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Quiz Session - Attempts With Random Questions

NASCLA Journeyman Electrician Exam Questions

Page 2 of 15

21.

Service disconnects are required to be designed and function in a way that disconnects all ungrounded service conductors from the premise wiring system in what fashion?

  • Simultaneously

  • Individually

  • By phase harmonics

  • Automatically

Correct answer: Simultaneously

Service is the first issue to note here. Simultaneous opening of poles is the second. Solve Code problems by properly identifying these items, then begin your search in the Code as the Code prioritizes or outlines them. 

Simultaneous disconnection is the only safe way to disconnect more than one ungrounded conductor of any electrical system. Serious electrical hazards exist if this is done any other way.

The other options are descriptive or electrical terms that do not apply to this situation. 

22.

The EMT you are installing is required to be metallically joined into a continuous electrical conductor with all box fittings and cabinets. This is done in a manner so as to provide what?

  • Effective electrical continuity

  • A bond across all materials

  • All code requirements

  • An installation safe from electrical hazards

Correct answer: Effective electrical continuity

Identify the need for electrical continuity and a metal raceway. This is a general requirement for wiring methods. This is also why we bond everything. If there is a short, it will go to ground.

The other options are actually valid descriptions of the correct answer. They may have them in Code tests, but the only correct answer will be what the Codebook says.

23.

For plans, what are the three types of dimensions?

  • Location, size, written

  • Length, height, width

  • Scale, not to scale, TBD

  • Architectural, mechanical, civil

Correct answer: Location, size, written

Location dimensions indicate where a feature is located.

Size indicates the height, length, or width of a feature.

Written dimensions always supersede any measurement or scaling done on site.

24.

What electrical installations does NFPA 70E apply to?

  • Installations operating at 50 volts and above

  • Installations operating at 1000 volts and above

  • Installations operating at 120 volts nominal 

  • Installations operating both AC and DC

Correct answer: Installations operating at 50 volts and above

NFPA 70E applies to all electrical installations operating at 50 volts or above that are on the customer side of the service point. These include all standard voltages and power systems 120 and above.

25.

You need to install lighting for regularly required maintenance in a duct system that was specifically designed for environmental air. What type of luminaries are permitted?

  • Enclosed gasketed

  • Enclosed

  • Incadesant

  • Electric discharge

Correct answer: Enclosed gasketed

Wiring in ducts, plenums, air handling, fabricated ducts, and environmental air are all items that should come to mind in this question. The question concerns general requirements for materials in ducts, and is specifically about ducts specifically fabricated for environmental air. Larger industrial ducts do have lighting installed for regular maintenance. Plenums are common with similar or overlapping Code requirements. These issues are less dangerous than special conditions and occupancies, but are commonly thought of as special as they do not arise every day. We all deal with ductwork. This section is not long and easy to understand if plenums or the ductwork described are common in your locality. 

The other options are descriptions or types of lighting which may be gasketed, and thus could be used, but do not satisfy the specific Code question.

26.

Which of the following is one of three options required for insulated conductors and cables installed in a wet location? 

  • Be moisture-impervious metal sheathed

  • Be approved in damp locations if drainage is also provided

  • Be encased in concrete

  • Be constructed with moisture-impervious qualities

Correct answer: Be moisture-impervious metal sheathed

A wet location is obvious here. Uses permitted is the application addressed here. Installation of conductors for general wiring is also easily identified.

Per 310.10(C), conductors and cables in a wet location must comply with the answer or be listed for use in a wet location or be one of 14 types of cables listed there. These 14 types are also listed in Table 310.4(A). These are identified by a “W” in their type letter. However, this is not always the case. USE-2, for example, is listed in the table as having an application provision for use in dry and wet locations. Thus, it is in compliance.

The other options are methods or qualities used in wet locations, but do not satisfy the answer.

27.

What is the easiest increment of measurement to calculate most jobsite calculations to or in?

  • Inches

  • Feet

  • Meters

  • Centimers

Correct answer: Inches

Using the inch as a common denominator is often the fastest way to calculate measurements. Most measurements are within the size of standard-sized rooms. 

Using a foot as the common denominator can easily result in errors calculating the decimals back to inches. 

Fraction to decimal calculations are easily memorized to associate as needed.

