NEW MEXICO (NM) EL-1J
JOURNEYMAN ELECTRICAL
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS,
INCLUDING TRANSMISSION LINES
EXAM 200 QUESTIONS | VERIFIED
ANSWERS & DETAILED SOLUTIONS
(2026 EDITION)
DOMAIN 1: GENERAL ELECTRICAL KNOWLEDGE (Questions 1–20)
1. What is the typical voltage range for primary distribution systems in the
United States?
A) 120–240 V
B) 600–1,000 V
C) 4 kV–35 kV
D) 69 kV–500 kV
Answer: C
Rationale: Primary distribution usually operates between 4 kV and 35 kV.
Transmission voltages are higher, and secondary distribution is lower.
2. In a purely resistive AC circuit, the relationship between voltage and
current is:
A) Current lags voltage by 90°
B) Current leads voltage by 90°
C) Zero current
D) In phase with voltage
Answer: D
,Rationale: In a purely resistive circuit, voltage and current rise and fall
together (in phase), with no phase shift.
3. What happens to line current in a purely inductive AC circuit?
A) Lags voltage by 90°
B) Leads voltage by 90°
C) In phase with voltage
D) Is zero
Answer: A
Rationale: In a purely inductive load, current lags voltage by 90 electrical
degrees because the inductor resists changes in current.
4. Which of the following is the correct formula for calculating power in an
electrical circuit?
A) P = V × I
B) P = V / I
C) P = I / V
D) P = V² / R
Answer: A
Rationale: The basic formula for electrical power is P = V × I (Watts = Volts
× Amps). P = V²/R is also correct, but the most fundamental is P=V×I.
5. A circuit has a voltage of 240 V and a current of 12 A. What is the power?
A) 28.8 W
B) 2.88 kW
C) 20 W
D) 288 W
Answer: B
*Rationale: P = V × I = 240 × 12 = 2,880 W = 2.88 kW.*
6. Ohm's Law is correctly expressed as:
A) V = R × P
,B) V = I × R
C) I = P × V
D) R = V × I
Answer: B
Rationale: Ohm's Law states that Voltage (V) equals Current (I) multiplied
by Resistance (R).
7. What is the formula for three-phase power?
A) P = V × I
B) P = I² × R
C) P = √3 × V × I × PF
D) P = V² / R
Answer: C
*Rationale: Three-phase real power (watts) requires the √3 multiplier: P =
√3 × V(LL) × I × Power Factor.*
8. In an AC circuit, real power is measured in:
A) Volt-Amperes (VA)
B) Watts (W)
C) Vars
D) Joules
Answer: B
Rationale: Real power consumed by a load is measured in Watts (W) or
kilowatts (kW). Volt-Amperes (VA) is apparent power.
9. Which harmonic order is most likely to be amplified by a three-phase
transformer due to its magnetic characteristics?
A) 3rd
B) 5th
C) 7th
, D) 9th
Answer: A
Rationale: The 3rd harmonic is a triplen harmonic that sums in the neutral
of a wye-connected transformer, often causing amplification.
10. What does “cold load pickup” refer to in distribution systems?
A) High current demand when re-energizing after outage
B) Transformers freezing in winter
C) Overheated conductor sagging
D) Load balancing during storms
Answer: A
Rationale: After an outage, motors and heating loads restart together,
causing a surge current called cold load pickup.
11. A facility has a low power factor. This is most likely caused by:
A) Insufficient resistive loads
B) Insufficient inductive loads
C) Excessive resistive loads
D) Lack of a synchronous condenser
Answer: A
Rationale: Low power factor is most often caused by an excess of inductive
loads (motors) relative to resistive loads, not by a lack of a synchronous
condenser.
12. The power factor of an incandescent light bulb would be:
A) Unity
B) 0.7 leading
C) 0.7 lagging
D) Zero
Answer: A
JOURNEYMAN ELECTRICAL
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS,
INCLUDING TRANSMISSION LINES
EXAM 200 QUESTIONS | VERIFIED
ANSWERS & DETAILED SOLUTIONS
(2026 EDITION)
DOMAIN 1: GENERAL ELECTRICAL KNOWLEDGE (Questions 1–20)
1. What is the typical voltage range for primary distribution systems in the
United States?
A) 120–240 V
B) 600–1,000 V
C) 4 kV–35 kV
D) 69 kV–500 kV
Answer: C
Rationale: Primary distribution usually operates between 4 kV and 35 kV.
Transmission voltages are higher, and secondary distribution is lower.
2. In a purely resistive AC circuit, the relationship between voltage and
current is:
A) Current lags voltage by 90°
B) Current leads voltage by 90°
C) Zero current
D) In phase with voltage
Answer: D
,Rationale: In a purely resistive circuit, voltage and current rise and fall
together (in phase), with no phase shift.
3. What happens to line current in a purely inductive AC circuit?
A) Lags voltage by 90°
B) Leads voltage by 90°
C) In phase with voltage
D) Is zero
Answer: A
Rationale: In a purely inductive load, current lags voltage by 90 electrical
degrees because the inductor resists changes in current.
4. Which of the following is the correct formula for calculating power in an
electrical circuit?
A) P = V × I
B) P = V / I
C) P = I / V
D) P = V² / R
Answer: A
Rationale: The basic formula for electrical power is P = V × I (Watts = Volts
× Amps). P = V²/R is also correct, but the most fundamental is P=V×I.
5. A circuit has a voltage of 240 V and a current of 12 A. What is the power?
A) 28.8 W
B) 2.88 kW
C) 20 W
D) 288 W
Answer: B
*Rationale: P = V × I = 240 × 12 = 2,880 W = 2.88 kW.*
6. Ohm's Law is correctly expressed as:
A) V = R × P
,B) V = I × R
C) I = P × V
D) R = V × I
Answer: B
Rationale: Ohm's Law states that Voltage (V) equals Current (I) multiplied
by Resistance (R).
7. What is the formula for three-phase power?
A) P = V × I
B) P = I² × R
C) P = √3 × V × I × PF
D) P = V² / R
Answer: C
*Rationale: Three-phase real power (watts) requires the √3 multiplier: P =
√3 × V(LL) × I × Power Factor.*
8. In an AC circuit, real power is measured in:
A) Volt-Amperes (VA)
B) Watts (W)
C) Vars
D) Joules
Answer: B
Rationale: Real power consumed by a load is measured in Watts (W) or
kilowatts (kW). Volt-Amperes (VA) is apparent power.
9. Which harmonic order is most likely to be amplified by a three-phase
transformer due to its magnetic characteristics?
A) 3rd
B) 5th
C) 7th
, D) 9th
Answer: A
Rationale: The 3rd harmonic is a triplen harmonic that sums in the neutral
of a wye-connected transformer, often causing amplification.
10. What does “cold load pickup” refer to in distribution systems?
A) High current demand when re-energizing after outage
B) Transformers freezing in winter
C) Overheated conductor sagging
D) Load balancing during storms
Answer: A
Rationale: After an outage, motors and heating loads restart together,
causing a surge current called cold load pickup.
11. A facility has a low power factor. This is most likely caused by:
A) Insufficient resistive loads
B) Insufficient inductive loads
C) Excessive resistive loads
D) Lack of a synchronous condenser
Answer: A
Rationale: Low power factor is most often caused by an excess of inductive
loads (motors) relative to resistive loads, not by a lack of a synchronous
condenser.
12. The power factor of an incandescent light bulb would be:
A) Unity
B) 0.7 leading
C) 0.7 lagging
D) Zero
Answer: A
