ABYC Marine Electrical Certification
Exam Review Questions with Correct
Answers
c. 2-450 CCA batteries in parallel (see E-11.6.1.2.1) - Answer-At what CCA do you have
a disconnect switch?
a. 1-450 CCA battery
b. 1-650 CCA battery
c. 2-450 CCA batteries in parallel
d. 2-450 CCA batteries in series
d. 12.6 - 12.8 volts - Answer-A fully charged 12 volt battery, after a period of rest during
which nothing has been put in or taken out, should have a fully charged voltage of:
a. 12.0 - 12.2 volts
b. 12.2 - 12.4 volts
c. 12.4 - 12.6 volts
d. 12.6 - 12.8 volts
True - Answer-T or F: The metallic braid of a coaxial cable and metal conduit used for
radio interference shall be connected to earth ground with an insulated stranded copper
conductor
d. Yellow - Answer-DC grounded conductors on new boats that are also equipped with
AC systems should use what color of insulation?
a. Light Blue
b. Black
c. Red
d. Yellow
d. All of the above - Answer-When testing a battery, the hydrometer is used to test
a. State of charge
b. For bad cells
c. Specific gravity
d. All of the above
d. Both a & c are correct - Answer-After installing an alternator, a technician should:
a. Check rotation of cooling fan
b. Verify the voltage is less than 13 volts when engine is running
c. Check that AC ripple is less than 0.5 VAC
d. Both a & c are correct
,d. Wind direction indicator - Answer-When installing a wind generator, the technician
must consider all of the following except:
a. Safe height above the deck
b. Use of blocking diodes
c. Voltage regulation
d. Wind direction indicator
b. 0.4 V - Answer-When testing an alternator, the maximum AC ripple reading to ensure
minimal RFI interference should be:
a. 0.2 V
b. 0.4 V
c. 1.0 V
d. 4 V
c. 200 amps - Answer-You have a customer with an 800 Ah 'house' battery bank who
wants to recharge with the biggest amount of amperage he can.
Standard flooded batteries are being used.
a. 5O amps
b. 1OO amps
c. 200 amps
d. 400 amps
b. Make sure the field wire has appropriate voltage when engine is running - Answer-To
check a voltage regulator is working properly, the best thing a technician can check:
a. Make sure the unit has 12 volts when engine is running
b. Make sure the field wire has appropriate voltage when engine is running
c. Make sure it's LED indicator lights come on
d. You cannot test a voltage regulator without sending to the factory for certified bench
testing
a. 35.7 amps - Answer-According to ABYC, maximum current carrying capacity of a 10
gauge wire, 105 degree C insulation, inside the engine room when bundled with 2 other
current carrying wires would be?
a. 35.7 amps
b. 60 amps
c. 5I amps
d. 42 amps
f. all of the above - Answer-A system voltmeter shall be installed on the main
panelboard if the system is permanently connected to
a . an inverter
b. a generator
c. motor circuits
d. b and c above
e. a and b above
,f. all of the above
True - Answer-T or F: Branch circuit breakers may open only the ungrounded conductor
if the AC system on the boat is equipped with a reverse polarity indicator or input circuit
isolation transformer.
b. 16 ga. (see E-11.14.1.1.2 note: some 18 AWG exceptions exist) - Answer-For AC
circuits, ABYC recommends that minimum conductor size shall be at least
a. 14 ga.
b. 16 ga.
c. 18 ga.
d. 20 ga.
True - Answer-T or F: A visible means [voltmeter, light, etc] of determining an inverter is
"online or in standby mode" must be installed at the main AC electrical distribution
panel.
Shore power Pylon
Inverter (when inverting)
Genset
Isolation Transformer - Answer-Name the 4 places in marine electrical power where we
have a neutral-ground connection.
