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HVAC NEC 2023

HVAC Certification Practice Test 8

This test covers NEC Article 440, the code section for air conditioning and refrigeration equipment. You will practice MCA and MOCP sizing calculations and the disconnect location rules that apply specifically to HVAC equipment.

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HVAC electrical exams cover electrical theory (Ohm's Law, circuits), transformers, single-phase and three-phase motors, control wiring, safety, and troubleshooting.

Requirements vary by state. HVAC technicians typically need EPA 608 certification and may need a separate electrical license for line voltage work.

Exam Tip: Always use the nameplate MCA and MOCP values for HVAC equipment, never calculate from FLA alone. For fast math, MCA is usually about 125% of rated load current, and the maximum time-delay fuse is about 175%.

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HVAC Certification Practice Test 8 — Question List

Question 1: Which NEC article specifically covers air conditioning and refrigeration equipment?

Article 430
Article 250
Article 110
Article 440

NEC Reference: NEC 440

Question 2: What does NEC Article 440 do to the general motor rules in Article 430?

It modifies and adds to the general motor rules in Article 430, specifically for air conditioning and refrigeration equipment
It completely replaces Article 430 for all motors
It has no relationship to Article 430
It only applies to three-phase motors

NEC Reference: NEC 440

Question 3: Where should a technician find the MCA (minimum circuit ampacity) for HVAC equipment?

By adding up all individual component FLAs manually
On the equipment nameplate
In the NEC tables only
On the compressor's separate data plate only

NEC Reference: NEC 440

Question 4: Why shouldn't a technician size HVAC circuit conductors using FLA (full load amps) alone?

FLA is always higher than MCA, so it's safer
FLA and MCA are exactly the same value
Because HVAC equipment MCA already accounts for multiple components and must be used instead, per the nameplate
FLA only applies to single-phase equipment

NEC Reference: NEC 440

Question 5: A compressor's rated load current (RLA) is 16A. Per NEC 440.32, what is the minimum circuit ampacity (MCA) required for conductor sizing?

16A
28A
12.8A
20A

NEC Reference: NEC 440.32

Question 6: A compressor's rated load current (RLA) is 24A. What is the minimum circuit ampacity (MCA), using the 125% rule from NEC 440.32?

30A
24A
36A
19.2A

NEC Reference: NEC 440.32

Question 7: What does MOCP stand for?

Motor Operating Current Percentage
Maximum Overcurrent Protection
Main Outdoor Compressor Panel
Maximum Operating Control Point

NEC Reference: NEC 440

Question 8: Where should a technician find the MOCP (maximum overcurrent protection) value for HVAC equipment?

Calculated in the field using FLA only
In a generic NEC table with no regard to the nameplate
On the equipment nameplate
From the compressor manufacturer's separate catalog only

NEC Reference: NEC 440

Question 9: Per NEC 440.22, what is the maximum time-delay fuse size allowed, expressed as a percentage of the rated load current?

125%
150%
200%
175%

NEC Reference: NEC 440.22

Question 10: A compressor has a rated load current of 20A. Using the 175% maximum time-delay fuse rule from NEC 440.22, what is the largest time-delay fuse size allowed?

NEC Reference: NEC 440.22

Question 11: Which NEC section addresses the location requirement for an HVAC equipment disconnect?

NEC 440.32
NEC 440.14
NEC 440.22
NEC 250

NEC Reference: NEC 440.14

Question 12: Per NEC 440.14, how far can the disconnect be from the HVAC equipment it serves?

Within sight only, with no distance limit
Anywhere on the same property
Within sight and no more than 50 feet away
Within 100 feet, sight not required

NEC Reference: NEC 440.14

Question 13: What does "within sight" generally mean for a disconnect required by NEC 440.14?

Audible from the equipment
Within the same building only, regardless of distance
Connected by a control wire only
Visible and not more than 50 feet from the equipment

NEC Reference: NEC 440.14

Question 14: A compressor's rated load current (RLA) is 30A. What is the minimum circuit ampacity (MCA), using the 125% rule?

37.5A
30A
45A
33A

NEC Reference: NEC 440.32

Question 15: A condensing unit nameplate lists MCA = 27A and MOP = 45A. A technician has 10 AWG copper conductors rated for 30A and a 40A time-delay fuse on hand. Are these adequate?

Neither is adequate, both must exactly match the nameplate values
The conductors (30A) are adequate since they meet or exceed the 27A MCA, and the 40A fuse is adequate since it does not exceed the 45A MOP
The conductors are inadequate because they exceed 27A
The fuse is inadequate because 40A is less than 45A

NEC Reference: NEC 440

Question 16: Why does the NEC require both an MCA and a MOCP value on HVAC equipment nameplates, rather than relying on a technician to calculate them from individual component ratings?

Because FLA values are always more accurate for field use
Because NEC 440 no longer applies once a nameplate exists
Because multi-component HVAC equipment has several loads whose combined ampacity is already calculated by the manufacturer, simplifying and standardizing installation
Because contractors are not allowed to perform any calculations

NEC Reference: NEC 440

Question 17: Which of these values should be used to select branch-circuit conductor size for HVAC equipment: minimum circuit ampacity (MCA) or full load amps (FLA)?

FLA
Voltage rating alone
Horsepower rating alone
MCA (minimum circuit ampacity)

NEC Reference: NEC 440.32

Question 18: A heat pump condensing unit has a rated load current of 22A. What is the minimum circuit ampacity (MCA), using the 125% rule from NEC 440.32?

27.5A
22A
30A
25A

NEC Reference: NEC 440.32

Question 19: A compressor's rated load current (RLA) is 16A. Using the 175% rule from NEC 440.22, what is the maximum time-delay fuse size allowed?

