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(E-2) Exam Questions And Correct
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Rationales 2026 Q&A| Instant
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1. What is the primary purpose of a ground-fault circuit interrupter
(GFCI)?
A. To prevent overloads on a branch circuit
B. To protect against short circuits
C. To protect people from electric shock by sensing leakage current
D. To regulate voltage supplied to equipment
Answer: C
Rationale: GFCIs monitor the current balance between hot and
neutral conductors and trip when a small difference (typically 4–6
mA) indicates current leaking to ground, which reduces risk of
electric shock.
2. According to typical NEC practice, what is the maximum allowed
continuous load on a branch-circuit conductor relative to its ampacity?
A. 100%
B. 80% for all loads
C. 80% for continuous loads, 100% for non-continuous
D. 125% for branch circuits
Answer: C
Rationale: The NEC requires that branch-circuit conductors
supplying continuous loads be sized at 125% of the continuous load
(i.e., continuous load should not exceed 80% of conductor ampacity).
Non-continuous loads may use full ampacity.
,3. Which conductor is used to establish an equipment grounding
conductor (EGC) connection at a metal enclosure?
A. Neutral conductor
B. Hot conductor
C. Green or bare insulated grounding conductor
D. Any insulated conductor
Answer: C
Rationale: Equipment grounding conductors are green, green with
yellow stripe, or bare and are dedicated to grounding; neutrals are for
the circuit return and must not be used in place of an EGC.
4. A motor nameplate shows 480 V, 3-phase, 30 A full-load current. What
size branch-circuit overcurrent protection (fuse or breaker) would
typically be selected per NEC for a continuous duty motor (use 125%
rule)?
A. 30 A
B. 36 A
C. 40 A
D. 50 A
Answer: C
Rationale: NEC requires motor branch-circuit protection per motor
rules; a common approach is using 125% of full-load current for
continuous duty, so 30 A × 125% = 37.5 A, rounded to the next
standard size = 40 A.
5. What is the primary function of a transformer’s tap changer?
A. To change frequency
B. To increase efficiency only at full load
C. To adjust the secondary voltage to compensate for line voltage
variations
D. To cool the transformer
Answer: C
Rationale: Tap changers vary the turns ratio slightly to raise or lower
the secondary voltage so that equipment receives correct voltage
despite incoming voltage fluctuations or load-induced drops.
6. In single-phase circuits, power (watts) equals:
A. V + I
B. V × I
C. V / I
, D. I² × R only
Answer: B
Rationale: Real power in a purely resistive single-phase circuit is the
product of voltage and current (P = V × I). For AC with power factor,
P = V × I × PF.
7. When running conductors in parallel to increase ampacity, what is
required?
A. Conductors must be of any sizes as long as total area matches
B. Only the insulation types must match
C. Conductors must be of the same length, size, insulation type,
and terminated in the same manner
D. Parallel conductors are not allowed for copper
Answer: C
Rationale: NEC requires parallel conductors to be individually sized,
identical in length, conductor material, insulation, and terminations
to ensure equal load sharing and consistent impedance.
8. What is the primary hazard if neutrals and grounds are bonded in
subpanels downstream of the service disconnect?
A. Overloaded hot conductors
B. Objectionable neutral currents on grounding conductors
creating shock hazard and interference
C. Transformer failure
D. Reduced voltage to loads
Answer: B
Rationale: Bonding neutral and ground downstream of the service
disconnect allows neutral return currents to travel on grounding
paths, energizing equipment enclosures and increasing shock hazard
and stray currents.
9. A 3-wire single-phase service has conductors A, B (hots) and N
(neutral). What is the voltage between A and N in a 240/120 V split-
phase system?
A. 240 V
B. 0 V
C. 120 V
D. Variable depending on load
Answer: C
Rationale: In a standard split-phase system, each hot to neutral
(E-2) Exam Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A| Instant
Download Pdf
1. What is the primary purpose of a ground-fault circuit interrupter
(GFCI)?
A. To prevent overloads on a branch circuit
B. To protect against short circuits
C. To protect people from electric shock by sensing leakage current
D. To regulate voltage supplied to equipment
Answer: C
Rationale: GFCIs monitor the current balance between hot and
neutral conductors and trip when a small difference (typically 4–6
mA) indicates current leaking to ground, which reduces risk of
electric shock.
2. According to typical NEC practice, what is the maximum allowed
continuous load on a branch-circuit conductor relative to its ampacity?
A. 100%
B. 80% for all loads
C. 80% for continuous loads, 100% for non-continuous
D. 125% for branch circuits
Answer: C
Rationale: The NEC requires that branch-circuit conductors
supplying continuous loads be sized at 125% of the continuous load
(i.e., continuous load should not exceed 80% of conductor ampacity).
Non-continuous loads may use full ampacity.
,3. Which conductor is used to establish an equipment grounding
conductor (EGC) connection at a metal enclosure?
A. Neutral conductor
B. Hot conductor
C. Green or bare insulated grounding conductor
D. Any insulated conductor
Answer: C
Rationale: Equipment grounding conductors are green, green with
yellow stripe, or bare and are dedicated to grounding; neutrals are for
the circuit return and must not be used in place of an EGC.
4. A motor nameplate shows 480 V, 3-phase, 30 A full-load current. What
size branch-circuit overcurrent protection (fuse or breaker) would
typically be selected per NEC for a continuous duty motor (use 125%
rule)?
A. 30 A
B. 36 A
C. 40 A
D. 50 A
Answer: C
Rationale: NEC requires motor branch-circuit protection per motor
rules; a common approach is using 125% of full-load current for
continuous duty, so 30 A × 125% = 37.5 A, rounded to the next
standard size = 40 A.
5. What is the primary function of a transformer’s tap changer?
A. To change frequency
B. To increase efficiency only at full load
C. To adjust the secondary voltage to compensate for line voltage
variations
D. To cool the transformer
Answer: C
Rationale: Tap changers vary the turns ratio slightly to raise or lower
the secondary voltage so that equipment receives correct voltage
despite incoming voltage fluctuations or load-induced drops.
6. In single-phase circuits, power (watts) equals:
A. V + I
B. V × I
C. V / I
, D. I² × R only
Answer: B
Rationale: Real power in a purely resistive single-phase circuit is the
product of voltage and current (P = V × I). For AC with power factor,
P = V × I × PF.
7. When running conductors in parallel to increase ampacity, what is
required?
A. Conductors must be of any sizes as long as total area matches
B. Only the insulation types must match
C. Conductors must be of the same length, size, insulation type,
and terminated in the same manner
D. Parallel conductors are not allowed for copper
Answer: C
Rationale: NEC requires parallel conductors to be individually sized,
identical in length, conductor material, insulation, and terminations
to ensure equal load sharing and consistent impedance.
8. What is the primary hazard if neutrals and grounds are bonded in
subpanels downstream of the service disconnect?
A. Overloaded hot conductors
B. Objectionable neutral currents on grounding conductors
creating shock hazard and interference
C. Transformer failure
D. Reduced voltage to loads
Answer: B
Rationale: Bonding neutral and ground downstream of the service
disconnect allows neutral return currents to travel on grounding
paths, energizing equipment enclosures and increasing shock hazard
and stray currents.
9. A 3-wire single-phase service has conductors A, B (hots) and N
(neutral). What is the voltage between A and N in a 240/120 V split-
phase system?
A. 240 V
B. 0 V
C. 120 V
D. Variable depending on load
Answer: C
Rationale: In a standard split-phase system, each hot to neutral
