ABYC Marine Electrical Certification - Questions
Answered With Expert Insights
How often (in inches) shall wire bundles be supported? Correct
Answer - Every 18 inches.
What type of clamps are to be used for supporting wire bundles
when routed over engines and machinery? Correct Answer -
Insulated Metallic Hanger Clamps
What tensile force must a 10 Gauge crimp connector withstand for
one minute? Correct Answer - 40 lbs (E-11 Table XV)
What is the max allowed unsupported cable length for battery
cables? Correct Answer - 36 inches
T or F: Running AC and DC conductors together is allowed so long as
the AC conductors are sheathed. Correct Answer - True
The most common electrical circuit problem in marine applications
is:
A. Short circuits
B. Too much continuity
C. Unwanted open
D. Inter circuit Short Correct Answer - C. Unwanted open
The primary by-product of excessive electrical resistance is:
A. Increased Amperage
B. Increased Voltage
C. Reduced Ambient Temperature
D. Heat Correct Answer - D. Heat
One HP = how many watts? Correct Answer - 1 HP = 746 Watts
,What is the preferred tool for tracing shorted and open circuits?
A. Ohm meter
B. Amp clamp
C. Volt meter
D. TDR (time-domain reflectometer) Correct Answer - D. TDR
(time-domain reflectometer)
A technician is installing a cable run from the batteries to the main
DC panel board on a boat as part of a refit. The boat has a 12-volt
system and the distance form the panel to the batteries is 15 ft. The
maximum current draw from the panel is calculated at 90 amps.
What guage cable should be used (minimum)? Correct Answer -
0 AWG
DC grounded conductors on new boats that are also equipped with
AC systems should use what color insulated wire? Correct Answer
- Yellow
What is the smallest guage wire allowed for unsheathed wire runs
through the boat? Correct Answer - 16 AWG
T or F: Compared to deep cycle (house) batteries, cranking batteries
will have thicker lead plates to facilitate the higher, short-duration
current draws. Correct Answer - False. Start batteries have a
greater number of thinner plates within each cell.
Which type of battery generally recharges faster? Deep cycle or
cranking? Correct Answer - Cranking
What tool and common household staple are used to clean battery
terminals? Correct Answer - Wire brush and backing soda.
,Why might a fully-discharged wet-cell type battery freeze? Correct
Answer - Most of the sulfuric acid has been absorbed into the
lead plates, leaving mostly water in the electrolyte.
Batteries must be secured to prevent movement of more than ______
inches in any direction when a pulling force of _____ or _____,
whichever is less, is applied through the center of gravity of the
battery for how long? Correct Answer - 1 inch, 90 lbs or 2x the
battery weight, for 1 minute in each direction.
T or F: it is ok to install batteries directly below an uninterrupted
fuel line? Correct Answer - True
What provision must be in place on any fuel line located within 12
inches of a battery terminals? Correct Answer - Must be
protected with dielectric insulating material
Define: Battery reserve capacity = the number of minutes that a
new, fully charged battery at ______ degrees F can be continuously
discharged at ______ amps while maintaining _____ volts (for a 12 v
battery) Correct Answer - 80 F, 25 Amps, 10.5 Volts
According to ABYC, what is the minimum battery reserve capacity?
Correct Answer - 90 minutes
Define: Marine Cranking Amps = the discharge load, in amperes, that
a new, fully-charged battery at _____ degrees F can deliver for ______
seconds while maintaining a voltage of _____ volts (for a 12 v
battery). Correct Answer - 32 degrees F, 30 seconds, 7.2V
Define: Cold Cranking Amps = the discharge load, in amperes, that a
new, fully-charged battery at _____ degrees F can deliver for ______
seconds while maintaining a voltage of _____ volts (for a 12 v
battery). Correct Answer - 0 degrees F, 30 seconds, 7.2V
, What is the largest guage wire that may be connected to a bettery
with wing-nuts? Correct Answer - 8 AWG
Per ABYC E-10, a battery switch must be installed in the positive
conductor from each battery bank with a CCA rating greater than
____ (or greater than _____ Ah if CCA rating not available). Correct
Answer - 800 CCA or 100 Ahr (exceptions: electronic equipment
with battery backed memories; safety equipment such as bilge
pumps, alarms, CO detectors, bilge blowers; battery chargers; I'm
pressed current systems.
What is the minimum ampere interrupting capacity (AIC) for main
overcurrent protection on a battery bank rated at 12 V, 1500 CCA?
Correct Answer - AIC = 5000 Amps (E-11 table IV-A)
What is the minimum ampere interrupting capacity (AIC) for main
overcurrent protection on a battery bank rated at more than 2200
CCA or more than 500 Ahr? Correct Answer - AIC = 2X mnfg's
short-circuit rating or 100X nominal Ahr rating.
T or F: it is ok to mount a battery switch inside an engine room,
because ABYC startes that it must be located as close to the batteries
as practical. Correct Answer - False. "Readily accessible"
defines entry into the engine room in an emergency as dangerous -
use a remote battery switch.
Explain the "7-40-72" rule Correct Answer - Overcurrent
protection must be located withing 7 inches of the power source
unless contained within a sheath, in which case it may be up to 40
inches away. If the power source is a battery and the conductors are
sheathed, OC may be up to 72 inches away.
