Exam Practice Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified
Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. What is the primary purpose of a circuit breaker in a residential
electrical system?
A. To increase voltage
B. To protect circuits from overcurrent
C. To measure current
D. To regulate frequency
Circuit breakers are designed to interrupt current flow when it
exceeds safe limits, protecting wiring and equipment.
2. In a single-phase, 120/240V system, what is the voltage between
the two hot legs?
A. 120V
B. 100V
C. 240V
D. 480V
, In a split-phase system, the two hot legs are 180° out of phase,
resulting in 240V between them.
3. The NEC requires grounding electrodes to be connected to which
of the following?
A. Neutral only
B. Hot conductor
C. Service equipment grounding conductor
D. Any metallic conduit
Grounding electrodes connect to the service grounding conductor
to provide a low-impedance path to earth.
4. Which type of wiring method is most commonly used for
residential interior walls?
A. Rigid metal conduit
B. Nonmetallic (NM) cable
C. Flexible metal conduit
D. Surface-mounted raceway
NM cable, often called Romex, is widely used because it is cost-
effective and easy to install inside walls.
5. What is the purpose of a GFCI receptacle?
A. Protects from overcurrent
B. Protects from ground faults
C. Reduces voltage
D. Converts AC to DC
GFCI devices detect differences between hot and neutral currents
and trip when a ground fault occurs.
6. Which conductor carries current to the load in a typical AC circuit?
A. Ground
, B. Neutral
C. Hot (line) conductor
D. Equipment bonding
The hot conductor delivers electrical energy from the source to the
load.
7. A 15A branch circuit using 14 AWG copper wire has a maximum
continuous load of:
A. 10A
B. 12A
C. 15A
D. 20A
14 AWG copper wire is rated for 15A according to the NEC for
branch circuits.
8. In a three-phase, 480V wye system, what is the phase-to-neutral
voltage?
A. 480V
B. 208V
C. 240V
D. 277V
Phase-to-neutral voltage is calculated as 480 ÷ √3 ≈ 277V.
9. Which of the following is a common use for a step-down
transformer?
A. Increase voltage to transmission lines
B. Reduce voltage for residential use
C. Convert AC to DC
D. Prevent overcurrent