Exam Cheat Sheet · Quick Reference

Tennessee - CE - Electrical Contractor

Tennessee · PROV

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

100

Passing score

73%

Exam time

300 min

Administered by

PROV

Format

Reference materials allowed

Tennessee State Portion 100 questions

General Knowledge and Electrical Installation Requirements 14 Q · 14%

General KnowledgeElectrical Installation Requirements

Building Code Requirements 5 Q · 5%

Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits 10 Q · 10%

ServicesFeedersBranch Circuits

Overcurrent Protection 4 Q · 4%

Grounding and Bonding 10 Q · 10%

GroundingBonding

Conductors and Cables 8 Q · 8%

ConductorsCables

Raceways and Boxes 8 Q · 8%

RacewaysBoxes

Hazardous Locations, Special Occupancies, and Special Equipment 12 Q · 12%

Hazardous LocationsSpecial OccupanciesSpecial Equipment

Low Voltage, Alarms, Signaling Systems, and Communications 7 Q · 7%

Low VoltageAlarmsSignaling SystemsCommunications

Lighting, Signs and General Use Equipment 6 Q · 6%

LightingSignsGeneral Use Equipment

OSHA and NFPA 70E Safety 6 Q · 6%

OSHA SafetyNFPA 70E Safety

Motors, Transformers, and Generators 10 Q · 10%

MotorsTransformersGenerators

Key Distinctions

Nontime Delay Fuse (Single-Phase Motor)vsDual Element (Time-Delay) Fuse (Single-Phase Motor)

Nontime delay fuses are rated at a maximum of 300% of full-load current, while dual element time-delay fuses are rated at a maximum of 175% of full-load current for single-phase motors.

Ugly's Electrical References, Page 38

Inverse Time Breaker (Wound Rotor Motor)vsInstantaneous Trip Breaker (DC Constant Voltage Motor)

An inverse time breaker protecting a wound rotor motor is limited to 150% of full-load current, whereas an instantaneous trip breaker for a DC constant voltage motor is limited to 250% of full-load current.

Ugly's Electrical References, Page 38

NEC 240.4(B) – Next Higher Standard RatingvsNEC 240.4(C) – Over 800-Ampere Devices

Under 240.4(B), the next higher standard overcurrent device rating above conductor ampacity is permitted up to 800 amperes, but under 240.4(C), when the device exceeds 800 amperes, the conductor ampacity must be equal to or greater than the device rating.

National Electrical Code Handbook, Pages 149-150

Emergency Power SystemsvsStandby Power Systems

Emergency power systems transfer within 10 seconds and have more stringent requirements than standby power systems (60-second transfer), and emergency systems are an acceptable alternative where standby systems are required, but not vice versa.

2021 International Building Code, Section 2702.1.7

Capacitor-Start MotorvsResistance-Start (Split-Phase) Motor

A capacitor-start motor uses a capacitor in series with the starting winding to achieve high starting torque, while a resistance-start motor uses a resistance in series with the starting winding and is used where lower starting torque is acceptable.

NEC Handbook, Section 430.7(A)(9)

GFCI Protection Required (Construction Sites)vsGFCI Exception (Small Portable Generators)

All 120V, single-phase, 15- and 20-amp receptacle outlets not part of permanent wiring on construction sites require GFCI protection, except receptacles on two-wire, single-phase portable or vehicle-mounted generators rated not more than 5kW where circuit conductors are insulated from the generator frame.

OSHA 1926 CFR 29, Subpart K, §1926.404(b)(1)(ii)

Cord Sets Exposed to Damage (Testing Interval)vsCord Sets Fixed and Not Exposed to Damage (Testing Interval)

Cord sets and receptacles exposed to damage must be tested at intervals not exceeding 3 months, while those that are fixed and not exposed to damage must be tested at intervals not exceeding 6 months under OSHA's assured equipment grounding conductor program.

