ABYC Marine Electrical Certification Exam
Every 18 inches. - (ANSWER)How often (in inches) shall wire bundles be supported?
Insulated Metallic Hanger Clamps - (ANSWER)What type of clamps are to be used for supporting wire
bundles when routed over engines and machinery?
40 lbs (E-11 Table XV) - (ANSWER)What tensile force must a 10 Gauge crimp connector withstand for
one minute?
36 inches - (ANSWER)What is the max allowed unsupported cable length for battery cables?
True - (ANSWER)T or F: Running AC and DC conductors together is allowed so long as the AC conductors
are sheathed.
C. Unwanted open - (ANSWER)The most common electrical circuit problem in marine applications is:
A. Short circuits
B. Too much continuity
C. Unwanted open
D. Inter circuit Short
D. Heat - (ANSWER)The primary by-product of excessive electrical resistance is:
A. Increased Amperage
B. Increased Voltage
C. Reduced Ambient Temperature
D. Heat
1 HP = 746 Watts - (ANSWER)One HP = how many watts?
D. TDR (time-domain reflectometer) - (ANSWER)What is the preferred tool for tracing shorted and open
circuits?
A. Ohm meter
,ABYC Marine Electrical Certification Exam
B. Amp clamp
C. Volt meter
D. TDR (time-domain reflectometer)
0 AWG - (ANSWER)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 calculated at 90 amps. What guage cable
should be used (minimum)?
Yellow - (ANSWER)DC grounded conductors on new boats that are also equipped with AC systems
should use what color insulated wire?
16 AWG - (ANSWER)What is the smallest guage wire allowed for unsheathed wire runs through the
boat?
False. Start batteries have a greater number of thinner plates within each cell. - (ANSWER)T or F:
Compared to deep cycle (house) batteries, cranking batteries will have thicker lead plates to facilitate
the higher, short-duration current draws.
Cranking - (ANSWER)Which type of battery generally recharges faster? Deep cycle or cranking?
Wire brush and backing soda. - (ANSWER)What tool and common household staple are used to clean
battery terminals?
Most of the sulfuric acid has been absorbed into the lead plates, leaving mostly water in the electrolyte.
- (ANSWER)Why might a fully-discharged wet-cell type battery freeze?
1 inch, 90 lbs or 2x the battery weight, for 1 minute in each direction. - (ANSWER)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?
True - (ANSWER)T or F: it is ok to install batteries directly below an uninterrupted fuel line?
,ABYC Marine Electrical Certification Exam
Must be protected with dielectric insulating material - (ANSWER)What provision must be in place on any
fuel line located within 12 inches of a battery terminals?
80 F, 25 Amps, 10.5 Volts - (ANSWER)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)
90 minutes - (ANSWER)According to ABYC, what is the minimum battery reserve capacity?
32 degrees F, 30 seconds, 7.2V - (ANSWER)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).
0 degrees F, 30 seconds, 7.2V - (ANSWER)Define: Cold 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).
8 AWG - (ANSWER)What is the largest guage wire that may be connected to a bettery with wing-nuts?
800 CCA or 100 Ahr (exceptions: electronic equipment with battery backed memories; safety equipment
such as bilge pumps, alarms, CO detectors, bilge blowers; battery chargers; I'm pressed current systems.
- (ANSWER)Per ABYC E-10, a battery switch must be installed in the positive conductor from each
battery bank with a CCA rating greater than ____ (or greater than _____ Ah if CCA rating not available).
AIC = 5000 Amps (E-11 table IV-A) - (ANSWER)What is the minimum ampere interrupting capacity (AIC)
for main overcurrent protection on a battery bank rated at 12 V, 1500 CCA?
AIC = 2X mnfg's short-circuit rating or 100X nominal Ahr rating. - (ANSWER)What is the minimum
ampere interrupting capacity (AIC) for main overcurrent protection on a battery bank rated at more
than 2200 CCA or more than 500 Ahr?
False. "Readily accessible" defines entry into the engine room in an emergency as dangerous - use a
remote battery switch. - (ANSWER)T or F: it is ok to mount a battery switch inside an engine room,
because ABYC startes that it must be located as close to the batteries as practical.
, ABYC Marine Electrical Certification Exam
Overcurrent protection must be located withing 7 inches of the power source unless contained within a
sheath, in which case it may be up to 40 inches away. If the power source is a battery and the
conductors are sheathed, OC may be up to 72 inches away. - (ANSWER)Explain the "7-40-72" rule
Resetting mechanism cannot overrid over current interrupting mechanism. (Note: some residential
breakers are not trip free) - (ANSWER)What does "trip free" breaker mean?
C. 14.1 V - (ANSWER)The maximum sustained charging voltage acceptable to some gell cell battery
manufacturers is:
A. 13.8 V
B. 14.5 V
C. 14.1 V
D. 13.2 Vll
0.050 points of specific gravity below other cells = bad cell. - (ANSWER)When testing a wet-cell battery
with a hydrometer, what threshold is used to determine a bad cell?
1.260 - 1.285 (temperature dependent) - (ANSWER)When testing a wet-cell battery with a hydrometer,
what reading indicates a fully charged battery?
50% - (ANSWER)When testing a fully charged start battery for capacity with a load tester, what % of CCA
rating should be induced by the load to test resulting voltage?
C. Between 150% and 200% - (ANSWER)Most engine-driven alternators are optimally spun at what
percentage of engine RPMs?
