If you are going to take the test in October 2013 your scenario looks pretty similar to mine when i took it. This is what i did when i was preparing. I had 3 main books, plus the Camara package. The text books that i used was Electric Circuits 8th edition by Nilsson & Riedel(have solution manual), Electric Machinery Fundamentals (i have third Edition, but the solution manual that i have is for the forth edition) by Stephen J. Chapman and the Electrical Machines, Drives and Power Systems Sixth Edition (have solution manual) by Theodore Wildi. Assuming that you are going with Power Option of the exam you can start reading this books and chapters. This will give you the basic knowledge and shall keep you oriented until July. As i said this is what I read and study. It works for me...doesn't mean it would work for you.
1. Electrical Circuits, I read chapters:
-Chapter 9 Sinusoidal Steady State Analysis
-Chapter 10 Sinusoidal Steady State Power Calculations
-Chapter 11 Balanced Three-phase Circuits
-Chapter 18 Two port Circuit
Basically those chapters covers what is needed from that book for the PE...assuming you already know DC analysis, like node analysis, mesh analysis, voltage divider etc en DC.
2. Electric Machinery Fundamentals I read Chapters:
Remember i have 3rd edition 4th edition probably have these chapters in different order
-Chapter 1 Introduction to Machinery Principles
-Chapter 2 Transformers
-Chapter 3 Introduction to power electronics <--this is kind of hard topic to understand
Basically the rest of the Chapters on the books are dedicated to different type of motors.
I read Chapter 4 AC Machinery Fundamentals
Chapter 6 Synchronous Motors
Chapter 7 Induction Motors
Chapter 8 DC machinery fundamentals <--DC motors is not covered on NCEES criteria but i still read it.
I just cover the parts of motors...didn't cover the part of Generator since is the same thing the only different is that the formula change a little bit...remember a motor is also a generator.
That's all for the Chapman book.
3. Electrical Machines, Drives and Power Systems.
- Chapter 7 Active, Reactive, and Apparent Power.
-Chapter 8 Three-Phase Circuits
-Chapter 9 The Ideal Transformer
-Chapter 10 Practical Transformers
-Chapter 11 Special Transformers
-Chapter 12 Three-Phase Transformers
-Chapter 13 Three-Phase Induction Machines
-Chapter 15 Equivalent Circuit of the Induction Motor
-Chapter 17 Synchronous Motors
-Chapter 18 Single-phase motors
-Chapter 20 Basics of industrial motor control
-Chapter 21 Fundamental elements of Power electronics <--Same thing...this is hard to understand.
These chapter below are important to know.
-Chapter 24 Generation of electrical Energy
-Chapter 25 Transmission of electrical Energy
-Chapter 26 Distribution of electrical Energy
-Chapter 27 The cost of electricity <--I didn't read this chapter but in the real test there was a question related to this chapter...still without reading the chapter i think i got it right on the real exam.
-Chapter 30 Harmonics
(note this also include to do the problems at the end of each chapter)
From the Camara Book Power Reference Manual the only thing that is worth for the exam are:
Chapter 28 Transformers
Chapter 33 Generation Systems
Chapter 34 Three-Phase Electricity and Power
Chapter 35 Batteries
Chapter 36 Power Distribution
Chapter 37 Power Transformers
Chapter 38 Power Transmission Lines
Chapter 39 Power System Analysis
Chapter 40 Protection and Safety
Chapter 41 Rotating DC Machinery
Chapter 42 Rotating AC Machinery
I'll skip chapter 43-47 this is the electronics part. I didn't give to much attention to those.
Chapter 48 Lightning Protection and Grounding
Chapter 49 Illumination (basically the end of this chapter gives you the most important information which is foot candle calculation, but you are free to read all the chapter)
Chapter 50 Power System Management
Chapter 51 Measurement and Instrumentation
Chapter 52 Electrical Materials
Chapter 53 Biomedical Electrical Engineering <--not that important but is a good read.
Chapter 54 National Electrical Code
Chapter 55 National Electrical Safety Code
Chapter 56 Engineering Economic Analysis <---I didn't read this chapter, I found that engineering economics was always been easy to me so, you can find in the exam probably a problem to calculate the future value givin the present value, also you can find economic questions based on how much will be the savings if you change Metal halide fixtures with fluorescent fixtures questions like that.)
I didn't read the rest of the chapters.
Note for NEC questions i bought a book called "Master Electrician Review' chapter 4 give you good tips on how to find stuff quick on the NEC. But to find stuff quick requires a lot of practice finding thing in the NEC. I find beneficial the use of the official NFPA NEC tabs....is like 12 bucks but give you speed on finding things....also the index in the back....and the table of content in the front.
Regarding protective Relaying i couldn't find good info regarding that topic. GA Tech discuss protective relaying but still is something hard to understand. It is recommended to have the IEEE relay number table handy in the exam. Also a knowledge of symmetrical components.
After reading all these chapter then it really comes the final touches to your preparation....i would suggest enrolling to the GA Tech Power Option review in August, the course when i took it was basically 6 Modules (6 days) what i did i divide the modules half of the module on Saturday and half of the module on Sunday after finish the module(videos) I dedicate the rest of the week reviewing at what the professor discussed in the module from the notes he sent on the binder, this include trying to resolve the problems and getting familiar with the formulas and the binder. Then on next weekend continue with module 2 and do the same thing for next week. You shall finish this by mid September. Starting on mid September i would start doing as much problems as i can simulating the same conditions of real exam. I would suggest complex imaginary(have some errors probably it have been fixed by now).....and then at the end I'll do the real NCEES practice problems simulating the same conditions of the exam. When i took it spin off test wasn't available...any way didn't had time to work on it....i run out of time.
I spend a looott of money, a lot of effort and a lot of time. I made all this effort in order not to take it 2 or 3 times that's why i prepared a lot. At the end it works for me as it was supposed to be.
Hope this help....let me know if i can further assist you.
