Exam Cheat Sheet · Quick Reference
Texas Journeyman Sign Electrician
Texas · PSI Services Contractor
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
80
Passing score
70%
Exam time
240 min
Administered by
PSI Services Contractor
Format
Reference materials allowed
Texas State Portion 80 questions
Definitions, Calculations, and Theory
10 Q · 12%
Ohm's Law and basic electrical theory (voltage, current, resistance, power)Branch-circuit, feeder, and service load calculations (Article 220)Conductor ampacity tables and correction/adjustment factors (Article 310)Grounding and bonding principles, electrode types, and sizing (Article 250)NEC code arrangement, mandatory vs. permissive rules, and enforcement authority (Article 90)Conductor types, insulation ratings, and temperature limitationsDemand factors and optional calculation methods for dwellings and occupanciesUnits of measurement, nominal voltages, and rounding conventions
Electrical Services, Service Equipment, and Separately Derived Systems
8 Q · 10%
Service conductor types, sizing, and minimum ampacity requirementsService disconnecting means location, rating, and number of disconnectsOverhead and underground service conductor clearances and installation requirementsService equipment overcurrent protection and ground-fault protection requirementsGrounding and bonding of service equipment, including main bonding jumper and grounding electrode conductor sizingSeparately derived system grounding requirements including system bonding jumper and grounding electrode connectionsGrounding electrode system types, installation, and permitted electrodesSurge-protective devices and emergency disconnect requirements at services
Electrical Feeders
3 Q · 4%
Minimum feeder conductor ampacity for continuous and noncontinuous loadsFeeder overcurrent protection requirements and ratingsFeeder load calculations and demand factorsFeeder grounded conductor and equipment grounding conductor sizing and identificationGround-fault protection of equipment for feeders rated 1000 amperes or moreSurge-protective device requirements for feeders supplying dwelling unitsOutside feeder clearances, conductor support, and disconnecting means for separate buildingsCommon neutral conductor and feeder tap rules
Branch Circuit Calculations and Conductors
10 Q · 12%
Minimum conductor ampacity and sizing for continuous and noncontinuous loadsBranch circuit overcurrent protection ratings and requirementsGFCI protection requirements by location and occupancy typeAFCI protection requirements by location and occupancy typeAmpacity correction factors for ambient temperature and conduit fillDwelling unit load calculations including lighting, small appliance, and laundry circuitsMultiwire branch circuit requirements including disconnecting means and line-to-neutral loadsConductor identification methods for grounded, ungrounded, and equipment grounding conductors
Electrical Wiring Methods and Electrical Materials
6 Q · 8%
Conductor ampacity tables and temperature ratings (Tables 310.16–310.21)Ambient temperature correction and adjustment factors for conductorsConductor insulation types, designations, and permitted applications by locationMinimum conductor sizes, materials, and stranding requirementsConductors in parallel: size, installation, and characteristic requirementsCable types (AC, MC, MI, NM, NMC, SE, USE): permitted and not-permitted usesSecuring, supporting, and bending radius requirements for cable wiring methodsBox and conduit body fill calculations, sizing, and installation requirements
Electrical Equipment and Devices
8 Q · 10%
Switch types, ratings, and installation requirements (Articles 404, 422, 440)Receptacle ratings, grounding types, and installation requirements (Article 406)Switchboards, switchgear, and panelboard installation and overcurrent protection (Article 408)Luminaire installation, support, grounding, and location restrictions (Article 410)Motor controllers, disconnecting means, and overcurrent protection (Article 430)Transformer installation, overcurrent protection, and vault requirements (Article 450)Generator installation, overcurrent protection, and disconnecting means (Article 445)Appliance branch circuits, disconnecting means, and GFCI protection (Articles 422, 440)
Motors
1 Q · 1%
Motor branch-circuit conductor sizing and ampacity requirements (430.22, 430.24)Branch-circuit short-circuit and ground-fault protective device ratings and settings (430.52, Table 430.52(C)(1))Motor overload protection requirements and device selection (430.32, 430.37)Motor controller ratings, types, and marking requirements (430.8, 430.83)Disconnecting means requirements: location, type, and current rating (430.102, 430.109, 430.110)Motor nameplate marking requirements including locked-rotor code letters (430.7, Table 430.7(B))Motor control circuit overcurrent protection and wiring requirements (430.72, 430.74, 430.75)Motor control centers: overcurrent protection, grounding, and busbar requirements (430.94, 430.96, 430.97)
