ABYC Marine Electrical Certification
Exam Review Questions & Answers
(Grade A+)
How often (in inches) shall wire bundles be supported? -
correct answer ✅Every 18 inches.
What type of clamps are to be used for supporting wire bundles
when routed over engines and machinery? -
correct answer ✅Insulated Metallic Hanger Clamps
What tensile force must a 10 Gauge crimp connector withstand for
one minute? -
correct answer ✅40 lbs (E-11 Table XV)
What is the max allowed unsupported cable length for battery
cables? -
correct answer ✅36 inches
T or F: Running AC and DC conductors together is allowed so long
as the AC conductors are sheathed. -
correct answer ✅True
The most common electrical circuit problem in marine applications
is:
,ABYC Marine Electrical Certification
Exam Review Questions & Answers
(Grade A+)
A. Short circuits
B. Too much continuity
C. Unwanted open
D. Inter circuit Short -
correct answer ✅C. Unwanted open
The primary by-product of excessive electrical resistance is:
A. Increased Amperage
B. Increased Voltage
C. Reduced Ambient Temperature
D. Heat -
correct answer ✅D. Heat
One HP = how many watts? -
correct answer ✅1 HP = 746 Watts
What is the preferred tool for tracing shorted and open circuits?
A. Ohm meter
B. Amp clamp
,ABYC Marine Electrical Certification
Exam Review Questions & Answers
(Grade A+)
C. Volt meter
D. TDR (time-domain reflectometer) -
correct answer ✅D. TDR (time-domain reflectometer)
A technician is installing a cable run from the batteries to the main
DC panel board on a boat as part of a refit. The boat has a 12-volt
system and the distance form the panel to the batteries is 15 ft. The
maximum current draw from the panel is calculated at 90 amps.
What guage cable should be used (minimum)? -
correct answer ✅0 AWG
DC grounded conductors on new boats that are also equipped with
AC systems should use what color insulated wire? -
correct answer ✅Yellow
What is the smallest guage wire allowed for unsheathed wire runs
through the boat? -
correct answer ✅16 AWG
T or F: Compared to deep cycle (house) batteries, cranking batteries
will have thicker lead plates to facilitate the higher, short-duration
, ABYC Marine Electrical Certification
Exam Review Questions & Answers
(Grade A+)
current draws. -
correct answer ✅False. Start batteries have a greater number of
thinner plates within each cell.
Which type of battery generally recharges faster? Deep cycle or
cranking? -
correct answer ✅Cranking
What tool and common household staple are used to clean battery
terminals? -
correct answer ✅Wire brush and backing soda.
Why might a fully-discharged wet-cell type battery freeze? -
correct answer ✅Most of the sulfuric acid has been absorbed into
the lead plates, leaving mostly water in the electrolyte.
Batteries must be secured to prevent movement of more than
______ inches in any direction when a pulling force of _____ or
_____, whichever is less, is applied through the center of gravity of
the battery for how long? -
correct answer ✅1 inch, 90 lbs or 2x the battery weight, for 1
minute in each direction.
Exam Review Questions & Answers
(Grade A+)
How often (in inches) shall wire bundles be supported? -
correct answer ✅Every 18 inches.
What type of clamps are to be used for supporting wire bundles
when routed over engines and machinery? -
correct answer ✅Insulated Metallic Hanger Clamps
What tensile force must a 10 Gauge crimp connector withstand for
one minute? -
correct answer ✅40 lbs (E-11 Table XV)
What is the max allowed unsupported cable length for battery
cables? -
correct answer ✅36 inches
T or F: Running AC and DC conductors together is allowed so long
as the AC conductors are sheathed. -
correct answer ✅True
The most common electrical circuit problem in marine applications
is:
,ABYC Marine Electrical Certification
Exam Review Questions & Answers
(Grade A+)
A. Short circuits
B. Too much continuity
C. Unwanted open
D. Inter circuit Short -
correct answer ✅C. Unwanted open
The primary by-product of excessive electrical resistance is:
A. Increased Amperage
B. Increased Voltage
C. Reduced Ambient Temperature
D. Heat -
correct answer ✅D. Heat
One HP = how many watts? -
correct answer ✅1 HP = 746 Watts
What is the preferred tool for tracing shorted and open circuits?
A. Ohm meter
B. Amp clamp
,ABYC Marine Electrical Certification
Exam Review Questions & Answers
(Grade A+)
C. Volt meter
D. TDR (time-domain reflectometer) -
correct answer ✅D. TDR (time-domain reflectometer)
A technician is installing a cable run from the batteries to the main
DC panel board on a boat as part of a refit. The boat has a 12-volt
system and the distance form the panel to the batteries is 15 ft. The
maximum current draw from the panel is calculated at 90 amps.
What guage cable should be used (minimum)? -
correct answer ✅0 AWG
DC grounded conductors on new boats that are also equipped with
AC systems should use what color insulated wire? -
correct answer ✅Yellow
What is the smallest guage wire allowed for unsheathed wire runs
through the boat? -
correct answer ✅16 AWG
T or F: Compared to deep cycle (house) batteries, cranking batteries
will have thicker lead plates to facilitate the higher, short-duration
, ABYC Marine Electrical Certification
Exam Review Questions & Answers
(Grade A+)
current draws. -
correct answer ✅False. Start batteries have a greater number of
thinner plates within each cell.
Which type of battery generally recharges faster? Deep cycle or
cranking? -
correct answer ✅Cranking
What tool and common household staple are used to clean battery
terminals? -
correct answer ✅Wire brush and backing soda.
Why might a fully-discharged wet-cell type battery freeze? -
correct answer ✅Most of the sulfuric acid has been absorbed into
the lead plates, leaving mostly water in the electrolyte.
Batteries must be secured to prevent movement of more than
______ inches in any direction when a pulling force of _____ or
_____, whichever is less, is applied through the center of gravity of
the battery for how long? -
correct answer ✅1 inch, 90 lbs or 2x the battery weight, for 1
minute in each direction.
