Sophomore Electrical Final

2026 Electrical Final Study Flashcards

Hot

Ungrounded conductor, the wire carrying power, usually black or red

Neutral

Grounded Conductor - the white wire coming from power 

Switch Leg

The wire that goes from the switch to whatever it controls. NEVER WHITE 

Homerun

The wire going back to the fuse or circuit breaker panel

Single Pole

120 volt circuit - switch or circuit breaker that opens and closes one hot conductor  

Double Pole

240 volt circuit - switch or circuit breaker that opens and closes two hot conductors  

Bedroom (wire size, amp current, volts, circuit breaker)

Size 14, 15 amp, 120 volts, arc fault

Den (wire size, amp current, volts, circuit breaker)

Size 14, 15 amp, 120 volt, arc fault

Living Room (wire size, amp current, volts, circuit breaker)

Size 14, 15 amp, 120 volts, arc fault

Heating System (wire size, amp current, volts, circuit breaker)

Size 14, 15 amp, 120 volts, arc fault

All Lighting (wire size, amp current, volts, circuit breaker)

Size 14, 15 amp, 120 volts, arc fault

Kitchen (wire size, amp current, volts, circuit breaker)

Size 12, 20 amp, 120 volts, arc fault gfci

Bathroom (wire size, amp current, volts, circuit breaker)

Size 12, 20 amp, 120 volts, arc fault gfci

Dining Room (wire size, amp current, volts, circuit breaker)

Size 12, 20 amp, 120 volts, arc fault

Garage (wire size, amp current, volts, circuit breaker)

Size 12, 20 amp, 120 volts, arc fault gfci

Laundry Room (wire size, amp current, volts, circuit breaker)

Size 12, 20 amp, 120 volts, arc fault gfci

Electric Dryer (wire size, amp current, volts, circuit breaker)

Size 10-3, 30 amp, 240 volts, double pole

Electric Stove (wire size, amp current, volts, circuit breaker)

Size 6-3, 50 amp, 240 volts, double pole

Size 8 wire

40 amps

Size 6 wire

60 amps

Size 2 wire

100 amps

Receptacle Mounting Height

14” to the bottom of the box

Switch Box Mounting Height

44” to the bottom of the box

Counter Top Receptacle Mounting Height

44” to the bottom of the box

Gas Stove Receptacle Mounting Height

30” to the bottom of the box

Washer Machine Receptacle Mounting Height

48” to the bottom of the box

Gas and Electric Receptacles Mounting Height

48” to the bottom of the box

Single Receptacles used for…

Fridge, Microwave, Gas Stove, and Dishwasher

Multi Wire Branch Circuit

When a three wire is used for home run. The black is one circuit and red is a different circuit, they “share” the neutral.

GFCI receptacle

Needed in wet locations

Split Wired Rec

Half the rec is live and the other half is controlled by a switch

Outside Rec (Article 210.52d)

One in front and one in back house (Deck higher than 6 and a half feet don’t count). Must be tamper resistant, weather resistant, and GFCI protected.

5 rules for wiring a 3 way switch

1. Light gets a neutral

2. Switch NEVER get a neutral

3. One common gets a feed

4. Other common gets a switch leg

5. Travelers stay the same

3 way switch

Common must be identified. Always used in pairs. Ex. top and bottom of stairs, hallways. Must be connected by a three wire cable.

4 way switch

Never gets a feed or switch leg Travlers only

6 and 12 foot rule

The first rec must be within 6 feet from the door or break in the wall and no further than 12 feet apart. (any wall that is two or more feet long needs a receptacle.

The 6 and 12 foot rule applies to all rooms except…

Bathrooms, kitchens, hallways, garages and laundry rooms

Bathroom rec must be installed…

3 feet from sinks

Kitchen 2 and 4 foot rule

The first rec must be 2 feet from edge of the counter, sink, or break in the counter and within 4 feet. Counter 12 or more inches need a rec.

Hallway Rec Requirements

hallways ten feet or more require one rec

Garage Rec Requirements

One rec required in the middle of every stall

Laundry Room Rec Requirements

One rec required to supply laundry equipment

Base Price Formula

Square ft x $10,000 (L x W x # floors x $10,000)

The amount of SEU stripped at weatherhead

3 feet

The eye bolt is install this far under the weather head

6-12”

Overhead service - the most common point of attachment height

12 feet

Must have a two hole clip within ———- inches from weather head and meter socket and no more than ————- inches apart

12 and 30

where are two hole clips installed

bottom of shingle

Meter socket installation

4 and 6 feet of the center of the meter socket.

With an overhead service this must be installed in the

A whole house surge protector

The length of ground rods

8 feet

Minimum distance ground rods would be apart

6 feet

Anytime you dig or drive anything into the ground you must

Call DIG SAFE

For an underground service the trench must be digged

18 inches to the top of the PVC pipe, under driveways is 30 inches

What are the PVC schedule thicknesses

20-thin, 40, 80-thick

Expansion Couplet

Needed when PVC come out of the ground

Where the PVC comes out of the ground and up the pole this schedule is needed

Schedule 80

Thermostat mounting height

5 feet

How many zone valves per transformer

No more than 3