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Troubleshooting & System Testing Flashcards

7 cards from real CEP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Troubleshooting & System Testing flashcards as text

  1. A clamp-on ammeter reads zero current on a single-phase 120V circuit that should be energized. What is the most likely cause?

    Answer: The clamp is placed around both conductors simultaneously

    Clamping around both the hot and neutral conductors cancels the magnetic fields, resulting in a net zero reading even when current is flowing.

  2. When performing a megohmmeter test on motor windings, a reading of 1 MΩ at 1000V DC after one minute is generally considered:

    Answer: Marginal — further analysis or drying may be required

    The general rule of thumb is 1 MΩ per kilovolt of rated voltage plus 1 MΩ; a 1 MΩ reading is at the minimum acceptable threshold and warrants further evaluation.

  3. A three-phase induction motor draws excessive current on all three phases but runs slower than rated speed under full load. The most probable cause is:

    Answer: Open rotor bar in a squirrel-cage rotor

    Broken rotor bars cause high slip, reduced speed, and increased stator current draw as the motor attempts to compensate for reduced torque.

  4. During a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) test, pressing the TEST button does not trip the device. The FIRST step a technician should take is:

    Answer: Check for a reversed line and load wiring connection

    A GFCI wired with line and load terminals reversed will power the outlet but the self-test circuit will not function, preventing the TEST button from tripping the device.

  5. A power quality analyzer shows significant 5th and 7th harmonic distortion on a commercial distribution panel. The most likely source is:

    Answer: Variable frequency drives (VFDs) or switch-mode power supplies

    Six-pulse VFDs and switch-mode power supplies are classic generators of 5th and 7th order harmonics due to their rectifier front-end topology.

  6. An arc flash hazard analysis indicates an incident energy level of 42 cal/cm² at the panelboard. A technician must work on energized bus bars. What PPE category is required?

    Answer: No PPE is required above 40 cal/cm² — energized work is prohibited by NFPA 70E

    NFPA 70E 130.7 states that when incident energy exceeds 40 cal/cm², additional PPE requirements apply and energized work may be restricted unless engineered controls reduce the hazard.

  7. A technician uses a digital multimeter to measure continuity on a de-energized 480V three-phase motor feeder. Before testing, the correct safety step is:

    Answer: Verify voltage is absent using a two-probe test with an appropriate CAT III/IV meter

    NFPA 70E requires verifying the absence of voltage with an appropriately rated meter before declaring a circuit safe to work on; an open breaker alone is insufficient proof.