28 modules: install, troubleshoot, estimate, plus masterclasses. Each opens as a PDF.
Houses run on single-phase power. Commercial buildings run on three-phase power, which means three hot wires instead of one. This module explains why, how the four common voltage systems work (120/208, 277/480, 240 delta, and the high-leg delta), and gives the step-by-step way to approach a live panel: read the label, suit up, prove your meter, and take the seven readings that tell you which system you are standing in. It shows how to find and mark a high leg, balance a panel schedule, read what the neutral current is telling you, size capacitors to fix power factor, spot harmonics, and check motor rotation before anything turns. Take this one first, because panels, transformers, and motors all build on it.
Commercial jobs run off drawings and a written spec book, not a walk-through. This module shows you how to open a drawing set in the right order, read the panel and feeder schedules, scale a run, and what to do when the drawings and the spec disagree. It gives the step-by-step operating sequence for the rotary hammer, powder-actuated tool, knockout punch, band saw, and pipe threader, with the silica-dust rules for drilling concrete. Then it walks through setting wedge, drop-in, and sleeve anchors to the right depth and torque, building a trapeze and checking its load, and chalking out the working space a panel needs before other trades move in.
In a house the cable is the wiring. In commercial work the pipe (called raceway or conduit) is the wiring, and the wire gets pulled in after. This module covers the six everyday types of conduit and where each one is allowed, then walks step by step through cutting, reaming, threading, gluing, and connecting them, including how to check a thread and why you never use a running thread. It shows how to bond the pipe at the box on 480-volt work, how to do box fill and conduit fill math with worked examples, how often each type must be strapped, how to firestop through a rated wall, and how to set expansion fittings so PVC can grow and shrink with the weather.
Bending conduit is the skill that separates a commercial electrician from a helper. This module explains the four marks on a hand bender and what each one is for, then walks step by step through the core bends: the 90-degree stub-up, back-to-back bends, offsets, and the three-point saddle, with a worked example and the take-up, multiplier, and shrink numbers for each. It covers four-point saddles, rolling and parallel offsets, cutting rigid to length using gain, concentric and segment bends, and how to run the Greenlee 1800, 880, and 555 machine benders. It ends with the two rules you can never break (no more than 360 degrees between pull points, never tighter than the minimum radius), a mistakes table, and a practice order.
Commercial wire is big, stranded, and long. This module shows how to size a conductor, lower its rating for a hot room or a crowded pipe, and check it against the lug's temperature rating, with worked examples. It covers the color code and the posted-legend rule, then walks step by step through planning and running a feeder pull: the tugger, rope, taped basket grip, how much lube to bring, the crew and radio calls, and the tension math that shows why a dry pull can break a grip. Then it covers landing wire on mechanical and crimp lugs, where to find the torque number, matching crimp dies, splicing, and the inspection checklist before the power goes on.
The panelboard is where the feeder comes in and the branch circuits go out. This module explains the difference between a feeder and a branch circuit and the 125 percent rule for loads that run three hours or more, with a worked example that sizes a 200-amp feeder from start to finish. It shows how to balance a panel schedule across the A, B, and C phases, then walks step by step through installing a panel the way the manufacturer's instructions say: knockouts, interior, feeder, breakers, torque, fillers, directory, the insulation test, and the order to turn things on. It also covers the one bonding rule you can never get wrong (neutral and ground bonded once at the service, never in a subpanel), shared-neutral circuits, and where GFCI is required.
This module covers the big gear: the main switchboard that takes power from the utility, and the transformers that step 480 volts down to 208/120. It explains the ratings and labels that matter, how many service disconnects are allowed, and when ground-fault protection and arc-energy reduction are required. Then it walks step by step through rigging, setting, splicing, anchoring, and torquing a switchboard the way the manufacturer's bulletin says, the megger test and checklist before power goes on, and the order to energize. It finishes with sizing transformer protection, setting taps, connecting a dry-type transformer, and grounding its secondary as a new system, with worked examples throughout.
Switchgear sits at the top of the building's power system and carries the most fault energy of anything you will touch. This module explains how switchgear differs from a switchboard or panelboard, then walks step by step through racking a draw-out breaker in and out, the interlocks that protect you, remote racking, and the PPE each task needs. It sorts out three ratings people mix up (interrupting, withstand, and short-circuit current rating) with a worked fault-current example, and explains selective coordination with time-current curves and LSIG trip settings. It ends with arc-energy reduction, safe working space, how a lineup is received, set, spliced, and torqued, and the commissioning checklist before it is energized.
Every time voltage changes in a commercial building, there is a transformer doing it. This module shows what is inside a dry-type transformer and uses real nameplate numbers to explain percent impedance, voltage sag, and how much fault current the secondary can push out. It covers the four ways to connect the windings, then walks step by step through picking and setting taps from a measured supply voltage, and grounding the secondary as a brand-new system with the right bonding jumper and electrode conductor sizes. It explains K-rated transformers for buildings full of electronics, sizes the breakers for three common transformers, and ends with the full install, test, and energize sequence from the manufacturers' instructions.