A. Between 10% and 50%
B. Less than 10%
C. Between 150% and 200%
D. Greater than 200%
Every 18 inches. - (ANSWER)How often (in inches) shall wire bundles be supported?
Insulated Metallic Hanger Clamps - (ANSWER)What type of clamps are to be used for supporting wire
bundles when routed over engines and machinery?
40 lbs (E-11 Table XV) - (ANSWER)What tensile force must a 10 Gauge crimp connector withstand for
one minute?
36 inches - (ANSWER)What is the max allowed unsupported cable length for battery cables?
True - (ANSWER)T or F: Running AC and DC conductors together is allowed so long as the AC conductors
are sheathed.
C. Unwanted open - (ANSWER)The most common electrical circuit problem in marine applications is:
A. Short circuits
B. Too much continuity
C. Unwanted open
D. Inter circuit Short
D. Heat - (ANSWER)The primary by-product of excessive electrical resistance is:
A. Increased Amperage
B. Increased Voltage
C. Reduced Ambient Temperature
D. Heat
1 HP = 746 Watts - (ANSWER)One HP = how many watts?
D. TDR (time-domain reflectometer) - (ANSWER)What is the preferred tool for tracing shorted and open
circuits?
A. Ohm meter
,ABYC Marine Electrical Certification Exam
B. Amp clamp
C. Volt meter
D. TDR (time-domain reflectometer)
0 AWG - (ANSWER)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 calculated at 90 amps. What guage cable
should be used (minimum)?
Yellow - (ANSWER)DC grounded conductors on new boats that are also equipped with AC systems
should use what color insulated wire?
16 AWG - (ANSWER)What is the smallest guage wire allowed for unsheathed wire runs through the
boat?
False. Start batteries have a greater number of thinner plates within each cell. - (ANSWER)T or F:
Compared to deep cycle (house) batteries, cranking batteries will have thicker lead plates to facilitate
the higher, short-duration current draws.
Cranking - (ANSWER)Which type of battery generally recharges faster? Deep cycle or cranking?
Wire brush and backing soda. - (ANSWER)What tool and common household staple are used to clean
battery terminals?
Most of the sulfuric acid has been absorbed into the lead plates, leaving mostly water in the electrolyte.
- (ANSWER)Why might a fully-discharged wet-cell type battery freeze?
1 inch, 90 lbs or 2x the battery weight, for 1 minute in each direction. - (ANSWER)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?
True - (ANSWER)T or F: it is ok to install batteries directly below an uninterrupted fuel line?
,ABYC Marine Electrical Certification Exam
Must be protected with dielectric insulating material - (ANSWER)What provision must be in place on any
fuel line located within 12 inches of a battery terminals?
80 F, 25 Amps, 10.5 Volts - (ANSWER)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)
90 minutes - (ANSWER)According to ABYC, what is the minimum battery reserve capacity?
32 degrees F, 30 seconds, 7.2V - (ANSWER)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).
0 degrees F, 30 seconds, 7.2V - (ANSWER)Define: Cold 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).
8 AWG - (ANSWER)What is the largest guage wire that may be connected to a bettery with wing-nuts?
800 CCA or 100 Ahr (exceptions: electronic equipment with battery backed memories; safety equipment
such as bilge pumps, alarms, CO detectors, bilge blowers; battery chargers; I'm pressed current systems.
- (ANSWER)Per ABYC E-10, a battery switch must be installed in the positive conductor from each
battery bank with a CCA rating greater than ____ (or greater than _____ Ah if CCA rating not available).
AIC = 5000 Amps (E-11 table IV-A) - (ANSWER)What is the minimum ampere interrupting capacity (AIC)
for main overcurrent protection on a battery bank rated at 12 V, 1500 CCA?
AIC = 2X mnfg's short-circuit rating or 100X nominal Ahr rating. - (ANSWER)What is the minimum
ampere interrupting capacity (AIC) for main overcurrent protection on a battery bank rated at more
than 2200 CCA or more than 500 Ahr?
False. "Readily accessible" defines entry into the engine room in an emergency as dangerous - use a
remote battery switch. - (ANSWER)T or F: it is ok to mount a battery switch inside an engine room,
because ABYC startes that it must be located as close to the batteries as practical.
, ABYC Marine Electrical Certification Exam
Overcurrent protection must be located withing 7 inches of the power source unless contained within a
sheath, in which case it may be up to 40 inches away. If the power source is a battery and the
conductors are sheathed, OC may be up to 72 inches away. - (ANSWER)Explain the "7-40-72" rule
Resetting mechanism cannot overrid over current interrupting mechanism. (Note: some residential
breakers are not trip free) - (ANSWER)What does "trip free" breaker mean?
C. 14.1 V - (ANSWER)The maximum sustained charging voltage acceptable to some gell cell battery
manufacturers is:
A. 13.8 V
B. 14.5 V
C. 14.1 V
D. 13.2 Vll
0.050 points of specific gravity below other cells = bad cell. - (ANSWER)When testing a wet-cell battery
with a hydrometer, what threshold is used to determine a bad cell?
1.260 - 1.285 (temperature dependent) - (ANSWER)When testing a wet-cell battery with a hydrometer,
what reading indicates a fully charged battery?
50% - (ANSWER)When testing a fully charged start battery for capacity with a load tester, what % of CCA
rating should be induced by the load to test resulting voltage?
C. Between 150% and 200% - (ANSWER)Most engine-driven alternators are optimally spun at what
percentage of engine RPMs?
A. Between 10% and 50%
B. Less than 10%
C. Between 150% and 200%
D. Greater than 200%
