ABYC MARINE ELECTRICAL CERTIFICATION EXAM REVIEW
2026/2027
According to the ABYC, the shore-power grounded conductor should:
A. Be connected to the AC neutral
B. Not be grounded on the boat
C. Be connected to the engine common positive terminal or its bus
D. Be tied to the battery isolator
B. Not be grounded on the boat
The maximum allowable voltage drop permitted for panel board DC feeders is:
A. 2%
B. 3%
C. 10%
D. 15%
B. 3%
If a customer complains about receiving shocks from her boat when shore power is
active, the technican should first test:
A. Polarity check of shore cord
B. Polarity check of the battery system
C. Current Leakage Test
D. Converter voltage check
A. Polarity check of shore cord
A customer is complaining about low-voltage at the AC panel. What should you do first?
A. Re-calibrate the panel meter
B. Check the voltage at the dock pedestal
C. Check the polarity indicator
D. Replace the overcurrent device
B. Check the voltage at the dock pedestal
A customer notes a reverse-polarity problem. All of the following are likely causes,
except:
A. Improperly wired shore power cord
B. Improperly wired shore power inlet receptacle
C. An open neutral
D. Reversal of the hot and neutral conductors in the AC panel feeder cable
C. An open neutral
What is a likely cause of non-functioning galvanic isolator?
A. a shorted isolator diode
B. Improper current rating of the isolator diode
C. An on-board neutral-to-ground connection
D. All of the above are possible
D. All of the above are possible
,An "open Neutral" conductor in a 240V/120V shore power system will most likely show
up as:
A. Nuisance tripping of the AC main breaker
B. Nuisance tripping of an appliance branch circuit breaker
C. A loud humming noise emitted from the TV
D. Burned out 120V appliance
D. Burned out 120V appliance
The most common electrical circuit problem in marine applications is:
A. Short circuits
B. Too much continuity
C. Unwanted open
D. Inter circuit Short
C. Unwanted open
The primary by-product of excessive electrical resistance is:
A. Increased Amperage
B. Increased Voltage
C. Reduced Ambient Temperature
D. Heat
D. Heat
One HP = how many watts?
1 HP = 746 Watts
What is the preferred tool for tracing shorted and open circuits?
A. Ohm meter
B. Amp clamp
C. Volt meter
D. TDR (time-domain reflectometer)
D. TDR (time-domain reflectometer)
In the formula for circular mils, for our purposes "K" is equal to 10.75. What does this
number represent?
a . The wire thickness
b. The resistivity of copper
c. The rating of the wire insulation
d. Black Magic
b. The resistivity of copper
All of the following could cause a conductor to overheat except.
a. Undersize conductor
b. Excessive amperage
c. Insulation temperature rating too low
d. Corroded connection
,c. Insulation temperature rating too low
How many conductors may be attached to a single terminal stud?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
d. 4
Each installed battery shall not move more than one inch in any direction when pulling
force of ______ lbs or twice battery weight is applied.
a. 60
b. 70
c. 80
d. 90
e. 100
d. 90
Multi wire plugs and receptacles used in conjunction with harness type wiring systems
shall incorporate means except:
a. wire nuts
b. molded connectors
c. insulation grips
d. extended terminal barrels
e. all the above
a. wire nuts
Solenoids are often used as:
a. resistors
b. capacitors
c. remotely activated switches
d. voltage regulating devices
c. remotely activated switches
To test a 120V AC element in a hot water heater, the tech may run a _____ test.
A. Voltage
B. Capacitance
C. Continuity
D. Inductance
C. Continuity
All terminations and junctions for AC conductors must be installed:
A. in free air to allow for proper ventilation
B. Inside an enclosure requiring the use of hand-tools to open
, C. In conduit
D. In snap-covered junction boxes
B. Inside an enclosure requiring the use of hand-tools to open
Wha is the best tool to use for locating short-circuits?
A. Megger
B. Amp Clamp
C. DVM
D. TDR
D. TDR
High frequency transformers typically run _____ than traditional magnetic transformers.