Motors are the biggest loads in a commercial building, and every rooftop unit, pump, and compressor is one. This module breaks the motor circuit into its six parts and sizes two real motors start to finish: wire, breaker, fuse, overload, disconnect, starter, and the feeder that serves both. It explains why the breaker is sized high to ride through startup while the overload dial is set at the nameplate amps, not above it. Then it walks step by step through connecting a nine-lead motor, wiring a start-stop starter with a seal-in contact, picking heaters from a table, installing an MCC bucket safely, meggering the windings, and the checkout before the motor runs coupled.
Grounding and bonding are two different jobs that most people blur together. Grounding connects the system to the earth. Bonding ties all the metal together and back to the source so a fault has a low-resistance path that trips the breaker, because dirt will not trip a breaker. This module covers every type of grounding electrode and how to tie them into one system, then walks step by step through driving and clamping ground rods, testing a rod with a fall-of-potential tester, making a CADWELD, and bonding a service. It sizes the grounding electrode conductor, equipment grounds, and bonding jumpers with worked examples, and ends with the mistakes inspectors catch and their checklist.
This module teaches how power wiring runs underground on a job site and comes back up to the equipment. It walks step by step through calling 811 before digging, keeping a trench safe, burying pipe at the right depth, building a concrete duct bank, and gluing and expanding PVC pipe the right way. It shows how to build the riser that comes out of the ground, size pull boxes, pour a transformer pad, and set light-pole bases. It explains voltage drop on long runs and how to pull wire without hurting it, with an EV charging site as one worked example. It ends with the inspection checklist, a field exercise, and the code sections to know.
This module picks up at the top of the riser, where the wiring meets the equipment box. It explains the NEMA enclosure types so you pick the right outdoor box, and how to mount and seal it so water stays out. It walks step by step through driving ground rods, laying a ground ring, making a CADWELD, and grounding light poles and transformer pads. It shows how to hook up HVAC units, motors, and EV chargers with the right disconnects, flex, working space, and labels. It ends with how to test the ground rod, the wire insulation, and the connection torque before the power goes on.
This module follows electricity from the power company's lines all the way to an electric vehicle charger. It explains each piece of equipment on the way, like switchgear, transformers, switchboards, and panels, and how to spot each one in the field. It walks step by step through asking the utility for service, sizing a charger circuit, sharing power among many chargers with load management, and sizing a big fast charger and its transformer, with nine worked examples. It shows how to set a charger on its base and start it up safely. It ends with the 2026 code changes for chargers, common mistakes, and a hands-on field exercise.
Installing is building on a dead circuit, but repair means working near live equipment, which is when people get hurt. This module teaches a seven-step way to find a problem instead of guessing, with a worked example that splits a circuit in half. It walks step by step through the eight NFPA 70E steps for shutting off, locking, and testing equipment so it is safe to touch, including group lockouts and shift changes. It shows how to read an arc-flash label, pick the right protective clothing, and know how close you can get to live parts, then covers rubber gloves, insulated tools, ladders, and lifts. It ends with common mistakes, a code checklist, and a hands-on lockout exercise.
You cannot see voltage, current, or failing insulation, so your meters are your senses. This module walks step by step through the multimeter, clamp meter, insulation tester, phase-rotation meter, thermal camera, ground-rod tester, and power logger, using the steps from each maker's manual, and explains why a meter must carry the right CAT rating for 480-volt work. It gives the pass and fail numbers for each test, so you know when a motor, wire, or connection is bad. It also shows what simple plug-in testers cannot tell you and how to keep meters calibrated. It ends with a table for reading results, common mistakes, and a hands-on test exercise.
Most service calls are a dead outlet, a GFCI that will not reset, a switch that only works from one side, or a breaker that keeps tripping. This module walks step by step through each one, including splitting a circuit in half to find a bad connection, finding the right breaker with a tracer, and testing GFCIs and AFCIs. It explains why a broken shared neutral can send too much voltage to equipment and burn it out, and how meter readings can fool you. It also covers 3-way and 4-way switches, LED fixtures, 0-10 V dimming, and the code sections that moved in the 2026 edition. It ends with a 14-step troubleshooting procedure, a list of common mistakes, and hands-on practice.
This module teaches how to find out why a breaker keeps tripping and how to fix the real cause instead of putting in a bigger breaker. It walks step by step through reading the breaker label and trip chart, checking the 125 percent rule for long-running loads, testing a breaker properly, and finding hot connections with an infrared camera. It shows how to repair only the joints that scan hot, with the power off, and how to test a panel's feeder with a megger and a voltmeter. It also covers arc-flash safety for taking off a panel cover and how to find a hidden neutral-to-ground connection that trips big 480-volt services. It ends with a list of common mistakes, the code sections to know, and a hands-on exercise.
This module teaches how to troubleshoot the biggest electrical equipment in a building: transformers, switchboards, and switchgear. It walks step by step through checking a hot or noisy transformer, measuring all six secondary voltages to spot a blown primary fuse, and testing a transformer with real pass and fail numbers. It explains what to check when a big breaker will not close or trips with almost no load, and how to find hot joints in switchgear and busway. It also covers oil-filled and pad-mount transformers, recording power quality with a logger, and the safe order for turning power back on after an outage. It ends with common mistakes, the code sections to know, and a hands-on exercise.
