Page 1 of 121
New Mexico (NM) EL‑1J Journeyman Electrical Distribution Systems,
including Transmission Lines Exam COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
DETAILED SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR-JUST RELEASED
NM EL-1J Exam – Short High-Yield Point Form Coverage
• OSHA safety, NFPA 70E basics, PPE, arc flash/shock hazards
• Minimum Approach Distances (MAD) and live-line work precautions
• Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), clearances, tagging, switching orders, dispatch communication
• Temporary protective grounding, equipotential zones, induced voltage hazards
• Step and touch potential hazards, grounding system importance
• Bucket truck safety, pole climbing, fall protection, confined space vault/manhole safety
• Ohm’s Law, power formulas, single/three-phase systems, kW/kVA, power factor
• Voltage drop, ampacity, load balancing, neutral current issues and harmonics
• Fault current concepts and equipment interrupting ratings
• Protective coordination: fuses, cutouts, reclosers, sectionalizers, breakers
• Overhead conductors (AAC/ACSR), sag and tension, stringing practices
• Poles/structures: setting depth, guying/anchors, crossarms, clearance rules (NESC)
• Underground distribution: URD cable, concentric neutral, pulling limits, bending radius
• Splicing/terminations: cleaning, oxide removal, stress control, elbow terminations
• Cable testing: megger/hi-pot basics, fault locating methods (TDR/fault locator)
• Transformers: delta/wye, open-delta, polarity testing, tap settings, grounding/bonding
• Regulators and capacitor banks: voltage control, PF correction, troubleshooting
• Surge arresters and lightning protection, grounding quality checks
• Transmission basics: insulator strings, shield wire/OPGW, vibration dampers/spacers
• Troubleshooting: open neutral symptoms, overheating connections, high-resistance faults
• Storm restoration priorities, downed conductor procedures, safe re-energization checks
, Page 2 of 121
1.
A crew is preparing to work on an overhead distribution line reported de-energized. What must be
verified first?
A) That the customer requested the outage
B) That the conductor insulation looks intact
C) Absence of voltage using approved testing methods and proper PPE
D) That the pole is properly painted and numbered
Answer: C
Rationale: A line must always be tested and verified de-energized before work begins to prevent fatal
shock.
2.
During switching, a journeyman notices a possible backfeed source from a customer generator. What is
the best action?
A) Continue switching because backfeed is unlikely
B) Stop and verify isolation, including customer generation, before grounding and work
C) Assume reclosers will trip and protect the crew
D) Ignore it and rely only on rubber gloves
, Page 3 of 121
Answer: B
Rationale: Backfeed can energize “dead” lines, so all sources must be isolated and verified before
grounding.
3.
A lineman must install a temporary protective ground on a de-energized line. What is the correct order?
A) Connect to phase first, then ground source
B) Connect ground end first, then connect to the conductor using hot-line tools
C) Connect to neutral only and skip the grounding rod
D) Install grounds only after completing the repair
Answer: B
Rationale: Connecting to the ground source first prevents the worker from becoming the path to
ground.
4.
A transformer bank is connected in open-delta configuration. What is a key limitation of this setup?
A) It provides higher capacity than closed-delta
, Page 4 of 121
B) It provides only single-phase service
C) It has reduced kVA capacity compared to a closed-delta bank
D) It eliminates the need for grounding and bonding
Answer: C
Rationale: Open-delta provides three-phase power but at reduced capacity, often about 57.7% of full
delta rating.
5.
A distribution feeder experiences repeated momentary outages during storms. Which device is most
likely responsible for automatic reclosing?
A) Sectionalizer
B) Recloser
C) Pad-mounted transformer
D) Capacitor bank
Answer: B
Rationale: Reclosers open and reclose automatically to clear temporary faults like tree contact.
6.
New Mexico (NM) EL‑1J Journeyman Electrical Distribution Systems,
including Transmission Lines Exam COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
DETAILED SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR-JUST RELEASED
NM EL-1J Exam – Short High-Yield Point Form Coverage
• OSHA safety, NFPA 70E basics, PPE, arc flash/shock hazards
• Minimum Approach Distances (MAD) and live-line work precautions
• Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), clearances, tagging, switching orders, dispatch communication
• Temporary protective grounding, equipotential zones, induced voltage hazards
• Step and touch potential hazards, grounding system importance
• Bucket truck safety, pole climbing, fall protection, confined space vault/manhole safety
• Ohm’s Law, power formulas, single/three-phase systems, kW/kVA, power factor
• Voltage drop, ampacity, load balancing, neutral current issues and harmonics
• Fault current concepts and equipment interrupting ratings
• Protective coordination: fuses, cutouts, reclosers, sectionalizers, breakers
• Overhead conductors (AAC/ACSR), sag and tension, stringing practices
• Poles/structures: setting depth, guying/anchors, crossarms, clearance rules (NESC)
• Underground distribution: URD cable, concentric neutral, pulling limits, bending radius
• Splicing/terminations: cleaning, oxide removal, stress control, elbow terminations
• Cable testing: megger/hi-pot basics, fault locating methods (TDR/fault locator)
• Transformers: delta/wye, open-delta, polarity testing, tap settings, grounding/bonding
• Regulators and capacitor banks: voltage control, PF correction, troubleshooting
• Surge arresters and lightning protection, grounding quality checks
• Transmission basics: insulator strings, shield wire/OPGW, vibration dampers/spacers
• Troubleshooting: open neutral symptoms, overheating connections, high-resistance faults
• Storm restoration priorities, downed conductor procedures, safe re-energization checks
, Page 2 of 121
1.
A crew is preparing to work on an overhead distribution line reported de-energized. What must be
verified first?
A) That the customer requested the outage
B) That the conductor insulation looks intact
C) Absence of voltage using approved testing methods and proper PPE
D) That the pole is properly painted and numbered
Answer: C
Rationale: A line must always be tested and verified de-energized before work begins to prevent fatal
shock.
2.
During switching, a journeyman notices a possible backfeed source from a customer generator. What is
the best action?
A) Continue switching because backfeed is unlikely
B) Stop and verify isolation, including customer generation, before grounding and work
C) Assume reclosers will trip and protect the crew
D) Ignore it and rely only on rubber gloves
, Page 3 of 121
Answer: B
Rationale: Backfeed can energize “dead” lines, so all sources must be isolated and verified before
grounding.
3.
A lineman must install a temporary protective ground on a de-energized line. What is the correct order?
A) Connect to phase first, then ground source
B) Connect ground end first, then connect to the conductor using hot-line tools
C) Connect to neutral only and skip the grounding rod
D) Install grounds only after completing the repair
Answer: B
Rationale: Connecting to the ground source first prevents the worker from becoming the path to
ground.
4.
A transformer bank is connected in open-delta configuration. What is a key limitation of this setup?
A) It provides higher capacity than closed-delta
, Page 4 of 121
B) It provides only single-phase service
C) It has reduced kVA capacity compared to a closed-delta bank
D) It eliminates the need for grounding and bonding
Answer: C
Rationale: Open-delta provides three-phase power but at reduced capacity, often about 57.7% of full
delta rating.
5.
A distribution feeder experiences repeated momentary outages during storms. Which device is most
likely responsible for automatic reclosing?
A) Sectionalizer
B) Recloser
C) Pad-mounted transformer
D) Capacitor bank
Answer: B
Rationale: Reclosers open and reclose automatically to clear temporary faults like tree contact.
6.
