Study Guide

Read: Table of Contents, Article 110, and Article 300

Definitions of common terms are found in Article 100.

Terms used in only one Article are defined in the .2 section of that Article.
2023 NEC

110.14(A) - Conductors larger than 10 AWG not allowed for terminations using wire
binding screws.

110.15 - The high leg of a delta system must be orange.

Table 110.26(A)(1) - Minimum depth of clear working space is 3 ft. (See table and notes
for other conditions)

110.26(A)(2) - Minimum width of working space is 30 in. or the width of

the equipment, whichever is greater. Doors must open at least 90˚.

110.26(A)(3) - Minimum height of working space is 6 1/2 ft. or the height of the
equipment, whichever is greater.
110.26(C)(2) - Equipment rated 1,200 amps or more and over 6 ft. wide require 2
entrances to the working space. (Read section for more details)

110.26(E) - Dedicated equipment space extends from the floor to 6 ft. above the
equipment or the structural ceiling.

Table 110.28 - Enclosure types. (Example: NEMA 3R provides protection from incidental
contact, rain, snow, and sleet)

200.6 - Grounded conductors must be white, gray, or three continuous white or gray
stripes along insulation other than green.

210.8 - GFCI protection requirements.

210.11(C) - Required circuits for dwelling units.

210.12 - AFCI protection requirements.

210.52 - Receptacle placement for dwelling units.

210.70 - Required lighting outlets.

220.11(B) - Use the rating or the driver to calculate LED lighting loads and not the
rating of the lamps.

Table 220.42(A) & 220.41 – Branch circuit lighting loads for occupancies.

Table 220.45 - Demand factors for lighting loads. (Services and feeders)

220.14(I) & Table 220.47 - Receptacle loads for non-dwelling units.

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220.53 - Appliance loads for dwelling units.

220.54 & Table 220.54 - Dryer loads for dwelling units.

Table 220.55 - Range loads for dwelling units.

220.56 & Table 220.56 - Kitchen equipment loads for non-dwelling units.

220.61 - Neutral loads.

220.82 - Optional method calculations for single-family dwelling units.

220.87 - A study done on a home over the course of 1 year showed a maximum demand
of 80 amps. The home has a 120/240-volt, 200-amp service. How much capacity is
available for expansion. (80 amps x 125% = 100 amps. 200 amps - 100 amps = 100 amps
available.)

220.84 & Table 220.84(B) - Optional method calculations for multifamily dwelling units.

220.86 & Table 220.86 - Optional method calculations for schools.

220.88 & Table 220.88 - Optional method calculations for new restaurants.

225.18 - Vertical clearances for outside feeder and branch circuit conductors.

225.19 - Clearances above roofs and from windows for outside feeder and branch circuit
conductors.

230.2 - More than one service allowed on a building for special conditions. (Fire pump,
capacity over 2,000 amps, different voltages, etc.)

230.24 - Vertical clearances for overhead service conductors. (Exceptions to 230.24(A)

are very common answers to test questions)
230.30(B) - Wiring methods allowed for underground service conductors.

230.31 - Minimum size for underground service conductors. (#8 copper or #6 aluminum.
Limited loads can be #12 copper or #10 aluminum)

230.71(B) - No more than 6 disconnects per service at any one location. 230.72(A) - All

service disconnects must be grouped.

230.79(C) - Minimum service size for a dwelling unit is 100 amps.

230.95 - Ground fault protection must be provided for all services over 150 volts to
ground and rated 1,000 amps or more.

240.4(B) - Round up to the next standard size overcurrent device for conductors not
exceeding 800 amps. (See limitations)

240.4(D) - Maximum overcurrent protection for small conductors. (240.4(D)(2) for 16

AWG copper protected by a Class J fuse.)

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240.6(A) & Table 240.6(A) - Standard fuse and circuit breaker sizes.

240.21(B) - Feeder tap rules for overcurrent protection.

