This book is written by Richard Cadena, who is the technical editor of Lighting and Sound America. It will answer virtually every question you've asked in your post, and it will also help you stay safe on the job. Worth every penny.
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EDIT: Submit your questions for Richard's r/livesound Q+A here.
Go to your local library. Look in non-fiction for Dewey 621.31924 and see what's there on home wiring. Borrow one and read it. Pay particular attention to how to wrap the wire around the screw.
Maybe this:
Ultimate Guide: Wiring, 8th Updated Edition (Creative Homeowner) DIY Home Electrical Installations & Repairs from New Switches to Indoor & Outdoor Lighting with Step-by-Step Photos (Ultimate Guides) by Editors of Creative Homeowner
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1580117872/
If your library has it.
Do you own a book on home wiring? Go to your local library. Look in non-fiction for Dewey 621.31924 and see what's there on home wiring. Borrow one and read it. Pay particular attention to how to do this work. Details matter.
One example of such a book: Ultimate Guide: Wiring, 8th Updated Edition (Creative Homeowner) DIY Home Electrical Installations & Repairs from New Switches to Indoor & Outdoor Lighting with Step-by-Step Photos (Ultimate Guides) by Editors of Creative Homeowner
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1580117872/
Not a course, but this book taught me a lot about wiring as I completed my basement. Ended up doing all wiring myself including 3 new circuits. Something that can kill you or burn down your house is always intimidating, but in reality it is pretty easy after understanding basic concept. Your local library probably has a copy too.
Always shut circuits off in breaker box and buy $9 outlet tester at hime depot if working on those.
Good luck
https://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-Complete-Wiring-Updated/dp/0760353573
>Ultimate Guide: Wiring, 8th Updated Edition (Creative Homeowner) DIY Home Electrical Installations & Repairs from New Switches to Indoor & Outdoor Lighting with Step-by-Step Photos (Ultimate Guides) by Editors of Creative Homeowner
Every public library has one or more books like this. Unless we steal them all, people will read them and try some of this stuff. And honestly, at least the books are edited by competent people (AFAIK) and warn about the dangers. They also show, in pictures, correct ways of working and thus are arguably better then the internet.
But unlike us, the books can't detect the arrogant and incompetent (a bad combination) and urge them to leave it to the pros. So it's not all bad.
It could be simple. But if you find more wires in there than you expect, well, that's when we get posts from people who can't figure out where they all go.
An electrician can also spot some other things there that need attention that you would ignore. You're getting a repair and a free check up when you hire a professional.
If you want to try, read up on the work first. Here's one example:
Ultimate Guide: Wiring, 8th Updated Edition (Creative Homeowner) DIY Home Electrical Installations & Repairs from New Switches to Indoor & Outdoor Lighting with Step-by-Step Photos (Ultimate Guides) by Editors of Creative Homeowner
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1580117872/
Or, go to your local library. Look in non-fiction for Dewey 621.31924 and see what's there.
There are some books on domestic wiring that don't have awful reviews...
If you want to take it further than knowing how to replace a wall switch or install a new outlet, I would probably actually start by learning about electronic circuits - it gives you about all the knowledge you need to navigate 110V household wiring, but also helps you understand the operation and failure modes of many of the things you actually plug into the outlet. Also easier to experiment and have fun without hurting yourself. This is a pretty good and accessible book.
Outside of that, a lot of the electrician-by-trade knowledge is about complying with building codes and dealing with higher-voltage circuits common in commercial and industrial settings, which is of very limited relevance to mere mortals. So, if you want to be an electrician-but-not-really-an-electrician, the electronic stuff is really where the meat is. For household wiring, once you figure out n-way switches, the novelty wears off...
The only two piece of advice I have is (1) don't half-ass it with safety - like with guns, there should be always at least two things standing between you and death - don't just assume you flipped the right breaker, etc; and (2) don't jury-rig shitty wiring - code compliance is one thing, but the spit-and-duct-tape approach is not worth the price you're gonna pay when it comes undone 5, 10, or 15 years later and burns down your house.
I'd probably just pick up and read a couple of manuals that are designed as "here's the basics of what you need to know" -- Two that I have and use for electrical, for instance, are:
Following all of those and being willing to work with inspectors and correct anything they spotted helped me pass all of the inspections. City of Austin also posts checklists on their website.
Finding this sort of fault is frustrating. We have to guess at how the wiring is run in your house. Go to your local library. Look in non-fiction for Dewey 621.31924 and see what's there on home wiring. Borrow one and read it. Pay particular attention to anything on finding faults.
Or buy something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1580117872/
Or same thing on eBay.
I did an EET program in Canada before EE on power systems. We used Electrical Machines, Drives and Power Systems. It covers the operation and application of 3 phase, transformer, motors and alternators plus more industrial stuff. Doesn't get deep into the design but focuses more on the practical explaining the machines and what you'd need to know to work with them without getting into math past phasors.
