Exam Cheat Sheet · Quick Reference
ICC F19 Maintenance Electrician Exam (2014 NEC)
National · Pearson Vue
Verified, not estimated. Every figure below is drawn from the official exam structure we maintain — question counts, passing standard and topic weighting. Practice questions are grounded in the source law with statute citations. We omit any figure we can't verify rather than guess at it.
Total questions
60
Passing score
70%
Exam time
180 min
Administered by
Pearson Vue
Format
Reference materials allowed
National State Portion 60 questions
General Knowledge and Calculations
6 Q · 10%
NEC code structure, scope, and application (Article 90)Key NEC definitions and terminology (Article 100)Equipment approval, listing, labeling, and identification requirementsConductor materials, sizes (AWG/kcmil), and temperature ratingsWorking space and clearance requirements for electrical equipment (≤600V and >600V)Branch-circuit, feeder, and service load calculations including demand factorsConduit fill calculations using Chapter 9 tablesLighting load calculations by occupancy type and optional calculation methods for dwellingsArticle 110 - Requirements for Electrical InstallationsArticle 100 - DefinitionsTables
Utilization Equipment and Devices
14 Q · 23%
Switch ratings, types, and installation requirements (Article 404)Receptacle and attachment plug ratings, grounding, and installation (Article 406)Luminaire installation locations and clearances (Article 410)Luminaire wiring, support, and grounding requirements (Article 410)Appliance branch-circuit sizing, overcurrent protection, and disconnecting means (Article 422)Fixed electric space-heating equipment: disconnecting means, overcurrent protection, and control (Article 424)Air-conditioning and refrigerating equipment: disconnecting means, branch-circuit conductors, and overload protection (Article 440)Low-voltage lighting systems operating at 30 volts or less (Article 411)Article 410 - Luminaires, Lampholders, and LampsArticle 424 - Fixed Electric Space-Heating EquipmentArticle 440 - Air-Conditioning and Refrigerating EquipmentArticle 422 - Appliances
+2 more
Motors and Controls
5 Q · 8%
Motor branch-circuit conductor sizing and ampacity requirementsMotor overload protection selection and settingsMotor branch-circuit short-circuit and ground-fault protective device ratings (Table 430.52)Motor controller ratings, types, and marking requirementsDisconnecting means requirements for motors and controllersMotor control circuit overcurrent protection and wiringMotor control centers installation, overcurrent protection, and markingIndustrial control panel conductor sizing, overcurrent protection, and short-circuit current rating (Article 409)Article 430 - Motors, Motor Circuits, and Controllers
Wiring Methods, Materials, and Conductors
19 Q · 32%
Conductor ampacity tables and correction/adjustment factors (Art. 310)Uses permitted and not permitted for specific cable types (NM, MC, AC, MI, SE, UF, MV, TC)Uses permitted and not permitted for specific raceway types (RMC, IMC, EMT, FMC, LFMC, PVC, RTRC, ENT, LFNC)Securing and supporting requirements for cables and racewaysBox and conduit body fill calculations and sizing (Art. 314)General wiring requirements — conductor grouping, protection from physical damage, and underground installations (Art. 300)Cabinets, cutout boxes, and wire-bending space at terminals (Art. 312)Cable tray installation, conductor fill, and wiring methods permitted (Art. 392)Article 310 - Conductors for General WiringArticle 300 - General Requirements for Wiring Methods and MaterialsArticle 314 - Outlet, Device, Pull, and Junction Boxes; Conduit Bodies; Fittings; AndArticle 392 - Cable Trays
+5 more
Grounding and Overcurrent Protection
11 Q · 18%
Grounding electrode system types and installation requirements (Article 250, Part III)Equipment grounding conductor types, sizing, and identificationMain bonding jumper and system bonding jumper requirementsOvercurrent device ratings, standard ampere ratings, and conductor protectionLocation and accessibility requirements for overcurrent protective devicesFeeder and transformer secondary tap conductor overcurrent protection rulesSurge-protective device (SPD) types, listing, connection, and installation requirementsBonding of piping systems, structural metal, and service equipmentArticle 250 - Grounding and BondingArticle 240 - Overcurrent Protection
Special Occupancies, Systems, and Equipment
5 Q · 9%
Hazardous location classification (Classes, Divisions, and Zones) and documentation requirementsWiring methods and sealing requirements for Class I, II, and III hazardous locationsHealth care facility essential electrical systems (life safety, critical, and equipment branches)Emergency, legally required standby, and optional standby power systemsSwimming pools, spas, hot tubs, and fountain electrical installations (GFCI, bonding, grounding, and clearances)Solar PV, wind electric, fuel cell, and interconnected power production systemsSpecial occupancy wiring (theaters, assembly occupancies, carnivals, motion picture studios, and temporary installations)Special equipment installations (elevators, cranes, electric vehicle charging, electric signs, fire pumps, and welders)Article 517 - Health Care FacilitiesArticle 505 - Zone 0, 1, and 2 LocationsArticle 680 - Swimming Pools, Fountains, and Similar Installations
Key Distinctions
Wye-start, delta-run motor conductors (430.22(C))vsPart-winding start motor conductors (430.22(D))
Controller-to-motor conductors for a continuous-duty wye-start, delta-run motor must be not less than 72 percent of motor full-load current (58% × 1.25), while a part-winding connected motor requires not less than 62.5 percent (50% × 1.25).