Electrical Control Devices and Disconnecting Means
3 Q · 4%
Switch types, ratings, and permitted uses (AC, DC, snap, knife, dimmer, motor-circuit)Disconnecting means requirements for motors and motor controllers (location, type, current rating)Switchboards, switchgear, and panelboard installation and overcurrent protection requirementsMotor controller ratings, design requirements, and number of motors servedGrounding and bonding of switches, enclosures, panelboards, and motor control equipmentSwitch and circuit breaker installation requirements (accessibility, enclosure, position, indicating)Industrial control panel construction, overcurrent protection, and short-circuit current ratingReceptacle ratings, grounding, installation, and damp/wet location requirements
Electric Signs and Outline Lighting
31 Q · 39%
Branch circuit requirements for signs (ratings, required outlets at commercial entrances)Disconnecting means for signs and outline lighting (location, accessibility, lockable requirements)Grounding and bonding of sign equipment (equipment grounding conductor sizing, bonding conductors, flexible metal conduit limits)Neon secondary circuit wiring over 1000 volts (wiring methods, GTO cable, spacing, length limits, splices)Listing, marking, and labeling requirements for signs and retrofit kitsTransformers and electronic power supplies for signs (type, voltage limits, current rating, secondary-circuit ground-fault protection)Sign enclosures and location requirements (clearances from vehicles/pedestrians, wet location drain holes, combustible material spacing)Portable and mobile sign requirements (cord types, GFCI protection, attachment plug, dry vs. wet location)
Key Distinctions
Neon tubing branch circuit ratingvsAll other signs/outline lighting branch circuit rating
Branch circuits supplying neon tubing shall not exceed 30 amperes, while branch circuits supplying all other signs and outline lighting systems shall not exceed 20 amperes.
NEC 2026 Section 600.5Secondary conductors in metal conduit (600.32(J)(1))vsSecondary conductors in nonmetallic conduit (600.32(J)(1))
From a high-voltage terminal to the first neon tube electrode the run may not exceed 6 m (20 ft) in metal conduit or tubing, but may run up to 15 m (50 ft) in nonmetallic conduit.
NEC 2026 Section 600.32Neon tubing spacing to nearest surface (600.41(C))vsNeon tubing support from electrode connection (600.41(B))
A 6 mm (1/4 in.) minimum spacing must be kept between tubing and the nearest surface other than its support, whereas the tubing must be supported within 150 mm (6 in.) of each electrode connection.
NEC 2026 Section 600.41Neon tubing support (600.41(B))vsNeon secondary conductor support (600.42(D))
Tubing must be supported within 150 mm (6 in.) from each electrode connection, and separately the neon secondary conductor(s) must be supported not more than 150 mm (6 in.) from the electrode connection to the tubing.
NEC 2026 Section 600.41Separation of secondary conductors from other objects (600.32(E))vsSpacing of nonmetallic conduit from grounded/bonded parts (600.32(A)(4))
Both are 38 mm (1½ in.): secondary conductors must be separated from each other and from all objects other than insulators or neon tubing, while nonmetallic conduit containing a conductor operating at 100 Hz or less must be spaced from grounded or bonded parts.
NEC 2026 Section 600.32Listing required (600.3)vsField-installed skeleton tubing (600.3(A))
Fixed, mobile, or portable electric signs, section signs, outline lighting, PV powered signs and retrofit kits must be listed and labeled regardless of voltage, but field-installed skeleton tubing is not required to be listed where installed in conformance with the Code.
NEC 2026 Section 600.2Disconnecting means required for signs (600.6)vsCord-connected sign with attachment plug (600.6 Exception No. 2)
A disconnecting means is generally required, but Exception No. 2 states it shall not be required for cord-connected signs with an attachment plug.
NEC 2026 Section 600.6 Exception No. 2Secondary-circuit voltage limit (600.23(C))vsSecondary-circuit current limit (600.23(D))
Secondary-circuit voltage shall not exceed 15,000 volts nominal under any load condition, while secondary-circuit current rating shall not exceed 300 mA.
NEC 2026 Section 600.23Height above areas accessible to vehicles (600.9(A))vsClearance from combustible material to incandescent/HID lamp (600.9(C))
Sign or outline lighting equipment must be at least 4.3 m (14 ft) above areas accessible to vehicles unless protected from physical damage, whereas spacing between wood/other combustible materials and an incandescent or HID lamp or lampholder must be at least 50 mm (2 in.).
