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New Mexico EE‑98 Part 2
Residential Electrical Exam Prep
2026: NEC Practice Q&A with
Rationales
Prepare for the New Mexico EE‑98 Part 2 Residential Electrical
exam with 100+ practice questions covering service sizing,
branch circuits, load calculations, grounding/bonding, and
dwelling unit receptacle requirements. Each question includes
detailed NEC references and rationales explaining the "why"
behind the code. Updated for 2026 based on NEC 2017/2020
and NMAC 14.10.3. Covers GFCI/AFCI, kitchen/bath circuits,
feeder demand factors, and conductor sizing. Ideal for PSI exam
candidates targeting the residential specialty.
Question 1
For a one-family dwelling with a computed general lighting load of 8,500 VA, what is
the minimum number of 15-ampere, 120-volt branch circuits required for general
illumination, based on the NEC requirement that the load must not exceed 80% of
the circuit rating for continuous loads?
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A) 4 circuits
B) 5 circuits
C) 6 circuits
D) 7 circuits
Answer: C) 6 circuits
Rationale: First, determine the maximum allowable load per 15 A, 120 V branch circuit
when applied as a continuous load (general lighting is considered continuous). 15 A ×
120 V = 1,800 VA per circuit. For continuous use, the circuit is limited to 80% of its
rating: 1,800 VA × 0.80 = 1,440 VA per circuit. Then divide the total load: 8,500 VA ÷
1,440 VA = 5.9, which rounds up to 6 circuits. NEC 210.11(A) and 210.20(A) require the
branch circuit capacity to be not less than the load to be served, and 210.19(A)(1) limits
continuous loads to 80% of the overcurrent device rating.
Question 2
What is the minimum number of 20-ampere small-appliance branch circuits required
for the kitchen, dining room, and similar areas of a dwelling unit per the NEC?
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
Answer: B) 2
Rationale: NEC 210.11(C)(1) requires at least two 20-ampere small-appliance branch
circuits to supply the receptacle outlets in the kitchen, pantry, breakfast room, dining
room, and similar areas of a dwelling unit. These circuits shall have no other outlets.
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Question 3
For a dwelling unit, the minimum feeder service conductor ampacity for a
120/240-volt, single-phase service with a calculated load of 24,000 VA is which of the
following, assuming the service is 100 amperes minimum?
A) 60 amperes
B) 80 amperes
C) 100 amperes
D) 125 amperes
Answer: C) 100 amperes
Rationale: The minimum service size for a one-family dwelling is 100 amperes per NEC
230.79(C). Even if the calculated load (24,000 VA ÷ 240 V = 100 A) equals 100
amperes, the code mandates a minimum of 100 amperes for dwelling unit services.
Question 4
What is the minimum clearance required for overhead service conductors that pass
over a residential driveway?
A) 8 feet
B) 10 feet
C) 12 feet
D) 15 feet
Answer: C) 12 feet
Rationale: NEC 230.24(B) requires overhead service conductors to have a vertical
clearance of not less than 12 feet over residential driveways and other areas subject to
vehicular traffic.
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Question 5
In a dwelling unit, tamper-resistant receptacles are required in all of the following
locations EXCEPT:
A) Kitchen countertops
B) Bathrooms
C) Garages
D) Attic spaces that are unfinished
Answer: D) Attic spaces that are unfinished
Rationale: NEC 406.12 requires tamper-resistant receptacles in dwelling units in all
areas listed: kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and crawl spaces. However, unfinished attics
are not specifically listed unless they are habitable spaces. The requirement applies to
areas readily accessible to children.
Question 6
What is the maximum distance a receptacle outlet can be spaced along a wall in a
dwelling unit living room?
A) 6 feet
B) 8 feet
C) 10 feet
D) 12 feet
Answer: D) 12 feet
Rationale: NEC 210.52(A)(1) requires that receptacle outlets be installed so that no
point measured horizontally along the floor line in any wall space is more than 6 feet
from a receptacle. This results in a maximum spacing of 12 feet between receptacles.