240.21(C) - Transformer secondary rules for overcurrent protection.

240.24(A) - Maximum height of switch or circuit breaker is 6 ft. 7 in. (Some exceptions)

240.24 (B)-(E) - Location of overcurrent devices. (Not exposed to physical damage, not
in dwelling unit bathrooms, not over steps, etc.)

242.20 - Surge protective device required for each ungrounded conductor.

(1Ø = 1 or 2, 3Ø = 3)

250.4(A)(5) - The earth shall not be used as a ground-fault current path. 250.6(B) -

Methods to stop objectionable current.

250.8(A) - Permitted means to make grounding connections.

250.34 - Grounding rules for portable and vehicle mounted generators.

250.52(A)(1)-(8) - Grounding electrodes. (10 ft. of metal water piping, 8 ft. ground rod,
3/4 in. pipe, etc.)

250.53(A)(2) Exception - Maximum resistance of a single ground rod is 25 ohms.

250.53(A)(4) - Drive ground rod at angle not to exceed 45˚ from vertical or bury in a
trench 30 in. deep if rock is encountered.

250.53(B) - Separate ground rods by at least 6 ft.

250.58 - Two or more electrodes bonded together are considered a single grounding
electrode system.

250.64(A) - Aluminum grounding conductors cannot be used outside within 18 in. of the
earth, if outside of an enclosure.

250.64(B) - Grounding electrode conductors must be in conduit where subject to

physical damage. Smaller than 6 AWG must always be in conduit.

Table 250.66 - Grounding electrode conductor sizing.

250.66(A) - Grounding electrode conductors that are the sole connection to a ground
rod never have to be larger than 6 AWG copper.

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250.66(B) - Grounding electrode conductors that are the sole connection to a concrete
encased electrode never have to be larger than 4 AWG copper.

250.68(C)(1) - Interior metal water piping can only be uses as a grounding electrode for
the first 5 ft. that it enters a building.

250.98 - Use equipment bonding jumpers to bond loosely jointed raceways or

expansion fittings.

250.118 - Types of equipment grounding conductors. (Flexible metal conduit limited to

6 ft.)

250.119(A) - Equipment grounding conductors must be green, green with yellow

stripes, or bare.

Table 250.122 - Equipment grounding conductor sizing.

300.4(A)(1) - Drill holes in wood studs 1 1/4 in. away from face for nonmetallic cables. If
closer use steel plate 1/16 in. thick to protect.

300.4(E) - Electrical equipment (Conduit, boxes, etc.) must be at least 1 1/2 in. below
metal roof decking.

300.4(G) - Protection required for 4 AWG or larger conductors in raceways. Table

300.5(A) - Minimum burial depth for cables and raceways.

300.5(D)(1) - Protect direct buried conductors up to 8 ft. above grade.

300.5(D)(3) - Warning ribbon required at least 12 in. above underground service

conductors.

300.6(D) - Equipment in indoor wet locations must be mounted at least 1/4 in. off of
wall. (Same for outdoor damp or wet locations. See 312.2)

300.7(A) - Conduits passing from warm areas to cold areas must be sealed.
(Not explosionproof)

300.14 - At least 6 in. of free conductor required at each outlet or junction box.

Table 300.19(A) - Supports for conductors in vertical raceways.

300.21 - Penetrations through fire-resistant partitions must be firestopped. (Same

rating as wall, floor, or ceiling. 2 hour firewall requires a firestop rated 2 hours)

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300.22(A) - No wiring of any type allowed in a duct used for dust, loose stock, or vapor
removal.

300.22(B) - Only metal raceways or cables allowed in ducts used for environmental air.

Table 310.4(1) - Conductor insulation. (Wet, dry, damp, thickness of insulation, type of
insulation, etc.)

310.8 - Required marking of conductors and cables.

310.10(G)(1) - Smallest conductor allowed to be run in parallel is 1/0 AWG.

