South Carolina Fire Alarm Contractor Examination

Ohm's law states that current (I) equals which relationship of voltage (V) and resistance (R)?

• AI = V × R
• BI = V / R
• CI = R / V
• DI = V² / R

What is the SI unit of electrical resistance?

• AAmpere
• BVolt
• COhm
• DWatt

Per the 2020 NEC, which conductor identification is required for an equipment grounding conductor?

• AWhite or gray insulation only
• BBlack, red, or blue insulation
• CGreen, green with a yellow stripe, or bare copper
• DOrange insulation

Which 2020 NEC article covers the installation of wiring and equipment for fire alarm systems?

• AArticle 250
• BArticle 300
• CArticle 725
• DArticle 760

What is the primary purpose of an overcurrent protective device on a branch circuit?

• ATo improve power factor
• BTo protect conductors and equipment from excessive current
• CTo convert AC to DC
• DTo reduce voltage drop on long runs

Per NEC 2020 Table 110.26(A)(1), what is the minimum depth of working space in front of 120/240-volt equipment under Condition 1 (exposed live parts on one side and no live or grounded parts on the other side)?

• A2 feet
• B3 feet
• C3 feet 6 inches
• D4 feet

Per NEC 2020 240.4(D), unless specifically permitted otherwise, what is the maximum overcurrent protection for a 14 AWG copper conductor?

• A10 amperes
• B15 amperes
• C20 amperes
• D25 amperes

Per the 2020 NEC, a grounded (neutral) conductor 6 AWG or smaller is generally identified by which insulation color?

• AGreen or bare
• BWhite or gray
• CBlack or red
• DYellow or orange

What is the purpose of lockout/tagout before working on a fire-alarm power circuit?

• ATo increase available fault current
• BTo prevent unexpected re-energizing of the circuit while work is performed
• CTo satisfy battery-sizing requirements in NFPA 72
• DTo identify the circuit as a Class 2 power-limited circuit

In a series circuit, which quantity is the same through every component?

• AVoltage drop
• BPower dissipation
• CCurrent
• DResistance

In a parallel circuit, which quantity is the same across every branch?

• ACurrent
• BVoltage
• CResistance
• DWattage

A 24-volt DC notification-appliance circuit supplies a resistive load of 80 ohms. What is the circuit current?

• A0.20 A
• B0.30 A
• C0.80 A
• D3.33 A

A 24-volt appliance draws 150 mA. What is its power consumption?

• A0.16 W
• B1.6 W
• C3.6 W
• D36 W

The single-phase voltage-drop formula VD = (2 × K × I × L) / CM uses which constant K for copper conductors at typical exam temperature?

• A8.6
• B12.9
• C21.2
• D30.0

Per NEC 2020 314.16(B), what conductor volume allowance is required for each 14 AWG conductor in a box-fill calculation?

• A1.50 cubic inches
• B1.75 cubic inches
• C2.00 cubic inches
• D2.25 cubic inches

Per NEC 2020 110.26(A)(2), the width of the working space in front of electrical equipment must be the width of the equipment or which minimum, whichever is greater?

• A18 inches
• B24 inches
• C30 inches
• D36 inches

Per NEC 2020 110.26(E)(1), the dedicated equipment space above indoor switchboards, switchgear, panelboards, and motor control centers extends from the top of the equipment to a structural ceiling or which height, whichever is lower?

• A3 feet
• B4 feet
• C6 feet
• D8 feet

Using NEC 2020 Table 310.16, what is the 60°C ampacity of a 12 AWG copper conductor?

• A15 amperes
• B20 amperes
• C25 amperes
• D30 amperes

A continuity test of a conductor is primarily used to determine which condition?

• AInsulation resistance to ground in megohms
• BWhether the conductor path is electrically complete (low resistance)
• CAvailable fault current at the panel
• DPower factor of the connected load

A transformer has 240 volts on the primary and 24 volts on the secondary. If the primary has 200 turns, how many secondary turns are required for an ideal transformer?

• A10 turns
• B20 turns
• C200 turns
• D2,000 turns

A ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is intended to protect people from which hazard?

• AOverload heating of conductors
• BShock from a ground-fault current returning through a person
• CUndervoltage brownouts
• DLightning-induced surges on a signaling line circuit

In NEC terminology, bonding is best described as which action?

• AConnecting to earth to dissipate lightning exclusively
• BElectrically connecting metallic parts to establish continuity and conductivity
• CSizing a transformer secondary for 24 volts
• DIdentifying a conductor with white insulation

For the same line-to-line voltage and current, a balanced three-phase circuit delivers how much more power than a single-phase circuit?

• AThe same power
• B1.414 times the single-phase power
• C1.732 times the single-phase power
• D3 times the single-phase power

Per NEC 2020 210.19(A) and 210.20(A), branch-circuit conductors and overcurrent devices for a continuous load must be sized at not less than what percentage of the continuous load?

• A100 percent
• B115 percent
• C125 percent
• D150 percent

A 12 AWG copper branch circuit supplies a 10-ampere load 75 feet from the panel. Using VD = (2 × K × I × L) / CM with K = 12.9 and CM = 6,530, what is the one-way circuit voltage drop?

• A1.48 V
• B2.96 V
• C4.44 V
• D5.92 V

Two 24-ohm resistors are connected in parallel, and that combination is placed in series with a 12-ohm resistor. What is the total resistance?