This module teaches how to find out why a motor will not run right by deciding whether the problem is in the controls, the power wiring, or the motor itself. It walks step by step through tracing a control circuit with a meter using wire numbers, checking fuses and contacts, and catching a motor that has lost one phase. It shows how to set an overload at the nameplate amps, how to figure current and voltage unbalance, and how to read drive and soft-starter fault codes. It explains how long to wait for a drive's capacitors to drain before touching it and how to test motor windings with a megger. It ends with common mistakes, the code sections to know, and a hands-on exercise.
This module teaches you how to prove that the grounding and bonding in a building still work. It explains why a ground rod and the equipment ground do two different jobs, and why a good rod cannot trip a breaker. It walks step by step through checking the equipment ground with a meter, testing a live outlet with a circuit tester, and measuring a ground rod with a fall-of-potential tester and stakes in the dirt. You also learn a checklist for the service, how to find hidden bonds and wiring mistakes, and a table that matches each problem to the test that finds it. It ends with a test report form, a practice graph to plot, and hands-on exercises.
This module teaches you how to take care of electrical equipment so it does not fail. It explains the three kinds of maintenance and how the NFPA 70B standard sets how often each job is done. It walks step by step through cleaning and checking panels, switchboards, transformers, and motors, and through infrared scans and insulation tests with their pass and fail numbers, and it explains why you re-torque only what a scan flags. You also learn the required tests for generators, emergency lights, GFCI outlets, and ground-fault protection, and how to keep good records. It ends with a sample yearly calendar, a list of mistakes to avoid, and hands-on exercises.
This module starts the estimating phase and teaches you how to count and measure a whole job from the drawings. It shows what to read first in the bid package, like the drawing list, the specs, and the addenda. It walks step by step through coloring and counting devices, measuring pipe and wire with real rules like adding 15 percent to wire, and adding up the worksheets. You also learn how to build assemblies, figure boxes and plates from your counts, and catch work that is easy to miss. It ends with the scope letter, how to ask questions before bid day, a bid-day checklist, and hands-on exercises.
This module teaches how a takeoff becomes a price. It explains what a labor unit is, what NECA's units include, and how to pick the Normal, Difficult, or Very Difficult column with a score sheet. It walks step by step through extending hours, adjusting for conditions like height and overtime, and building a burdened labor rate from Birmingham wage data and payroll taxes. It shows how overhead, margin, markup, sales tax, bonds, and proposals work with real numbers. It ends with a small tenant-improvement job priced line by line and a bid review checklist.
This module teaches how real job conditions eat labor hours and how to get paid for them. It explains the 16 industry productivity factors, how overtime makes crews slower each week, and what the standard AIA contract says about changes. It walks step by step through a change order from spotting it to getting it signed, with a fully priced 40-hour example, daily T&M tickets, and a weekly labor report by cost code. It also covers pay applications and Alabama payment, retainage, and lien deadlines. It ends with closeout steps like the punch list, panel labels, as-builts, and final payment.
This module teaches how to spot and safely handle the old electrical gear still working in older Birmingham buildings. It shows how to recognize old panels, fuses, and wiring, which ones are dangerous, and what to tell the customer honestly. It walks step by step through making old fuse boxes safer, adding protection to old ungrounded outlets, handling aluminum branch wiring the right way, reading strange voltages on old delta systems, and finding a hidden ground fault one circuit at a time. It also covers checking whether old gear can handle today's fault current, why rebuilt breakers and panels are no longer allowed, and how to stop and get help when you find PCBs or asbestos. It ends with a field identification table, a red-flag checklist, the code numbers to know, and a hands-on exercise.
This module teaches commercial lighting, from warehouse high-bays to office troffers, parking-lot poles, and emergency exit lights. It explains what is inside each fixture, how warm or cool the light looks, how true it makes colors, and how much light each kind of room needs, with the IES footcandle levels. It walks step by step through hanging fixtures, supporting lights in a drop ceiling, setting a light pole, wiring an emergency battery driver, wiring 0-10 V dimmers and occupancy sensors, and running a 277-volt lighting circuit. It shows how to count how many fixtures a room needs and how to test emergency lights every month and every year. It ends with a troubleshooting table, common mistakes, an inspection checklist, the code numbers to know, and a hands-on exercise.
Half of being fast in the field is knowing the material on sight and calling it by its real name. This module is a picture guide to the materials a commercial electrician uses every day, from cable and conduit to boxes, wire, breakers, panels, devices, lights, connectors, and anchors. For each one it shows how to tell what it is by looking at it, how to pick the right one, and which code rule covers it. It walks step by step through jobs like running MC cable, gluing PVC, checking box fill, setting up a panel, installing a receptacle, and setting concrete anchors, and it covers firestopping, labels, parts lists, and storing material on the job. It ends with common mistakes, an inspection checklist, the code numbers to know, and a hands-on exercise.