Comparison

Electrical Tools & Reference vs Electrical Design Residential

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β€” with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Electrical Tools & Reference

Features
Read full description

Master electricity, circuits, and real-world wiring! Whether you're a student, apprentice, or working electrician, this comprehensive app is your go-to resource for understanding and applying electrical engineering concepts. Learn electrical theory, explore detailed wiring diagrams, and use handy tools to make everyday electrical work easier and more accurate. All-in-One Electrician’s Toolkit Learn Electrical Basics – Voltage, current, resistance, power, Ohm’s & Kirchhoff’s laws, grounding, and more Interactive Wiring Diagrams – Switches (SPST, DPST, intermediate), socket and lighting circuits, sensors, and motor connections (star/delta, capacitor, contactors) Built-In Calculators – Power, current, voltage, resistance, energy costs, resistor codes, and essential electrical formulas Schematic Symbols Library – Standard electronics symbols: resistors, capacitors, fuses, diodes, transistors, and more Clear, Practical Learning Simple, real-world explanations for beginners and pros alike Visual diagrams and field-ready schematics for easy understanding Practice your knowledge with quizzes and electrical tests Covers both theory and hands-on electrical installation cases Perfect For: Electrical engineering students & apprentices Electricians and field technicians Instructors and vocational trainers DIY enthusiasts with technical curiosity Why Choose This App? Electrician Handbook has been trusted for its practical approach to electrical education. Everything you need – from core concepts to practical applications – in one easy-to-use guide. In-app purchase Details: Monthly Subscription Lifetime Subscription Privacy Policy : https://applicationcontent.wordpress.com/privacy-policy/ Terms of use : https://applicationcontent.wordpress.com/terms-of-use/

About

Electrical Design Residential

Features
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This app is a complete residential electrical design toolkit for electricians, electrical contractors, engineers, and homeowners β€” built around NEC 2023 Article 220 (Standard Method). Version 2.0 brings three entirely new tools alongside the proven load calculator: a Dashboard home screen with a Quick Service Estimator, a full Wire Sizing Reference table, and a searchable NEC Code Reference Library covering 10 key articles. FOUR-STEP NEC LOAD CALCULATOR This app walks you through the full NEC Article 220 Standard Method calculation: Step 1 – House Information: enter living area, floors, garage, and basement Step 2 – Room Configuration: set up bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms, laundry, and more Step 3 – Appliances & Loads: add HVAC, range, dryer, EV charger, water heater, and any custom load Step 4 – Results: view service size, demand load, panel layout, circuit list, conductor sizing, and full load worksheet Calculations cover general lighting (3 VA/sq ft), small-appliance circuits, laundry circuits, demand factors (NEC 220.42), range demand (Table 220.55), dryer load (NEC 220.54), non-coincident HVAC loads (NEC 220.60), and fixed-appliance demand factors (NEC 220.53). Export a detailed PDF report directly from the results screen. DASHBOARD (NEW IN V2.0) This app now opens to a Dashboard home screen that is immediately useful without running a calculation. It includes a Quick Service Estimator β€” enter square footage and instantly see a rough service size β€” plus a rotating NEC tip card covering Articles 210 through 430, and a quick-reference list of the eight most common residential branch circuits with wire gauge and voltage. WIRE SIZING REFERENCE (NEW IN V2.0) A dedicated Wire Ref tab gives instant access to NEC Table 310.16 ampacity values for every gauge from 14 AWG through 500 kcmil, in both copper and aluminum, across all three temperature ratings (60Β°C, 75Β°C, 90Β°C). Also includes NEC Table 310.15(B)(1) temperature correction factors, conductor bundling derating from Table 310.15(C)(1), and minimum conduit sizing guidance from NEC Annex C. Fully searchable by gauge or application. NEC CODE REFERENCE LIBRARY (NEW IN V2.0) A searchable, expandable library of 10 essential NEC articles for residential work: Articles 210, 220, 225, 230, 240, 250, 310, 314, 334, and 430. Each entry includes a plain-language summary and expandable key requirements pulled directly from the NEC. Filter by category or search across all articles and sections at once. PANEL LAYOUT & CONDUCTOR SIZING This app generates a complete branch circuit schedule, visual panel layout with breaker slot assignments, service entrance conductor sizing (copper and aluminum), neutral conductor sizing, grounding electrode conductor sizing per Table 250.66, and conduit size recommendations. For informational and educational purposes. Always verify designs with a licensed electrician and the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ).

Screenshots

Electrical Tools & Reference4 screens
Electrical Design Residential4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Electrical Tools & Reference at Free against Electrical Design Residential's $2.99. Electrical Tools & Reference also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). Electrical Design Residential's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Electrical Tools & Reference is free to download; Electrical Design Residential costs $2.99 up front. Electrical Tools & Reference sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Electrical Design Residential asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Electrical Tools & Reference ships an update every 3 weeks, Electrical Design Residential every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences Β· 2 level
Electrical Tools & Reference versus Electrical Design Residential: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterElectrical Tools & ReferenceElectrical Design Residential
PriceFree β€” better$2.99
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks β€” betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo β€” better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod β€” betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 β€” better17.0
Further details β€” not scored
Size88 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAshvin KevadiyaYuhsiu Lai

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Electrical Tools & Reference

Subscriptions1
  • Monthly$2.991 Month
One-time1
  • Lifetime Premium$3.99
None

Electrical Design Residential

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Electrical Tools & Reference free?
Electrical Tools & Reference is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Electrical Design Residential free?
Electrical Design Residential costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Electrical Tools & Reference or Electrical Design Residential have ads?
Neither Electrical Tools & Reference nor Electrical Design Residential shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Electrical Tools & Reference or Electrical Design Residential?
Electrical Tools & Reference ships an update every 3 weeks, and Electrical Design Residential every 2 months. Most recently, Electrical Tools & Reference was updated on September 18, 2026 and Electrical Design Residential on October 2, 2026.

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