Table 310.15(B)(1)(1) - Ambient temperature correction factors. (Only use Table

310.15(B)(1)(2) when you are certain that it is applicable)

Table 310.15(C)(1) - Correction factors for number of current-carrying conductors in a

raceway.

Table 310.16 - Allowable ampacity of conductors.

Table 312.6(A) - Wire bending space when conductor does not leave the wall opposite
its terminal.

Table 312.6(B)(2) - Wire bending space when conductor does leave the wall opposite its
terminal.

314.16(B) & Tables 314.16(A) & (B)(1) - Box fill calculations.

314.27(A)(2) - Boxes used to support lighting fixtures must be able to support 50 lbs.
Fixture weighing more than 50 lbs. must be independently supported. (70 lbs. max for
ceiling fans. See 314.27(C))

314.28(A)(1) - Length of pull box containing conductors 4 AWG and

larger and straight pull is 8 times the largest raceway.

314.28(A)(2) - Length of pull box containing conductors 4 AWG and larger and angle or
U pull is 6 times the largest raceway plus the sum of other raceways in the same row.

Articles 320-340 - All cable types. (.10 uses permitted; .12 uses not permitted; .24
bending radius; .30 securing and supporting)

Articles 342-362 - All conduit types. (.10 uses permitted; .12 uses not permitted; .24
number of bends; .30 securing and supporting)

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Table 348.22 - Number of conductors allowed in 3/8 in. flexible metal conduit.

376.22(A) - What minimum cross-sectional area is required for a metal wireway with 2
conductors each having an are4a of 0.156 in.2? (0.156 x 2 = 0.312 in.2 / 20% = 1.56 in.2.

402.6 - Minimum 18 AWG for fixture wire.

404.2(A) - 3 and 4 way switching in only the ungrounded conductor.

404.8(A) - Maximum height of switch is 6 ft. 7 in.

404.8(B) - Maximum voltage between adjacent devices in a box is 300
volts without a barrier. (406.5(J) has same requirement for receptacles)

404.14(C) - Switches for aluminum conductors must be marked CO/ALR.

(406.3(C) has same requirement for receptacles)

406.3(E) - Isolated ground receptacles have an orange triangle on the face.

406.9(B)(1) - Receptacles in wet locations must have a weatherproof cover whether or

not the attachment plug cap is inserted. (See section for specifics)

408.3(E)(1) - 3Ø bus shall be A, B, C, front to back, left to right, and top to bottom.

408.39 - Install fuses on the load side of switches in panelboards.

410.10(D) - No pendant light, track light, or ceiling fan in 3 ft. horizontal and
8 ft. vertical zone frm the top of a bathtub or shower threshold.

410.11 - Lighting fixtures cannot subject adjacent combustible material to temperatures

in excess of 90˚ Celsius.

410.16(A) - Closet storage space is 12 in. off of back and side walls.

410.16(B), (C), & (D) - No open bulb incandescent or pendant lights in clothes closets. (D)
provides clearances from storage space. See 410.16(A) for definition of storage space.
(Example: Surface mounted incandescent must be 12 in. from storage space or 24 in.
from side and back walls. Storage space is 12 in. from back and side walls)

410.116(A)(1) - Non-type IC can lights must be 1/2 in. from combustible material.

410.116(B) - Non-type IC can lights must be 3 in. from insulation.

410.154 - Track lighting must be fastened 2 times for the first 4 ft. and
1 additional fastener for every additional 4 ft.

422.16(B) - Maximum and minimum lengths for flexible cords

supplying appliances. (Disposals, dishwashers, range hoods, etc.)

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422.31 - Disconnecting means for appliances. (300 VA or 1/8 hp or less different than
greater ratings)

424.34 - Heating cables must have nonheating leads not less than 7 ft. in length.

424.35 - Required marking for heating cables.

430.6(A) - Use NEC tables for sizing most elements of motor circuits.
Use nameplate rating for separate overload protection.