• A12 ohms
• B24 ohms
• C36 ohms
• D60 ohms

A conductor carrying 2.0 A has a total loop resistance of 1.5 ohms. How much power is dissipated as heat in that wiring?

• A1.5 W
• B3.0 W
• C6.0 W
• D4.5 W

A device box contains four 14 AWG circuit conductors, one 14 AWG equipment grounding conductor, one internal cable clamp, and one wiring device (yoke). What is the minimum box volume required by NEC 2020 314.16?

• A12.00 cubic inches
• B14.00 cubic inches
• C16.00 cubic inches
• D18.00 cubic inches

A series loop has a 24.0 V source, a 10-ohm resistor dropping 6.0 V, and a second resistor R2. What is the voltage across R2?

• A6.0 V
• B12.0 V
• C18.0 V
• D24.0 V

NEC 2020 Informational Notes to 210.19(A) and 215.2(A) recommend that the total voltage drop on feeder plus branch circuit conductors not exceed which value under load?

• A2 percent
• B3 percent
• C5 percent
• D10 percent

Most modern protected-premises fire-alarm initiating and notification circuits operate at which nominal voltage?

• A12 V AC
• B24 V DC
• C48 V AC
• D120 V DC

Under NEC 2020 Article 760, a power-limited fire alarm (PLFA) circuit is one that is powered by which type of source?

• AAny 120-volt branch circuit without further limitation
• BA listed power supply with output limited in accordance with Chapter 9, Tables 12(A) and…
• CA non-power-limited source operating at not more than 600 volts
• DAn unlisted Class 1 transformer

Which power-limited fire-alarm cable type is listed for use in ducts, plenums, and other spaces used for environmental air?

• AType FPL
• BType FPLR
• CType FPLP
• DType CM

Per NEC 2020 760.25, what must be done with accessible portions of abandoned fire-alarm cable?

• AThey may remain if painted red
• BThey shall be removed
• CThey shall be reclassified as Class 2 cable
• DThey shall be connected to an end-of-line resistor

On a conventional Class B initiating-device or notification-appliance circuit, where is the end-of-line (EOL) device installed?

• AAt the fire-alarm control unit only
• BAt the first device on the circuit
• CAcross the last device on the circuit
• DAt every device on the circuit

NEC Article 725 Class 2 circuits are characterized by which feature?

• AUnlimited energy with 600-volt insulation
• BPower limited so that the source energy is inherently restricted for fire and shock prote…
• CMandatory GFCI protection on every outlet
• DUse only of Type AC armored cable

Why must polarity be observed when connecting polarized notification appliances on a 24 V DC NAC?

• APolarity has no effect on DC notification appliances
• BReversed polarity can prevent the appliance from operating or can defeat supervision
• CReversed polarity increases candela output
• DPolarity is required only on 120 V AC horns

Per NEC 2020 760.41(B) and 760.121(B), the branch circuit supplying fire-alarm equipment shall supply which loads?

• AThe fire-alarm equipment and any convenient receptacle loads
• BNo other loads
• CLighting in the electrical room only
• DHVAC controls on the same floor

Per NEC 2020 300.11 and 760.24, fire-alarm cables in a suspended-ceiling space shall be supported by which method?

• ADraped over the ceiling grid tees
• BTied to the ceiling-grid support wires that carry the finished ceiling
• CIndependently supported by the building structure so the cable is not damaged by normal b…
• DLaid on top of HVAC ductwork without fasteners

Which statement correctly ranks power-limited fire-alarm cable substitutions from highest (most fire-resistant listing) to lowest?

• AFPL, then FPLR, then FPLP
• BFPLP, then FPLR, then FPL
• CFPLR, then FPLP, then FPL
• DFPL and FPLR are interchangeable in plenums

Per NEC 2020 760.41(B) and 760.121(B), the fire-alarm equipment branch circuit shall not be supplied through which protective devices?

• AStandard inverse-time circuit breakers
• BGround-fault circuit interrupters or arc-fault circuit interrupters
• CFuses of the correct ampere rating
• DA lockable disconnect

Per NEC 2020 760.41(B) and 760.121(B), how shall the fire-alarm circuit disconnecting means be identified?

• AWith blue identification and the words POWER LIMITED
• BWith red identification, accessible only to qualified personnel, and marked FIRE ALARM CI…
• CWith a handwritten sticker of any color
• DNo special identification is required if the panel schedule lists it

Per NEC 2020 760.136 and 760.139, power-limited fire-alarm conductors generally shall not be placed in the same cable, cable tray, enclosure, or raceway with which conductors, unless a listed barrier or other permitted separation is provided?

• AOther PLFA conductors of the same system
• BElectric light, power, Class 1, and non-power-limited fire-alarm conductors
• COptical fiber cables in a listed composite assembly
• DCommunications conductors that are also power-limited

A Class B notification-appliance circuit that uses an end-of-line resistor will indicate a trouble signal for which field condition?

• AA single open in the circuit conductors
• BA properly terminated last device with the EOL in place
• CNormal standby current through the EOL
• DCorrect polarity at every appliance

T-tapping (a branch splice off the main run) is generally acceptable only on which fire-alarm pathway class?

• AClass A
• BClass B
• CClass X
• DAll pathway classes equally