NEC 2014 Section 430.22(C)Entrance at each end of working space (110.26(C)(2))vsPanic hardware on personnel door (110.26(C)(3))
Equipment over 6 ft wide containing overcurrent, switching, or control devices needs an entrance/egress at each end when rated 1200 amperes or more, whereas equipment rated 800 amperes or more triggers the requirement that a personnel door less than 25 ft from the nearest edge of the working space open in the direction of egress with listed panic hardware.
NEC 2014 Section 110.26(C)(2)Cables marked by printed tag (310.120(B)(3))vsCables durably surface marked (310.120(B)(1))
Type MI (mineral-insulated, metal-sheathed) cable, switchboard wires, metal-covered single-conductor cables, and Type AC cable may carry voltage, type, manufacturer, and size on a printed tag on the coil, reel, or carton, while nonmetallic-sheathed, service-entrance, and underground feeder/branch-circuit cables must be durably surface marked.
NEC 2014 Section 310.120(B)(3)Class A GFCI trip levelvsClass A GFCI no-trip level
Per the informational note to the Article 100 GFCI definition, a Class A device trips when current to ground is 6 mA or higher and does not trip when current to ground is less than 4 mA.
NEC 2014 Article 100 — Definition of "Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)"Type 1 SPDvsType 2 / Type 3 / Type 4 SPD
A Type 1 SPD is permanently connected between the secondary of the service transformer and the line side of the service disconnect overcurrent device, while Type 2 is load side, Type 3 is point of utilization, and Type 4 is a component SPD.
NEC 2014 Article 100 — Definition of "Surge-Protective Device (SPD)"Multifamily dwellingvsTwo-family dwelling
Article 100 classifies a building with three or more dwelling units as a multifamily dwelling; a building with exactly two units is a two-family dwelling.
NEC 2014 Article 100 — Definition of "Dwelling, Multifamily"Individual branch circuitvsGeneral-purpose / appliance branch circuit
An individual branch circuit supplies only one utilization equipment, a general-purpose branch circuit supplies two or more receptacles or outlets, and an appliance branch circuit supplies one or more outlets for appliances.
NEC 2014 Article 100 — Definition of "Branch Circuit, Individual"OverloadvsFault (short circuit or ground fault)
Article 100 defines overload as operation of equipment in excess of normal, full-load rating (or a conductor above its rated ampacity) that would cause damage or dangerous overheating if it persists, and specifically states a fault such as a short circuit or ground fault is not an overload.
NEC 2014 Article 100 — Definition of "Overload"Surface-mounted fluorescent closet luminaire (410.16(C)(2))vsSurface-mounted incandescent or LED luminaire with completely enclosed light source
A surface-mounted fluorescent luminaire on the wall above the door or on the ceiling requires a minimum 6 in. clearance to closet storage space, while the 12 in. figure applies to surface-mounted incandescent or LED luminaires with completely enclosed light sources.
NEC 2014 Section 410.16(C)Guarding by elevation, 50 to 300 volts (110.27(A)(4)(a))vsGuarding by elevation, 301 to 600 volts (110.27(A)(4)(b))
Live parts guarded solely by elevation must be at least 8 ft above the floor or working surface for 50 to 300 volts, and at least 8-1/2 ft for 301 to 600 volts.
NEC 2014 Section 110.27(A)(4)Straight pull box sizing (314.28(A)(1))vsAngle or U pull sizing (314.28(A)(2))
For straight pulls the box length shall not be less than eight times the trade size of the largest raceway, while for angle or U pulls the distance from each raceway entry to the opposite wall must be at least six times the largest raceway trade size in that row plus the sum of the diameters of all other raceway entries in the same row.