430.11 - Use guards or enclosures to protect motors from getting wet.

430.22 - Size motor conductors for a single motor at 125% of FLA found in NEC tables.

Table 430.22(E) - Use table and nameplate rating of motor to size conductors for
noncontinuous duty motors.

430.24 - Size feeder conductors for motors at 125% of largest motor and 100% of other
motors.

430.32(A)(1) - Separate motor overload protection. Use nameplate rating and

appropriate percentage.

430.32(C) - Separate motor overload protection if the motor will not start after using
430.32(A)(1).

430.35(B) - Shunting overload protection during start up. (Exception is usually part of
the question)

430.36 - Overload protection required for each ungrounded conductor when fuses are
used. (1Ø = 1 or 2; 3Ø = 3)

Table 430.52(C)(1) - Branch-circuit, short-circuit, and ground-fault protection of motors.

(430.52(C)(1)(a) allows the next higher standard size to be used when the calculation
results in a nonstandard size) (430.52(C)(1)(b) applies when the motor will not start
after sizing according to Table 430.52(C)(1) and applying 430.52(C)(1)(a))

Table 430.72(B)(2) - Protection of motor control circuit conductors. (14 AWG copper
where conductors do not extend beyond the enclosure and protection is provided by
the motor branch-circuit protective device has a maximum overcurrent protection of
100 amps)

430.82(A) - Motor controller must be capable of starting and stopping the motor and
interrupting the locked rotor current.

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430.83(C) - General use switch is allowed to be used as a motor controller for motors
rated 2 hp or less.

430.110(A) - Disconnecting means for motors must be sized at not less than 115% of the
full load current of the motor. Table 430.248 – Full load current of 1Ø motors.

Table 430.250 - Full load current of 3Ø motors.

440.12(A)(1) - Disconnecting means for hermetic refrigerant motor compressors must be

sized at not less than 115% of the nameplate rated current.

Table 450.3(B) - Overcurrent protection for transformers rated 1000 volts or less.

450.42 - Transformer vaults must have a fire rating not less than 3 hours.

Table 495.24 - Minimum clearances for live parts for equipment over 1000 volts.

500.5(B) - Class I locations have flammable gases and vapors. (Gasoline) 500.5(C) – Class
II locations have combustible dust. (Sugar & aluminum)

500.5(D) - Class III locations have combustible fibers and flyings.

(Spanish moss & cloth)

500.8(E)(1) - At least 5 threads must be made up into explosionproof enclosures.

501.15(A)(1) - Conduit seals must be installed within 18 in. from a producing enclosure.

501.15(C)(3) - Thickness of compound in a completed seal cannot be less than the trade
size of the fitting but never less than 5/8 in.

501.130(A)(3) - Pendant lights in Class I, Division 1 locations must be braced if longer

than 12 in.

511.3 - Classification of areas in a commercial garage. (Read carefully)

511.7(B)(1)(b) - Fixed lighting in commercial garages must be 12 ft. above driving lanes.

Table 514.3(B)(1) - Classification of areas in a gas station.

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514.8 - Underground wiring to a gas pump must be in metal conduit. PVC allowed by
exception under 2 ft. of cover and not to be used for the last 2 feet before emerging from
grade.

514.9 - Conduit seal required at each conduit and at the boundary. Minimum of 2 seals
for each conduit to a gas dispenser.

514.11(A) - Disconnects for gas pumps at unattended gas stations must be at least 20 ft.
and not more than 100 ft. from the dispensers.

Table 515.3 - Classification of areas in a bulk storage plant.

517.14 - Normal and essential branch-circuit panelboards in health care facilities must be
bonded together with 10 AWG copper conductor.

517.18 - Minimum of 2 circuits and 8 receptacles for patient bed locations in Category 2
spaces in health care facilities.

517.19 - Minimum of 2 circuits and 14 receptacles for patient bed locations in

Category 1 spaces in health care facilities. 36 receptacles required in operating
rooms.

