I am just about to embark on the process of setting up some shop equipment in my garage. I picked up the equipment from a bender named Glen in Montana and completed the set with the bombarder and vacuum pump Robert Graf posted on the classifieds here (Thanks Robert!). I recently stumbled upon David's NeonPreservation youtube channel and his series on setting up his bombarding bench (Thanks David!). This made it clear that I need to learn some electrical basics before I get to that stage. Luckly I don't anticipate having anything worth lighting up for a while but would like to be prepared once I get there. Other than a circuits class I took in college I don't have much electrical knowledge. I am wondering what people would recommend I learn so that I can safely work with the equipment in and around neon shops? Is there a course I should take (like a 3 hour wiring basics class from my local community college)? My neon library consists of The Neon Superguide, Neon Techniques, The Neon Engineers Notebook 2nd edition and all the Blazek books (the ABCs and Next Generation). Are all the answers in these texts?

Generally, most of what you'd need will be in those books you mentioned. 

...and looking up some NEC related stuff will help you when dealing with anything that is code specific or for recommended wire sizes for a given load, etc.  (books like "UGLY'S" have good distillations of code in them  and any basic home wiring books will help you with most of the lower voltage stuff.  For sign install wiring, consult a book such as "Neon Lighting a professional advantage" by the International Assoc of Electrical Inspectors as this gives a good description of proper sign wiring to meet code.) 

Now, setting up your pumping and bombarding system is another matter.  Most electricians will not be trained in this.  Someone who can do it will have a neon background as well as a good foundation in electrical work and industrial controls.  For this, I highly recommend that you consult someone who has experience in bombarder setups.  It is a VERY SERIOUS matter and all too often shops will just slap things together and not give proper consideration to how the mechanics and ergonomic arrangement impacts the electrical safety of the system. (good electrical work is the circuits and correct wiring but also very much the physical layout of that wiring and components)  There are some real messy examples out there where an accident with grave consequences is likely.  Bombarder current is absolutely unforgiving for lack of knowledge, carelessness, or familiar contempt.  ..and those of us who've been around this work long enough have all seen some shops we'd run away from.  I don't mean to make it overly scary, merely to emphasize just how important getting this right really is. 

Many of us here are happy to help and will answer questions.  I myself also do this type of consultation as part of my work, via email, video call, or on-site visit if required;  so feel free to contact me directly and we can discuss details as necessary.  Thanks, Robert