NEC Reference: NEC 440.22

Question 20: Is it acceptable to use a non-time-delay fuse rated with the same 175% maximum allowed for time-delay fuses under NEC 440.22?

Yes, both use the same 175% maximum
No, non-time-delay fuses have a higher percentage allowed instead
No, non-time-delay fuses generally have a lower maximum percentage allowed than time-delay fuses
Non-time-delay fuses are never permitted on HVAC equipment

NEC Reference: NEC 440.22

Question 21: A rooftop unit's disconnect is mounted 75 feet away from the unit, out of sight around a corner. Does this meet NEC 440.14?

Yes, because 75 feet is within a reasonable range
Yes, as long as it is on the same roof
No, because disconnects must always be mounted directly on the equipment
No, because the disconnect must be within sight and no more than 50 feet from the equipment

NEC Reference: NEC 440.14

Question 22: Which value on an HVAC nameplate tells a technician the largest fuse or circuit breaker allowed to protect the circuit?

MOCP (maximum overcurrent protection)
MCA
RLA
LRA (locked rotor amps)

NEC Reference: NEC 440

Question 23: A technician is replacing a failed disconnect for a condensing unit. What NEC 440.14 requirement must the new disconnect meet?

It must be rated for exactly the MCA value, with zero margin
It must be within sight of, and no more than 50 feet from, the equipment
It must include a GFCI breaker regardless of location
It must be mounted at least 10 feet above grade

NEC Reference: NEC 440.14

Question 24: A compressor's rated load current (RLA) is 28A. Using the 175% rule from NEC 440.22, what is the maximum time-delay fuse size allowed?

NEC Reference: NEC 440.22

Question 25: A condensing unit nameplate lists: MCA 24A, MOP 40A. A technician is planning the installation. Which statement correctly applies these values?

The conductors must be sized for exactly 40A, and the fuse must be exactly 24A
Both values can be ignored if the compressor RLA is known instead
The MOP value is only a suggestion, not a maximum
The branch-circuit conductors must be sized for at least 24A, and the overcurrent device must not exceed 40A

NEC Reference: NEC 440

Key NEC References for This Test

Article	What It Covers
Art. 440	Air Conditioning Equipment — use nameplate MCA and MOCP, not FLA alone
Art. 430	Motors — general motor rules that Art. 440 modifies

Study Tip: Practice reading ladder diagrams. Trace each rung from L1 to the load: contacts open → circuit dead. Contacts closed → current flows. This is how HVAC electrical troubleshooting works.

HVAC Certification Practice Test 8

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Key NEC References for This Test

HVAC Certification Practice Test 8

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HVAC Certification Practice Test 8 — Question List

Question 1: Which NEC article specifically covers air conditioning and refrigeration equipment?

Question 2: What does NEC Article 440 do to the general motor rules in Article 430?

Question 3: Where should a technician find the MCA (minimum circuit ampacity) for HVAC equipment?

Question 4: Why shouldn't a technician size HVAC circuit conductors using FLA (full load amps) alone?

Question 5: A compressor's rated load current (RLA) is 16A. Per NEC 440.32, what is the minimum circuit ampacity (MCA) required for conductor sizing?

Question 6: A compressor's rated load current (RLA) is 24A. What is the minimum circuit ampacity (MCA), using the 125% rule from NEC 440.32?

Question 7: What does MOCP stand for?

Question 8: Where should a technician find the MOCP (maximum overcurrent protection) value for HVAC equipment?

Question 9: Per NEC 440.22, what is the maximum time-delay fuse size allowed, expressed as a percentage of the rated load current?

Question 10: A compressor has a rated load current of 20A. Using the 175% maximum time-delay fuse rule from NEC 440.22, what is the largest time-delay fuse size allowed?

Question 11: Which NEC section addresses the location requirement for an HVAC equipment disconnect?

Question 12: Per NEC 440.14, how far can the disconnect be from the HVAC equipment it serves?

Question 13: What does "within sight" generally mean for a disconnect required by NEC 440.14?

Question 14: A compressor's rated load current (RLA) is 30A. What is the minimum circuit ampacity (MCA), using the 125% rule?

Question 15: A condensing unit nameplate lists MCA = 27A and MOP = 45A. A technician has 10 AWG copper conductors rated for 30A and a 40A time-delay fuse on hand. Are these adequate?

Question 16: Why does the NEC require both an MCA and a MOCP value on HVAC equipment nameplates, rather than relying on a technician to calculate them from individual component ratings?

Question 17: Which of these values should be used to select branch-circuit conductor size for HVAC equipment: minimum circuit ampacity (MCA) or full load amps (FLA)?

Question 18: A heat pump condensing unit has a rated load current of 22A. What is the minimum circuit ampacity (MCA), using the 125% rule from NEC 440.32?

Question 19: A compressor's rated load current (RLA) is 16A. Using the 175% rule from NEC 440.22, what is the maximum time-delay fuse size allowed?

Question 20: Is it acceptable to use a non-time-delay fuse rated with the same 175% maximum allowed for time-delay fuses under NEC 440.22?

Question 21: A rooftop unit's disconnect is mounted 75 feet away from the unit, out of sight around a corner. Does this meet NEC 440.14?

Question 22: Which value on an HVAC nameplate tells a technician the largest fuse or circuit breaker allowed to protect the circuit?

Question 23: A technician is replacing a failed disconnect for a condensing unit. What NEC 440.14 requirement must the new disconnect meet?

Question 24: A compressor's rated load current (RLA) is 28A. Using the 175% rule from NEC 440.22, what is the maximum time-delay fuse size allowed?

Question 25: A condensing unit nameplate lists: MCA 24A, MOP 40A. A technician is planning the installation. Which statement correctly applies these values?

Key NEC References for This Test

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