: when a calibrated tool is required, where to find the value, and why inspectors are now writing this up.

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CalculatorsAugust 2, 2026

Wire Size Chart: Conductor Ampacity Under NEC 310.16

Copper and aluminum ampacity by conductor size and temperature column, plus the termination rule, correction factors and adjustment that change the answer.

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CalculatorsAugust 2, 2026

Voltage Drop Chart: Maximum Run Length by Wire Size

Quick-reference voltage drop tables showing maximum run length by conductor size and load at 120 and 240 volts, with the assumptions behind every number.

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CalculatorsAugust 2, 2026

Transformer Sizing: kVA, Primary and Secondary Current

How to size a transformer and its overcurrent protection: the kVA formulas for single and three-phase, plus primary and secondary protection under Article 450.

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CalculatorsAugust 2, 2026

Three-Phase Power Calculations You Actually Use in the Field

Three-phase power, current and kVA formulas explained without the theory: where the 1.732 comes from, wye versus delta voltage, and worked field examples.

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Field TipsAugust 2, 2026

Rough-In Inspection Checklist: 22 Things to Check Before You Call

A 22-point electrical rough-in checklist covering box fill, support, cable protection, grounding, GFCI and AFCI layout, and labeling. Free printable PDF.

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CalculatorsAugust 2, 2026

Residential Load Calculation: Article 220, Step by Step

How to run a dwelling unit load calculation under NEC Article 220 using the standard method, with a worked example and the demand factors that apply.

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Field TipsAugust 2, 2026

How to Look Up an NEC Section Fast (Without Knowing the Number)

A practical method for finding a code requirement quickly: how the NEC is organized, when to use the index versus the table of contents, and common traps.

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NEC UpdatesAugust 2, 2026

NEC Adoption by State: Which Code Edition Your Jurisdiction Enforces

Which NEC edition each state enforces in 2026, why adoption lags publication, and how to confirm the code your AHJ will actually inspect you against.

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Exam PrepAugust 2, 2026

Master Electrician Exam Prep: 25 Practice Questions With Answers

Twenty-five master electrician exam practice questions with worked answers and NEC references, weighted toward calculations, services, and code administration.

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CalculatorsAugust 2, 2026

Grounding Electrode Conductor Sizing Under NEC 250.66

How to size a grounding electrode conductor from the service entrance conductors, plus the electrode-specific caps that override the table.

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NEC UpdatesAugust 2, 2026

GFCI vs AFCI: What Each Does and Where Each Is Required

The difference between ground-fault and arc-fault protection, where each is required, how the requirements expanded by NEC edition, and when you need both.

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Field TipsAugust 2, 2026

EV Charger Circuit Sizing: What Article 625 Requires

How to size an EV charger circuit: the continuous load rule, service capacity, load management systems, GFCI and disconnect requirements under Article 625.

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Exam PrepAugust 2, 2026

Electrician Continuing Education Requirements by State

How electrician CE requirements work: typical hour counts, code-update hour rules, renewal cycles, and how to verify your own state's requirements correctly.

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CalculatorsAugust 2, 2026

Conduit Fill: How Many Conductors Fit in EMT, PVC and Rigid

Conduit fill percentages, how to use NEC Chapter 9 Tables 1, 4 and 5, and why the answer changes with insulation type as much as with conductor size.

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CalculatorsAugust 2, 2026

Breaker and Overcurrent Device Sizing: Circuits, Feeders and Motors

How to size overcurrent protection for branch circuits, feeders and motors, including the continuous load rule and why motor circuits break the usual pattern.

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CalculatorsAugust 2, 2026

Box Fill: How to Size a Box Correctly Under NEC 314.16

How to calculate box fill under NEC 314.16: what counts, what does not, the volume allowances per conductor size, and two fully worked examples.

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Field TipsAugust 2, 2026

Best Electrician Apps in 2026: What Each One Is Actually Good At

An honest comparison of electrician apps for code lookup, calculators and exam prep, including where our own app is the wrong tool for the job.

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NEC UpdatesMarch 14, 2026

2026 NEC Code Changes: Everything Electricians Need to Know

Every 2026 National Electrical Code change ranked by real-world impact: reorganization, GFCI for HVAC, arc flash labeling, load calcs and EV rules.

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NEC UpdatesMarch 10, 2026

How the NEC Has Changed from 2008 to 2023

Fifteen years of National Electrical Code changes across six cycles: GFCI, AFCI, tamper-resistant receptacles, surge protection and energy storage.

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CalculatorsMarch 8, 2026

How to Calculate Voltage Drop — Step by Step

Calculate voltage drop for any circuit with worked single-phase and three-phase examples, the formulas, K values and what the NEC actually recommends.

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NEC UpdatesMarch 8, 2026

NEC 2023 vs 2020: Key Changes Every Electrician Needs to Know

What changed between the 2020 and 2023 NEC: expanded GFCI, emergency disconnects, surge protection and energy storage, broken down article by article.

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Exam PrepMarch 8, 2026

Journeyman Exam Prep: 20 Practice Questions With Answers

Twenty journeyman electrician exam practice questions with answers and NEC references, covering grounding, overcurrent, conductor sizing, box fill and motors.

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Field TipsMarch 8, 2026

Conduit Bending Cheat Sheet: Offsets, Saddles & Kicks

Conduit bending multipliers, shrink values and formulas for offsets, saddles, kicks and 90-degree stubs, for EMT and rigid. Quick field reference.

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Field TipsMarch 8, 2026

The 10 Most Common Electrical Code Violations

The violations inspectors flag most on residential and commercial jobs: missing GFCI, overfilled boxes, bad bonding and more, with the fix for each.

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SafetyMarch 8, 2026

Arc Flash Safety: What Every Electrician Should Know

NFPA 70E arc flash essentials: PPE categories, approach boundaries, incident energy analysis, energized work permits and the 40 cal/cm2 hard stop.

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// DisclaimerThe National Electrical Code® (NEC®) and NFPA 70® are registered trademarks and copyrighted publications of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). This article is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the NFPA. All code references in this article are paraphrased for educational purposes only and do not reproduce the official text of any NEC edition. This content is not a substitute for the official NFPA 70 publication. Electricians, contractors, and students are encouraged to purchase the official National Electrical Code from the NFPA at nfpa.org for complete and authoritative code text. Always verify requirements with the code edition adopted by your jurisdiction and your Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).