The Complete Handbook of Electrical Switches

I'm a facilities technician, and the selection chapter really did save me from picking an underspecced switch for an 10 HP motor circuit I was asked to fix. I appreciate that they tell you how to calculate the real requirements instead of just saying 'pick by load.' That said, the book's section on smart switches feels a bit light on specific wiring configuration compatibility for older commercial systems, and some parts in chapter seven read more like a tech forecast than just looking at the trade publications I already have. It's a solid desk reference for most of the day-to-day, but I did have to supplement it with other sources for the IoT side of things. Good value, but not the only book you'll need.

Finally, a switch reference that doesn't feel like it's promoting a specific brand. The breakdown on various contact materials and the direct comparison of NEMA and IEC ratings is worth the cover price alone. I run a small machine shop and a few HVAC sites, and I've already used the troubleshooting tree in chapter five to diagnose a faulty limit switch on a press brake that two other techs wanted to replace the entire unit for. The examples are realistic (like the disconnect for a water heater), and the writer actually knows the difference between a class 2 control circuit and a power circuit, which is rare in general electrical books. I bought both the digital and print copies for my main guys. This is the one I hand to new hires before they touch a panel.

The content is thorough on the basics of contact physics and ratings, which I needed for a project spec'ing switches for a large conveyor system. I do like how it skips the fluff and goes right to the standards, which aligned well with what we had to buy. However, I found the installation chapter a bit simplistic for my tastes; it heavily covers residential-style or light commercial installs, and while the mention of high-voltage DC loads is there, the details aren't nearly as deep as I'd like for the photovoltaic and medical imaging systems I often quote. The business opportunities chapter was also a bit brief—I agree with the premise, but the examples lacked real cost modeling. It's a good standard guide for general use, but if you work strictly in a niche industrial application, you'll still need the specialized manufacturer manuals.