ABYC Marine Electrical Certification
Exam 2026 Questions and Answers
How often (in inches) shall wire bundles be supported? - Correct answer-Every 18
inches.
What type of clamps are to be used for supporting wire bundles when routed over
engines and machinery? - Correct answer-Insulated Metallic Hanger Clamps
What tensile force must a 10 Gauge crimp connector withstand for one minute? -
Correct answer-40 lbs (E-11 Table XV)
What is the max allowed unsupported cable length for battery cables? - Correct
answer-36 inches
T or F: Running AC and DC conductors together is allowed so long as the AC
conductors are sheathed. - Correct answer-True
The most common electrical circuit problem in marine applications is:
A. Short circuits
B. Too much continuity
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,C. Unwanted open
D. Inter circuit Short - Correct answer-C. Unwanted open
The primary by-product of excessive electrical resistance is:
A. Increased Amperage
B. Increased Voltage
C. Reduced Ambient Temperature
D. Heat - Correct answer-D. Heat
One HP = how many watts? - Correct answer-1 HP = 746 Watts
What is the preferred tool for tracing shorted and open circuits?
A. Ohm meter
B. Amp clamp
C. Volt meter
D. TDR (time-domain reflectometer) - Correct answer-D. TDR (time-domain
reflectometer)
A technician is installing a cable run from the batteries to the main DC panel board
on a boat as part of a refit. The boat has a 12-volt system and the distance form the
panel to the batteries is 15 ft. The maximum current draw from the panel is
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,calculated at 90 amps. What guage cable should be used (minimum)? - Correct
answer-0 AWG
DC grounded conductors on new boats that are also equipped with AC systems
should use what color insulated wire? - Correct answer-Yellow
What is the smallest guage wire allowed for unsheathed wire runs through the
boat? - Correct answer-16 AWG
T or F: Compared to deep cycle (house) batteries, cranking batteries will have
thicker lead plates to facilitate the higher, short-duration current draws. - Correct
answer-False. Start batteries have a greater number of thinner plates within each
cell.
Which type of battery generally recharges faster? Deep cycle or cranking? -
Correct answer-Cranking
What tool and common household staple are used to clean battery terminals? -
Correct answer-Wire brush and backing soda.
Why might a fully-discharged wet-cell type battery freeze? - Correct answer-Most
of the sulfuric acid has been absorbed into the lead plates, leaving mostly water in
the electrolyte.
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, Batteries must be secured to prevent movement of more than ______ inches in any
direction when a pulling force of _____ or _____, whichever is less, is applied
through the center of gravity of the battery for how long? - Correct answer-1 inch,
90 lbs or 2x the battery weight, for 1 minute in each direction.
T or F: it is ok to install batteries directly below an uninterrupted fuel line? -
Correct answer-True
What provision must be in place on any fuel line located within 12 inches of a
battery terminals? - Correct answer-Must be protected with dielectric insulating
material
Define: Battery reserve capacity = the number of minutes that a new, fully charged
battery at ______ degrees F can be continuously discharged at ______ amps while
maintaining _____ volts (for a 12 v battery) - Correct answer-80 F, 25 Amps, 10.5
Volts
According to ABYC, what is the minimum battery reserve capacity? - Correct
answer-90 minutes
Define: Marine Cranking Amps = the discharge load, in amperes, that a new, fully-
charged battery at _____ degrees F can deliver for ______ seconds while
maintaining a voltage of _____ volts (for a 12 v battery). - Correct answer-32
degrees F, 30 seconds, 7.2V
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
Exam 2026 Questions and Answers
How often (in inches) shall wire bundles be supported? - Correct answer-Every 18
inches.
What type of clamps are to be used for supporting wire bundles when routed over
engines and machinery? - Correct answer-Insulated Metallic Hanger Clamps
What tensile force must a 10 Gauge crimp connector withstand for one minute? -
Correct answer-40 lbs (E-11 Table XV)
What is the max allowed unsupported cable length for battery cables? - Correct
answer-36 inches
T or F: Running AC and DC conductors together is allowed so long as the AC
conductors are sheathed. - Correct answer-True
The most common electrical circuit problem in marine applications is:
A. Short circuits
B. Too much continuity
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,C. Unwanted open
D. Inter circuit Short - Correct answer-C. Unwanted open
The primary by-product of excessive electrical resistance is:
A. Increased Amperage
B. Increased Voltage
C. Reduced Ambient Temperature
D. Heat - Correct answer-D. Heat
One HP = how many watts? - Correct answer-1 HP = 746 Watts
What is the preferred tool for tracing shorted and open circuits?
A. Ohm meter
B. Amp clamp
C. Volt meter
D. TDR (time-domain reflectometer) - Correct answer-D. TDR (time-domain
reflectometer)
A technician is installing a cable run from the batteries to the main DC panel board
on a boat as part of a refit. The boat has a 12-volt system and the distance form the
panel to the batteries is 15 ft. The maximum current draw from the panel is
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,calculated at 90 amps. What guage cable should be used (minimum)? - Correct
answer-0 AWG
DC grounded conductors on new boats that are also equipped with AC systems
should use what color insulated wire? - Correct answer-Yellow
What is the smallest guage wire allowed for unsheathed wire runs through the
boat? - Correct answer-16 AWG
T or F: Compared to deep cycle (house) batteries, cranking batteries will have
thicker lead plates to facilitate the higher, short-duration current draws. - Correct
answer-False. Start batteries have a greater number of thinner plates within each
cell.
Which type of battery generally recharges faster? Deep cycle or cranking? -
Correct answer-Cranking
What tool and common household staple are used to clean battery terminals? -
Correct answer-Wire brush and backing soda.
Why might a fully-discharged wet-cell type battery freeze? - Correct answer-Most
of the sulfuric acid has been absorbed into the lead plates, leaving mostly water in
the electrolyte.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, Batteries must be secured to prevent movement of more than ______ inches in any
direction when a pulling force of _____ or _____, whichever is less, is applied
through the center of gravity of the battery for how long? - Correct answer-1 inch,
90 lbs or 2x the battery weight, for 1 minute in each direction.
T or F: it is ok to install batteries directly below an uninterrupted fuel line? -
Correct answer-True
What provision must be in place on any fuel line located within 12 inches of a
battery terminals? - Correct answer-Must be protected with dielectric insulating
material
Define: Battery reserve capacity = the number of minutes that a new, fully charged
battery at ______ degrees F can be continuously discharged at ______ amps while
maintaining _____ volts (for a 12 v battery) - Correct answer-80 F, 25 Amps, 10.5
Volts
According to ABYC, what is the minimum battery reserve capacity? - Correct
answer-90 minutes
Define: Marine Cranking Amps = the discharge load, in amperes, that a new, fully-
charged battery at _____ degrees F can deliver for ______ seconds while
maintaining a voltage of _____ volts (for a 12 v battery). - Correct answer-32
degrees F, 30 seconds, 7.2V
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
