City of Peoria – Electrical Contractor
Examination Questions and Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationale 2027 Q&A|
Instant Download Pdf
1. What is the primary purpose of the National Electrical Code
(NEC)?
A. To establish electrical utility rates
B. To regulate electrical equipment manufacturing costs
C. To provide practical safeguards for persons and property from
electrical hazards
D. To determine contractor profit margins
Answer: C. To provide practical safeguards for persons and property
from electrical hazards
Rationale: The NEC is fundamentally a safety standard. Its provisions
are intended to protect people and property from hazards associated
with electrical installations, including shock, fire, and equipment
damage.
, 2. Which conductor is generally identified by white or gray insulation
in a typical branch circuit?
A. Ungrounded conductor
B. Grounded conductor
C. Equipment grounding conductor
D. Bonding jumper
Answer: B. Grounded conductor
Rationale: The grounded conductor, commonly called the neutral in
many systems, is generally identified by white or gray insulation.
Ungrounded conductors are normally identified by other colors, while
equipment grounding conductors are typically green or bare.
3. What is the primary function of an equipment grounding
conductor?
A. To carry normal circuit current
B. To increase circuit voltage
C. To provide a low-impedance path for fault current
D. To reduce conductor resistance during normal operation
Answer: C. To provide a low-impedance path for fault current
,Rationale: An equipment grounding conductor provides a conductive
path that allows fault current to return to the source so the
overcurrent protective device can operate promptly. It is not intended
to carry normal load current.
4. A 120-volt branch circuit supplies a continuous load of 16
amperes. Using the 125% continuous-load rule, what is the
minimum calculated circuit load?
A. 16 A
B. 18 A
C. 20 A
D. 24 A
Answer: C. 20 A
Rationale: Continuous loads are generally calculated at 125% of the
actual load. Therefore, 16 A × 1.25 = 20 A. This calculated value is then
used when selecting the appropriate circuit and overcurrent
protection.
5. Which device is designed primarily to protect people from electric
shock caused by ground-fault current?
, A. AFCI
B. GFCI
C. Surge protector
D. Thermal overload relay
Answer: B. GFCI
Rationale: A Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter detects an imbalance
between current leaving and returning through the circuit conductors.
When the imbalance reaches its trip threshold, it disconnects the
circuit rapidly to reduce shock hazards.
6. Which device is primarily intended to protect branch-circuit
conductors from excessive current?
A. Thermostat
B. Disconnect switch
C. Overcurrent protective device
D. Grounding electrode
Answer: C. Overcurrent protective device
Rationale: Fuses and circuit breakers are overcurrent protective
devices. Their primary function is to protect conductors and
Examination Questions and Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationale 2027 Q&A|
Instant Download Pdf
1. What is the primary purpose of the National Electrical Code
(NEC)?
A. To establish electrical utility rates
B. To regulate electrical equipment manufacturing costs
C. To provide practical safeguards for persons and property from
electrical hazards
D. To determine contractor profit margins
Answer: C. To provide practical safeguards for persons and property
from electrical hazards
Rationale: The NEC is fundamentally a safety standard. Its provisions
are intended to protect people and property from hazards associated
with electrical installations, including shock, fire, and equipment
damage.
, 2. Which conductor is generally identified by white or gray insulation
in a typical branch circuit?
A. Ungrounded conductor
B. Grounded conductor
C. Equipment grounding conductor
D. Bonding jumper
Answer: B. Grounded conductor
Rationale: The grounded conductor, commonly called the neutral in
many systems, is generally identified by white or gray insulation.
Ungrounded conductors are normally identified by other colors, while
equipment grounding conductors are typically green or bare.
3. What is the primary function of an equipment grounding
conductor?
A. To carry normal circuit current
B. To increase circuit voltage
C. To provide a low-impedance path for fault current
D. To reduce conductor resistance during normal operation
Answer: C. To provide a low-impedance path for fault current
,Rationale: An equipment grounding conductor provides a conductive
path that allows fault current to return to the source so the
overcurrent protective device can operate promptly. It is not intended
to carry normal load current.
4. A 120-volt branch circuit supplies a continuous load of 16
amperes. Using the 125% continuous-load rule, what is the
minimum calculated circuit load?
A. 16 A
B. 18 A
C. 20 A
D. 24 A
Answer: C. 20 A
Rationale: Continuous loads are generally calculated at 125% of the
actual load. Therefore, 16 A × 1.25 = 20 A. This calculated value is then
used when selecting the appropriate circuit and overcurrent
protection.
5. Which device is designed primarily to protect people from electric
shock caused by ground-fault current?
, A. AFCI
B. GFCI
C. Surge protector
D. Thermal overload relay
Answer: B. GFCI
Rationale: A Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter detects an imbalance
between current leaving and returning through the circuit conductors.
When the imbalance reaches its trip threshold, it disconnects the
circuit rapidly to reduce shock hazards.
6. Which device is primarily intended to protect branch-circuit
conductors from excessive current?
A. Thermostat
B. Disconnect switch
C. Overcurrent protective device
D. Grounding electrode
Answer: C. Overcurrent protective device
Rationale: Fuses and circuit breakers are overcurrent protective
devices. Their primary function is to protect conductors and