OSHA 1926 CFR 29, Subpart K, §1926.404(b)(1)(iii)(E)(4)

Motor Nameplate CurrentvsNEC Table Values (430.247–430.250)

NEC 430.6(A)(1) requires using table values from Tables 430.247–430.250 (not nameplate current) to size branch-circuit conductors and protective devices, while nameplate current is used only for sizing overload protection per 430.6(A)(2).

National Electrical Code Handbook, Page 496, Section 430.6(A)(1)

Class II LocationsvsClass III Locations

Class II locations are subdivided into material groups (E, F, and G), but Class III locations have no material group designations.

National Electrical Code or National Electrical Code Handbook, Page 622

Supplementary Overcurrent ProtectionvsBranch-Circuit Overcurrent Protection

Supplementary overcurrent protection may not be used as a substitute for required branch-circuit overcurrent devices or in place of required branch-circuit protection per NEC 240.10.

National Electrical Code Handbook, Page 151, Section 240.10

White Conductor as Grounded ConductorvsWhite Conductor as Switch Leg (Reidentified)

A white conductor in a cable assembly may be used as a switch leg (ungrounded conductor) only if permanently reidentified at all terminations and visible/accessible locations with a color other than white, gray, or green, and only as the supply to the switch—not as a return conductor.

Nec 2017 Tennessee, Chapter 2, Section 200.7(C)

NEC 240.4(D) – Small Conductor MaximumsvsNEC 240.4(B) – General Next Higher Rating Rule

NEC 240.4(D) sets absolute maximum overcurrent ratings for small conductors (e.g., 15A for 14 AWG, 20A for 12 AWG, 10A for 16 AWG copper) regardless of the next-higher-rating permission in 240.4(B).

National Electrical Code Handbook, Page 150

Key Terms

Neutral Conductor Shared Use Prohibition (NEC 200.4(A)) Nec 2017 Tennessee, Chapter 2, Section 200.4(A)

Per NEC 2017 Tennessee Section 200.4(A), neutral conductors shall not be used for more than one branch circuit, multiwire branch circuit, or set of ungrounded feeder conductors unless specifically permitted elsewhere in the Code.

White Conductor Reidentification (NEC 200.7(C)) Nec 2017 Tennessee, Chapter 2, Section 200.7(C)

Per NEC 2017 Tennessee Section 200.7(C)(1), a white conductor in a cable assembly used as an ungrounded conductor must be permanently reidentified at all terminations and visible/accessible locations with a color other than white, gray, or green.

Ampacity Correction Factor Baseline (NEC 310.15(B)) NEC, Section 310.15(B)

Per NEC Section 310.15(B), ampacity correction factors apply whenever ambient temperature differs from the standard baseline of 30°C (86°F).

Ground-Fault Protection of Equipment (NEC 240.13) National Electrical Code Handbook, Page 152

Per NEC 240.13, ground-fault protection is required for solidly grounded wye systems over 150V to ground but not exceeding 1000V phase-to-phase when the main disconnecting means is rated 1000 amperes or more.

Part-Winding Start Motor Protection (NEC 430.4) National Electrical Code Handbook, Page 495, Section 430.4

Per NEC 430.4, each winding connection of a standard part-winding start induction motor shall have branch-circuit short-circuit and ground-fault protection rated at not more than one-half that specified by 430.52.

Adjustable-Trip Circuit Breaker Rating (NEC 240.6(B)) National Electrical Code Handbook, Page 151

Per NEC 240.6(B), an adjustable-trip circuit breaker with external means for adjusting current setting but without restricted access shall have its rating determined by the maximum setting possible.

Tap Conductor (NEC 240.2) National Electrical Code Handbook, Page 148, Section 240.2

Per NEC Article 240 Section 240.2, a tap conductor is a conductor, other than a service conductor, that has overcurrent protection ahead of its point of supply that exceeds the value permitted for similar conductors protected as described in 240.4.