Also, tape measures are available with standard increments on one edge and metric on the other. Some plans do reference metric measurements.

The other options are also reasonable, but more difficult or seldom used.

28.

What does limiting the number of circuits in a single enclosure minimize?

  • The effects of a short circuit or ground fault

  • Difficulty in circuit identification

  • The effects of sharing grounded conductors

  • The need for push connectors vs. wire nuts

Correct answer: The effects of a short circuit or ground fault

This is the primary consideration in any and every enclosure.

In providing an electrical installation that is safe, various parameters govern the number and type of circuits in an enclosure throughout the Code. When calculating box fill, remember that plastic bushings are required by Code in all enclosures. While some jurisdictions do not adopt the use of bushings for all enclosures, they are still required to be considered in box fill calculations. 

The other options are only considerations or benefits.

29.

Busbars, bare wire, cable, and circuit conductors are installed in raceways, cable trays and MC cable. Where insulators are required, along with their mounting and conductor attachments used as supports, what maximum force must these be able to safely withstand if two or more conductors of the circuit were to short-circuit? 

  • Magnetic

  • Amperage

  • Resistance

  • Voltage

Correct answer: Magnetic

While this is a regular consideration of lineman, it is also a real issue where standard "bus" is installed by electricians. This should have been considered by those who engineered the project. But electricians should verify this at installation as it is often hung with nominal clearances overhead from various metal structures in small and medium-sized facilities.

All options are forces that electricians normally calculate. 

30.

You are installing several power-operated disconnects on the exterior of a building. The disconnect clearly indicates whether it is opened or closed.

What are two functions regarding the operation of these disconnects that the Code requires you to ensure?

  • Disconnects can be opened by hand if the power fails, ensuring all grounded and ungrounded conductors are open

  • Disconnect breakers or fuses are properly sized and installed

  • Disconnects are rated watertight and securely attached to the wall

  • Disconnects are at working height and within plain sight

Correct answer: Disconnects can be opened by hand if the power fails, ensuring all grounded and ungrounded conductors are open

This applies to the construction of the disconnect. Four main items are addressed in this section of the Code: operation, pole opening, disconnection of grounded conductors, and indication, which are all referred to and satisfied in either the question or answer. All of these issues, if not addressed in a real situation, are required to be addressed by the Code.

All other options are things electricians have to ensure by Code, but they do not apply to the construction of the disconnect. Water tight is a rating. Breakers and fuses are addressed under rating and elsewhere in the Code.

31.

What is an instrument with evenly spaced graduations that is used for scaling drawings?

  • Scale

  • Wiggy's

  • Laser level

  • Slide rule

Correct answer: Scale

There are two common definitions for a scale that are used in print drawings:

  • An instrument with evenly spaced graduation that is used for measuring
  • A mathematical size relationship between the actual object and a drawing of the object

32.

What is required to be rated not less than the control device controlling receptacle outlets that are supplied by permanently connected cord pendants for cord and plug connected loads on general-purpose branch circuits?

  • The overcurrent protection device

  • The GFCI

  • The AFCI

  • The circuit breaker

Correct answer: The overcurrent protection device

Here, we have more items or keywords to identify than are required to find the answer. In order, they are: control device, receptacles, cord pendants, cord connectors, cord and plug connected loads, attachment plugs, and general-purpose branch circuits. The question is about overcurrent protection devices, a section all its own, but this is not needed. 

Not obvious but needed is equipment for general use, switches, and rating and use of switches. A control device is a switch. There are eleven total topics, all of which should be recognized.

These are the four items in the order you need to find your answer:

  • Equipment for general use
  • Switches
  • Rating and use of switches
  • Cord and plug connected loads

All of the other options are overcurrent protection devices, but do not satisfy the question. Several would be applied in real life. The required rating would be on one of these devices, but any overcurrent protection device with the required rating could fulfill this requirement.

This actually imposes the overcurrent protection device rating (minimum 15 amps) on the snap switches or control devices, which are available in lower amperages.

33.

Current takes what path?

  • All available paths

  • The path of least resistance

  • The path to the load

  • The path of the EMF      

Correct answer: All available paths

The reality is that electricity—current—will take all paths or circuits available to it. If more than one path exists, the current will divide itself among the paths.

