NEW MEXICO NM EE 98 ELECTRICAL
PART 3 SPECIALTIES PRACTICE EXAM
Q AND A 2026 2027
New Mexico EE-98 Specialty Electrical Practice Exam
NEC Article 680: Swimming Pools, Fountains, & Similar
Installations
1. What is the minimum horizontal distance required between
a swimming pool's inside wall and an underground wiring
method not specifically serving the pool?
A) 3 feet
B) 5 feet
C) 10 feet
D) 15 feet
Answer: B) 5 feet
rAtionAle: NEC 680.11 states that underground
wiring is not permitted under or within 5 feet
horizontally from the inside walls of a pool unless it
is necessary to supply pool equipment.
2. Solid copper bonding conductors for swimming pool
equipotential bonding grids must not be smaller than which
size?
A) 10 AWG
B) 8 AWG
C) 6 AWG
, D) 4 AWG
Answer: B) 8 AWG
rAtionAle: NEC 680.26(B) explicitly requires
solid copper conductors used for equipotential
bonding to be 8 AWG or larger.
3. Wall-mounted underwater luminaires must be installed so
that the top of the luminaire lens is at least how deep below
the normal water level of the pool?
A) 6 inches
B) 12 inches
C) 18 inches
D) 24 inches
Answer: C) 18 inches
rAtionAle: NEC 680.23(A)(5) states that
underwater luminaires must be installed so that the
top of the lens is not less than 18 inches below the
normal water level, unless the luminaire is
identified for use at a lesser depth.
4. What is the maximum voltage permitted for a low-voltage
luminaire installed in a swimming pool without a grounding
conductor?
A) 12V AC
B) 15V AC
C) 30V AC
D) 50V AC
Answer: B) 15V AC
rAtionAle: NEC 680.23(A)(2) limits low-voltage
, luminaires to not exceed 15V AC (or 30V continuous
DC) when operating without an equipment
grounding conductor.
5. GFCI protection is required for all receptacles rated 125-volt
through 250-volt located within how many feet of the inside
walls of a pool?
A) 6 feet
B) 10 feet
=C) 20 feet
D) 25 feet
Answer: C) 20 feet
rAtionAle: NEC 680.22(A)(4) specifies that all
receptacles rated 125V through 250V located within
20 feet of the inside walls of a pool must be GFCI
protected.
6. What is the minimum clear clearance depth required for a
standard overhead service conductor passing directly above a
swimming pool diving platform?
A) 14.5 feet
B) 17 feet
C) 22.5 feet
D) 25 feet
Answer: C) 22.5 feet
rAtionAle: Per NEC Table 680.9(A), overhead
service conductors must clear water surfaces by
22.5 feet, which extends to diving platforms and
observation stands.
, 7. A pool junction box connected to a conduit that extends
directly to an underwater luminaire wet-niche flush shell
must be made of what material?
A) Sheet metal
B) Die-cast zinc
C) Copper, brass, or approved polymeric material
D) Galvanized steel
Answer: C) Copper, brass, or approved polymeric
material
rAtionAle: NEC 680.24(A)(1) mandates that
these specific junction boxes must be constructed of
brass, copper, or an approved nonmetallic material
to prevent corrosion.
8. For a storable pool, what is the maximum length permitted
for the flexible cord of a cord-connected filter pump?
A) 3 feet
B) 6 feet
C) 10 feet
D) 15 feet
Answer: D) 15 feet
rAtionAle: NEC 680.31 specifies that the flexible
cord on filter pumps for storable pools must not
exceed 15 feet in length to minimize the risk of
damage or using unsafe extension cords.
9. Equipment grounding conductors for pool feeders must be
installed as what type of wiring method?
A) Bare copper wire
B) An insulated copper conductor running inside a raceway
PART 3 SPECIALTIES PRACTICE EXAM
Q AND A 2026 2027
New Mexico EE-98 Specialty Electrical Practice Exam
NEC Article 680: Swimming Pools, Fountains, & Similar
Installations
1. What is the minimum horizontal distance required between
a swimming pool's inside wall and an underground wiring
method not specifically serving the pool?
A) 3 feet
B) 5 feet
C) 10 feet
D) 15 feet
Answer: B) 5 feet
rAtionAle: NEC 680.11 states that underground
wiring is not permitted under or within 5 feet
horizontally from the inside walls of a pool unless it
is necessary to supply pool equipment.
2. Solid copper bonding conductors for swimming pool
equipotential bonding grids must not be smaller than which
size?
A) 10 AWG
B) 8 AWG
C) 6 AWG
, D) 4 AWG
Answer: B) 8 AWG
rAtionAle: NEC 680.26(B) explicitly requires
solid copper conductors used for equipotential
bonding to be 8 AWG or larger.
3. Wall-mounted underwater luminaires must be installed so
that the top of the luminaire lens is at least how deep below
the normal water level of the pool?
A) 6 inches
B) 12 inches
C) 18 inches
D) 24 inches
Answer: C) 18 inches
rAtionAle: NEC 680.23(A)(5) states that
underwater luminaires must be installed so that the
top of the lens is not less than 18 inches below the
normal water level, unless the luminaire is
identified for use at a lesser depth.
4. What is the maximum voltage permitted for a low-voltage
luminaire installed in a swimming pool without a grounding
conductor?
A) 12V AC
B) 15V AC
C) 30V AC
D) 50V AC
Answer: B) 15V AC
rAtionAle: NEC 680.23(A)(2) limits low-voltage
, luminaires to not exceed 15V AC (or 30V continuous
DC) when operating without an equipment
grounding conductor.
5. GFCI protection is required for all receptacles rated 125-volt
through 250-volt located within how many feet of the inside
walls of a pool?
A) 6 feet
B) 10 feet
=C) 20 feet
D) 25 feet
Answer: C) 20 feet
rAtionAle: NEC 680.22(A)(4) specifies that all
receptacles rated 125V through 250V located within
20 feet of the inside walls of a pool must be GFCI
protected.
6. What is the minimum clear clearance depth required for a
standard overhead service conductor passing directly above a
swimming pool diving platform?
A) 14.5 feet
B) 17 feet
C) 22.5 feet
D) 25 feet
Answer: C) 22.5 feet
rAtionAle: Per NEC Table 680.9(A), overhead
service conductors must clear water surfaces by
22.5 feet, which extends to diving platforms and
observation stands.
, 7. A pool junction box connected to a conduit that extends
directly to an underwater luminaire wet-niche flush shell
must be made of what material?
A) Sheet metal
B) Die-cast zinc
C) Copper, brass, or approved polymeric material
D) Galvanized steel
Answer: C) Copper, brass, or approved polymeric
material
rAtionAle: NEC 680.24(A)(1) mandates that
these specific junction boxes must be constructed of
brass, copper, or an approved nonmetallic material
to prevent corrosion.
8. For a storable pool, what is the maximum length permitted
for the flexible cord of a cord-connected filter pump?
A) 3 feet
B) 6 feet
C) 10 feet
D) 15 feet
Answer: D) 15 feet
rAtionAle: NEC 680.31 specifies that the flexible
cord on filter pumps for storable pools must not
exceed 15 feet in length to minimize the risk of
damage or using unsafe extension cords.
9. Equipment grounding conductors for pool feeders must be
installed as what type of wiring method?
A) Bare copper wire
B) An insulated copper conductor running inside a raceway
