NASCLA Journeyman Electrician Exam Questions

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61.

Who primarily develops safety procedures for the use of test instruments and meters?

  • OSHA and NFPA

  • Manufacturers

  • Facilities

  • Electrical companies

Correct answer: OSHA and NFPA

OSHA and NFPA 70E are the primary drivers in the development of safety procedures for the use of test instruments and meters.

The other options may add to these procedures, but are not the primary drivers.

62.

If equipment has been listed by a qualified electrical testing laboratory, factory-installed internal wiring or the construction of equipment need not be inspected at the time of installation of the equipment, except to detect what?

  • Alterations or damage

  • Residual test voltage

  • IEEE listed irregularities

  • Safety defects

Correct answer: Alterations or damage

Prior to installation, electricians need to examine equipment for safety by looking for alterations or damage. Manufacturers ensure electrical equipment is free from safety defects, then certify this by a host of approved organizations. These testing labs, inspection agencies, etc. are concerned with product evaluation and publish lists of equipment and materials that have been tested and meet recognized standards. The Code may refer to equipment as listed, labeled, or identified, but does not contain information on equipment or materials.

63.

A barricade is a physical obstruction such as tapes, cones, or A-frame-type wood or metal structures intended to provide what?

  • A warning and to limit access

  • Accidental contact with equipment or energized parts

  • Protection from energized electrical conductors and circuit parts

  • A safe work place

Correct answer: A warning and to limit access

The NFPA's definition of a barricade is a physical obstruction such as tapes, cones, or A-frame-type wood or metal structures intended to provide a warning and to limit access.

The use of barricades is a primary protection for unqualified persons from entering work areas where qualified persons are engaged in electrical work. These are often used in conjunction with signs and/or attendants to ensure safety. See the Ugly's reference for further explanation.

A barricade should not be confused with a barrier. A barrier is generally inside of equipment or a panel providing protection from energized electrical conductors and circuit parts. A barricade is exterior to the equipment providing a safe workspace for qualified persons.

The other options are things a barricade may provide, or things we must prevent, but do not correctly describe what a barricade provides.

64.

Who is allowed to perform tasks such as testing, troubleshooting, and voltage measuring on electrical equipment where electrical hazards exist?

  • Only qualified persons

  • Engineers

  • Employers

  • Ex-military

Correct answer: Only qualified persons

Testing and test instruments and equipment are key elements of the general requirements for electrical safety-related work practices. An unqualified person cannot perform these tasks.

Engineers, employers, and ex-military individuals are not inherently qualified, although it is possible that they are. Electrical engineers are an example of competent, qualified individuals, but engineers in general are not considered "qualified" in this case.

65.

What types of facilities or installations are designed to exceed Code requirements for grounding and bonding?

  • Data centers and sensitive electronic equipment

  • Gas stations and car washes 

  • Power plants and refineries

  • Semi-conductor and military installations

Correct answer: Data centers and sensitive electronic equipment

These types of electrical installations use enhanced grounding electrode or earthing systems. Feeders and branch circuits use methods of installation that aid in reducing levels of electrical or electromagnetic interference noise on the grounding circuits. This is done by insulation and isolation of the grounding circuit as it is routed to the original grounding point at the source of supply. Special care is taken to separate service sources of separately derived systems.

T-1 facilities include modern data centers in the U.S. that have electrical systems that meet or exceed T-1 trauma centers.

The other options may choose to exceed Code requirements, but are not mentioned by example in the Soares introduction.

66.

Many architectural plans are drawn 1/8” = 1’. Without an architect’s scale, what common tool could be used to determine measurements for laying out outlets?

  • Tape measure

  • Eyeball it

  • String and a ruler

  • A laser distance measurer

Correct answer: Tape measure

All standard tape measures have 1/8 increments. This is what most electricians use to scale drawings with. It is a learned skill and takes a bit of practice. But in a short time, you can get good at it.

67.

How is the rate of doing work expressed?

  • Horsepower

  • Power

  • Watts

  • EMF

Correct answer: Horsepower

Horsepower is a term the average person could understand when we still rode horses. It is still useful and thus used today. Horsepower is denoted by hp.

The same James Watt the watt is named for determined horsepower. The average horse working at a steady rate can do 550 foot-pounds of work per second: 1 hp = 550 ft-lbs/s.

