Instrumentation Level 1 NCCER Actual Exam– National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Instrumentation Level 1 Certification – 2026/2027 Edition – Study Guide and Practice Overview

Instrumentation Level 1 NCCER Actual Exam– National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Instrumentation Level 1 Certification – 2026/2027 Edition – Study Guide and Practice Overview Q: In the metric system the prefix mill means? Answer one-thousandth Q: Ten meters equals how many kilometers? Answer 0.01 kilometers Q: atmospheric pressure at sea level is approximately? Answer 14.7 psi Q: Any pressure that is less than the prevailing atmospheric pressure is called? Answer a vaccuum Q: How would you calculate 15 squared? Answer 15x15 Q: What acronym represents the sequence for solving an equation? Answer PEMDAS Q: The equation 5B + 11B = 16 can also be defined as? Answer 16B = 16 OR B = 16/16 OR B = 1 Q: The diameter of a circle can also be defined as? Answer twice the radius Q: An acute angle has? Answer less than 90 degrees Q: The sum of interior angles of a square is? Answer 360 degrees Q: Based on the 3-4-5 rule, if a right triangle has a base of 9 meters and an altitude of 12 meters, the length of the hypotenuse should be? Answer 15 meters Q: How would you calculate 6 cubed? Answer 6 X 6 X 6 Q: An instrument index lists every instrument used on a project by its? Answer Tag number Q: Which document would be used to identify the drawings and documents related to a specific instrument with a known tag number? Answer Instrument index Q: The drawing that would most likely show where a particular instrument is to be installed and the elevation at which it is to be located is the? Answer Location drawing Q: Location drawings are sometimes referred to as? Answer Routing drawings Q: What is a combination of two or more instruments of control functions arranged so that signals pass from one to another for the purpose of measurement and/or control of a process variable? Answer Control Loop Q: The materials list on an installation detail drawing normally contains? Answer A list of parts and materials needed to install the instrument. Q: The instrument symbol for a field mounted devise has? Answer No lines drawn through it Q: The first letter of the tag number identifies the? Answer Measured or initiating variable Q: Normally the second number in a tag number that only contains two letters is used to identify? Answer Answer Function of the instrument, such as record or indicate. Q: The 150 in the tag number of an instrument, TIC-150 for example designates the? Loop number in which the instrument is installed. Q: The document that provides weights, sling locations, balance points, methods of attachment ad maximum hoist line speed for shipped items is called? Answer Handling instructions When possible, visual inspection of items should be done before off-loading to? Answer avoid accepting custody of damaged items In order to keep track of instruments and related components as the are received, stored and installed each one is assigned a(n)? Answer Instrument tag number The purpose of storing some items in container with inert gas, usually nitrogen is to insure that? Answer Oxygen and/or moisture laden air cannot enter the container What are the four levels of storage categories? Answer A,B,C and D Items will categorized for Level A storage if they are? Answer Very sensitive to environmental conditions. Items categorized as needing Level D Storage are less sensitive than those in the level C category, but still must be protected from? Answer Physical damage The storage level that should be provided with a paved floor and good temperature and humidity control is? Answer Level A One particular item that falls in the general category of Level C storage that does require additional considerations other than the level's general provisions is? Answer An orifice plate The voltage received at a residence is usually about ? Volts. Answer 240 High voltage is defined at ? volts or above. 600 Use the ? procedure to test all circuits operating at or above 600 volts. For maximum safety it is best to use this procedure for all voltages. Live - dead - Live What kind of electricity is produced by a battery? Direct current (DC) The difference in electrical potential between two points is called? Voltage What is the name of the formula used to calculate voltage, current and resistance? Ohm's Law In a resistive circuit what is the formula for power? Power (P) = voltage (V) X current (I) An insulator is the opposite as a ?, because it inhibits the flow of electricity. Conductor The current in a series circuit is? The same at any point of the circuit. The total resistance of a series circuit is? Sum of all the individual resistors. In a parallel circuit the voltage drop across all loads is? The same. In a parallel circuit the total resistance can always be calculated with the formula? 1/(1/R1) + (1/R2) + (1/R3) When using a multimeter to measure voltage the meter must be connected in ? across the component being tested. Parellel If a multimeter without a clamp on ampmeter is being used to measure current, the meter must be connected in? Series When using an ohmmeter to measure resistance in a circuit what should be the state of the circuit? The power should be shut off. A continuity tester is a simple device that can be used to do what? Determine if the circuit is open or closed. What type of meters are designed to read very high resistance values? Megohmmeters If wiring is not properly ? electrical noise may cause erratic or inaccurate control signals false indications, and improper operation of control devices. Shielded A conductor is selected for specific application based on its? Ampacity ? of an electrical system is required to limit the voltage entering the system as a result of power surges. It also serves to hold all parts of the electrical system, including noncurrent carrying enclosures, at zero potential to ground. Grounding What is the permanent joining of metallic parts to form an electrically conductive path that will ensure electrical conductive path that will ensure electrical continuity and capacity to safely conduct and current likely to imposed on it? Bonding Instrumentation is not usually grounded at both ends of the wire. This helps prevent unwanted what? Ground loops in the system What component is used to