Shorty’s Trade Simulations.
14 hands-on simulations for electrical apprentices. Wire a circuit, count a box, bend a pipe, size a wire, and drive a rod. An inspector checks your work and names the 2026 NEC section behind every call.
Free, no sign-up · Works on a phone, tablet, or computer
Laying out a house
- SpacingPlace receptacles on a floor plan so no spot on the wall is too far from one. Use as few as you can.
- Protection MapProtect a whole house with GFCI and AFCI devices on a budget, and pass the inspector.
- Working SpaceDrag a panel along the wall, move what's in the way, and keep a clear, code-sized working space in front of it.
Sizing it right
- Box FillClick what counts inside the box, pick the smallest box that holds it, and close the cover.
- Wire SizePick the breaker and wire for each load while a gauge shows how heat and crowding cut ampacity.
- Conduit FillDrop wires into a pipe drawn to scale, and pick the smallest pipe that stays under the fill limit.
- Load CalculationDrag floor area, circuits, and appliances onto a load calculation, and then size the service.
- Voltage DropStretch a run across the yard and watch the lamp dim, then size the wire to keep the drop in spec.
Running pipe and cable
- Conduit BendingMark, bend, and strap 1/2 in. EMT with a hand bender, and keep every run at 360 degrees or less between pull points.
- Secure and SupportMeasure the run and drive staples and straps where the NEC 2026 says, using as few as the inspector will pass.
- Burial DepthDig the trench, read Table 300.7(A), and bury each run at the shallowest legal depth for its wiring method and location.
Teaching a class?
Build a cited slide deck and quiz on any part of the 2026 NEC, in the order you teach it, then send your students to these simulations to practice. The lesson builder is free for instructors during the pilot. Tell us what is wrong or missing, and we read every note.
Request a builder codeQuestions about the simulations
What are the Ask Shorty trade simulations?
They are free, hands-on practice games for electrical apprentices. You wire a circuit, count a box, bend a pipe, size a wire, or drive a ground rod. An inspector checks your work and names the 2026 NEC section behind each call.
Do the simulations cost anything or need an account?
No. They are free, and you do not sign up. They work on a phone, tablet, or computer.
Where do I start if I am new to the trade?
Start with the first unit, How a circuit works, then move to laying out a house, sizing it right, running pipe and cable, and grounding and bonding. You can also open any simulation on its own.
Can an instructor use the simulations in class?
Yes. Instructors can send students to any simulation, and can build their own cited lessons and quizzes on any part of the NEC with the Ask Shorty lesson builder.
Do the simulations replace the code book?
No. They are a study aid that shows section numbers only. Read the full text in your code book and follow your local inspector.