1923

 Year: 1923

Pages: 182

Size: 4" X 6.25"

Availability: Rare

Facts: The table of content changed to articles in the edition. Article 1 is definitions (this is the first year of code with definitions), Article 6 is conductors and the last article is 60 which is signal systems. Marine work was taken out of this one as well.

The first mention of convenience outlets.

First code to require grounding at each building service. (driven ground rod or pipe)

Shout out to Bryan Holland for this information:

Prior to 1920, the NEC was divided into six separate “Classes,” the 1923 NEC is the first edition to use the more familiar “Article” arrangement, though still significantly different from the Chapter-Article-Section format used in the code today. 

The 1923 edition of the NEC has 182 pages and a total of 42 articles. There are 30 defined terms in a new “Article 1. Definitions” that would eventually evolve into the Article 100 we are familiar with today. Another interesting addition to the 1923 NEC is an Appendix that contains “a few diagrams illustrating arrangements for service entrance devices, for motor installations, and for radio equipment.” 

Here are a few of the other interesting facts about the 1923 NEC: 

➢ Protection of lighting circuits with fuses rated at 15 amperes is now permitted in lieu of 10 ampere fused protection. Interestingly, the 2023 NEC has reintroduced the 10 ampere branch circuit. 

➢ Grounded conductors are no longer required to be protected by a fuse where the grounded conductor. is identified, properly connected, and permission is given by the inspection department. 

➢ Driven rods (ground rods) are added to the code as an acceptable “artificial ground.” 

➢ The rules on the methods for the protection of motors are clarified and expanded. 

➢ The rules on radio equipment are heavily revised and greatly simplified. 

➢ The rules for marine wiring, electric cars, and car houses are no longer included in the code

Some copies of this code year is stamped: "COMPLIMENTS OF L.L. COOKE" on the cover.  The L. L. Cooke School of Electricity was an early correspondence course on electrical theory and practice. The course covered various topics in electrical technology from alarms to wiring. The correspondence course company was based in Chicago. The courses were published by the American School of Correspondence.