Exam Cheat Sheet · Quick Reference

Arizona R-11 Electrical Residential

Arizona  ·  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
110
Passing score
70
Exam time
240 min
Administered by
PSI Services Contractor
Format
Reference materials allowed

Arizona State Portion 110 questions

General Electrical Knowledge 6 Q · 5%
Service Feeders and Branch Circuits 18 Q · 16%
Grounding and Bonding 16 Q · 15%
Conductors and Cables 12 Q · 11%
Raceways and Boxes 15 Q · 14%
Special Occupancies and Equipment 3 Q · 3%
Electrical Devices 2 Q · 2%
Motors 3 Q · 3%
Low Voltage 2 Q · 2%
Lighting 6 Q · 5%
Fire Detection and Alarm Systems 5 Q · 5%
Safety 5 Q · 5%
Overcurrent Protection 7 Q · 6%
Photovoltaics 10 Q · 9%

Key Distinctions

Main Bonding JumpervsSystem Bonding Jumper

The main bonding jumper connects the grounded circuit conductor to the equipment grounding conductor at the service, while the system bonding jumper makes the same connection at a separately derived system (e.g., a transformer).

NEC Handbook, Article 100 (Definition: Bonding Jumper, Main)
Overload Protection Sizing (Motor Nameplate Amps)vsBranch-Circuit Conductor / OCPD Sizing (FLC Table Values)

Overload heaters must be sized from the motor's actual nameplate ampere rating to protect the specific motor, whereas branch-circuit conductors and overcurrent protective devices are sized using the full-load current tables (NEC 430.248/430.250).

NEC Handbook, Section 430.32
Feeder Conductor Ampacity (Multiple Motors)vsFeeder Overcurrent Protective Device Rating (Multiple Motors)

Feeder conductors are sized at 125% of the largest motor's FLC plus the sum of all other motors' FLCs, while the feeder OCPD is sized by taking the largest branch-circuit OCPD rating for any motor and adding the FLC of all other motors.

NEC Handbook, Section 430.24
GFCI ProtectionvsAssured Equipment Grounding Conductor Program

On construction sites, employers may use either GFCIs or an assured equipment grounding conductor program to protect employees from ground faults on branch circuits; they are alternative compliance methods.

29 CFR 1926, §1926.404(b)(1)(i)
Fixed Cord Sets / Receptacles (Not Exposed to Damage)vsNon-Fixed Cord Sets / Receptacles (Exposed to Damage)

Under an assured equipment grounding conductor program, fixed cord sets and receptacles not exposed to damage must be tested at intervals not exceeding 6 months, while those exposed to damage must be tested every 3 months.

29 CFR 1926, §1926.404(b)(1)(iii)(E)(4)
Type NM CablevsType USE Cable

Type NM cable is permitted for interior use in one- and two-family dwellings including attached/detached garages and storage buildings, whereas Type USE cable is identified for underground use only and shall not be used for interior wiring.

NEC Handbook, Section 334.10(1)
Grounded Conductor Identification ≤6 AWGvsGrounded Conductor Identification ≥4 AWG

For 6 AWG or smaller, the grounded conductor must have a continuous white/gray outer finish or factory-applied stripes (field tape alone is not permitted), while for 4 AWG or larger, identification may be made at the time of installation by a distinctive white or gray marking or tape at its terminations.

NEC Handbook, Section 200.6(A)
Equipment Grounding Conductor (EGC) SizingvsGrounding Electrode Conductor (GEC) Sizing

The EGC is sized based on the rating or setting of the automatic overcurrent device ahead of the equipment (NEC Table 250.122), while the GEC is sized based on the largest ungrounded service conductor (NEC Table 250.66).

NEC Handbook, Section 250.122 / Table 250.122
Single-Phase Ampere FormulavsThree-Phase Ampere Formula

For single-phase circuits, I = (kW × 1000) ÷ (E × PF); for three-phase circuits, I = (kW × 1000) ÷ (E × PF × 1.73), where 1.73 (√3) accounts for the three-phase power relationship.

NEC Handbook, Section 220.5(A)
Multiwire Branch Circuit DisconnectvsStandard Branch Circuit Disconnect

A multiwire branch circuit requires a means that simultaneously disconnects all ungrounded conductors at the point of origin (e.g., a 2-pole breaker or handle-tied single-pole breakers), whereas a standard branch circuit may use an individual single-pole breaker.

NEC Handbook, Section 210.4(B)
120/240V Single-Phase Three-Wire Color Codevs277/480V Three-Phase Four-Wire Color Code

In a 120/208V three-phase system, phases are black (A), red (B), blue (C), neutral white/gray; in a 277/480V three-phase system, phases are brown (A), orange (B), yellow (C), neutral gray.

NEC Handbook, Section 210.5(C)
Ampacity Adjustment for 4–6 Conductors in RacewayvsBase Ampacity (≤3 Conductors)

When 4 to 6 current-carrying conductors are in a raceway, ampacity must be reduced to 80% of the table value; with 3 or fewer current-carrying conductors, no adjustment factor is applied.