NEC 2014 Section 314.28(A)(1)Chapter 9, Table 5vsChapter 9, Table 5A
Table 5 gives dimensions for solid and round concentric-lay-stranded conductors, while Table 5A gives Compact Copper and Aluminum Building Wire nominal dimensions and areas used for raceway fill with compact-stranded conductors.
NEC 2014 Chapter 9, Table 5A18 AWG copper overcurrent protection (240.4(D)(1))vs16 AWG copper overcurrent protection (240.4(D)(2))
18 AWG copper is limited to a maximum 7-ampere overcurrent device (continuous load not over 5.6 A, using a listed branch-circuit-rated device or Class CC, J, or T fuse), while the 10-ampere maximum applies to 16 AWG copper.
NEC 2014 Section 240.4(D)(1)Key Terms
In Sight From (Within Sight From, Within Sight) NEC 2014 Article 100 — Definition of "In Sight From (Within Sight From, Within Sight)"
Article 100 defines it as equipment that is visible and not more than 50 ft (15 m) distant from the other equipment — visibility alone is not enough.
Continuous Load NEC 2014 Article 100 — Definition of "Continuous Load"
Article 100 defines it as a load where the maximum current is expected to continue for 3 hours or more.
Overcurrent Protective Device, Branch-Circuit NEC 2014 Article 100 — Definition of "Overcurrent Protective Device, Branch-Circuit"
Article 100 defines it as a device capable of protecting service, feeder, and branch circuits and equipment, provided with interrupting ratings appropriate for the intended use but no less than 5000 amperes.
Copper-Clad Aluminum Conductors NEC 2014 Article 100 — Definition of "Copper-Clad Aluminum Conductors"
Article 100 defines them as conductors drawn from a copper-clad aluminum rod in which the copper forms a minimum of 10 percent of the cross-sectional area of a solid conductor or of each strand of a stranded conductor.
Switch, Isolating NEC 2014 Article 100 — Definition of "Switch, Isolating"
Article 100 defines it as a switch for isolating a circuit from the source of power that has no interrupting rating and is intended to be operated only after the circuit has been opened by some other means.
Dedicated electrical space (110.26(E)(1)(a)) NEC 2014 Section 110.26(E)(1)(a)
For indoor equipment such as a panelboard, the space equal to the width and depth of the equipment extending from the floor to 6 ft above the equipment or to the structural ceiling, whichever is lower, must be free of piping, ducts, and other foreign equipment.
Working space width (110.26(A)(2)) NEC 2014 Section 110.26(A)(2)
The width of working space in front of equipment 600 volts nominal or less shall be the width of the equipment or 30 in., whichever is greater, and must permit at least a 90-degree opening of doors or hinged panels.
Working space height (110.26(A)(3)) NEC 2014 Section 110.26(A)(3)
Work space shall be clear and extend from the grade, floor, or platform to a height of 6-1/2 ft (2.0 m) or the height of the equipment, whichever is greater.
Condition 2 (Table 110.26(A)(1) notes) NEC 2014 Table 110.26(A)(1) notes
Concrete, brick, or tile walls are considered grounded, so exposed live parts on one side with grounded parts on the other side is Condition 2 for working-space depth.
High-leg marking (110.15) NEC 2014 Section 110.15
On a 4-wire delta system with the midpoint of one phase winding grounded, the conductor or busbar with the higher phase voltage to ground must be durably and permanently marked orange or by other effective means at each connection point where the grounded conductor is also present.
60°C termination rule (110.14(C)(1)(a)) NEC 2014 Section 110.14(C)(1)(a)
Terminations for circuits rated 100 amperes or less, or marked for 14 AWG through 1 AWG conductors, must be used with 60°C conductors or with higher-temperature conductors whose ampacity is taken from the 60°C column, unless the equipment is listed and identified for higher-temperature conductors.
Conduit nipple (Chapter 9 Tables, Note 4) NEC 2014 Chapter 9, Notes to Tables, Note 4
A conduit or tubing nipple not exceeding 24 in. between boxes, cabinets, and similar enclosures may be filled to 60 percent of total cross-sectional area, and the 310.15(B)(3)(a) adjustment factors need not be applied.
Informative Annex C (Chapter 9 Tables, Note 1) NEC 2014 Chapter 9, Notes to Tables, Note 1
The annex giving the maximum number of conductors and fixture wires, all of the same size, permitted in trade sizes of conduit or tubing; Table 4 gives conduit areas and Table 5 gives conductor dimensions.