D. No device allowed (see E-11.5.5.5) - Answer-The overcurrent protection device that
shall be installed on the AC grounding (green) conductor has a current rating of
____________ of the conductor's rated ampacity.
A. 100%
B. 125%
C. 150%
D. No device allowed
d. 150% (see E-11.10.2.6, exception) - Answer-If there is not a standard current rating
overcurrent protection device equal to 100% of the allowable current for an AC branch
circuit, the next larger standard current rating may be used provided it does not exceed
_______ of the maximum allowable current .
a. 100%
b. 125%
c. 135%
d. 150%
a. 100% (see E-11.10.1.5.4) - Answer-A panelboard or switchboard with no sub-main
circuit breaker or fuse shall have installed, at the source of power, overcurrent
protection not to exceed _______ of the load capacity of that panel, or the current
carrying capacity of the feeders.
a. 100%
b. 120%
, c. 135%
d. 150%
b. a GFCI device - Answer-If installed in a head, galley, machinery space, or on a
weather deck, a receptacle shall be protected by
a. a GPF device
b. a GFCI device
c. an isolation transformer
d. a polarization transformer
c. 14.6 Amps (not Volts!!) - Answer-A 120V hot water heater is rated at 1750 watts. How
much current does it use:
a. 12.5 Amps
b. 12.5 Ohms
c. 14.6 Amps
d. 14.6 Volts
a. Are kept separate - Answer-At the AC distribution panels on boats the green and
white wires...
a. Are kept separate
b. Are tied together
c. Are cut
d. None of the above
b. Excessive frequency - Answer-Overheating at a junction point in the AC distribution
panel can be caused by all of the following EXCEPT
a. Loose terminal
b. Excessive frequency
c. Excessive load
d. Improperly sized conductor
d. Both A and B (see E-11.9.3.2) - Answer-Technician A says the AC system wiring
must include a voltmeter installed on the main panelboard if the system wiring is
permanently connected to a genset. Technician B says a voltmeter must be installed if
the genset is connected to any permanently installed motor or inverter circuit. Which is
correct?
a. Technician A
b. Technician B
c. Neither A nor B
d. Both A and B
a. 120 volts AC - Answer-What is the expected voltage when measured between Hot
and Neutral for a 120 Volt AC circuit?
a. 120 volts AC
b. 120 Volts DC
c. 0 Volts AC
Exam Review Questions with Correct
Answers
c. 2-450 CCA batteries in parallel (see E-11.6.1.2.1) - Answer-At what CCA do you have
a disconnect switch?
a. 1-450 CCA battery
b. 1-650 CCA battery
c. 2-450 CCA batteries in parallel
d. 2-450 CCA batteries in series
d. 12.6 - 12.8 volts - Answer-A fully charged 12 volt battery, after a period of rest during
which nothing has been put in or taken out, should have a fully charged voltage of:
a. 12.0 - 12.2 volts
b. 12.2 - 12.4 volts
c. 12.4 - 12.6 volts
d. 12.6 - 12.8 volts
True - Answer-T or F: The metallic braid of a coaxial cable and metal conduit used for
radio interference shall be connected to earth ground with an insulated stranded copper
conductor
d. Yellow - Answer-DC grounded conductors on new boats that are also equipped with
AC systems should use what color of insulation?
a. Light Blue
b. Black
c. Red
d. Yellow
d. All of the above - Answer-When testing a battery, the hydrometer is used to test
a. State of charge
b. For bad cells
c. Specific gravity
d. All of the above
d. Both a & c are correct - Answer-After installing an alternator, a technician should:
a. Check rotation of cooling fan
b. Verify the voltage is less than 13 volts when engine is running
c. Check that AC ripple is less than 0.5 VAC
d. Both a & c are correct
,d. Wind direction indicator - Answer-When installing a wind generator, the technician
must consider all of the following except:
a. Safe height above the deck
b. Use of blocking diodes
c. Voltage regulation
d. Wind direction indicator
b. 0.4 V - Answer-When testing an alternator, the maximum AC ripple reading to ensure
minimal RFI interference should be:
a. 0.2 V
b. 0.4 V
c. 1.0 V
d. 4 V
c. 200 amps - Answer-You have a customer with an 800 Ah 'house' battery bank who
wants to recharge with the biggest amount of amperage he can.