NEC 2026 Section 600.9Type SJ flexible cordvsType SO flexible cord
Per Table 400.4, Type SJ is a junior hard-service cord rated for pendant or portable use in damp locations with hard usage, while Type SO is rated for extra-hard usage.
NEC 2026 Table 400.4Feeder conductor ampacity (215.2(A)(1))vsFeeder overcurrent device rating (215.5 with 240.6(A))
Both are noncontinuous load plus 125% of continuous load, but the overcurrent device must then be rounded up to the next standard size per 240.6(A) when the computed value is not a standard rating.
NEC 2026 Section 215.4(A)(1)Overload trip rating, service factor ≥1.15 (430.32(A)(1))vsIncreased overload setting (430.32(C)) / thermally protected motor (430.32(A)(2))
A separate overload device for a motor with marked service factor 1.15 or greater is set at no more than 125% of nameplate FLC; 140% applies only under 430.32(C) if 125% will not start/carry the load, and 156% applies to thermally protected motors with FLC 9.1–20 A.
NEC 2026 Section 430.32Standard inverse-time breaker setting (Table 430.52)vsIncreased breaker size for starting (430.52(C)(1) Exc. 2(c))
Table 430.52 permits a maximum of 250% of FLC for a single-phase motor, and if the motor will not start the size may be increased but in no case over 400% of FLC for currents of 100 A or less.
NEC Section 430.52(C)(1), Exception No. 2; Table 430.52(C)(1)Prohibited parallel/series connection (600.23(E))vsPermitted FMC bonding means (600.7(B)(4))
Secondary circuit outputs of transformers/electronic power supplies shall not be connected in parallel or in series, while listed FMC or LFMC enclosing the neon secondary conductor is permitted as a bonding means if total accumulative length does not exceed 30 m (100 ft).
NEC 2026 Section 600.23Key Terms
Neon tubing branch circuit rating NEC 2026 Section 600.5
Branch circuits that supply neon tubing installations shall not be rated in excess of 30 amperes.
Sign outlet (commercial building) NEC 2026 Section 600.5
Each commercial building and each commercial occupancy accessible to pedestrians must have at least one outlet in an accessible location at each entrance to each tenant space for sign or outline lighting use, supplied by a branch circuit rated at least 20 amperes that supplies no other load.
Secondary-circuit voltage limit NEC 2026 Section 600.23
The secondary-circuit voltage of transformers and electronic power supplies shall not exceed 15,000 volts, nominal, under any load condition.
Secondary-circuit current rating NEC 2026 Section 600.23
Transformers and electronic power supplies shall have a secondary-circuit current rating of not more than 300 mA.
Working space at ballast/transformer/power supply NEC 2026 Section 600.21
A working space at least 900 mm (3 ft) high × 900 mm (3 ft) wide × 900 mm (3 ft) deep must be provided at each ballast, transformer, electronic power supply, and Class 2 power source, or at its enclosure, where not installed in a sign.
Minimum conduit size, neon secondary over 1000 V NEC 2026 Section 600.32
Conduit or tubing for neon secondary circuits over 1000 volts must be a minimum of metric designator 16 (trade size 1/2).
Insulation extension beyond conduit (600.32(G)) NEC 2026 Section 600.32
For neon secondary conductors over 1000 volts, the insulation on all conductors must extend not less than 65 mm (2½ in.) beyond the metal conduit or tubing.
Bonding conductor for signs NEC 2026 Section 600.7
Bonding conductor size must comply with one of the following: copper not smaller than 14 AWG, or copper-clad aluminum not smaller than 12 AWG.
Class 2 conductors in sign illumination systems NEC 2026 Section 600.33
Class 2 conductors used in sign illumination systems shall not be smaller than 18 AWG.
Ballast thermal protection NEC 2026 Section 600.22
Ballasts used in electric signs shall be thermally protected — a mandatory requirement.
Dwelling occupancy voltage restriction (600.32(I)) NEC 2026 Section 600.32
Equipment having an open circuit voltage exceeding 1000 volts shall not be installed in or on dwelling occupancies.
Field-installed skeleton tubing NEC 2026 Section 600.2(A)
Sign tubing installed in the field that is not required to be listed where installed in conformance with the Code.
Multiwire branch circuit disconnect (210.4(B)) NEC 2026 Section 210.4
Each multiwire branch circuit must be provided with a means that will simultaneously disconnect all ungrounded conductors at the point where the branch circuit originates.