Answered With Expert Insights
How often (in inches) shall wire bundles be supported? Correct
Answer - Every 18 inches.
What type of clamps are to be used for supporting wire bundles
when routed over engines and machinery? Correct Answer -
Insulated Metallic Hanger Clamps
What tensile force must a 10 Gauge crimp connector withstand for
one minute? Correct Answer - 40 lbs (E-11 Table XV)
What is the max allowed unsupported cable length for battery
cables? Correct Answer - 36 inches
T or F: Running AC and DC conductors together is allowed so long as
the AC conductors are sheathed. Correct Answer - True
The most common electrical circuit problem in marine applications
is:
A. Short circuits
B. Too much continuity
C. Unwanted open
D. Inter circuit Short Correct Answer - C. Unwanted open
The primary by-product of excessive electrical resistance is:
A. Increased Amperage
B. Increased Voltage
C. Reduced Ambient Temperature
D. Heat Correct Answer - D. Heat
One HP = how many watts? Correct Answer - 1 HP = 746 Watts
,What is the preferred tool for tracing shorted and open circuits?
A. Ohm meter
B. Amp clamp
C. Volt meter
D. TDR (time-domain reflectometer) Correct Answer - D. TDR
(time-domain reflectometer)
A technician is installing a cable run from the batteries to the main
DC panel board on a boat as part of a refit. The boat has a 12-volt
system and the distance form the panel to the batteries is 15 ft. The
maximum current draw from the panel is calculated at 90 amps.
What guage cable should be used (minimum)? Correct Answer -
0 AWG
DC grounded conductors on new boats that are also equipped with
AC systems should use what color insulated wire? Correct Answer
- Yellow
What is the smallest guage wire allowed for unsheathed wire runs
through the boat? Correct Answer - 16 AWG
T or F: Compared to deep cycle (house) batteries, cranking batteries
will have thicker lead plates to facilitate the higher, short-duration
current draws. Correct Answer - False. Start batteries have a
greater number of thinner plates within each cell.
Which type of battery generally recharges faster? Deep cycle or
cranking? Correct Answer - Cranking
What tool and common household staple are used to clean battery
terminals? Correct Answer - Wire brush and backing soda.
,Why might a fully-discharged wet-cell type battery freeze? Correct
Answer - Most of the sulfuric acid has been absorbed into the
lead plates, leaving mostly water in the electrolyte.
Batteries must be secured to prevent movement of more than ______
inches in any direction when a pulling force of _____ or _____,
whichever is less, is applied through the center of gravity of the
battery for how long? Correct Answer - 1 inch, 90 lbs or 2x the
battery weight, for 1 minute in each direction.
T or F: it is ok to install batteries directly below an uninterrupted
fuel line? Correct Answer - True
What provision must be in place on any fuel line located within 12
inches of a battery terminals? Correct Answer - Must be
protected with dielectric insulating material
Define: Battery reserve capacity = the number of minutes that a
new, fully charged battery at ______ degrees F can be continuously
discharged at ______ amps while maintaining _____ volts (for a 12 v
battery) Correct Answer - 80 F, 25 Amps, 10.5 Volts
According to ABYC, what is the minimum battery reserve capacity?
Correct Answer - 90 minutes
Define: Marine Cranking Amps = the discharge load, in amperes, that
a new, fully-charged battery at _____ degrees F can deliver for ______
seconds while maintaining a voltage of _____ volts (for a 12 v
battery). Correct Answer - 32 degrees F, 30 seconds, 7.2V
Define: Cold Cranking Amps = the discharge load, in amperes, that a
new, fully-charged battery at _____ degrees F can deliver for ______
seconds while maintaining a voltage of _____ volts (for a 12 v
battery). Correct Answer - 0 degrees F, 30 seconds, 7.2V
, What is the largest guage wire that may be connected to a bettery
with wing-nuts? Correct Answer - 8 AWG
Per ABYC E-10, a battery switch must be installed in the positive
conductor from each battery bank with a CCA rating greater than
____ (or greater than _____ Ah if CCA rating not available). Correct
Answer - 800 CCA or 100 Ahr (exceptions: electronic equipment
with battery backed memories; safety equipment such as bilge
pumps, alarms, CO detectors, bilge blowers; battery chargers; I'm
pressed current systems.
What is the minimum ampere interrupting capacity (AIC) for main
overcurrent protection on a battery bank rated at 12 V, 1500 CCA?
Correct Answer - AIC = 5000 Amps (E-11 table IV-A)
What is the minimum ampere interrupting capacity (AIC) for main
overcurrent protection on a battery bank rated at more than 2200
CCA or more than 500 Ahr? Correct Answer - AIC = 2X mnfg's
short-circuit rating or 100X nominal Ahr rating.
T or F: it is ok to mount a battery switch inside an engine room,
because ABYC startes that it must be located as close to the batteries
as practical. Correct Answer - False. "Readily accessible"
defines entry into the engine room in an emergency as dangerous -
use a remote battery switch.
Explain the "7-40-72" rule Correct Answer - Overcurrent
protection must be located withing 7 inches of the power source
unless contained within a sheath, in which case it may be up to 40
inches away. If the power source is a battery and the conductors are
sheathed, OC may be up to 72 inches away.
