NATIONAL HOME INSPECTOR EXAM SCRIPT
2026 FULL SOLUTION PRACTICE
◉ American Wire Gauge (AWG). Answer: an standard method of
denoting the diameter of electrically conducting wire
◉ Bonding. Answer: The process of connecting, both physically and
electrically, metal components of the electrical system that are not
intended to carry electrical current to provide a low resistance
return path to the circuit breaker or fuse to clear ground faults;
bonding is an elecsafety system. system.
◉ Branch Circuit. Answer: Conductors that begin at a circuit breaker
or fuse and serve one or more oulets.
◉ Branch Circuit, multiwire. Answer: A branch circuit in which two
energized conductors share one neutral, examples can include
clothes dryers, ranges and other cooking appliances, and split-wire
receptacle circuits, 240 volt water heaters and condensers for air
conditioners and heat pumps are not usually branch circuits.
◉ Bus (buss, busbar). Answer: the heavy, rigid metal part of a
panelboard on which circuit breakers or fuses are mounted;
sometimes used to describe metal terminals to which the neutral
and equipment grounding conductors (EGCs) are connected.
,◉ Cable. Answer: two or more conductors encased in sheathing;
examples include non-metallic sheathed cable (Brand Romex) and
armored cable (Brand BX)
◉ circuit breaker. Answer: overcurrent protection device (OPD)
◉ Conductor. Answer: a material, such as copper or aluminum, that
permits electricity to flow with low resistance, wires are conductors.
◉ Current. Answer: the amount of electricity in a circuit. Unit of
measure is the ampere (amp); expressed as I in Ohm's Law and
Watt's Law equation.
◉ Dead front cover. Answer: a panel that is removed to gain access
to the energized components inside an enclosure; the dead front
cover is usually behind a door that must be swung or lifted to gain
access to the dead front cover.
◉ EGC. Answer: Equipment grounding conductor
◉ Enclosure (electrical). Answer: a case or cabinet intended to
prevent accidental contact with energized parts, a panelboard is
housed inside an enclosure.
,◉ Feeder conductors. Answer: conductors from the service
equipment or from a panelboard that supply electricity to another
panelboard such as a subpanel.
◉ Fuse. Answer: Overcurrent protection device (OPD)
◉ Grounded. Answer: a conductor that is intentionally connected to
earth; this describes what is often called the neutral conductor.
◉ grounding. Answer: providing an intentional connection to earth,
grounding provides an alternate path for current to return to its
source; in an electrical power system, the source is the utilities
transformer and ultimately power plant. See grounding electrode
and grounding electrode conductor (GEC).
◉ Grounding Conductor, Equipment (EGC). Answer: a bare or
insulated conductor that provides a ground fault current path (a
bonding connection) for equipment with metal cases and parts;
these have been installed in most house branch circuit wiring since
around 1960.
◉ grounding electrode. Answer: metal that is in direct contact with
the earth and serves as the electrical system grounding connection;
, examples include copper coated steel rods, galvanized steel pipes,
water service and well pipes, and reinforcing steel encased footings.
◉ grounding electrode conductor (GEC). Answer: a conductor that
runs between the grounding electrode and an accessible point
downstream from where the grounded service entrance conductor
connects to the service drop or lateral; the GEC connection is usually
at the service equipment.
◉ Ground fault. Answer: an event that occurs when metal that
should not conduct electricity (such as a metal water pipe) becomes
energized; if the metal is properly bonded, current flow should
increase in the circuit and trip the circuit breaker or fuse.
◉ Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI). Answer: a circuit breaker
or receptacle that detects a ground fault by monitoring the
imbalance in current flow between the energized and neutral
conductors and stops current flow kopens the circuit) when a
ground fault is detected.
◉ Joules Law. Answer: a formula for calculating heat in an electrical
circuit expressed as Heat = Current▪︎2 X Resistance X Time.
◉ Knockouts. Answer: stamped openings in an enclosure where
conduit or cable clamps are installed to secure conductors or cables.
