Choosing between two strong options in the HVAC electrical trades category can feel like a fork in the road. The Cengage Electricity for Refrigeration, Heating & Air Conditioning, 11th Edition is a hefty hardcover that walks you through electrical systems from the ground up, while Commercial Refrigeration for Air Conditioning Technicians by Dick Wirz is a trade paperback that drills into the commercial refrigeration side of the work. Your decision should line up with your typical jobs and how much you want to spend on a reference: the Cengage carries a listed price of $125.00, and the Wirz title is listed at $50.00.
Quick verdict: If you need a comprehensive electricity textbook for a formal course or want a full reference on electrical components in heating and cooling systems, the Cengage 11th edition is the more complete choice. If you are a working technician who already understands basic electricity and wants a focused, practical look at commercial refrigeration-especially with a CD of supplemental material and a lower listed price-the Wirz book is the smarter everyday pick.
At a glance, here is how the two books compare.
| Book | Listed Price | Price Bar | Format | Author |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cengage Electricity for Refrigeration, Heating & Air Conditioning, 11th Ed | $125.00 | Hardcover | Russell E. Smith, Coleman Simmons | |
| Commercial Refrigeration for Air Conditioning Technicians by Dick Wirz | $50.00 | Trade Paperback | Dick Wirz |
Where each product wins
The Cengage text covers the electrical aspects of refrigeration, heating, and air conditioning as one complete subject. It is an 11th edition hardcover written by Russell E. Smith and Coleman Simmons, aimed at adult and further education learners, and listed in Like New condition. If your goal is a thorough electrical foundation, this is the book that gives you the broader syllabus.
Dick Wirz's Commercial Refrigeration for Air Conditioning Technicians is the more targeted resource. This revised trade paperback is built around the commercial refrigeration niche and is listed at $50.00. It comes with a CD for supplementary material and is written in English, making it a practical and lower-cost entry point for technicians who want to specialize.
Cengage Electricity for Refrigeration, Heating & Air Conditioning, 11th Ed
Russell E. Smith and Coleman Simmons wrote this 11th edition as a comprehensive electrical systems textbook, and the hardcover format suggests it is meant to survive frequent use. The listed $125.00 price reflects the depth and size of the content, which covers electricity for refrigeration, heating, and air conditioning under one cover. It is in Like New condition and written in English for adult and further education learners. Choose this one if you want a broad electrical foundation and a reference that ties the separate areas of HVAC together. The limitation is that it is a general electricity text, so you will not get the same level of commercial refrigeration-specific detail that a dedicated book can provide. It is also the higher-priced option at $125.00.
Commercial Refrigeration for Air Conditioning Technicians by Dick Wirz
This trade paperback from 2006 takes a narrower path, focusing squarely on commercial refrigeration for technicians who already work with air conditioning. Dick Wirz's revised edition is listed at $50.00, which is a more approachable price point, and it ships in Like New condition. The book runs 384 pages and is written in English, with a CD included for supplementary material. Its real strength is how directly it connects the theory of refrigeration to real commercial systems, making it a practical desk reference for field work. The trade-off is that it is not a general electricity textbook; if you need the full breadth of electrical theory for heating and air conditioning, you will want the Cengage title instead. For a focused, budget-conscious purchase, this is the one to grab.
Final choice by use case: For a formal HVAC electrical course or a complete reference on electricity for heating, cooling, and refrigeration, pick the Cengage Electricity for Refrigeration, Heating & Air Conditioning, 11th Ed at $125.00. For a working technician who wants commercial refrigeration guidance, a lower listed price, and a CD with supporting material, choose Commercial Refrigeration for Air Conditioning Technicians by Dick Wirz at $50.00.
