NYC DCAS ELECTRICIAN EXAM QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026/2027
OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT - EXAM
NYC DCAS ELECTRICIAN EXAM
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026/2027
Civil Service Licensing Examination — Advanced Electrical Systems & Code Complia
A+ Verified Edition: 2026/2027 Passing Score: 70%
COVER PAGE - 1
,SECTIONS COVERED
• SECTION 1: Electrical Theory & Ohm's Law (Questions 1-16)
• SECTION 2: NEC Code Compliance & NYC Electrical Codes (Questions 17-32)
• SECTION 3: Wiring Methods, Grounding & Safety (Questions 33-48)
• SECTION 4: Motors, Transformers & Lighting Systems (Questions 49-64)
• SECTION 5: Troubleshooting, Maintenance & Advanced Systems (Questions 65-80)
EXAM INSTRUCTIONS
This examination assesses analysis and evaluation-level knowledge of electrical theory, National Electrical Code
(NEC) compliance, NYC electrical codes, wiring methods, grounding, motors, transformers, lighting systems,
troubleshooting, and safety. Each question presents a realistic trade scenario followed by four possible responses.
Select the best answer for each question. Each question is worth one mark. A passing score of 70% is required.
Read each scenario carefully before selecting your answer.
SECTION 1: Electrical Theory & Ohm's Law
QUESTION 1
Q1. A journeyman electrician is troubleshooting a 120-volt residential branch circuit that keeps tripping its
20-ampere breaker. Using Ohm's Law, the electrician calculates the expected current draw for a load rated
at 1440 watts. Before adding more devices, which calculation best determines the actual circuit current?
A. 1440 watts multiplied by 120 volts equals 172,800 amperes.
B. 1440 watts divided by 120 volts equals 12 amperes.
C. 120 volts divided by 1440 watts equals 0.083 amperes.
D. 1440 watts plus 120 volts equals 1560 amperes.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Ohm's Law states current equals power divided by voltage (I = P/V). For a 1440-watt load on a 120-volt circuit,
1440/120 = 12 amperes. Multiplying, dividing voltage by power, or adding units are all dimensionally and
mathematically incorrect.
QUESTION 2
Q2. An apprentice measures resistance across a disconnected heating element using a digital multimeter
set to ohms. The meter reads 28 ohms. The element is connected to a 240-volt supply. The supervisor asks
the apprentice to determine the current draw using only this resistance value. Which calculation should the
apprentice perform?
A. 240 volts divided by 28 ohms equals approximately 8.57 amperes.
B. 28 ohms multiplied by 240 volts equals 6720 amperes.
C. 240 volts minus 28 ohms equals 212 amperes.
D. 28 ohms divided by 240 volts equals approximately 0.117 amperes.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Ohm's Law states I = V/R. Dividing 240 volts by 28 ohms yields approximately 8.57 amperes. Multiplying,
subtracting, or inverting the formula produces meaningless or incorrect results.
, QUESTION 3
Q3. A senior electrician is designing a series circuit for an industrial indicator light system. The circuit
contains three resistors with values of 10 ohms, 20 ohms, and 30 ohms connected to a 120-volt DC source.
The supervisor asks for the total current flowing through the circuit before selecting an appropriate fuse.
Which value is correct?
A. 120 volts divided by 20 ohms equals 6 amperes.
B. 120 volts divided by 60 ohms equals 2 amperes.
C. 120 volts divided by 10 ohms equals 12 amperes.
D. 120 volts divided by 30 ohms equals 4 amperes.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In a series circuit, total resistance equals the sum of individual resistances: 10 + 20 + 30 = 60 ohms. Using Ohm's
Law (I = V/R), 120/60 = 2 amperes. Using any single resistor value ignores the series total resistance.
QUESTION 4
Q4. During a commercial renovation, an electrician finds a parallel circuit with two branch resistors of 30
ohms and 60 ohms connected to a 120-volt source. The project manager needs to know the total current
drawn from the source to verify the panel capacity. Which calculation yields the correct total current?
A. 120 divided by the sum of 30 and 60 equals 1.33 amperes.
B. 120 divided by the equivalent resistance of 20 ohms equals 6 amperes.
C. 120 divided by 90 ohms equals 1.33 amperes.
D. 120 divided by 45 ohms equals 2.67 amperes.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: For parallel resistors, the equivalent resistance is 1/(1/30 + 1/60) = 20 ohms. Total current equals V/R_eq = 120/20 =
6 amperes. Summing resistances directly applies to series circuits, not parallel. 90 and 45 ohms are incorrect
equivalent values.
QUESTION 5
Q5. A licensed electrician is troubleshooting a three-phase motor connection in a Manhattan office
building. The motor is rated at 480 volts line-to-line and draws 10 amperes per phase with a power factor of
0.85. The building engineer asks for the total apparent power drawn by the motor. Which calculation is
correct?
A. 480 volts times 10 amperes times 0.85 equals 4080 volt-amperes.
B. 1.732 times 480 volts times 10 amperes equals approximately 8314 volt-amperes.
C. 480 volts divided by 10 amperes equals 48 volt-amperes.
D. 10 amperes divided by 480 volts equals 0.0208 volt-amperes.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Apparent power in a balanced three-phase system equals the square root of 3 (1.732) times line voltage times line
current. Real power would include the power factor. Dividing voltage by current or current by voltage inverts the
formula and yields nonsensical units.
OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT - EXAM
NYC DCAS ELECTRICIAN EXAM
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026/2027
Civil Service Licensing Examination — Advanced Electrical Systems & Code Complia
A+ Verified Edition: 2026/2027 Passing Score: 70%
COVER PAGE - 1
,SECTIONS COVERED
• SECTION 1: Electrical Theory & Ohm's Law (Questions 1-16)
• SECTION 2: NEC Code Compliance & NYC Electrical Codes (Questions 17-32)
• SECTION 3: Wiring Methods, Grounding & Safety (Questions 33-48)
• SECTION 4: Motors, Transformers & Lighting Systems (Questions 49-64)
• SECTION 5: Troubleshooting, Maintenance & Advanced Systems (Questions 65-80)
EXAM INSTRUCTIONS
This examination assesses analysis and evaluation-level knowledge of electrical theory, National Electrical Code
(NEC) compliance, NYC electrical codes, wiring methods, grounding, motors, transformers, lighting systems,
troubleshooting, and safety. Each question presents a realistic trade scenario followed by four possible responses.
Select the best answer for each question. Each question is worth one mark. A passing score of 70% is required.
Read each scenario carefully before selecting your answer.
SECTION 1: Electrical Theory & Ohm's Law
QUESTION 1
Q1. A journeyman electrician is troubleshooting a 120-volt residential branch circuit that keeps tripping its
20-ampere breaker. Using Ohm's Law, the electrician calculates the expected current draw for a load rated
at 1440 watts. Before adding more devices, which calculation best determines the actual circuit current?
A. 1440 watts multiplied by 120 volts equals 172,800 amperes.
B. 1440 watts divided by 120 volts equals 12 amperes.
C. 120 volts divided by 1440 watts equals 0.083 amperes.
D. 1440 watts plus 120 volts equals 1560 amperes.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Ohm's Law states current equals power divided by voltage (I = P/V). For a 1440-watt load on a 120-volt circuit,
1440/120 = 12 amperes. Multiplying, dividing voltage by power, or adding units are all dimensionally and
mathematically incorrect.
QUESTION 2
Q2. An apprentice measures resistance across a disconnected heating element using a digital multimeter
set to ohms. The meter reads 28 ohms. The element is connected to a 240-volt supply. The supervisor asks
the apprentice to determine the current draw using only this resistance value. Which calculation should the
apprentice perform?
A. 240 volts divided by 28 ohms equals approximately 8.57 amperes.
B. 28 ohms multiplied by 240 volts equals 6720 amperes.
C. 240 volts minus 28 ohms equals 212 amperes.
D. 28 ohms divided by 240 volts equals approximately 0.117 amperes.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Ohm's Law states I = V/R. Dividing 240 volts by 28 ohms yields approximately 8.57 amperes. Multiplying,
subtracting, or inverting the formula produces meaningless or incorrect results.
, QUESTION 3
Q3. A senior electrician is designing a series circuit for an industrial indicator light system. The circuit
contains three resistors with values of 10 ohms, 20 ohms, and 30 ohms connected to a 120-volt DC source.
The supervisor asks for the total current flowing through the circuit before selecting an appropriate fuse.
Which value is correct?
A. 120 volts divided by 20 ohms equals 6 amperes.
B. 120 volts divided by 60 ohms equals 2 amperes.
C. 120 volts divided by 10 ohms equals 12 amperes.
D. 120 volts divided by 30 ohms equals 4 amperes.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In a series circuit, total resistance equals the sum of individual resistances: 10 + 20 + 30 = 60 ohms. Using Ohm's
Law (I = V/R), 120/60 = 2 amperes. Using any single resistor value ignores the series total resistance.
QUESTION 4
Q4. During a commercial renovation, an electrician finds a parallel circuit with two branch resistors of 30
ohms and 60 ohms connected to a 120-volt source. The project manager needs to know the total current
drawn from the source to verify the panel capacity. Which calculation yields the correct total current?
A. 120 divided by the sum of 30 and 60 equals 1.33 amperes.
B. 120 divided by the equivalent resistance of 20 ohms equals 6 amperes.
C. 120 divided by 90 ohms equals 1.33 amperes.
D. 120 divided by 45 ohms equals 2.67 amperes.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: For parallel resistors, the equivalent resistance is 1/(1/30 + 1/60) = 20 ohms. Total current equals V/R_eq = 120/20 =
6 amperes. Summing resistances directly applies to series circuits, not parallel. 90 and 45 ohms are incorrect
equivalent values.
QUESTION 5
Q5. A licensed electrician is troubleshooting a three-phase motor connection in a Manhattan office
building. The motor is rated at 480 volts line-to-line and draws 10 amperes per phase with a power factor of
0.85. The building engineer asks for the total apparent power drawn by the motor. Which calculation is
correct?
A. 480 volts times 10 amperes times 0.85 equals 4080 volt-amperes.
B. 1.732 times 480 volts times 10 amperes equals approximately 8314 volt-amperes.
C. 480 volts divided by 10 amperes equals 48 volt-amperes.
D. 10 amperes divided by 480 volts equals 0.0208 volt-amperes.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Apparent power in a balanced three-phase system equals the square root of 3 (1.732) times line voltage times line
current. Real power would include the power factor. Dividing voltage by current or current by voltage inverts the
formula and yields nonsensical units.