See Tabs (twistouts).
2026 FULL SOLUTION PRACTICE
◉ American Wire Gauge (AWG). Answer: an standard method of
denoting the diameter of electrically conducting wire
◉ Bonding. Answer: The process of connecting, both physically and
electrically, metal components of the electrical system that are not
intended to carry electrical current to provide a low resistance
return path to the circuit breaker or fuse to clear ground faults;
bonding is an elecsafety system. system.
◉ Branch Circuit. Answer: Conductors that begin at a circuit breaker
or fuse and serve one or more oulets.
◉ Branch Circuit, multiwire. Answer: A branch circuit in which two
energized conductors share one neutral, examples can include
clothes dryers, ranges and other cooking appliances, and split-wire
receptacle circuits, 240 volt water heaters and condensers for air
conditioners and heat pumps are not usually branch circuits.
◉ Bus (buss, busbar). Answer: the heavy, rigid metal part of a
panelboard on which circuit breakers or fuses are mounted;
sometimes used to describe metal terminals to which the neutral
and equipment grounding conductors (EGCs) are connected.
,◉ Cable. Answer: two or more conductors encased in sheathing;
examples include non-metallic sheathed cable (Brand Romex) and
armored cable (Brand BX)
◉ circuit breaker. Answer: overcurrent protection device (OPD)
◉ Conductor. Answer: a material, such as copper or aluminum, that
permits electricity to flow with low resistance, wires are conductors.
◉ Current. Answer: the amount of electricity in a circuit. Unit of
measure is the ampere (amp); expressed as I in Ohm's Law and
Watt's Law equation.
◉ Dead front cover. Answer: a panel that is removed to gain access
to the energized components inside an enclosure; the dead front
cover is usually behind a door that must be swung or lifted to gain
access to the dead front cover.
◉ EGC. Answer: Equipment grounding conductor
◉ Enclosure (electrical). Answer: a case or cabinet intended to
prevent accidental contact with energized parts, a panelboard is
housed inside an enclosure.
,◉ Feeder conductors. Answer: conductors from the service
equipment or from a panelboard that supply electricity to another
panelboard such as a subpanel.
◉ Fuse. Answer: Overcurrent protection device (OPD)
◉ Grounded. Answer: a conductor that is intentionally connected to
earth; this describes what is often called the neutral conductor.
◉ grounding. Answer: providing an intentional connection to earth,
grounding provides an alternate path for current to return to its
source; in an electrical power system, the source is the utilities
transformer and ultimately power plant. See grounding electrode
and grounding electrode conductor (GEC).
◉ Grounding Conductor, Equipment (EGC). Answer: a bare or
insulated conductor that provides a ground fault current path (a
bonding connection) for equipment with metal cases and parts;
these have been installed in most house branch circuit wiring since
around 1960.
◉ grounding electrode. Answer: metal that is in direct contact with
the earth and serves as the electrical system grounding connection;
, examples include copper coated steel rods, galvanized steel pipes,
water service and well pipes, and reinforcing steel encased footings.
◉ grounding electrode conductor (GEC). Answer: a conductor that
runs between the grounding electrode and an accessible point
downstream from where the grounded service entrance conductor
connects to the service drop or lateral; the GEC connection is usually
at the service equipment.
◉ Ground fault. Answer: an event that occurs when metal that
should not conduct electricity (such as a metal water pipe) becomes
energized; if the metal is properly bonded, current flow should
increase in the circuit and trip the circuit breaker or fuse.
◉ Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI). Answer: a circuit breaker
or receptacle that detects a ground fault by monitoring the
imbalance in current flow between the energized and neutral
conductors and stops current flow kopens the circuit) when a
ground fault is detected.
◉ Joules Law. Answer: a formula for calculating heat in an electrical
circuit expressed as Heat = Current▪︎2 X Resistance X Time.
◉ Knockouts. Answer: stamped openings in an enclosure where
conduit or cable clamps are installed to secure conductors or cables.
See Tabs (twistouts).