No, you are not. I've put in subpanels and wired two shops, and always went with 20amp circuits, 12/2 wire; increased cost is negligible, and make sure you buy outlets rated for 20amp, premium outlets like Hubbell, you'll be glad you did. Also, per code, if the line is not a single outlet dedicated line it must be GFI, so buy a GFI outlet rated for 20amps, you only need one outlet per circuit. Also, mount your outlets about 52" high on the walls so they won't be covered by things like sheets of plywood stored against the walls. Also, put your lighting on a separate circuit, if the dust collector blows the breaker you don't want to be in the dark with a spinning tablesaw. . .
Oh, best book on the subject is "Wiring a House" I've bought at least two of the editions since 1999; worth getting if you are doing the work yourself. Best $20 I've ever spent, and covers lots of other topics as well, soup to nuts. I refer to it often. Good luck
Here is the book I used for my Energy Devices class, I found it really useful for most anything that you would come across on a beginner level. Electrical Machines, Drives, and Power Systems
https://www.amazon.com/How-Diagnose-Everything-Electronic-Second/dp/0071848290/
YouTube: bigclivedotcom, Learn Electronics Repair, DiodeGoneWild, TronicsFix, Adamant IT, Sorin Electronics, Electronics Repair School
I agree with the other comment that the book is awesome but no need to make a video just for the sake of clicks.
TLDR, here the book
That's like pouring a 5-gallon bucket into a tea cup and saying you just overestimated the volume of the tea cup. I think you should do some studying before doing more electrical work.
https://smile.amazon.com/Black-Decker-Complete-Wiring-Updated/dp/0760353573/
The reason you should do it is that it's a code requirement. And code is more about safety than about interference, although it might help that too.
But there are a lot of other code requirements for an outbuilding, including that you should feed it with only one circuit.
I suggest getting a book or hiring an electrician.
https://smile.amazon.com/Black-Decker-Complete-Wiring-Updated/dp/0760353573/
I recommend this specific outlet tester, as it can read voltage as well as indicated good or bad connections.
If the voltage is either good (108 to 130 V) or about zero (<10 V), it's simply a bad connection, likely in the outlet where you need something plugged in for it to work. Turn off the circuit breaker and replace it, or get someone to replace it for you. If you aren't 100% sure how to do that safely, the Black and Decker book is less than $20 and much better than bits of incomplete advice you might get.
Replacing the rest if one is bad quality or wired poorly is a good idea.
And/or Wiring a House Completely
The current Black and Decker one is surprisingly detailed and a nice reference for someone trying to do something simple.
Would I use it to rewire a house? No.
Would I use it to doublecheck my 3-way switch is set up correctly? Yes.
If you want to know about house wiring, get The Black & Decker Complete Guide to Wiring (8th Edition). You should especially do this if you are a first year electrical engineer or later, because you understand the theory, but seeing how things are done in practice is pretty cool. Designing things in Verilog is fun, but fixing your own house is satisfying.
The book is filled with pictures so it's easy to follow along. Electrical wiring isn't as scary as it sounds; a big part of being an electrician is just learning the codes that ensure safety.
https://smile.amazon.com/Black-Decker-Complete-Photo-Wiring/dp/0760371512
(Also at some point you should get a book on repairing drywall, but as an electrical engineer, you can also try to foist that off on the civil engineers.)
This book the Ultimate Wiring Book is pretty good https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Guide-Installations-Step-Step/dp/1580117872 but it's from 2017. So it's not up to the latest code. It will show you how to do basic work but you'll need to check something like Ugly's book to make sure its current code. There is supposed to be a new one coming out that covers the 2020 Code.
Electric machines, drives and power systems by Theodore Wildi. This is the book I used for my EET program. It'll go in depth into 3 phase, different types of motor & generator applications and operation, different transformer configurations and power systems stuff more tailored at utilities. There's also control and plc stuff in there too. It's very practical but there's still a lot of math and it's about as deep as you can go before you need calculus. You'll need to learn complex numbers and how those relate to phasors to understand it.
I use this one for home construction mainly. It has great pictures with it all laid out and explained. [BlackDecker](https://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-Complete-Photo-Wiring-dp-0760371512/dp/0760371512/ref=dp\_ob\_title\_bk)
https://www.amazon.ca/Black-Decker-Complete-Wiring-Updated/dp/0760353573
Best $30 I ever spent. Finished a whole basement, added new circuits/breakers, A/V... everything. Electrician neighbour came over before I drywalled and said everything was fine.
You are not the problem, the crew is the problem. Tell them to find more grunt work for you to do, you need more time on the basics. Also get this book. We also had a copy on the jobsite and its what I gave to my students in the classroom. Its is epic.
Black & Decker The Complete Guide to Wiring, Updated 7th Edition: Current with 2017-2020 Electrical Codes (Black & Decker Complete Guide) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0760353573/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_0GC0CDBR255CQTSC0MK9