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New Mexico EE-98 Commercial
Electrical Exam Study Guide: Part 1
Practice Q&A
Prepare for the New Mexico EE-98 Electrical Contractor Part 1
(Commercial & Industrial) exam with 80 practice questions and
detailed rationales. Covers NEC 2017, NMAC 14.10.4, services,
feeders, branch circuits, grounding, bonding, overcurrent
protection, raceways, motors, and transformers. Ideal for
candidates needing structured review before the 80-question,
200-minute open-book test.
1. According to the New Mexico Administrative Code, the EE-98 license permits
electrical wiring up to which maximum voltage?
A) 480 volts
B) 1,000 volts
C) 5,000 volts
D) 15,000 volts
C) 5,000 volts
Rationale: A key distinction of the EE-98 license is that it covers residential, commercial,
and industrial electrical wiring operating at 5,000 volts nominal or less. This is a
broader scope than some specialty licenses .
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2. According to the NEC, what defines a continuous load?
A) A load operating for 1 hour or more
B) A load operating for 2 hours or more
C) A load operating for 3 hours or more
D) A load operating continuously for 24 hours
C) A load operating for 3 hours or more
Rationale: The NEC defines a continuous load as one where the maximum current is
expected to continue for three hours or more. This classification is critical because it
mandates that conductors and overcurrent devices be sized at 125% of the load .
3. What is the minimum working clearance depth required in front of a 480-volt
panelboard under typical conditions?
A) 2 feet
B) 3 feet
C) 4 feet
D) 5 feet
B) 3 feet
Rationale: For many installations up to 600 volts, a minimum working space depth of 3
feet is required to allow for safe maintenance and operation .
4. What is the primary purpose of bonding?
A) To increase system voltage
B) To ensure electrical continuity and a reliable fault-current path
C) To eliminate all resistance
D) To regulate frequency
B) To ensure electrical continuity and a reliable fault-current path
Rationale: Bonding connects metal parts together to establish electrical continuity and
provide a low-impedance path for fault current. This ensures that overcurrent
protective devices can operate properly to clear a fault .
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5. Which conductor is normally identified by white or gray insulation?
A) Equipment grounding conductor
B) Ungrounded conductor
C) Bonding jumper
D) Grounded conductor (neutral)
D) Grounded conductor (neutral)
Rationale: The NEC reserves white or gray insulation for grounded conductors, which
are commonly referred to as neutrals .
6. A branch circuit supplying a continuous load of 40 amperes must have a
minimum conductor ampacity of:
A) 40 A
B) 45 A
C) 50 A
D) 60 A
C) 50 A
Rationale: For continuous loads, the conductor ampacity must be at least 125% of the
load. Therefore, 40 A × 1.25 = 50 A .
7. What is the primary purpose of grounding an electrical system?
A) To increase voltage
B) To reduce conductor size
C) To provide a safe path for fault current
D) To improve power factor
C) To provide a safe path for fault current
Rationale: Grounding helps protect people and equipment by providing a low-
impedance path for fault current, which facilitates the operation of overcurrent
protective devices and reduces shock hazards .
8. What instrument is used to measure electrical resistance?
A) Voltmeter
B) Ammeter
New Mexico EE-98 Commercial
Electrical Exam Study Guide: Part 1
Practice Q&A
Prepare for the New Mexico EE-98 Electrical Contractor Part 1
(Commercial & Industrial) exam with 80 practice questions and
detailed rationales. Covers NEC 2017, NMAC 14.10.4, services,
feeders, branch circuits, grounding, bonding, overcurrent
protection, raceways, motors, and transformers. Ideal for
candidates needing structured review before the 80-question,
200-minute open-book test.
1. According to the New Mexico Administrative Code, the EE-98 license permits
electrical wiring up to which maximum voltage?
A) 480 volts
B) 1,000 volts
C) 5,000 volts
D) 15,000 volts
C) 5,000 volts
Rationale: A key distinction of the EE-98 license is that it covers residential, commercial,
and industrial electrical wiring operating at 5,000 volts nominal or less. This is a
broader scope than some specialty licenses .
,2|Page
2. According to the NEC, what defines a continuous load?
A) A load operating for 1 hour or more
B) A load operating for 2 hours or more
C) A load operating for 3 hours or more
D) A load operating continuously for 24 hours
C) A load operating for 3 hours or more
Rationale: The NEC defines a continuous load as one where the maximum current is
expected to continue for three hours or more. This classification is critical because it
mandates that conductors and overcurrent devices be sized at 125% of the load .
3. What is the minimum working clearance depth required in front of a 480-volt
panelboard under typical conditions?
A) 2 feet
B) 3 feet
C) 4 feet
D) 5 feet
B) 3 feet
Rationale: For many installations up to 600 volts, a minimum working space depth of 3
feet is required to allow for safe maintenance and operation .
4. What is the primary purpose of bonding?
A) To increase system voltage
B) To ensure electrical continuity and a reliable fault-current path
C) To eliminate all resistance
D) To regulate frequency
B) To ensure electrical continuity and a reliable fault-current path
Rationale: Bonding connects metal parts together to establish electrical continuity and
provide a low-impedance path for fault current. This ensures that overcurrent
protective devices can operate properly to clear a fault .
, 3|Page
5. Which conductor is normally identified by white or gray insulation?
A) Equipment grounding conductor
B) Ungrounded conductor
C) Bonding jumper
D) Grounded conductor (neutral)
D) Grounded conductor (neutral)
Rationale: The NEC reserves white or gray insulation for grounded conductors, which
are commonly referred to as neutrals .
6. A branch circuit supplying a continuous load of 40 amperes must have a
minimum conductor ampacity of:
A) 40 A
B) 45 A
C) 50 A
D) 60 A
C) 50 A
Rationale: For continuous loads, the conductor ampacity must be at least 125% of the
load. Therefore, 40 A × 1.25 = 50 A .
7. What is the primary purpose of grounding an electrical system?
A) To increase voltage
B) To reduce conductor size
C) To provide a safe path for fault current
D) To improve power factor
C) To provide a safe path for fault current
Rationale: Grounding helps protect people and equipment by providing a low-
impedance path for fault current, which facilitates the operation of overcurrent
protective devices and reduces shock hazards .
8. What instrument is used to measure electrical resistance?
A) Voltmeter
B) Ammeter