New Mexico EE‑98 Part 2
Residential Electrical Exam Prep
2026: NEC Practice Q&A with
Rationales
Prepare for the New Mexico EE‑98 Part 2 Residential Electrical
exam with 100+ practice questions covering service sizing,
branch circuits, load calculations, grounding/bonding, and
dwelling unit receptacle requirements. Each question includes
detailed NEC references and rationales explaining the "why"
behind the code. Updated for 2026 based on NEC 2017/2020
and NMAC 14.10.3. Covers GFCI/AFCI, kitchen/bath circuits,
feeder demand factors, and conductor sizing. Ideal for PSI exam
candidates targeting the residential specialty.
Question 1
For a one-family dwelling with a computed general lighting load of 8,500 VA, what is
the minimum number of 15-ampere, 120-volt branch circuits required for general
illumination, based on the NEC requirement that the load must not exceed 80% of
the circuit rating for continuous loads?
,2|Page
A) 4 circuits
B) 5 circuits
C) 6 circuits
D) 7 circuits
Answer: C) 6 circuits
Rationale: First, determine the maximum allowable load per 15 A, 120 V branch circuit
when applied as a continuous load (general lighting is considered continuous). 15 A ×
120 V = 1,800 VA per circuit. For continuous use, the circuit is limited to 80% of its
rating: 1,800 VA × 0.80 = 1,440 VA per circuit. Then divide the total load: 8,500 VA ÷
1,440 VA = 5.9, which rounds up to 6 circuits. NEC 210.11(A) and 210.20(A) require the
branch circuit capacity to be not less than the load to be served, and 210.19(A)(1) limits
continuous loads to 80% of the overcurrent device rating.
Question 2
What is the minimum number of 20-ampere small-appliance branch circuits required
for the kitchen, dining room, and similar areas of a dwelling unit per the NEC?
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
Answer: B) 2
Rationale: NEC 210.11(C)(1) requires at least two 20-ampere small-appliance branch
circuits to supply the receptacle outlets in the kitchen, pantry, breakfast room, dining
room, and similar areas of a dwelling unit. These circuits shall have no other outlets.
,3|Page
Question 3
For a dwelling unit, the minimum feeder service conductor ampacity for a
120/240-volt, single-phase service with a calculated load of 24,000 VA is which of the
following, assuming the service is 100 amperes minimum?
A) 60 amperes
B) 80 amperes
C) 100 amperes
D) 125 amperes
Answer: C) 100 amperes
Rationale: The minimum service size for a one-family dwelling is 100 amperes per NEC
230.79(C). Even if the calculated load (24,000 VA ÷ 240 V = 100 A) equals 100
amperes, the code mandates a minimum of 100 amperes for dwelling unit services.
Question 4
What is the minimum clearance required for overhead service conductors that pass
over a residential driveway?
A) 8 feet
B) 10 feet
C) 12 feet
D) 15 feet
Answer: C) 12 feet
Rationale: NEC 230.24(B) requires overhead service conductors to have a vertical
clearance of not less than 12 feet over residential driveways and other areas subject to
vehicular traffic.
, 4|Page
Question 5
In a dwelling unit, tamper-resistant receptacles are required in all of the following
locations EXCEPT:
A) Kitchen countertops
B) Bathrooms
C) Garages
D) Attic spaces that are unfinished
Answer: D) Attic spaces that are unfinished
Rationale: NEC 406.12 requires tamper-resistant receptacles in dwelling units in all
areas listed: kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and crawl spaces. However, unfinished attics
are not specifically listed unless they are habitable spaces. The requirement applies to
areas readily accessible to children.
Question 6
What is the maximum distance a receptacle outlet can be spaced along a wall in a
dwelling unit living room?
A) 6 feet
B) 8 feet
C) 10 feet
D) 12 feet
Answer: D) 12 feet
Rationale: NEC 210.52(A)(1) requires that receptacle outlets be installed so that no
point measured horizontally along the floor line in any wall space is more than 6 feet
from a receptacle. This results in a maximum spacing of 12 feet between receptacles.
