Alabama Electrical Journeyman Exam
Practice at the real exam's pace
Every practice exam shows your time per question against the real exam's clock (3:00 here), and each topic lands in one of these:
What's on the exam
Questions per topic, out of 80Topics
Conductors and Cables
Key Concepts
Conductor size, material, stranding - Minimum size for general wiring rated up to and including 2000 volts: 14 AWG copper or 12 AWG aluminum/copper-clad aluminum, except as permitted elsewhere — 310.3(A). - Where installed in raceways, conductors 8 AWG and larger shall be stranded unless permitted or required to be solid — 310.3(C). - Conductors may be paralleled only in sizes 1/0 AWG and larger — 310.10(G)(1) — and must be the same length, same material, same circular-mil area, same insulation type, and terminated in the same manner — 310.10(G)(2).
Electrical Power
Key Concepts
Generator conductor ampacity (445.13(A)). Conductors from the generator output terminals to the first distribution device(s) containing overcurrent protection shall have ampacity not less than 115 percent of the generator nameplate current rating. Neutrals may be sized per 220.61; conductors carrying ground-fault current shall not be smaller than required by 250.30(A). Exception: where the design and operation of the generator prevent overloading, 100 percent is permitted.
Generator overcurrent protection (445.12). Constant-voltage generators (except ac generator exciters) shall be protected from overload by inherent design, circuit breakers, fuses, protective relays, or other identified means. Generators at 65 volts or less driven by individual motors are considered protected by the motor's overcurrent device if it operates at not more than…
Fire Detection and Alarm Systems
Key Concepts
Scope and structure (NEC Article 760). Article 760 covers installation of wiring and equipment of fire alarm systems, including all circuits controlled and powered by the fire alarm system (760.1). Fire alarm circuits comply with either Parts I and II (NPLFA) or Parts I and III (PLFA) per 760.35. Only those sections of Article 300 referenced in Article 760 apply (760.3).
NPLFA overcurrent protection (760.43). Overcurrent protection shall not exceed 7 amperes for 18 AWG and 10 amperes for 16 AWG conductors. Conductors 14 AWG and larger are protected in accordance with conductor ampacity without applying the ampacity adjustment and correction factors of 310.14. Overcurrent devices are located at the point where the conductor to be protected…
General Electrical Knowledge
Topic: General Electrical Knowledge
Key Concepts
Ohm's law and power. E = I × R (8 A × 15 Ω = 120 V); I = E / R (240 V ÷ 48 Ω = 5 A); P = E × I (120 V × 12.5 A = 1,500 W).
Total circuit resistance in dc. The resistance of an entire dc circuit is the sum of the generator (internal) resistance, both line conductors, and the load — e.g., 0.5 + 0.75 + 0.75 + 22 = 24 Ω (American Electricians' Handbook, 17th Ed., Div. 1, Sec. 109).
Grounding and Bonding
Key Concepts
Effective ground-fault current path - The earth shall not be considered as an effective ground-fault current path (NEC 250.4(A)(5)). For ungrounded systems, the earth shall not be considered an effective fault-current path (250.4(B)(4)). - Auxiliary grounding electrodes may be connected to equipment grounding conductors and need not comply with 250.50, 250.53(C), or the 250.53(A)(2) Exception resistance requirement, but the earth still may not be used as an effective ground-fault current path (250.54).
Connections - Connection devices or fittings that depend solely on solder shall not be used for grounding and bonding connections (250.8(B)). Permitted methods include listed pressure connectors, terminal bars, exothermic welding, and machine screws engaging not less than two threads (250.8(A)). - Nonconductive coatings (paint,…
Illuminated Signs
Alabama Electrical Journeyman Exam · 2 questions (2% of exam)
Key Concepts
Branch circuits - Each commercial building and each commercial occupancy accessible to pedestrians shall have at least one outlet in an accessible location at each entrance to each tenant space for sign or outline lighting use; the outlet(s) shall be supplied by a branch circuit rated at least 20 amperes that supplies no other load — NEC 600.5(A). Exception No. 1 excludes entrances for deliveries, service corridors, or service hallways used only by service personnel or employees. Exception No. 2 permits the circuit to supply loads directly related to sign control (electronic or electromechanical controllers). - Branch circuits supplying signs are considered continuous loads for calculations —…
Lighting
Key Concepts
Luminaires near and over combustible material - Luminaires shall be constructed, installed, or equipped with shades or guards so that combustible material is not subjected to temperatures in excess of 90°C (194°F) — NEC 410.11 (same rule for lampholders at 410.97). - Lampholders installed over highly combustible material shall be of the unswitched type. Unless an individual switch is provided for each luminaire, lampholders shall be located at least 2.5 m (8 ft) above the floor or shall be located or guarded so lamps cannot be readily removed or damaged — NEC 410.12.