It is also expressed per minute as 1 hp = 33,000 ft-lb/min.

It was later calculated that the amount of electric energy needed to produce 1 horsepower is 746 watts. Thus, it is used in electrical calculations. Motors are rated in hp.

68.

Unless specified elsewhere in the Code, where shall overcurrent protection for each ungrounded circuit conductor be located?

  • At the point where the conductors receive their supply

  • Within 25 feet of the next overcurrent device

  • Within sight

  • Enclosed

Correct answer: At the point where the conductors receive their supply

Location in circuit is what should be recognized first in this question, followed by location. Overcurrent protection is the overall consideration.

While this could be memorized, learning the Code that way would be daunting. Several seemingly easy answers are often uniquely described and addressed in the Code. On Code tests, assuming answers is not advised. The book is there for a reason. Recognize where even simple questions are located in the Code.

The other options are descriptive of locations for devices or equipment in the Code. They do not satisfy the question.

69.

A floor receptacle must be within what distance from a wall to count as a required outlet in a dwelling unit? 

  • 450 mm (18 in)

  • 600 mm (2 ft)

  • 300 mm (12 in)

  • 3.7 m (12 ft)

Correct answer: 450 mm (18 in)

Branch circuits, a required outlet, and floor receptacles are clues in this question. Following these through the Code will bring you to your answer. Floor receptacles follow spacing and wall space requirements. Check the Code closely. 

This is also a common distance to learn and remember for housing construction and many commercial applications. 

The other options are commonly listed in the Code for other placements or considerations in calculating outlet placement in homes.

70.

Class 2 circuitry that is integral with a 125-volt, 15- or 20-amp receptacle is designed for what?

  • A USB charger

  • Harmonic reduction

  • A fire alarm circuit

  • Data center use

Correct answer: A USB charger

The question describes equipment for general use. It does say receptacle. Continue then to find where USB chargers are addressed.

A reasonable idea is to begin searching class 2 circuitry. But the class 2 circuitry addressed in the question is that described under USB chargers. Here, it is not in the Code outline prior to the description. Some of these may be found from the index, but don't rely solely on that. It's not designed that way. Familiarize yourself with the concepts the outlines address within the articles. Here, receptacle is far more important to the question than the circuitry.

71.

What is a fuse that provides for controlling discharge circuit interruption such that no solid material may be exhausted into the surrounding atmosphere?

  • Controlled vented power fuse

  • Expulsion fuse

  • Non-vented power fuse

  • Power fuse unit

Correct answer: Controlled vented power 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.

72.

In what two ways must rubber gloves be field tested prior to use?

  • Visual and air test

  • Live-dead-live

  • Voltage and amperage

  • Ohm and capacitance

Correct answer: Visual and air test

The inspection of rubber gloves by the individual who will be wearing them must include a visual and air test prior to being used on live equipment. Visually inspect for ANY wear that may indicate an issue. Then, trap air in the glove and inspect for any holes that may be present.

73.

What is the circuit of a control apparatus or system that carries the electric signals directing the performance of the controller, but does not carry the main power current?

  • Control circuit

  • Controller

  • Coordination, selective

  • Class 2 circuit

Correct answer: Control circuit

A control circuit operates a controller. The controller is a device or group of devices that governs the (main) power delivered to the apparatus it is connected to. The other options are other specific types of circuits, individually defined in Article 100. These circuits often have similar uses and characteristics. Therefore, these definitions can easily be confused or conflated without thorough understanding or hands-on experience.

For electrical exams, first understand NEC definitions found in Article 100. Electricians must then apply the definitions to the specific conditions and applications of the electrical installations and functions at hand. While definitions do not change, conditions, applications, installations, and functions are variables that often change. Electricians must determine these variables to apply definitions. At times there are more variables than mentioned here. See Section 2 (xxx.2) of other articles for possible additional definitions.

74.

Which conductor(s) of a circuit is a clamp-on ammeter clamped around to test for amperage?

  • The ungrounded conductor

  • The phase conductor

  • The circuit conductor

  • The hot 

Correct answer: The ungrounded conductor

The ammeter is clamped around only one of the lines. If the meter is clamped around more than one line, the magnetic fields of the wires cancel each other out.