Standard flooded batteries are being used.
a. 5O amps
b. 1OO amps
c. 200 amps
d. 400 amps
b. Make sure the field wire has appropriate voltage when engine is running - Answer-To
check a voltage regulator is working properly, the best thing a technician can check:
a. Make sure the unit has 12 volts when engine is running
b. Make sure the field wire has appropriate voltage when engine is running
c. Make sure it's LED indicator lights come on
d. You cannot test a voltage regulator without sending to the factory for certified bench
testing
a. 35.7 amps - Answer-According to ABYC, maximum current carrying capacity of a 10
gauge wire, 105 degree C insulation, inside the engine room when bundled with 2 other
current carrying wires would be?
a. 35.7 amps
b. 60 amps
c. 5I amps
d. 42 amps
f. all of the above - Answer-A system voltmeter shall be installed on the main
panelboard if the system is permanently connected to
a . an inverter
b. a generator
c. motor circuits
d. b and c above
e. a and b above
,f. all of the above
True - Answer-T or F: Branch circuit breakers may open only the ungrounded conductor
if the AC system on the boat is equipped with a reverse polarity indicator or input circuit
isolation transformer.
b. 16 ga. (see E-11.14.1.1.2 note: some 18 AWG exceptions exist) - Answer-For AC
circuits, ABYC recommends that minimum conductor size shall be at least
a. 14 ga.
b. 16 ga.
c. 18 ga.
d. 20 ga.
True - Answer-T or F: A visible means [voltmeter, light, etc] of determining an inverter is
"online or in standby mode" must be installed at the main AC electrical distribution
panel.
Shore power Pylon
Inverter (when inverting)
Genset
Isolation Transformer - Answer-Name the 4 places in marine electrical power where we
have a neutral-ground connection.
D. No device allowed (see E-11.5.5.5) - Answer-The overcurrent protection device that
shall be installed on the AC grounding (green) conductor has a current rating of
____________ of the conductor's rated ampacity.
A. 100%
B. 125%
C. 150%
D. No device allowed
d. 150% (see E-11.10.2.6, exception) - Answer-If there is not a standard current rating
overcurrent protection device equal to 100% of the allowable current for an AC branch
circuit, the next larger standard current rating may be used provided it does not exceed
_______ of the maximum allowable current .
a. 100%
b. 125%
c. 135%
d. 150%
a. 100% (see E-11.10.1.5.4) - Answer-A panelboard or switchboard with no sub-main
circuit breaker or fuse shall have installed, at the source of power, overcurrent
protection not to exceed _______ of the load capacity of that panel, or the current
carrying capacity of the feeders.
a. 100%
b. 120%
, c. 135%
d. 150%
b. a GFCI device - Answer-If installed in a head, galley, machinery space, or on a
weather deck, a receptacle shall be protected by
a. a GPF device
b. a GFCI device
c. an isolation transformer
d. a polarization transformer
c. 14.6 Amps (not Volts!!) - Answer-A 120V hot water heater is rated at 1750 watts. How
much current does it use:
a. 12.5 Amps
b. 12.5 Ohms
c. 14.6 Amps
d. 14.6 Volts
a. Are kept separate - Answer-At the AC distribution panels on boats the green and
white wires...
a. Are kept separate
b. Are tied together
c. Are cut
d. None of the above
b. Excessive frequency - Answer-Overheating at a junction point in the AC distribution
panel can be caused by all of the following EXCEPT
a. Loose terminal
b. Excessive frequency
c. Excessive load
d. Improperly sized conductor
d. Both A and B (see E-11.9.3.2) - Answer-Technician A says the AC system wiring
must include a voltmeter installed on the main panelboard if the system wiring is
permanently connected to a genset. Technician B says a voltmeter must be installed if
the genset is connected to any permanently installed motor or inverter circuit. Which is
correct?
a. Technician A
b. Technician B
c. Neither A nor B
d. Both A and B
a. 120 volts AC - Answer-What is the expected voltage when measured between Hot
and Neutral for a 120 Volt AC circuit?
a. 120 volts AC
b. 120 Volts DC
c. 0 Volts AC
