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Ohio (OH) Maintenance Technician Exam | Latest Verified
Questions and Detailed Answers
OVERVIEW DESCRIPTION:
This Comprehensive set of multiple choice questions is designed for the Ohio Maintenance
Technician Exam, a multiple-choice assessment that evaluates hands-on competency, safety
protocols, and diagnostic skills across residential, commercial, and industrial building
maintenance. The exam covers electrical systems, including lockout/tagout safety rules,
multimeter use, breaker overloads, and GFCI requirements; plumbing systems, including
soldering copper lines, leak repair, drain clearing, and water heater safety relief valves;
HVAC and mechanical systems, including basic refrigeration cycles, thermostat wiring,
blower motor service, and filter replacement; and general maintenance and safety,
including OSHA compliance, PPE usage, basic carpentry, patching, and unit turnover
procedures.
QUESTION 1
According to OSHA lockout/tagout (LOTO), what is the first step before servicing
equipment?
A) Lock the main disconnect
B) Notify affected employees
C) Test the circuit
D) Remove the fuses
CORRECT ANSWER: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: Affected employees must be notified before shutdown so they
know not to restart or use the equipment. Locking and testing occur after proper
shutdown and isolation.
QUESTION 2
When using a multimeter to measure resistance, what must be done first?
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A) Set the meter to AC volts
B) De-energize the circuit
C) Connect the leads to the current jacks
D) Increase the range to maximum
CORRECT ANSWER: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: Resistance measurements require a de-energized circuit to prevent
meter damage and electric shock. The ohmmeter uses its own internal battery to
measure resistance.
QUESTION 3
Which location does NOT require GFCI protection in a dwelling unit?
A) Bathroom
B) Garage
C) Bedroom
D) Kitchen countertop
CORRECT ANSWER: C
EXPERT RATIONALE: GFCI protection is required in bathrooms, garages, kitchen
countertops, outdoors, and other damp locations. Bedrooms require AFCI protection
instead.
QUESTION 4
A 20-amp circuit breaker repeatedly trips when multiple portable heaters are connected.
What is the most likely cause?
A) Short circuit
B) Circuit overload
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C) Ground fault
D) Open neutral
CORRECT ANSWER: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: Multiple heaters draw more current than the breaker rating,
causing an overload. A short circuit or ground fault would typically trip instantly.
QUESTION 5
In standard 120-volt AC wiring, what color is the neutral conductor?
A) Black
B) Red
C) White or gray
D) Green
CORRECT ANSWER: C
EXPERT RATIONALE: White or gray identifies the grounded neutral conductor. Green or
bare copper is reserved for equipment grounding.
QUESTION 6
What is the standard voltage for a general-purpose receptacle in U.S. residential wiring?
A) 120 volts
B) 240 volts
C) 277 volts
D) 480 volts
CORRECT ANSWER: A
EXPERT RATIONALE: General-purpose residential receptacles are normally 120 volts.
Larger appliances such as electric ranges and dryers use 240 volts.
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QUESTION 7
Which statement about lockout/tagout is TRUE?
A) A tag may substitute for a lock
B) A lockout device must be applied by an authorized employee
C) Only a supervisor can remove a lock
D) Tags are sufficient for electrical isolation
CORRECT ANSWER: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: Lockout devices must be applied by an authorized employee and
remain under that employee’s control. Tags alone do not provide physical restraint
against startup.
QUESTION 8
When testing a live electrical circuit with a multimeter, what setting should be selected
first?
A) DC volts
B) AC volts
C) Resistance
D) Current
CORRECT ANSWER: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: Building power circuits are AC, so the meter must be set to AC
voltage. Using resistance or current settings on a live circuit can damage the meter.
QUESTION 9
A Class A GFCI is designed to trip when leakage current exceeds approximately:
A) 1 mA
B) 5 mA
Ohio (OH) Maintenance Technician Exam | Latest Verified
Questions and Detailed Answers
OVERVIEW DESCRIPTION:
This Comprehensive set of multiple choice questions is designed for the Ohio Maintenance
Technician Exam, a multiple-choice assessment that evaluates hands-on competency, safety
protocols, and diagnostic skills across residential, commercial, and industrial building
maintenance. The exam covers electrical systems, including lockout/tagout safety rules,
multimeter use, breaker overloads, and GFCI requirements; plumbing systems, including
soldering copper lines, leak repair, drain clearing, and water heater safety relief valves;
HVAC and mechanical systems, including basic refrigeration cycles, thermostat wiring,
blower motor service, and filter replacement; and general maintenance and safety,
including OSHA compliance, PPE usage, basic carpentry, patching, and unit turnover
procedures.
QUESTION 1
According to OSHA lockout/tagout (LOTO), what is the first step before servicing
equipment?
A) Lock the main disconnect
B) Notify affected employees
C) Test the circuit
D) Remove the fuses
CORRECT ANSWER: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: Affected employees must be notified before shutdown so they
know not to restart or use the equipment. Locking and testing occur after proper
shutdown and isolation.
QUESTION 2
When using a multimeter to measure resistance, what must be done first?
,2|Page
A) Set the meter to AC volts
B) De-energize the circuit
C) Connect the leads to the current jacks
D) Increase the range to maximum
CORRECT ANSWER: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: Resistance measurements require a de-energized circuit to prevent
meter damage and electric shock. The ohmmeter uses its own internal battery to
measure resistance.
QUESTION 3
Which location does NOT require GFCI protection in a dwelling unit?
A) Bathroom
B) Garage
C) Bedroom
D) Kitchen countertop
CORRECT ANSWER: C
EXPERT RATIONALE: GFCI protection is required in bathrooms, garages, kitchen
countertops, outdoors, and other damp locations. Bedrooms require AFCI protection
instead.
QUESTION 4
A 20-amp circuit breaker repeatedly trips when multiple portable heaters are connected.
What is the most likely cause?
A) Short circuit
B) Circuit overload
,3|Page
C) Ground fault
D) Open neutral
CORRECT ANSWER: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: Multiple heaters draw more current than the breaker rating,
causing an overload. A short circuit or ground fault would typically trip instantly.
QUESTION 5
In standard 120-volt AC wiring, what color is the neutral conductor?
A) Black
B) Red
C) White or gray
D) Green
CORRECT ANSWER: C
EXPERT RATIONALE: White or gray identifies the grounded neutral conductor. Green or
bare copper is reserved for equipment grounding.
QUESTION 6
What is the standard voltage for a general-purpose receptacle in U.S. residential wiring?
A) 120 volts
B) 240 volts
C) 277 volts
D) 480 volts
CORRECT ANSWER: A
EXPERT RATIONALE: General-purpose residential receptacles are normally 120 volts.
Larger appliances such as electric ranges and dryers use 240 volts.
, 4|Page
QUESTION 7
Which statement about lockout/tagout is TRUE?
A) A tag may substitute for a lock
B) A lockout device must be applied by an authorized employee
C) Only a supervisor can remove a lock
D) Tags are sufficient for electrical isolation
CORRECT ANSWER: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: Lockout devices must be applied by an authorized employee and
remain under that employee’s control. Tags alone do not provide physical restraint
against startup.
QUESTION 8
When testing a live electrical circuit with a multimeter, what setting should be selected
first?
A) DC volts
B) AC volts
C) Resistance
D) Current
CORRECT ANSWER: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: Building power circuits are AC, so the meter must be set to AC
voltage. Using resistance or current settings on a live circuit can damage the meter.
QUESTION 9
A Class A GFCI is designed to trip when leakage current exceeds approximately:
A) 1 mA
B) 5 mA