A. Cooler
B. Hotter
C. Faster
D. Slower
A. Cooler
What is the allowable amps of a single #2 AWG conductor outside the engine space,
rated at 105 C?
a. 178.5
b. 210
c. 147
d. 126
b. 210
What material is recommended for clamping conductors over engines and moving
machinery according to ABYC
a. PVC
b. Nylon
c. Metal
d. Any of the above will work
c. Metal
When completing a job after a partial rewiring of a customer's boat, the technician
should:
a. Update the boat's wiring diagram
b. Test the operation of the system
c. Explain all of the changes to the owner
d. All of the above
d. All of the above
2026/2027
According to the ABYC, the shore-power grounded conductor should:
A. Be connected to the AC neutral
B. Not be grounded on the boat
C. Be connected to the engine common positive terminal or its bus
D. Be tied to the battery isolator
B. Not be grounded on the boat
The maximum allowable voltage drop permitted for panel board DC feeders is:
A. 2%
B. 3%
C. 10%
D. 15%
B. 3%
If a customer complains about receiving shocks from her boat when shore power is
active, the technican should first test:
A. Polarity check of shore cord
B. Polarity check of the battery system
C. Current Leakage Test
D. Converter voltage check
A. Polarity check of shore cord
A customer is complaining about low-voltage at the AC panel. What should you do first?
A. Re-calibrate the panel meter
B. Check the voltage at the dock pedestal
C. Check the polarity indicator
D. Replace the overcurrent device
B. Check the voltage at the dock pedestal
A customer notes a reverse-polarity problem. All of the following are likely causes,
except:
A. Improperly wired shore power cord
B. Improperly wired shore power inlet receptacle
C. An open neutral
D. Reversal of the hot and neutral conductors in the AC panel feeder cable
C. An open neutral
What is a likely cause of non-functioning galvanic isolator?
A. a shorted isolator diode
B. Improper current rating of the isolator diode
C. An on-board neutral-to-ground connection
D. All of the above are possible
D. All of the above are possible
,An "open Neutral" conductor in a 240V/120V shore power system will most likely show
up as:
A. Nuisance tripping of the AC main breaker
B. Nuisance tripping of an appliance branch circuit breaker
C. A loud humming noise emitted from the TV
D. Burned out 120V appliance
D. Burned out 120V appliance
The most common electrical circuit problem in marine applications is:
A. Short circuits
B. Too much continuity
C. Unwanted open
D. Inter circuit Short
C. Unwanted open
The primary by-product of excessive electrical resistance is:
A. Increased Amperage
B. Increased Voltage
C. Reduced Ambient Temperature
D. Heat
D. Heat
One HP = how many watts?
1 HP = 746 Watts
What is the preferred tool for tracing shorted and open circuits?
A. Ohm meter
B. Amp clamp
C. Volt meter
D. TDR (time-domain reflectometer)
D. TDR (time-domain reflectometer)
In the formula for circular mils, for our purposes "K" is equal to 10.75. What does this
number represent?
a . The wire thickness
b. The resistivity of copper
c. The rating of the wire insulation
d. Black Magic
b. The resistivity of copper
All of the following could cause a conductor to overheat except.
a. Undersize conductor
b. Excessive amperage
c. Insulation temperature rating too low
d. Corroded connection
,c. Insulation temperature rating too low
How many conductors may be attached to a single terminal stud?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
d. 4
Each installed battery shall not move more than one inch in any direction when pulling
force of ______ lbs or twice battery weight is applied.
a. 60
b. 70
c. 80
d. 90
e. 100
d. 90
Multi wire plugs and receptacles used in conjunction with harness type wiring systems
shall incorporate means except:
a. wire nuts
b. molded connectors
c. insulation grips
d. extended terminal barrels
e. all the above
a. wire nuts
Solenoids are often used as:
a. resistors
b. capacitors
c. remotely activated switches
d. voltage regulating devices
c. remotely activated switches
To test a 120V AC element in a hot water heater, the tech may run a _____ test.
A. Voltage
B. Capacitance
C. Continuity
D. Inductance
C. Continuity
All terminations and junctions for AC conductors must be installed:
A. in free air to allow for proper ventilation
B. Inside an enclosure requiring the use of hand-tools to open
, C. In conduit
D. In snap-covered junction boxes
B. Inside an enclosure requiring the use of hand-tools to open
Wha is the best tool to use for locating short-circuits?
A. Megger
B. Amp Clamp
C. DVM
D. TDR
D. TDR
High frequency transformers typically run _____ than traditional magnetic transformers.
A. Cooler
B. Hotter
C. Faster
D. Slower
A. Cooler
What is the allowable amps of a single #2 AWG conductor outside the engine space,
rated at 105 C?
a. 178.5
b. 210
c. 147
d. 126
b. 210
What material is recommended for clamping conductors over engines and moving
machinery according to ABYC
a. PVC
b. Nylon
c. Metal
d. Any of the above will work
c. Metal
When completing a job after a partial rewiring of a customer's boat, the technician
should:
a. Update the boat's wiring diagram
b. Test the operation of the system
c. Explain all of the changes to the owner
d. All of the above
d. All of the above