Effective impedance, effective Z (Chapter 9, Table 9, Note 2) NEC 2014 Chapter 9, Table 9, Note 2
Effective Z = R cos(θ) + X sin(θ); the tabulated effective Z values for 600-volt cables, 3-phase, 60 Hz, three single conductors in conduit are valid only at 0.85 power factor, and other power factors must be calculated from the table's R and XL values.
Room air conditioner as a single motor unit (440.62(A)) NEC 2014 Section 440.62(A)
A cord- and attachment-plug-connected room air conditioner may be treated as a single motor unit when its rating is not more than 40 amperes at 250 volts single phase, total rated-load current is on the nameplate, and the branch-circuit protective device does not exceed the conductor ampacity or receptacle rating, whichever is less.
Plug fuse hexagonal identification (240.50(C)) NEC 2014 Section 240.50(C)
Plug fuses of 15-ampere and lower rating must be identified by a hexagonal configuration of the window, cap, or other prominent part so they are distinguishable from higher-rated fuses.
Equipment bonding jumper outside a raceway (250.102(E)(2)) NEC 2014 Section 250.102(E)(2)
A bonding jumper installed outside a raceway or enclosure shall not exceed 6 ft (1.8 m) in length and must be routed with the raceway or enclosure, except at outside pole locations.
Common grounding electrode conductor for multiple separately derived systems (250.30(A)(6)(a)) NEC 2014 Section 250.30(A)(6)(a)
A wire-type common grounding electrode conductor serving multiple separately derived systems shall not be smaller than 3/0 AWG copper or 250 kcmil aluminum.
Formulas to Know
EMT offset — distance between the two bend marks
Distance between bends = multiplier × offset depth; multipliers used: 45° = 1.4 (1.4 × 5 in = 7 in; 1.4 × 4 in = 5-5/8 in), 30° = 2.0 (2.0 × 4 in = 8 in), 22-1/2° = 2.6 (2.6 × 10 in = 26 in)EMT offset — shrink (loss in overall length; move marks toward the far end by the shrink)
Shrink = shrink-per-inch × offset depth; worked examples: 1/4 in per inch × 4 in = 1 in, and 3/8 in per inch × 5 in = 1-7/8 in, 3/8 in per inch × 4 in = 1-1/2 inEMT 3-point saddle — side mark location and shrink
Side marks = 2.5 × obstruction height on each side of the center mark (2.5 × 3 in = 7-1/2 in; 2.5 × 5 in = 12-1/2 in); center bent 45°, sides 22-1/2°; shrink = 3/16 × obstruction height (3/16 × 3 = 9/16 in; 3/16 × 5 = 15/16 in)EMT 90° stub-up — bender arrow mark
Mark = stub height − take-up; example: 18 in stub in 1/2 in EMT with 5 in take-up → 18 − 5 = 13 in from the end of the conduitGenerator output conductor ampacity (NEC 445.13)
Conductors from generator terminals to the first overcurrent device: ampacity ≥ 115% × generator nameplate current (80 A × 1.15 = 92 A; 200 A × 1.15 = 230 A)Hermetic refrigerant motor-compressor branch circuit
Conductors ≥ 125% × RLA (440.32) and OCPD rated not more than 175% × RLA (440.22(A)); example RLA 20 A → conductors ≥ 25 A, OCPD ≤ 35 AEquipment grounding conductor size with instantaneous-trip breaker (250.122(D)(2))
Size the wire-type EGC from the maximum permitted rating of a dual-element time-delay fuse selected per 430.52(C)(1), Exception No. 1, where the device is an instantaneous-trip circuit breaker or motor short-circuit protectorConduit fill limits
Three or more conductors: maximum 40% fill (Chapter 9, Table 1) — example: 1 in ID conduit area π(0.5)² ≈ 0.7854 in², three 0.25 in conductors = 3 × π(0.125)² ≈ 0.0368 in² ≈ 4.7% fill, acceptable; nipples not over 24 in: 60% fill permittedConduit fill rounding and conductor counting (Chapter 9 Notes 3, 7, 9)
Round up to the next higher whole number when the calculation result has a decimal ≥ 0.8; include equipment grounding/bonding conductors using actual dimensions (insulated or bare); count a multiconductor cable as one conductor, using the major diameter of an elliptical cross section as the circle diameterBattery bank capacity for an off-grid PV system
Required capacity = daily energy ÷ (DoD × efficiency); example: 5 kWh ÷ (0.5 × 0.85) = 11.76 kWh