517.33 - Circuits required to be connected to the life safety branch of

the emergency system in a health care facility.

517.34 - Circuits required to be connected to the critical branch of

the emergency system in a health care facility.

517.60(A)(2) - Areas in health care facilities where flammable anesthetics are stored are
Class I, Division 1 locations.

517.160(A)(5) - Conductors for 3Ø isolated power systems in health care facilities shall be
colored orange, brown, yellow. (In that order)
547.44(B) - Equipotential bonding conductors for agricultural buildings must be 8 AWG
copper minimum. (Solid)

550.10(D) - Mobile home power supply cord must be between 21 ft. and 36 1/2 ft. in
length.

550.12(A) - Formula for calculating minimum number of lighting circuits

for a mobile home.

550.31 & Table 550.31 - Demand factors and load calculations for mobile home parks.
(16,000 VA minimum for each mobile home)

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550.32(F) - Service equipment for mobile home must be at least 2 ft. above grade.

551.71 - Number and type of receptacles required at each RV park.

551.73 & Table 551.73(A) - Load calculations and demand factors for RV parks.
590.3(B) - Temporary holiday lighting for 90 days maximum.

600.5(C)(1) & (2) - Circuits for neon signs maximum of 30 amps. Other signs maximum
of 20 amps.

600.6(B) - Switches for sign transformers and power supplies must be rated at two
times the rating of the transformer.

600.9(A) - Signs must be at least 14 ft. above areas accessible to vehicles.

600.9(C) - Incandescent lampholders must be 2 in. from combustible materials.

600.32(J)(1) - Secondary conductors for neon circuits over 1000 volts are limited to 20
ft. in metal conduit and 50 ft. in nonmetallic conduit.

605.6(B)(1) - Cords for lighting accessories in office furnishing cannot exceed 9 ft. in
length.

610.21(C) - Main contact conductors along runways must be supported every 20 ft.
(Cranes)

630.11 & Table 630.11(A) - Conductor sizing and demand factors for arc welders.
630.31 & Table 630.31(A) - Conductor sizing and demand factors for resistance welders.

647.4(D) - Voltage drop requirements for sensitive electronic equipment.

680.9 & Table 680.9(A) - Overhead clearances for conductors over

swimming pools.

680.11(B) - Underground wiring not allowed under a swimming pool unless necessary
to supply pool equipment specifically allowed by the NEC.

680.22(A)(1) - 1 receptacle required within 6 ft. and not more than 20 ft. from a
permanently installed swimming pool

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680.22(B)(1) - Lighting fixtures and ceiling fans not allowed within 5 ft. horizontally and
12 ft. vertically of an outdoor permanently installed swimming pool.

680.22(C) - Switches must be at least 5 ft. away from a permanently installed

swimming pool.

680.23(A)(5) - Underwater lights must be at least 18 in. below the water level of a
permanently installed swimming pool. (Unless listed for lower depths and then not less
than 4 in.)

680.23(B)(2)(b) - Wet niche lighting fixtures require an 8 AWG copper bonding jumper
when nonmetallic conduit is used.

680.24(A)(2) - Junction boxes for underwater lighting fixtures in pools must be 4 in.
above the pool deck or 8 in. above the water level, whichever is greater. The box must
also be 4 ft. from the inside wall of the pool. Low voltage lights are allowed to have
boxes flush with the deck but they must be filled with a potting compound and still
located not less than 4 ft. from the pool.

680.26(B) - All bonding for pools must be made with an 8 AWG copper bonding
conductor.

700.12 - Transfer of emergency power must occur within 10 seconds of loss of normal
power.

700.12(C)(4) - Batteries used for emergency power must be capable of supplying the
load for 1 1/2 hours without the voltage falling below 87 1/2% of normal.

700.12(H)(2)(2) - Flexible cords allowed for emergency lighting but cannot be longer
than 3 ft.

