Three books. Three complete worked examples.
Try the explanation before you buy the book
A correct letter is not enough. See the setup, follow the units and identify the tempting wrong turn.
These excerpts or arithmetic summaries come from the corrected v45 workbooks. The factors supplied in a sample apply to that example; they do not establish the factors for another installation.
Texas Journeyman — 2026 NEC
Chapter 1, Question 8
8. A single-phase load draws 10 amperes at 240 volts, and a wattmeter reads 1,920 watts. What is the power factor?
- A 0.75
- B 0.80
- C 0.85
- D 1.25
Full worked answer
8 Answer B Correct answer B. Apparent power is 240 x 10 = 2,400 VA, and power factor is true power divided by apparent power: 1,920 / 2,400 = 0.80. 1.25 inverts the ratio, and a power factor can never be above 1. Source Electrical theory (power factor = watts / volt-amperes). No Code lookup.
Why 1.25 fails
It divides apparent power by real power: 2,400 / 1,920. Power factor uses real power divided by apparent power, so 1,920 / 2,400 = 0.80.
Texas Master — 2026 NEC
Chapter 4, 1. Dwelling service or feeder load, standard method
Givens
- Dwelling area: 2,000 ft2
- General lighting and general-use receptacle unit load: 2 VA/ft2 under 120.41
- Two small-appliance circuits: 1,500 VA each
- One laundry circuit: 1,500 VA
- Dishwasher: nameplate 1,200 W, used as 1,200 VA
- Disposal: nameplate 900 W, used as 900 VA
- Water heater: nameplate 4,500 W, used as 4,500 VA
- Trash compactor: nameplate 800 W, used as 800 VA
- Dryer: 5,000 VA
- Larger of heating or air-conditioning: 8,000 VA
- 120/240 V, single phase
The four named appliances are each at least 500 W, are fastened in place, share the same service, and are not fixed cooking equipment, a dryer, space heating, air-conditioning equipment, or EVSE. Section 120.53 permits the 75% factor. The watt ratings are used as VA for this example.
Full worked answer
- General lighting = 2,000 ft2 x 2 VA/ft2 = 4,000 VA.
- General connected load = 4,000 + 3,000 + 1,500 = 8,500 VA.
- Table 120.45 demand = 3,000 + (8,500 – 3,000) x 0.35 = 4,925 VA.
- Appliance total = 1,200 + 900 + 4,500 + 800 = 7,400 VA.
- Appliance demand = 7,400 x 0.75 = 5,550 VA.
- Total = 4,925 + 5,550 + 5,000 + 8,000 = 23,475 VA.
- Current = 23,475 / 240 = 97.8125 A.
Answer: 23,475 VA, or 97.8 A. Do not use the separate branch-circuit unit load for this service or feeder calculation.
Code verification: 120.41 supplies 2 VA/ft2. Table 120.45 supplies the general-load demand factors. Sections 120.52, 120.53, 120.54, and 120.60 control the other stated inputs.
The tempting shortcut: 35% of everything
Multiplying the entire 8,500 VA lighting-and-circuit load by 35% gives 2,975 VA. It drops the first 3,000 VA that this example keeps at 100%. The correct lighting-and-circuit demand is 4,925 VA; it is only one part of the complete 23,475 VA service example.
California General Electrician — 2023 NEC
Chapter7, Question7.4
7.4
An 8 AWG copper conductor is rated 55 A at 90 C and 50 A at 75 C. With a calculated ambient factor of 0.88, a 0.80 conductor factor, and 75 C terminals, what current is allowed?
- A. 44 A
- B. 48.4 A
- C. 50 A
- D. 38.7 A
Full worked answer
Answer D: 55 × 0.88 × 0.80 = 38.72 A, shown as 38.7 A. This stays below the given 50 A terminal limit. The factors are supplied by this example; this short sample does not establish which factors apply to another installation.
Why the other three choices fail
44 A omits the supplied 0.88 correction factor. 48.4 A omits the supplied 0.80 adjustment factor. 50 A uses only the terminal limit and skips both factors. The example requires 55 × 0.88 × 0.80 = 38.72 A, below the supplied 50 A limit.
A repeatable code-lookup study flow
Use this original study map with your own authorized code book. It is a study workflow, not an installation decision chart.
- Match the edition. Read the current exam reference list; do not carry a section number from another edition by habit.
- Extract the givens. Write the system, units, load type and limiting conditions before opening a table.
- Find the applicable rule. Use the index, then read the section’s scope and definitions.
- Read the conditions. Check table headings, notes, exceptions and cross-references before choosing a value.
- Calculate and check limits. Keep units through the steps; round at the end. Recheck the question’s required output.
- Explain the tempting wrong answer. Record the missed condition or operation, then redo the problem later without the solution.
Electrical work requires the applicable adopted code, local requirements and qualified judgment. This diagram does not select conductor sizes or authorize live work.
Before you buy: six straight answers
Which book should I buy?
Match the exact exam first: Texas Journeyman, Texas Master or California General Electrician. The Texas books use the 2026 NEC; the California book uses the 2023 NEC. You do not need all three. Confirm the current reference list with your exam provider before ordering.
What makes this useful beyond a list of questions?
You can inspect complete worked samples below: the givens, setup, calculation and reason an attractive wrong answer fails. Use the explanations to identify whether you missed a lookup, a setup step, arithmetic or a detail in the question.
Does buying the book include the code book or online practice pack?
No. The official code book and the separate online practice packs are separate products. Buying one book format does not automatically include the other format.
Paperback or Kindle?
Choose paperback if you want to write beside the questions and work on paper. Choose Kindle if you prefer reading on a supported device. Check Amazon’s preview on your device before buying; reflowed ebook pagination can differ from the paperback.
Will a mock score predict my result?
No. Treat a mock as a way to locate weak topics. Review guessed answers as well as wrong ones, then solve a fresh question without copying the explanation.
Is this official training, a license or a pass guarantee?
No. Independent study material does not grant a license, replace required training or authorize electrical work. Use current official exam instructions and qualified supervision for actual work.
Our own independently published study books. Amazon sets the current price, availability, delivery and preview. Paperback and Kindle are separate purchases. No official NEC code book, paid app membership or separately sold online practice pack is included. These are original practice materials, not official examination questions or a pass guarantee.
Which edition should you buy? Match the 2026 or 2023 NEC reference to your exam before choosing a workbook. The guide links to the current Texas and California exam instructions and distinguishes a study workbook from an exam reference.
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