Current will divide in opposite proportion to the impedance. The lower impedance path (or conductor) will carry more current than the higher impedance path (or conductor).

The other options are all possible, but do not satisfy the question.

34.

In a switch box, the total of all conductors installed at any cross section of the wiring space can not exceed what percentage of the cross-sectional area of that space?

  • 40%

  • 60%

  • 80%

  • 50%

Correct answer: 40%

This one is more difficult. Switch enclosure is obvious, which is also a cutout box. What is not obvious is splices, taps, and feed-through conductors. And the question is about a wiring method.

These four things will show you where your answer is, by searching the Code outlines.

35.

Flexible cords, cables, and their associated fittings are required to be suitable for what condition(s)? 

  • Of use and location

  • Of general purpose

  • In non-hazardous locations

  • In dry locations

Correct answer: Of use and location

Suitability is the key word here. It concerns flexible cords and cables, which are equipment for general use. 

Here we see that suitability is a simple requirement in the NEC. When this is the case, answers are often found nearer the general chapters. For more involved conditions, you may need to go further on in the Code, and at times multiple articles may become involved.

The other options are terms describing uses and locations, but do not satisfy the answer. 

36.

Which of the following is a vented fuse unit in which the expulsion effect of gasses produced by the arc and lining of the fuseholder, either alone or aided by a spring, extinguishes the arc?

  • Expulsion fuse

  • Controlled vented power fuse

  • Vented power fuse

  • Power fuse unit

Correct answer: Expulsion fuse

This definition can be found in Article 100 Definitions Part II. Over 1000 Volts, Nominal.

There are five specific fuses with various parameters for limiting the effects of the fuses blowing. These differently protect both the inside and the outside of the fuse locations. This is equipment or information that can be filed categorically.

Recognizing what situations these may be used in is more important for the test than memorizing them specifically.

The other options are defined separately. If you do not know them, review them.

37.

What unit of measurement is the same in both metric and standard measurements?

  • Time

  • BTU

  • Siemens

  • Farad

Correct answer: Time

Time is one of the few (possibly only) universal measurements in the electrical field. Volts, amps, and ohms aside, there are surrounding measurements from foreign engineers that can make these standards look different in equations.

BTU, farads, and capacitance formulas from foreign engineering standards can be seen at times. These must be carefully evaluated.

38.

Branch circuits recognized by Article 210 shall be permitted to be used as what?

  • Multiwire circuits

  • Multiple circuits

  • 12 guage, 3 conductor wire

  • MC cable

Correct answer: Multiwire circuits

A multiwire branch circuit is one that consists of two or more ungrounded conductors that have a voltage between them, and a grounded conductor that has equal voltage between it and each ungrounded conductor of the circuit that is connected to the neutral or grounded conductor of the system. 

39.

A connection that establishes electrical continuity and conductivity is considered what?

  • Bonded

  • Grounded conductor

  • Grounded

  • Bonding conductor

Correct answer: Bonded

These terms can be confusing as they are used interchangeably at times. Bond refers solely to the established connection. The other options may be considered bonded in or at their connections, but are functionally more than that by their definitions. There are subtle differences that are easier understood by studying them side by side in the Code.

For electrical exams, first understand all NEC definitions found in Article 100. They are unique to the Code. Several key terms are separately defined where they are applied differently. Electricians must apply the correct definition to the specific application and condition of the electrical installations and/or functions at hand. While definitions do not change, conditions, applications, installations, and functions are all variables that bring different evaluations to light. Electricians make these evaluations to properly apply definitions. At times there are more variables than mentioned here. Also, see Section 2 (xxx.2) of articles for additional definitions supplied for that article.

40.

What is the approved minimum and maximum size drainage openings you are allowed to install in the bottom of a junction box, in a wet location?

  • 3 mm (1/8 in) to 6 mm (1/4 in)

  • 4 mm (3/16 in) to 9mm (3/8 in)

  • 6 mm (1/4 in) to 12mm (1/2 in)

  • A drainage opening is not allowed

Correct answer: 3 mm (1/8 in) to 6 mm (1/4 in)

Wet location, junction box, and installation are all obvious. These are covered under wiring methods and materials.

You now have the major indicators to look for in the outlines in the Code.

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