The NEC is a model electrical code devised and published by the

National Fire Protection Association, an insurance industry group.

It's revised every three years. The 1993 version has been released.

You can buy a copy at a decent bookstore, or by calling them directly

at 800-344-3555. The code exists in several versions. There's the

full text, which is fairly incomprehensible. There's an abridged

edition, which has only the sections likely to apply to most houses.

And there's the NEC Handbook, which contains the ``authorized

commentary'' on the code, as well as the full text. That's the

recommended version. Unfortunately, there's no handbook for

the abridged edition. And the full handbook is expensive --

US$65 plus shipping and handling.