CHI Electrical Systems Inspection 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of an arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) breaker?
- To protect against ground faults in wet locations
- To detect dangerous arcing conditions that can cause fires (Correct answer)
- To limit current draw to 15 amps on all circuits
- To replace GFCI protection in bathrooms
Correct answer: To detect dangerous arcing conditions that can cause fires
AFCI breakers detect the electrical signature of arc faults—unintended arcing in wiring—and trip the circuit to prevent fires.
Question 2: A home inspector finds a 240-volt dryer circuit protected by a 60-amp breaker with 10 AWG wire. What is the deficiency?
- The breaker is too small for a dryer circuit
- The wire is undersized for a 60-amp overcurrent device (Correct answer)
- 240-volt dryers require GFCI protection
- Dryer circuits must use aluminum wiring only
Correct answer: The wire is undersized for a 60-amp overcurrent device
10 AWG copper wire is rated for 30 amps maximum; a 60-amp breaker provides inadequate overcurrent protection for this conductor.
Question 3: Which location requires GFCI protection for receptacles under current NEC requirements?
- Bedroom circuits in homes built after 2000
- All 125-volt receptacles within 6 feet of a kitchen sink (Correct answer)
- Dedicated circuits for refrigerators
- Living room receptacles on exterior walls
Correct answer: All 125-volt receptacles within 6 feet of a kitchen sink
The NEC requires GFCI protection for receptacles within 6 feet of kitchen sinks to protect against shock from water contact.
Question 4: A home inspector observes open knockouts in the bottom of an electrical panel. What is the primary safety concern?
- Water can enter and corrode bus bars
- Rodents or pests can enter and damage wiring
- Both pest intrusion and loss of the panel's required enclosure integrity (Correct answer)
- The panel cannot be rated as weatherproof
Correct answer: Both pest intrusion and loss of the panel's required enclosure integrity
Open knockouts compromise the panel's enclosure, allowing pest entry and contact with live conductors, and creating a shock and fire hazard.
Question 5: What does the inspector look for to confirm that a 3-wire (black, white, red) multi-wire branch circuit is wired correctly?
- All three conductors should be on the same phase leg
- The two hot conductors should be on opposite phase legs with a shared neutral (Correct answer)
- The white conductor must be re-identified with red tape
- A dedicated 30-amp breaker protects all three wires
Correct answer: The two hot conductors should be on opposite phase legs with a shared neutral
A multi-wire branch circuit requires the two hots to be on opposite legs so the shared neutral carries only the imbalance current, not a doubled load.
Question 6: In which situation is it acceptable for a home inspector to find a non-metallic sheathed cable (Romex) stapled too tightly?
- When the cable runs through a conduit
- It is never acceptable — over-stapling can damage insulation and conductors (Correct answer)
- Only when the cable is 12 AWG or larger
- When the cable is protected by a 20-amp breaker
Correct answer: It is never acceptable — over-stapling can damage insulation and conductors
Over-stapling compresses the cable sheathing and conductor insulation, which can damage wiring integrity and create a potential fault hazard.
Question 7: A home inspector finds a junction box hidden inside a wall with no accessible cover plate. What should be reported?
- The box is acceptable if the connections inside are made with wire nuts
- Junction boxes must remain accessible and have a cover plate per NEC (Correct answer)
- The box is fine if the wall material is non-combustible
- Only outdoor junction boxes require cover plates
Correct answer: Junction boxes must remain accessible and have a cover plate per NEC
The NEC requires all junction boxes to be accessible and covered to allow inspection and prevent contact with live connections.
CHI Electrical Systems Inspection 3
What is the purpose of an arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) breaker?