MARYLAND MASTER ELECTRICIAN
LICENSE EXAMINATION WITH QUESTIONS
AND VERIFIED ANSWERS, PLUS DETAILED
RATIONALES/EXPERT VERIFIED FOR
GUARANTEED PASS 2026/LATEST
UPDATE/INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A 120/240-volt, single-phase dwelling service supplies a calculated
load of 160 amperes. The service conductors are installed in a
raceway and are copper THHN/THWN-2 conductors. The
electrician determines that the conductors must have an ampacity of
at least 160 amperes before considering any applicable adjustment
or correction factors. Which conductor size is generally capable of
carrying 160 amperes under the 75°C ampacity column?
A. 1/0 AWG copper
B. 2/0 AWG copper
C. 3/0 AWG copper
D. 4/0 AWG copper
Answer: B. 2/0 AWG copper
Rationale: Under the NEC ampacity tables, 2/0 AWG copper has a
75°C ampacity of 175 amperes, while 1/0 AWG copper is 150 amperes.
Therefore, assuming the 75°C column is permitted for the equipment
and terminations and no other limitation reduces the ampacity, 2/0
AWG copper satisfies a 160-ampere requirement. A master electrician
must always verify the applicable terminal temperature limitations,
adjustment/correction factors, and installation conditions rather than
selecting conductors from a table in isolation.
1
,2. A feeder supplies a continuous lighting load of 32 amperes and a
noncontinuous load of 40 amperes. No demand factor or other
reduction applies. What is the minimum calculated ampacity
required for the feeder conductors?
A. 72 A
B. 80 A
C. 88 A
D. 96 A
Answer: C. 88 A
Rationale: Continuous loads must be calculated at 125 percent of the
continuous load. The continuous portion is 32 × 1.25 = 40 amperes.
Adding the 40-ampere noncontinuous load gives 40 + 40 = 80
amperes. However, the stated options require careful examination: the
correct NEC calculation is actually 80 amperes. Therefore, the
technically correct answer is B, not C. This illustrates why a master
electrician should perform the calculation rather than select an
answer merely because it appears plausible.
Correct Answer: B. 80 A
Rationale: The feeder minimum ampacity is 80 amperes: (32 A ×
125%) + 40 A = 80 A.
3. A 120-volt branch circuit contains a 20-ampere circuit breaker,
12 AWG copper conductors, and several receptacles. One receptacle
is installed in a location where personnel are likely to use portable
cord-and-plug equipment. Which protection is generally required
for personnel protection in locations covered by the NEC GFCI
provisions?
A. AFCI protection only
B. Surge protective device protection only
2
,C. Ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection
D. Thermal overload protection only
Answer: C. Ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection
Rationale: GFCI protection is intended to reduce the risk of electric
shock by detecting an imbalance between current flowing in
ungrounded and grounded conductors and interrupting the circuit
when the differential reaches the applicable threshold. AFCI
protection addresses arcing hazards rather than serving as a substitute
for required GFCI protection. A master electrician must determine
GFCI requirements from the specific occupancy, location, equipment,
and NEC article involved.
4. A motor has a nameplate full-load current of 28 amperes. The
motor is supplied by a circuit containing a properly sized disconnect
and overload protection. Which statement best describes the
purpose of the motor overload protection?
A. It primarily protects the branch-circuit conductors from short circuits
B. It primarily protects the motor against sustained overload conditions
C. It eliminates the need for branch-circuit short-circuit protection
D. It replaces the requirement for a motor disconnect
Answer: B. It primarily protects the motor against sustained
overload conditions
Rationale: Motor overload protection is intended to protect the motor
against excessive current resulting from overload, failure to start, or
similar operating conditions. Branch-circuit short-circuit and ground-
fault protection serves a different purpose and is selected according to
applicable motor-circuit rules. The disconnecting means provides a
means of disconnecting the motor and controller from the supply.
3
, These protective functions are complementary rather than
interchangeable.
5. A conductor has an ampacity of 90 amperes at 75°C. Its
installation is subject to adjustment factors that reduce its allowable
ampacity to 72 amperes. The calculated load is 70 amperes. Which
statement is correct?
A. The conductor is acceptable because its original ampacity is 90
amperes
B. The conductor is acceptable because 70 amperes is below 90 amperes
C. The conductor is acceptable only if the breaker is increased to 80
amperes
D. The conductor is acceptable because its adjusted ampacity of 72
amperes exceeds the 70-ampere load
Answer: D. The conductor is acceptable because its adjusted
ampacity of 72 amperes exceeds the 70-ampere load
Rationale: Adjustment and correction factors modify the conductor's
allowable ampacity. The resulting ampacity, rather than the
unadjusted table value, must be compared with the calculated load.
Here, 72 amperes is greater than 70 amperes, so the conductor
satisfies the stated ampacity requirement, assuming all other
requirements are met.
6. A three-phase, 480-volt load consumes 36 amperes at 0.90 power
factor. Approximately how much real power is being consumed?
