Journeyman Electrician's GFCI and AFCI Protection Flashcards
7 cards from real Journeyman Electrician’s Exam practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Journeyman Electrician's GFCI and AFCI Protection flashcards as text
A GFCI receptacle with downstream outlets connected to its LOAD terminals protects those outlets because:
Answer: The GFCI monitors current imbalance between hot and neutral across the entire load circuit
The GFCI's sensing coil monitors the current flowing out on the hot versus returning on the neutral; any imbalance caused by a downstream ground fault triggers the trip.
Per NEC 210.8, GFCI protection is NOT required for which of the following receptacle installations?
Answer: A 240-volt, 30-ampere dryer receptacle
NEC 210.8 specifically applies to 125-volt, single-phase, 15 and 20-ampere receptacles; a 240-volt dryer receptacle is outside the scope of this GFCI requirement.
When an AFCI circuit breaker cannot be installed at the panel, what alternative does NEC 210.12 permit to satisfy the AFCI requirement?
Answer: A listed AFCI outlet device installed at the first outlet of the branch circuit
NEC 210.12 allows a listed AFCI outlet device at the first outlet when the panel cannot accommodate an AFCI breaker, provided the wiring from the panel to that outlet is in metal conduit or armored cable.
Which of the following is an example of a series arc fault that an AFCI is designed to detect?
Answer: A loose terminal connection creating intermittent arcing in series with the load
A series arc fault occurs when a broken or loose conductor creates intermittent arcing at a connection point in series with the circuit, detected by the AFCI's waveform analysis.
GFCI protection for personnel is required at construction sites for temporary receptacles. This requirement is found in which NEC article?
Answer: Article 590
NEC Article 590 covers temporary wiring installations, including the requirement for GFCI protection at construction sites for all 120-volt, single-phase, 15, 20, and 30-ampere receptacles.
Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding AFCI protection and GFCI protection in a dwelling unit?
Answer: They are independent requirements; a circuit location may require both simultaneously
AFCI and GFCI protect against different hazards (fire from arcing vs. shock from ground faults), so a circuit may need both; dual-function AFCI/GFCI devices are available to satisfy both requirements.
What is the maximum acceptable current imbalance between the hot and neutral conductors that a GFCI will tolerate before tripping?
Answer: 4–6 mA
GFCI devices trip when the current imbalance between hot and neutral reaches 4–6 mA (rated at 5 mA), which is below the level known to cause ventricular fibrillation.