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MASTER NEC 2023

Master Electrician Practice Test 28 – Temporary Wiring & Special Events

This is Master Electrician Practice Test 28 — Temporary Wiring & Special Events, covering NEC Article 590 (temporary wiring for construction and decorative lighting) alongside a review of Article 525's carnival and fair wiring rules. The test has 25 multiple-choice questions on time limits for different types of temporary installations, GFCI protection on job sites, removal requirements, and the 590.4 wiring rules for feeders, branch circuits, splices, cords, and support. Pass score is 70%. Every question includes a full NEC 2023 explanation so you can trace each answer back to the exact code section.

TOPICS COVERED

Temporary Wiring & Special Events

How this test works

Read each question carefully

Look for absolute words like always / never — they often distinguish the right answer.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — completely free with no signup required. All answers include detailed explanations.

Requirements vary by state but typically include 4–8 years of documented electrical work experience plus a valid Journeyman license.

Advanced NEC code interpretation, load calculations, service entrance design, motor controls, generator systems, and electrical system design.

The Master exam focuses more on design, calculations, and planning rather than installation details. Load calculation and service sizing questions are weighted heavily.

Before You Start

25 questions — multiple choice
45 minutes to finish (timer starts when you begin)
Pass score is 70% — you need at least 18 correct answers
Full NEC 2023 explanation shown for every question after you submit

Topics in This Test

Construction-site temporary wiring — permitted for the duration of the work (NEC 590.3(A))
Holiday decorative lighting — limited to 90 days (NEC 590.3(B))
All temporary wiring removed immediately once its purpose ends (NEC 590.3(D))
GFCI protection for all 125V 15/20/30A receptacles used by personnel (NEC 590.6)
GFCI applies to both non-permanent and permanent-wiring receptacles used temporarily (NEC 590.6)
Listed GFCI cord sets/devices as an alternative (NEC 590.6)
Assured Equipment Grounding Conductor Program (AEGCP) as a documented site alternative
Scope of Article 590 — construction, remodeling, maintenance, repair, demolition, decorative lighting
Temporary wiring must still be adequately supported and protected (NEC 590.4)
Temporary feeders in cord — hard usage or extra-hard usage only (NEC 590.4(B))
Flexible cords for temporary wiring — permitted, but must be protected from damage
Multiwire temporary circuits — simultaneous disconnect at the origin (NEC 590.4(E))
Temporary construction lighting — guarded against accidental contact and damage
Carnival GFCI — non-locking 15/20 A receptacles used for assembly or accessible to the public (NEC 525.23(A))
Ride disconnect — within sight of and within 6 ft of the operator's station (NEC 525.21(A))
Temporary wiring for emergencies, tests, and developmental work (NEC 590.3(C))
Vegetation may not support overhead temporary spans (NEC 590.4(J))
Receptacles not on the same multiwire conductor as temporary lighting (NEC 590.4(D)(2))
How AEGCP differs philosophically from GFCI protection
Holiday decorative lighting must be listed and labeled (NEC 590.5)
Temporary branch circuits must originate in approved distribution equipment (NEC 590.4(C))
Splices without a box on construction sites (NEC 590.4(G))
Securing cords at enclosures with fittings designed for the purpose (NEC 590.4(I))
Scope of Article 525 — carnivals, circuses, fairs, and similar attractions
Approval of temporary wiring methods (NEC 590.2(B))

Tip: "Temporary" in the NEC only ever changes how long something can stay installed — it never excuses skipping GFCI protection, support, overcurrent protection, or a proper disconnect. Keep that distinction in mind and Article 590 becomes much more predictable.

Questions

45 min

Time

70%

Pass

Timer starts immediately. Progress is auto-saved.

Master Electrician Practice Test 28 – Temporary Wiring & Special Events — Question List

Question 1: Under NEC 590.3(A), how long may temporary wiring remain installed on an active construction site?