A. 18.7 kW
B. 26.9 kW
C. 29.9 kW
D. 31.1 kW
4
LICENSE EXAMINATION WITH QUESTIONS
AND VERIFIED ANSWERS, PLUS DETAILED
RATIONALES/EXPERT VERIFIED FOR
GUARANTEED PASS 2026/LATEST
UPDATE/INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A 120/240-volt, single-phase dwelling service supplies a calculated
load of 160 amperes. The service conductors are installed in a
raceway and are copper THHN/THWN-2 conductors. The
electrician determines that the conductors must have an ampacity of
at least 160 amperes before considering any applicable adjustment
or correction factors. Which conductor size is generally capable of
carrying 160 amperes under the 75°C ampacity column?
A. 1/0 AWG copper
B. 2/0 AWG copper
C. 3/0 AWG copper
D. 4/0 AWG copper
Answer: B. 2/0 AWG copper
Rationale: Under the NEC ampacity tables, 2/0 AWG copper has a
75°C ampacity of 175 amperes, while 1/0 AWG copper is 150 amperes.
Therefore, assuming the 75°C column is permitted for the equipment
and terminations and no other limitation reduces the ampacity, 2/0
AWG copper satisfies a 160-ampere requirement. A master electrician
must always verify the applicable terminal temperature limitations,
adjustment/correction factors, and installation conditions rather than
selecting conductors from a table in isolation.
1
,2. A feeder supplies a continuous lighting load of 32 amperes and a
noncontinuous load of 40 amperes. No demand factor or other
reduction applies. What is the minimum calculated ampacity
required for the feeder conductors?
A. 72 A
B. 80 A
C. 88 A
D. 96 A
Answer: C. 88 A
Rationale: Continuous loads must be calculated at 125 percent of the
continuous load. The continuous portion is 32 × 1.25 = 40 amperes.
Adding the 40-ampere noncontinuous load gives 40 + 40 = 80
amperes. However, the stated options require careful examination: the
correct NEC calculation is actually 80 amperes. Therefore, the
technically correct answer is B, not C. This illustrates why a master
electrician should perform the calculation rather than select an
answer merely because it appears plausible.
Correct Answer: B. 80 A
Rationale: The feeder minimum ampacity is 80 amperes: (32 A ×
125%) + 40 A = 80 A.
3. A 120-volt branch circuit contains a 20-ampere circuit breaker,
12 AWG copper conductors, and several receptacles. One receptacle
is installed in a location where personnel are likely to use portable
cord-and-plug equipment. Which protection is generally required
for personnel protection in locations covered by the NEC GFCI
provisions?
A. AFCI protection only
B. Surge protective device protection only
2
,C. Ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection
D. Thermal overload protection only
Answer: C. Ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection
Rationale: GFCI protection is intended to reduce the risk of electric
shock by detecting an imbalance between current flowing in
ungrounded and grounded conductors and interrupting the circuit
when the differential reaches the applicable threshold. AFCI
protection addresses arcing hazards rather than serving as a substitute
for required GFCI protection. A master electrician must determine
GFCI requirements from the specific occupancy, location, equipment,
and NEC article involved.
4. A motor has a nameplate full-load current of 28 amperes. The
motor is supplied by a circuit containing a properly sized disconnect
and overload protection. Which statement best describes the
purpose of the motor overload protection?
A. It primarily protects the branch-circuit conductors from short circuits
B. It primarily protects the motor against sustained overload conditions
C. It eliminates the need for branch-circuit short-circuit protection
D. It replaces the requirement for a motor disconnect
Answer: B. It primarily protects the motor against sustained
overload conditions
Rationale: Motor overload protection is intended to protect the motor
against excessive current resulting from overload, failure to start, or
similar operating conditions. Branch-circuit short-circuit and ground-
fault protection serves a different purpose and is selected according to
applicable motor-circuit rules. The disconnecting means provides a
means of disconnecting the motor and controller from the supply.
3
, These protective functions are complementary rather than
interchangeable.
5. A conductor has an ampacity of 90 amperes at 75°C. Its
installation is subject to adjustment factors that reduce its allowable
ampacity to 72 amperes. The calculated load is 70 amperes. Which
statement is correct?
A. The conductor is acceptable because its original ampacity is 90
amperes
B. The conductor is acceptable because 70 amperes is below 90 amperes
C. The conductor is acceptable only if the breaker is increased to 80
amperes
D. The conductor is acceptable because its adjusted ampacity of 72
amperes exceeds the 70-ampere load
Answer: D. The conductor is acceptable because its adjusted
ampacity of 72 amperes exceeds the 70-ampere load
Rationale: Adjustment and correction factors modify the conductor's
allowable ampacity. The resulting ampacity, rather than the
unadjusted table value, must be compared with the calculated load.
Here, 72 amperes is greater than 70 amperes, so the conductor
satisfies the stated ampacity requirement, assuming all other
requirements are met.
6. A three-phase, 480-volt load consumes 36 amperes at 0.90 power
factor. Approximately how much real power is being consumed?
A. 18.7 kW
B. 26.9 kW
C. 29.9 kW
D. 31.1 kW
4