create a seal between two mating surfaces? Gaskets What is a key factor in the selection of the type of gasket used? The type of flange facing What type flange has a wide raised rim around the center of the flange? Raised face flange What type of gasket has the bolt holes cut in it? Flat face flange Gasket manufactures typically include what in their catalogs to help in selecting the right gasket or O ring? Compatability tables Gaskets must be matched to flanges. Metal ring gaskets are used with? RJT flanges Usually the types of gaskets and gasket materials to be used on a project are listed in the? Special section of the piping specifications What type of gaskets are treated so that they remain soft and pliable? Fiberglass gaskets The ring joint gasket is very effective at? very high pressures Spiral wound gasket material is usually identified by ? Color coding scheme on the outside diameter of the gasket. What type of gaskets are used in high temperature air applications? Ceramic gaskets The type of gasket that may be selected for its ability to adjust for bolt relaxation is the? Spiral wound gasket The devise that fits into a groove on a shaft of surface and protrudes slightly to form a seal when another surface is brought in contact with it is a(n)? O-Ring The material used to form a seal for values stem and pump shafts is? Packing When installing packing the cut in each ring should be rotated roughly how many degrees from the cut in the ring installed before it? 90 degrees Lubricated graphite yarn is a type of? Packing In a bolt tightening sequence for an eight bolt flange the next bolt to be tightened after the one at the 12 o clock position would be located at the? 6 O clock position How many bolt holes does a raised face flange gasket have? None Lubricates are substances capable or reducing friction, heat and ? when used a film between two surfaces. Wear What are the two classifications of cutting oils? Active and Inactive Which classification of cutting oil easily releases sulpher to react with the work surface during cutting? Active cutting oil Inactive cutting oil release very little ? during cutting. Sulpher Water is added to emulsifiable oils because its ? Cooling properties Typical pipe joint compounds tend to ? over time. Shrink Aluminum oxide on aluminum conduit threads act as a(n)? Insulator Pipe joint compounds are primarily used as a ? Lubricant Yellow PTFE tape is often specified for use with ? Natural gas and other fuel gases What are the three grades of silicone lubricants? General purpose, Extreme duty and food grade What type of oil is used to loosen rust and corrosion and to free bolts and connectors? Penetrating oil One characteristic of most pipe thread sealants is that the paste? Hardens as it dries Noncorrosive neutral sure RTV silicone adhesive is best for? Electrical/electronic bonding and aluminum An exothermic reaction occurs whenever? the components of a two-part epoxy putty are combined Some sealants give off ? as they cure. Harmful vapors Which type of metal wool is generally graded by a number? Steel Sandpaper is generally classified by the? Grit size The proper wire brush to use on stainless steel has bristles of? Stainless Steel Which of the following materials does not dissolve in water and therefore can damage the lungs without any warning signs? Nitric acid Due to danger of explosion, petroleum-based cleaners must never be used as a cleaner for? Air or oxygen systems The electrical grounding of containers during transfer and/or mixing is typically required for? Acetone Tubing is generally sized according to its? Outside diameter (OD) and wall thickness The wall thickness of metric tubing is normally expressed in ? Millimeters The ID of a metric sized tube with an OD of 12mm and a 1mm wall thickness is? 10mm. 12mm - (2 x 1mm) = 10mm Metal tubing can be welded or seamless. The welded seam is best seen? on the ID of the tubing Copper tubing is usually used in systems where temperature and pressure conditions are? not extreme Steel tubing is often used in what type of systems? high pressure hydraulic systems Stainless steel tubing is often used in? High pressure and high temperature application. Aluminum tubing is softer, lighter in weight and more flexible than most other metal tubing. It is used where sanitary conditions are required. It is also used? in many low temperature applications to carry liquefied gases. Monel tubing has good resistance to ? salt water, lye, sulfuric acid, most food and many chemicals. Hastelloy tubing is often used in the chemical processing industry to convey highly corrosive materials such as? Boiling sulfuric acids ? tubing is generally considered easier to install than metal tubing, since it does not require bending or flaring. Poly All tubing is manufactured to meet the standards of which organizations? ASTM, DIN, BS When storing tubing, it is a good work practice to? Keep the same size and types of tubing together. Tubing is often cut with a tool called a tubing cutter. For larger sizes of tubing what other two tools can be used? Hacksaw and band saw Some tubing cutters also contain a ? to remove burrs that are left by the cutting process. Reamer When marking tubing to cut, do not use ? because the make will be to wide. Grease pencils or crayons. When deburring tubing always try to point the tubing? Down When ? tubing, flat files and emery cloth can be used. Deburring The type of bend used to go around an obstacle is called a(n)? Offset What type of bender is used to bend large, heavy walled tubing? Hydraulic 1/2" tubing is generally connected to what size fittings? 1/2" The four most common types of tubing fitting are? Compression, flare, socket weld and braze The type of fitting with external threads that connect to a component having internal threads is a? Male fitting The fitting designed to change the run from a larger size to a smaller size of tubing or piping is a(n)? Reducer A flare fitting for high pressure application that incorporates a sleeve around the flare is the? JIC style You must avoid gouging the tubing too deeply while reaming and you need to ensure the tube has a proper round shape after reaming. (True or False) TRUE Brazing is a method used to join ? tubing. Copper What is the most common way to join PVC tubing? Solvent cementing Once a PVC joining has been initially made up? The tube should be rotated about 1/4 turn.