Clamped around the ungrounded conductor, the ammeter tests one phase at a time. If the load you are testing is on two or more phases, each ungrounded phase conductor must be individually tested, then add up your amp draw reading for each, to obtain the total load of the circuit.

The other options are all terms for the ungrounded conductor, but do not satisfy the question.

75.

The distance between a person’s face and chest area and a prospective arc source is known as what?

  • Working distance

  • Touch potential

  • Step potential

  • Risk

Correct answer: Working distance

NFPA's simple definition of working distance is the distance between a person’s face and chest area and a prospective arc source.

Touch potential is the potential gradient difference that can cause current to flow from hand to hand or hand to/through any other part of the body, other than foot to foot.

Step potential is a ground potential gradient difference that can cause current to flow foot to foot through the body.

Risk is any combination of the likelihood of occurrence of injury or damage to health or severe injury or damage to health that results from a hazard.

76.

Where more than one neutral conductor associated with different circuits is in an enclosure, grounded circuit conductors of each circuit shall be identified or grouped to correspond with the ungrounded circuit conductor(s) by what means?

  • Wire markers, cable ties, or similar means in at least one location within the enclosure

  • Colored electrical tape that corresponds to the associated phase

  • Legibly printed label on the enclosure or wire markers

  • Neutrals (ungrounded conductors) do not need to be positively identified

Correct answer: Wire markers, cable ties, or similar means in at least one location within the enclosure

Multiple circuits in any box or enclosure are required to have all conductors grouped together at some point in the enclosure. This makes it obvious which conductors are associated with each circuit. It also prevents the overload of the neutral to its maximum potential by communicating how many ungrounded conductors are associated with the circuit and mitigates the possibility of electrocution.

77.

What is the minimum size for fixture wire?

  • 18 AWG

  • 16 AWG

  • 14 AWG

  • 20 AWG

Correct answer: 18 AWG

Fixture wire is equipment for general use. It is not a wiring method or a conductor for general use. It is important to understand these differences in seemingly similar materials. They are logically categorized within the Code.

78.

Service disconnects are required to be located outside of a building or, if inside, nearest to the point where the service conductors enter. These disconnecting means are required to be in what type of location? 

  • Readily accessible

  • Accessible

  • Raintight

  • Within sight of

Correct answer: Readily accessible

The core issue here is services, followed by a readily accessible location. Here, we have specific definitions applied to installations. Thus, we can begin to see how the Code progresses. This construction of the Code is what you want to gain an understanding of. It may sound redundant, but the Code does make sense in light of the Code.

The other options are all relevant terms but do not satisfy the question.

79.

Triangles, protractors, compasses, and dividers are tools for what aspect of electrical work?

  • Interpretating plans and specifications

  • Layout of outlets

  • Reflected ceiling plans

  • Lighting schedules

Correct answer: Interpretating plans and specifications

These common tools used in middle and high school math and science classes are tools of the trade when reading plans and determining specifications. They will help you find the dimensions and positions in the structure you are building.

Triangles come in set dimensions, usually 15-degree increments. Protractors help find angles not standard to triangles. A compass or divider can accurately make circles or arcs and can be used to provide equal spacing.

The other options are things you will find in plans.

80.

Which of the following refers to a cable used for remote-control, signaling, or power-limited systems that supply critical circuits to ensure survivability for continued circuit operation for a specified time under fire conditions?

  • Circuit integrity (CI) cable

  • Class 1 circuit

  • Class 2 circuit

  • Class 3 circuit

Correct answer: Circuit integrity (CI) cable

The circuit integrity (CI) cable definition is new to the 2020 NEC. CI cable withstands certain fire conditions. Class 1 circuit, class 2 circuit, and class 3 circuit are defined in Article 100. Class 1, 2, and 3 circuits may or may not be part of a fire alarm system, and they have both power limitations and safety considerations from a fire initiation standpoint. In hospitals and Tier 1 facilities where uptime requirements reach 99.8%, all definition considerations may intersect. 

For electrical licensing exams, first understand NEC definitions found in Article 100. Electricians must then apply the definitions to the specific conditions and applications of the electrical installations and functions at hand. While definitions do not change, conditions, applications, installations, and functions are variables that change quite often. Electricians must determine these variables to properly apply definitions. At times there are more variables than mentioned here. See Section 2 (xxx.2) of other articles for possible additional definitions.