NEC Handbook, Table 310.15(C)(1)

Key Terms

Main Bonding Jumper NEC Handbook, Article 100 (Definition: Bonding Jumper, Main)
Per NEC Article 100, the connection between the grounded circuit conductor and the equipment grounding conductor at the service.
System Bonding Jumper NEC Handbook, Article 100 (Definition: Bonding Jumper, System)
Per NEC Article 100, the connection between the grounded circuit conductor and the equipment grounding conductor at a separately derived system (not at the service).
Assured Equipment Grounding Conductor Program (OSHA) 29 CFR 1926, §1926.404(b)(1)(i)
Per 29 CFR 1926.404(b)(1)(i), an employer-established program on construction sites that requires documented testing of cord sets, receptacles, and equipment as an alternative to GFCI protection.
Working Space Minimum Headroom (Construction – OSHA) 29 CFR 1926, §1926.403(i)(1)(v)
Per 29 CFR 1926.403(i)(1)(v), the minimum headroom for working spaces about service equipment, switchboards, panelboards, or motor control centers on a construction jobsite is 6 feet 3 inches.
Conductor Splicing Requirements (OSHA Construction) 29 CFR 1926, §1926.403(e)
Per 29 CFR 1926.403(e), conductors on construction sites shall be spliced with splicing devices designed for the use, or by brazing, welding, or soldering with a fusible metal or alloy.
Daily Visual Inspection of Cord Sets (OSHA) 29 CFR 1926, §1926.404(b)(1)(iii)(C)
Per 29 CFR 1926.404(b)(1)(iii)(C), cord sets, attachment caps, plugs, and receptacles must be visually inspected before each day's use for external defects or indications of internal damage.
Pre-Work Determination for Power Lines (OSHA) 29 CFR 1926, §1926.950(d)
Per 29 CFR 1926.950(d), existing characteristics and conditions of electric lines and equipment (including nominal voltages and circuit locations) must be determined before work near them begins.
Rescue Response Time – Fixed Work Locations (OSHA) 29 CFR 1926, §1926.951(b)(2)
Per 29 CFR 1926.951(b)(2), at fixed work locations such as substations, a trained person capable of providing rescue must be able to reach each employee exposed to electric shock within 4 minutes.
Ampacity Base Ambient Temperature NEC Handbook, Section 310.15(B), Table 310.16 notes
Per NEC 310.15(B) and Table 310.16 notes, conductor ampacity values are based on a standard ambient temperature of 30°C (86°F); correction factors apply when ambient differs.
Minimum Service Disconnecting Means Rating (Dwelling) NEC Handbook, Section 230.79(C)
Per NEC 230.79(C), the service disconnecting means for a one-family dwelling shall have a rating of not less than 100 amperes, 3-wire.
Motor Branch-Circuit Conductor Sizing NEC Handbook, Section 430.22(A)
Per NEC 430.22(A), motor branch-circuit conductors must have an ampacity not less than 125% of the motor's full-load current from the applicable NEC table.
Type NM Cable Permitted Uses NEC Handbook, Section 334.10(1)
Per NEC 334.10(1), Type NM cable is permitted in one- and two-family dwellings and their attached or detached garages and storage buildings.
Maximum OCPD for 14 AWG Copper NEC Handbook, Section 240.4(D)
Per NEC 240.4(D), the maximum overcurrent protection permitted for 14 AWG copper conductors is 15 amperes.

Formulas to Know

Single-Phase Amperes (kW known)I = (kW × 1000) ÷ (E × PF)
Three-Phase Amperes (kW known)I = (kW × 1000) ÷ (E × PF × 1.73)
Motor Branch-Circuit Conductor AmpacityConductor ampacity = FLC (from NEC table) × 1.25
Feeder Conductor Ampacity (Multiple Motors)Feeder ampacity = (Largest motor FLC × 1.25) + Sum of all other motors' FLC
Feeder OCPD Rating (Multiple Motors)Feeder OCPD = Largest motor branch-circuit OCPD rating + Sum of all other motors' FLC
Ampacity Adjustment – Conductors in Raceway (4–6 conductors)Adjusted ampacity = Table ampacity × 0.80
Energy Saved by Lamp ReplacementEnergy saved (watts) = Old lamp wattage − New lamp wattage
Voltage Drop (DC or single-phase AC, inductance negligible)VD = (K × I × L) ÷ CM [K = 12.9 for copper at 75°C; K = 21.2 for aluminum at 75°C]
Feeder Continuous Load Conductor SizingMin conductor ampacity = Noncontinuous load + (Continuous load × 1.25)
Grounded Conductor / Bonding Jumper Minimum Area (supply conductors > 1100 kcmil Cu)Min area = Largest ungrounded supply conductor area × 0.125 (12.5%)