Multiple branch circuits on one yoke (210.7) NEC 2026 Section 210.7
If two or more branch circuits supply devices or equipment on the same yoke or mounting strap, a means to simultaneously disconnect the ungrounded supply conductors must be provided where the branch circuits originate (e.g., a multipole breaker or approved handle tie).
Branch-circuit ratings (210.18) NEC 2026 Section 210.18
The rating for other than individual branch circuits shall be 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, and 50 amperes; individual branch circuits may have other ratings and Exception No. 1 permits multioutlet circuits over 50 amperes under certain conditions.
Connected load rule (210.11(B)) NEC 2026 Section 210.11
Branch-circuit overcurrent devices and circuits are required to be installed only to serve the connected load, even though the wiring system capacity may be designed for a larger calculated load.
Outlet branch-circuit-type AFCI (210.12(E)) NEC 2026 Section 210.12(E)
Where existing branch-circuit wiring is modified, replaced, or extended in AFCI-required areas, a listed outlet branch-circuit-type AFCI installed at the first receptacle or switch of the existing branch circuit is an acceptable means of compliance.
Receptacle outlet load (220.14(I)) NEC 2026 Section 120.14(I)
Receptacle outlets are calculated at not less than 180 volt-amperes for each single or each multiple receptacle on one yoke.
NEC organization (90.3) NEC 2026 Section 90.3
The Code is divided into the introduction plus nine chapters.
Formulas to Know
Minimum feeder conductor ampacity with continuous and noncontinuous loads
Ampacity = noncontinuous load + (1.25 × continuous load); e.g., 40 + (60 × 1.25) = 115 A; 30 + (100 × 1.25) = 155 AMinimum feeder overcurrent device rating
OCPD = noncontinuous + (1.25 × continuous), then round up to the next standard size per 240.6(A); e.g., 30 + (50 × 1.25) = 92.5 A → 100 AMotor overload device maximum trip (service factor ≥ 1.15)
Max trip = 1.25 × nameplate FLC; e.g., 17 A × 1.25 = 21.25 AMotor overload protection maximum (430.32(A)(1))
Separate overload device ≤ 125% × nameplate FLC for motors with a marked service factor ≥ 1.15 or marked temperature rise ≤ 40°C; ≤ 115% × nameplate FLC for all other motors. These are maximums, not a range: 30 A → 37.5 A max (service factor 1.15) or 34.5 A max (other motors)Maximum inverse-time breaker for single-phase motor
Standard max = 2.5 × FLC, then next standard size up if the motor won't start; e.g., 50 A × 2.5 = 125 A → 150 AAbsolute maximum inverse-time breaker for starting (FLC ≤ 100 A)
Max = 4.00 × FLC; e.g., 60 A × 400% = 240 AMinimum feeder ampacity for multiple motors (430.24)
Ampacity = (1.25 × largest motor FLC) + sum of other motor FLCs; e.g., (1.25 × 15.2) + 15.2 + 15.2 = 49.4 AParallel conductor ampacity
Total ampacity = ampacity per set × number of parallel sets; e.g., 350 kcmil Cu THHN at 90°C = 350 A, two sets = 700 AGrounded conductor size for parallel sets in separate raceways
Size per raceway from that raceway's ungrounded conductors via Table 250.102(C)(1) (350 kcmil Cu → 2 AWG), but not smaller than 1/0 AWG — NEC 250.24(C)(2)Apparent power from real power and power factor
S (kVA) = P (kW) ÷ PF; e.g., 200 kW ÷ 0.8 = 250 kVAThree-phase power
P = √3 × V(line) × I × cos θDwelling general load calculation
Total VA = (sq ft × 3 VA/sq ft) + (number of small-appliance circuits × 1,500 VA) + (laundry circuits × 1,500 VA); e.g., 2,000 sq ft + 2 SA + 1 laundry = 6,000 + 3,000 + 1,500 = 10,500 VA; dwelling units only: a retail store uses the Table 120.42(A) unit load, 1.9 VA/sq ft, plus 180 VA per receptacle outletConduit fill check (3 or more conductors)
Max fill = 40% of conduit area (NEC Ch. 9, Table 1); conduit area = π r², conductor area = n × π r²; e.g., 3 conductors of 0.25 in dia: 3 × π(0.125)² = 0.147 in² ÷ π(0.5)² = 0.785 in² ≈ 18.8% fill, under the 40% limit