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 CircuitvsAll Other Signs / Outline Lighting Branch Circuit
Neon tubing branch circuits may be rated up to 30 A (NEC 600.5(C)(1)), while all other sign and outline lighting branch circuits are limited to 20 A (NEC 600.5(C)(2)).
NEC 600.5(C)(1)Secondary Circuit Conductors in Metal Conduit (max length)vsSecondary Circuit Conductors in Nonmetallic Conduit (max length)
When installed in metal conduit, secondary conductors from a high-voltage terminal to the first neon tube electrode must not exceed 6 m (20 ft); in nonmetallic conduit the limit is 15 m (50 ft).
NEC 600.32(J)(1)Maximum Secondary Voltage (transformers/EPS)vsMaximum Secondary Current (transformers/EPS)
Secondary-circuit voltage must not exceed 15,000 V nominal under any load condition (NEC 600.23(C)), while secondary-circuit current must not exceed 300 mA (NEC 600.23(D)).
NEC 600.23(C)Neon Tubing Spacing from Nearest SurfacevsHigh-Voltage Secondary Conductor Separation from Grounded Parts
Neon tubing must be kept at least 6 mm (1/4 in.) from the nearest surface other than its support (NEC 600.41(C)), whereas secondary conductors must be separated at least 38 mm (1-1/2 in.) from grounded or bonded parts (NEC 600.32(A)(4) and 600.32(E)).
NEC 600.41(C)Flexible Metal Conduit as Bonding Means (max length)vsCopper Bonding Conductor Minimum Size
Listed flexible metal conduit enclosing neon secondary conductors may serve as a bonding means only if its total accumulative length does not exceed 30 m (100 ft) (NEC 600.7(B)(4)), whereas a dedicated copper bonding conductor must be at least 14 AWG (NEC 600.7(B)(7)).
NEC 600.7(B)(4)Neon Tubing Support Near Electrode (600.41(B))vsNeon Secondary Conductor Support Near Electrode (600.42(D))
Neon tubing itself must be supported within 150 mm (6 in.) of each electrode connection (NEC 600.41(B)), and the secondary conductor at that same location must also be supported within 150 mm (6 in.) of the electrode connection (NEC 600.42(D)).
NEC 600.42(D)Minimum Conduit Size for Neon Secondary Circuits >1000 VvsMinimum Class 2 Conductor Size for Sign Illumination
Conduit or tubing for neon secondary circuits over 1000 V must be at least metric designator 16 (trade size 1/2) (NEC 600.32(A)(3)), while Class 2 conductors used in sign illumination systems must be no smaller than 18 AWG (NEC 600.33(A)).
NEC 600.32(A)(3)Sign Height Requirement (vehicle-accessible areas)vsWorking Space Requirement (ballast/transformer/EPS not in sign)
Sign equipment must be at least 4.3 m (14 ft) above vehicle-accessible areas unless protected from physical damage (NEC 600.9(A)), whereas a minimum 900 mm × 900 mm × 900 mm (3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft) working space is required at each ballast, transformer, or electronic power supply not installed inside a sign (NEC 600.21(D)).
NEC 600.9(A)Branch Circuit Outlet Requirement (commercial tenant space)vsBranch Circuit Rating for General Signs
Each commercial building entrance to a tenant space must have at least one dedicated 20 A branch circuit outlet serving no other load (NEC 600.5(A)), whereas branch circuits for non-neon signs are also limited to 20 A but may serve sign loads generally (NEC 600.5(C)(2)).
NEC 600.5(A)Key Terms
Maximum Branch Circuit Rating – Neon Tubing NEC 600.5(C)(1)
Per NEC 600.5(C)(1), branch circuits supplying neon tubing installations shall not be rated in excess of 30 amperes.
Maximum Branch Circuit Rating – All Other Signs NEC 600.5(C)(2)
Per NEC 600.5(C)(2), branch circuits supplying all other signs and outline lighting systems shall be rated not to exceed 20 amperes.
Maximum Secondary-Circuit Voltage NEC 600.23(C)
Per NEC 600.23(C), secondary-circuit voltage for transformers and electronic power supplies shall not exceed 15,000 volts nominal under any load condition.
Maximum Secondary-Circuit Current Rating NEC 600.23(D)
Per NEC 600.23(D), transformers and electronic power supplies used with electric signs shall have a secondary-circuit current rating of not more than 300 mA.
Neon Tubing Clearance from Nearest Surface NEC 600.41(C)
Per NEC 600.41(C), a spacing of not less than 6 mm (1/4 in.) shall be maintained between neon tubing and the nearest surface other than its support.
Minimum Conduit Size – Neon Secondary Circuits >1000 V NEC 600.32(A)(3)
Per NEC 600.32(A)(3), conduit or tubing enclosing neon secondary-circuit wiring over 1000 V must be at minimum metric designator 16 (trade size 1/2).
Secondary Conductor Max Length – Metal Conduit NEC 600.32(J)(1)
Per NEC 600.32(J)(1), secondary circuit conductors from a high-voltage terminal to the first neon tube electrode shall not exceed 6 m (20 ft) when installed in metal conduit.
Secondary Conductor Max Length – Nonmetallic Conduit NEC 600.32(J)(1)
Per NEC 600.32(J)(1), secondary circuit conductors from a high-voltage terminal to the first neon tube electrode shall not exceed 15 m (50 ft) when installed in nonmetallic conduit.
Sign Height Above Vehicle-Accessible Areas NEC 600.9(A)
Per NEC 600.9(A), sign or outline lighting equipment must be installed at least 4.3 m (14 ft) above areas accessible to vehicles unless protected from physical damage.
Conductor Insulation Extension Beyond Metal Conduit NEC 600.32(G)
Per NEC 600.32(G), insulation on neon secondary conductors over 1000 V must extend not less than 65 mm (2-1/2 in.) beyond the end of the metal conduit or tubing.
Flexible Metal Conduit as Bonding Means – Max Length NEC 600.7(B)(4)
Per NEC 600.7(B)(4), listed flexible metal conduit enclosing neon secondary circuit conductors may be used as a bonding means only if the total accumulative length does not exceed 30 m (100 ft).
Secondary Conductor Separation from Grounded Parts NEC 600.32(E)
Per NEC 600.32(E) and 600.32(A)(4), neon secondary conductors over 1000 V must be separated at least 38 mm (1-1/2 in.) from each other and from all objects other than insulators, neon tubing, or bonded parts.
Neon Tubing Support Near Electrode NEC 600.41(B)
Per NEC 600.41(B), neon tubing must be supported within 150 mm (6 in.) of each electrode connection to ensure mechanical stability at that critical junction.
Minimum Bonding Conductor Size NEC 600.7(B)(7)
Per NEC 600.7(B)(7), bonding conductors for electric signs must be copper and not smaller than 14 AWG.
Working Space – Ballast/Transformer/EPS Not in Sign NEC 600.21(D)
Per NEC 600.21(D), a clear working space of at least 900 mm × 900 mm × 900 mm (3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft) must be provided at each ballast, transformer, electronic power supply, or Class 2 power source when not installed inside a sign enclosure.
Minimum Class 2 Conductor Size – Sign Illumination NEC 600.33(A)
Per NEC 600.33(A), Class 2 conductors used in sign illumination systems shall not be smaller than 18 AWG.