Transformer Secondary Conductor Protection (NEC 240.4(F)) National Electrical Code Handbook, Page 150, Section 240.4(F)

Per NEC 240.4(F), single-phase (other than 2-wire) and multiphase (other than delta-delta, 3-wire) transformer secondary conductors shall not be considered protected by the primary overcurrent protective device.

OSHA Assured Equipment Grounding Conductor Program – Record Keeping OSHA 1926 CFR 29, Subpart K, §1926.404(b)(1)(iii)(G)

Per OSHA 29 CFR 1926.404(b)(1)(iii)(G), test records must identify each receptacle, cord set, and cord- and plug-connected equipment that passed testing and indicate the last date tested or interval, maintained until replaced by a more current record.

OSHA Annual Compliance Inspection (§1926.950(b)(3)) OSHA 1926 CFR 29, Subpart V, §1926.950(b)(3)

Per OSHA 29 CFR 1926.950(b)(3), employers must determine through regular supervision and inspections conducted on at least an annual basis (not semi-annual) that each employee complies with required safety-related work practices.

Motor Starting Current Ugly's Electrical References, Page 41

Motors have large starting currents three to five times or more than actual running current, which is why motor branch-circuit conductors are permitted to be protected by overcurrent devices rated higher than the actual motor ampere rating.

GFCI Requirement on Construction Sites (OSHA §1926.404(b)(1)(ii)) OSHA 1926 CFR 29, Subpart K, §1926.404(b)(1)(ii)

Per OSHA 29 CFR 1926.404(b)(1)(ii), all 120V, single-phase, 15- and 20-amp receptacle outlets on construction sites not part of permanent wiring and in use by employees must have approved ground-fault circuit interrupters for personnel protection.

Minimum Working Space – Switchboards/MCCs (OSHA §1926.403(i)(1)(iv)) OSHA 1926 CFR 29, Subpart K, §1926.403(i)(1)(iv)

Per OSHA 29 CFR 1926.403(i)(1)(iv), working space in front of switchboards or motor control centers with normally exposed live parts on the front shall not be less than 3 feet.

Enclosed Space Atmosphere Testing (OSHA §1926.953(j)) OSHA 1926 CFR 29, Subpart V, §1926.953(j)

Per OSHA 29 CFR 1926.953(j), before an employee enters an enclosed space (such as an underground vault), the atmosphere must be tested for oxygen deficiency with a direct-reading meter capable of immediate on-site analysis.

Formulas to Know

Motor Branch-Circuit Conductor Size (Feeder)Feeder ampacity = (125% × largest motor FLC) + sum of all other motor FLCs

Motor Branch-Circuit Protection – Nontime Delay Fuse (Single-Phase / Polyphase Design B)

Max fuse size = FLC × 300%; if result is not a standard size, round UP to next standard size per Table 240.6(A), not to exceed code limits

Motor Branch-Circuit Protection – Dual Element (Time-Delay) Fuse (Single-Phase)Max fuse size = FLC × 175%

Motor Branch-Circuit Protection – Inverse Time Breaker (Wound Rotor)Max breaker size = FLC × 150%

Motor Branch-Circuit Protection – Instantaneous Trip Breaker (DC Constant Voltage)Max breaker size = FLC × 250%

Part-Winding Start Motor – Branch-Circuit Protection Per WindingMax protection per winding = (value from 430.52) × 50% (i.e., ÷ 2)

Overcurrent Protection – Small Conductors (NEC 240.4(D))

14 AWG Cu → max 15A; 12 AWG Cu → max 20A; 10 AWG Cu → max 30A; 16 AWG Cu → max 10A; 10 AWG Al/Cu-clad Al → max 25A

Next Higher Standard OCPD Rating Rule (NEC 240.4(B) vs 240.4(C))

If OCPD ≤ 800A: next higher standard rating is permitted if conductor ampacity is not already a standard rating; if OCPD > 800A: conductor ampacity ≥ OCPD rating (no rounding up allowed)

Start free practice Full study guide