722.25 - Abandoned cables for power-limited circuits and fault-managed power circuits
must be removed. (Abandoned means not terminated at both ends or not tagged for
future use.)
Table 722.135(B) - Application of Class 2 and 3 cables. (Where the different types of
cables can be used)

Table 722.135(E) - Permitted cable substitutions for power-limited circuits and fault-
managed power circuits.

724.48(B)(1) - Class 1 circuits not allowed in the same raceway as power circuits unless
functionally associated.

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722.179(A)(8) - Class 3 single conductors must be at least 18 AWG.
722.179(A)(14) - Voltage rating for Class 2 cables must be 150 volts. Class 3 is 300 volts.

722.179(B)(70 - Voltage rating not allowed to be marked on Class 2 and 3 cables.

725.136(D) & (I) - Class 2 and 3 circuits must be at least 2 in. from power circuits unless
they are required to enter the same enclosure for termination then 1/4 in. separation is
required.

760.53(A)(2) - NPLFA wiring must be protected to at least 7 ft. above the floor.

760.127 Exception - Input leads for transformers supplying PLFA circuits can be smaller
than #14 but not less than #18 if not over 12 in. long.

760.130(B)(2) - PLFA wiring must be protected to at least 7 ft. above the floor.

760.136(D)(1) & (H) - PLFA circuits must be at least 2 in. from power circuits unless
they are required to enter the same enclosure for termination then 1/4 in. separation is
required.

760.142 - PLFA circuits must be at least 26 AWG in cables. Single conductors cannot be
smaller than 18 AWG.

Table 760.154 - Application of PLFA cables. (Where the different types of cables can be
used)

Table 760.154(A) - Permitted substitutions for PLFA cables.

770.48(A) - Unlisted optical fiber cables allowed inside of buildings for only 50 ft. Table

770.154(b) - Permitted substitutions for optical fiber cables.

800.44(A)(1) & (4) - Communication cables must be below electric cables at the pole.
Separate 40 in. at the pole and at least 12 in. at closest point in the span.

800.44(B) - Communications cables must be at least 8 ft. above roofs. Exception No. 3
allows 3 ft. clearance for roofs with a pitch of at least 4 in. in 12 in.

800.48 - Unlisted communication cables allowed inside of buildings for only 50 ft.

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800.53 - Communication cables must be at least 6 ft. from lightning conductors.

800.100(A)(3) & (4) - 14 AWG grounding electrode conductor

required for communication circuits. Cannot be longer than 20 ft. for
1 and 2 family dwellings.

800.100(D) - Minimum 6 AWG copper required to bond communication and power

grounding electrode systems.

800.133(B) - Separate communication circuits at least 2 in. from

power circuit.

Table 800.154(a) - Application of communication cables. (Where the different types of

cables can be used.)

Table 805.154 - Permitted substitutions for communication cables. (See Table 820.154
for CATV cable substitutions)

810.20(A) - Antenna discharge unit required for each conductor of a lead-in from an
outdoor antenna.

810.21(H) - Grounding electrode conductor for radio and television receiving stations
cannot be smaller than 10 AWG copper.

810.21(J) - Minimum 6 AWG copper required to bond radio and television equipment
and power grounding electrode systems.

Chapter 9, Table 1 - Allowable fill percentages for conduit. (40% for 3 or more
conductors & 60% for nipples 24 in. or less in length. Note 7 allows rounding up to the
next whole number of conductors only if all of the conductors in the raceway are the
same size and the decimal is 0.8 or larger)

Chapter 9, Table 2 - Radius of conduit bends.

Chapter 9, Table 4 - Area of raceways.

Chapter 9, Table 5 - Area of conductors. (Compact conductors on 5A)

Chapter 9, Table 8 - Conductor properties. (Resistance, number of strands, cmil area,

etc. Commonly used for voltage drop calculations)

Annex C - Conduit fill tables. (Based on 40% fill)

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