Low Voltage
Key Concepts
Class 1 circuits (Article 724) - Class 1 circuits shall be supplied from a source with a rated output of not more than 30 volts and 1000 volt-amperes (724.40). Transformers are permitted to supply Class 1 circuits (724.40(A)). - Power sources other than transformers must be protected by overcurrent devices rated not more than 167 percent of the volt-ampere rating divided by rated voltage; VAmax is limited to 2500 volt-amperes, and Imax × Vmax shall not exceed 10,000 volt-amperes (724.40(B)). - Overcurrent protection shall not exceed 7 amperes for 18 AWG and 10 amperes for 16 AWG; 14 AWG and larger are protected per conductor ampacity without applying 310.15 adjustment and correction factors (724.43). - Class 1…
Motors
Key Concepts
Conductor sizing (NEC 430.22) - Conductors supplying a single motor in a continuous duty application: not less than 125% of the motor full-load current rating as determined by 430.6(A)(1). (430.22) - DC motor from a rectified single-phase supply, conductors between the rectifier field wiring output terminals and the motor: 190% for a half-wave bridge, 150% for a full-wave bridge. (430.22(A)) - Wye-start, delta-run: line side of controller 125%; between controller and motor 72% (informational note: conductors carry 58%, and 58% × 1.25 = 72%). (430.22(C)) - Part-winding: line side 125%; between controller and motor 62.5% (50% × 1.25). (430.22(D)) - Other than continuous duty: use the percentages in Table 430.22(E). (430.22(E)) - Small motors: 18 AWG copper…
Overcurrent Protection
Key Concepts
Conductor protection (240.4). Conductors other than flexible cords, flexible cables, and fixture wires are protected at their ampacities per 310.14 unless 240.4(A)–(H) permits otherwise.
- 240.4(A) Power Loss Hazard: Conductor overload protection is not required where interrupting the circuit would create a hazard — "such as in a material-handling magnet circuit or fire pump circuit." Short-circuit protection shall still be provided.
- 240.4(B) Devices 800 A or less: The next higher standard rating above the conductor ampacity is permitted if (1) the conductors are not part of a branch circuit supplying more than one receptacle for cord-and-plug-connected portable loads, (2) the ampacity does not correspond to a standard fuse/CB rating, and (3) the next higher standard rating…
Raceways and Boxes
Key Concepts
Protection of cables and raceways through wood members - Holes bored through wood members must have the edge of the hole not less than 32 mm (1¼ in.) from the edges of the member; where that distance cannot be maintained, protect with a steel plate against screws or nails — 300.4(A)(1). - Cables or raceways laid in notches in wood members require a steel plate at least 1.6 mm (1/16 in.) thick, of appropriate length and width — 300.4(A)(2). - Cables/raceways run parallel to framing members where nails or screws are likely to penetrate must keep the nearest outside surface at least 32 mm (1¼ in.) from the edge, or be protected by steel plate or sleeve…
Safety Information
Key Concepts
Working space (NEC 110.26(A)) - Depth is set by Table 110.26(A)(1) by voltage-to-ground and condition. For ≤150 V to ground the minimum is 36 in. For 151–600 V: Condition 1 = 3 ft, Condition 2 = 3½ ft (exposed live parts on one side, grounded parts — including a concrete wall — on the other), Condition 3 = 4 ft (exposed live parts on both sides). - Width — 110.26(A)(2): the width of the equipment or 30 in., whichever is greater, and the space must permit at least a 90-degree opening of equipment doors or hinged panels. - Height — 110.26(A)(3): clear from grade, floor, or platform to 2.0 m (6½ ft) or the height of the…
Service, Feeders, and Branch Circuits
Key Concepts
Continuous load sizing — the 125% rule appears in four places: - Branch-circuit conductors: noncontinuous load + 125% of continuous load (210.19(A)) - Branch-circuit OCPD rating: not less than noncontinuous + 125% of continuous (210.20(A)) - Feeder conductors: not less than noncontinuous + 125% of continuous (215.2(A)(1)); feeder OCPD same rule (215.3) - Service-entrance conductors: not less than the sum of noncontinuous loads + 125% of continuous loads (230.42(A)(1))
Service and feeder disconnect ratings - One-family dwelling service disconnecting means: not less than 100 amperes, 3-wire (230.79(C)) - One-family dwelling feeder disconnecting means: not less than 100 amperes, 3-wire (225.39(C)) - Service-entrance ungrounded conductor ampacity shall not be less than the rating of the service disconnecting means…
Special Occupancies and Equipment
Key Concepts
Hazardous location classification - Where Class I liquids or gaseous fuels are stored, handled, or transferred, wiring and utilization equipment must be designed for Class I, Division 1 or 2 (NEC 511.3). - Commercial/repair garages: the floor area up to 450 mm (18 in.) above floor level is Class I, Division 2 for the entire floor area, unless the room has ventilation of at least 0.3 m³/min/m² (1 ft³/min/ft²) with suction taken within 300 mm (12 in.) of floor level, which makes it unclassified [Table 511.3(C); NEC 511.3(A)]. - An unventilated pit, belowgrade, or subfloor work area in a major repair garage is Division 1; with the 1 ft³/min/ft² ventilation it becomes Division 2 [Table 511.3(C)]. -…