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

Passing score

Exam time

240 min

Administered by

PSI Services Contractor

Format

Reference materials allowed

Texas State Portion 80 questions

Definiciones, Cálculos y Teoría 10 Q · 12%

Servicios Eléctricos, Equipos de Servicio y Sistemas Derivados Separadamente 8 Q · 10%

Alimentadores Eléctricos 3 Q · 4%

Cálculos de Circuitos Ramales y Conductores 10 Q · 12%

Métodos de Cableado Eléctrico y Materiales Eléctricos 6 Q · 8%

Equipos y Dispositivos Eléctricos 8 Q · 10%

Motores 1 Q · 1%

Dispositivos de Control Eléctrico y Medios de Desconexión 3 Q · 4%

Letreros Eléctricos e Iluminación de Contorno 31 Q · 39%

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.

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