Electrician’s Guide to Control and Monitoring Systems

The Electrician’s Guide to Control and Monitoring Systems provides a thorough, practical introduction to control and monitoring systems for electricians, maintenance technicians, and contractors. Cutter, a veteran electrician with over 40 years of experience, presents complex control‑system concepts in an accessible, jargon‑free format. The text focuses primarily on installation, troubleshooting, and maintenance of networked monitoring and control systems—including ladder diagrams, input and output devices, and communications networks.  Detailed drawings and step‑by‑step explanations help the reader interpret ladder diagrams and wiring layouts, breaking down the symbols and logic used in control systems. Coverage also extends to monitoring systems and networked devices: chapters explore programmable logic controllers (PLCs), communication standards such as RS‑232 and RS‑485, Modbus protocols, Ethernet, and USB connections—all within a practical context for electricians working in the field. Importantly, the book includes references to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) “2008 National Electrical Code (NEC)” articles where relevant, tying the content to recognized safety and code standards. This makes the guide suitable not only for learning about control‑ and monitoring‑systems wiring but also for on‑the‑job reference and maintenance‑work guidance. It’s particularly aimed at electrical contractors, field electricians, and maintenance personnel who encounter control panels, sensors, relays, PLCs and network interfaces in industrial or commercial installations.

Key aspects:

• Focuses on installation, troubleshooting and maintenance of control and monitoring systems—especially relevant for electricians and maintenance technicians. 
• Explains how to read and interpret ladder diagrams and other control‑system drawings—symbols, logic and wiring explained step‑by‑step. 
• Covers input devices, output devices, and networked monitoring systems including PLCs, RS‑232/RS‑485/Modbus, Ethernet and other field‑net communications. 
• Includes code references (specifically to the 2008 edition of the National Electrical Code) and emphasizes practical compliance in control & monitoring applications. 
• Richly illustrated with hundreds of product photos, line drawings, and online downloadable drawings to support the text visually.

Highlights:

• Written by a seasoned electrician (40+ years) with hands‑on experience in control systems—bringing practitioner insight into the book. 
• Breaks down complex diagrams into digestible parts: ladder diagrams are “rebuilt” to show you how they function. 
• Designed as a field‑use handbook (not just academic)—very much aimed at contractors and maintenance professionals. 
• Additional downloadable drawings from the publisher enable deeper practice beyond the printed pages. 
• Clear format and minimal “jargon” focus, making it more accessible to those who may be more field‑oriented than academically grounded.

About Albert F. Cutter

Albert F. Cutter Sr. is a seasoned union electrician and educator with over 40 years of hands‑on experience in control systems and automation. He is a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (Local 456) and has served as both an apprentice instructor and a college‑level instructor in production control systems. In addition to his field work, Cutter holds leadership roles as owner and CEO of Intuitive Technologies, Inc., and GMP of AppsDev LLC, giving him both practical and managerial insight into electrical control systems.

Other Works:

• Carpentry & Building Construction, Student Edition, 2016 1st Edition
• Project Management in Construction 7th Edition