Wildi vs. Grainger/Stevenson

[JB66money]

jdscott,

I believe that you are doing pretty good so far especially considering that you have a civil background. However the first thing that I would suggest is that you get rid of Camara's Practice exam, everyone that I know of have failed the PE exam that used those practice exams. Although Camara's reference guide is good, keep it. Secondly you should get Grafeo's book, it helped me a lot during my preparation for the April 2014 exam last year. I would also recommend that you get Electric Machinery Fundamentals by Stephen Chapman, because you will need this for topics such as auto-transformers and power electronics. The Wildi book is an excellent reference for every other electric machines topic as well as other topics. Another book to get is Power System Analysis and Design by J. Duncan Glover,Mulukutla S. Sarma andThomas Overbye. This is good for balanced and unbalanced faults, symmetrical components and system protection. Or you can get the third edition of Power System Analysis written only by William Stevenson (only) and not Grainger. Grainger took out system protection out of it and in my opinion he convoluted Stevenson's work which use to be excellent, but that's another story. Another very importatnt recomendation, is that you get the NEC handbook (2014) and the 300 NEC drill problems. The NEC is a major topic of the PE. Also fimiliarize yourself with lighting concepts and equations. Finally you need to really strengthen yourself in the area of engineering economics.

 

[jdscottPE]

Great advice. I will look into all of that as time permits. I agree about Camara. So sad. The Civil Engineering Reference Manual is gold. I have the NEC handbook that is based on the 2011 NEC which is still current for this exam. Is there some reason to get a newer one? I will look for the practice problems. Same publisher?

Engineering Econ is no problem as it is cross discipline. I may actually use Camara for that. It has the tables, etc. The power bill type calculations are customary in my work already.

Wildi came in the mail today. I have been in it tonight. Great format. Wish I had gotten it sooner.

 

[Kovz]

Complex Imaginary makes the 300 problem electrical code drill book. It was helpful in my studies of learning the code. I also asked NCEES in chat on their webpage, you are correct about the 2011 Code being used for the April '15 exam. But that doesn't make sense to me because the Specification says they will use the code for the exams 1 year after the newest version has come out. Well it came out in 2014, and it is now 2015. I have the NEC 2014 handbook. For the most part, it is the same as the 2011 so I am going to use it for the exam. No need for you to purchase the 2014 edition.

 

[PEoct]

Complex Imaginary makes the 300 problem electrical code drill book. It was helpful in my studies of learning the code. I also asked NCEES in chat on their webpage, you are correct about the 2011 Code being used for the April '15 exam. But that doesn't make sense to me because the Specification says they will use the code for the exams 1 year after the newest version has come out. Well it came out in 2014, and it is now 2015. I have the NEC 2014 handbook. For the most part, it is the same as the 2011 so I am going to use it for the exam. No need for you to purchase the 2014 edition.

actually i was about to ask about this confusion, even i am not going to buy the new edition. wil compare the index .

 

[jdscottPE]

Here's a related question... The guys here have recommended taking NFPA 70E which I am printing off now. We have the latest version at work (2015). I am wondering if this will matter on the exam. I know of a few changes (e.g. arc flash ppe categories), but I will certainly miss something. I could print older versions to be sure, but dang these books are stacking up. Some stuff I've printed double-sided with two impressions per page and it's still thick.

I took two crates to the civil exam. I'm thinking rolling ice cooler this time...

 

[Ken PE 3.1]

I felt like a fool carrying all my crap in, but don't really care now that it's over. I would think the latest version would work. I wouldn't print the older version.

 

[jdscottPE]

I am posting again for anyone still considering Wildi. These guys were absolutely right. Get Wildi. I would add that if your background is something short of BSEE, you will do well to work through this book. It is immensely practical and written in plain language. I intend to read the whole thing and work many of the problems. For the sake of time, I am working those he calls "practical" or "industrial application." I have made it through the first six chapters since Thursday. I am going to plug away at it until my Complex Imaginary problems arrive.

To answer my original question, I now prefer Wildi over Grainger for the basics. I wish I had started here. Wildi breaks things into smaller pieces which is easier for lesser engineers like me. However, Grainger covers some things that Wildi doesn't do get both. I don't plan to finish working everything in Grainger.

 

[Submarine Guy]

I wouldn't take a full copy of the old version of NFPA 70E, but I would probably look at the major changes and take the applicable pages, particularly if they fit into one of the NCEES question categories (e.g. shocks and burns). It is not likely that NCEES will be using the 2015 version yet since they aren't even using the 2014 version of NEC.

If they are still using the old version and the new version happens to differ somewhat, then you may not get the correct answer. It would be ashame to miss a question because you didn't print a few pages. You can do some web searches to find a list of the changes between revs.

 

[sbsklewis]

My Wildi book arrived today. I remember reading about someone tabbing the book, but know can not find it. Anybody have the list or sections to recommend?

 

[Kovz]

My Wildi book arrived today. I remember reading about someone tabbing the book, but know can not find it. Anybody have the list or sections to recommend?

http://engineerboards.com/index.php?showtopic=23688&hl=wildi

 

[MyBeardAndMe]

I only just started studying lightly about two weeks ago. I only have Camara, Complex Imaginary sample exams and code drill book.

I think I am going to get Graffeo and possibly Wildi. I'm definitely going to buy NCEES sample exam.

As far as your binders, does anyone write sample problem examples or is it just equations? I heard some states don't allow you to bring in CI and Spin-Up sample exams. Anyone know how to find out what the approved reference materials are per state?

 

[Ken PE 3.1]

You can always ask, if you really want an answer.

Ohio has the 'as long as it's bound' policy. Makes it simple that way.