For the duration of the construction/remodeling/maintenance/repair/demolition work
A fixed 30 days, regardless of the job's progress
A fixed 90 days, regardless of the job's progress
Indefinitely, with no requirement to ever remove it

NEC Reference: NEC 590.3(A)

Question 2: NEC 590.3(B) limits temporary electric power and lighting installed for holiday decorative purposes to a maximum of:

30 days
60 days
90 days
1 year

NEC Reference: NEC 590.3(B)

Question 3: NEC 590.3(D) requires temporary wiring to be removed:

Immediately once its purpose has been fulfilled
Only after exactly one calendar year
Never — temporary wiring may remain indefinitely
Only when a new tenant moves in

NEC Reference: NEC 590.3(D)

Question 4: NEC 590.6 requires which receptacles used by personnel on a construction site to have GFCI protection?

All 125 V, single-phase, 15-, 20-, and 30-A receptacle outlets used by personnel that are not part of the permanent wiring
Only 480V three-phase receptacles
No receptacles require GFCI protection on a construction site
Only receptacles installed indoors

NEC Reference: NEC 590.6

Question 5: A receptacle is already part of the building's permanent wiring, but the contractor uses it temporarily to power tools during construction. Does NEC 590.6 still require GFCI protection on that receptacle?

Yes — GFCI protection follows the temporary use, regardless of the wiring's permanent/temporary status
No — permanent wiring is always exempt from this requirement
Only if the receptacle is outdoors
Only on weekends

NEC Reference: NEC 590.6

Question 6: NEC 590.6 permits which alternative to a GFCI-protected receptacle for a portable tool on a job site?

A listed GFCI cord set or in-line device identified for portable use
Removing the equipment grounding conductor entirely
A device with no listing of any kind
There is no acceptable alternative under any circumstance

NEC Reference: NEC 590.6

Question 7: What is an Assured Equipment Grounding Conductor Program (AEGCP), as recognized in NEC Article 590?

A documented program of regularly testing equipment grounding conductor continuity
A program that eliminates the need for any grounding at all
A program that only applies to lighting fixtures
A brand name for a specific GFCI receptacle

NEC Reference: NEC Article 590

Question 8: NEC Article 590 primarily applies to which types of installations?

Construction, remodeling, maintenance, repair, demolition, and decorative lighting
Permanent service entrance conductors
Elevator machine rooms
Swimming pool bonding

NEC Reference: NEC Article 590

Question 9: NEC 590.4 requires temporary wiring to be:

Adequately supported and protected from physical damage
Left lying unsupported on the ground
Exempt from all support requirements
Run only through standing water

NEC Reference: NEC 590.4

Question 10: Temporary feeders on a construction site are run as multiconductor cords. Under NEC 590.4(B), what type of cord must be used?

Any cord listed for general use, including light-duty types
Cord identified in Table 400.4 for hard usage or extra-hard usage
Only Type SPT cord
Cord is never permitted for temporary feeders

NEC Reference: NEC 590.4(B)

Question 11: Are flexible cords permitted for temporary wiring on a construction site under NEC Article 590?

Yes, but they must still be protected from physical damage
No, flexible cords are always prohibited for temporary wiring
Yes, with no protection considerations at all
Only if buried directly in the ground with no protection

NEC Reference: NEC Article 590

Question 12: A temporary multiwire branch circuit supplies receptacles on a construction site. What does NEC 590.4(E) require for its disconnecting means?

A separate single-pole switch for each ungrounded conductor
A disconnect for the neutral conductor only
A means to simultaneously disconnect all ungrounded conductors at the power outlet or panelboard where the circuit originates
No disconnect, since the circuit is temporary

NEC Reference: NEC 590.4(E)

Question 13: Temporary lighting used during construction should generally be:

Guarded against accidental contact and physical damage
Left completely exposed at head height with no guard
Submerged in any standing water on-site
Wired without any support whatsoever

NEC Reference: NEC Article 590

Question 14: At a carnival or fair, NEC 525.23(A) requires GFCI protection for 125 V, single-phase, 15- and 20-A non-locking-type receptacles that are:

Used for disassembly and reassembly, or readily accessible to the general public
Installed more than 8 ft above grade only
Supplying amusement ride motors only
Locking-type receptacles supplying rides only

NEC Reference: NEC 525.23(A)

Question 15: NEC Article 525 requires the disconnecting means for a carnival ride or attraction to be located:

Within sight of, and within 6 ft of, the operator's station
At least a mile away from the equipment
Nowhere — no disconnect is required for carnival equipment
Only inside a locked administrative office

NEC Reference: NEC 525.21(A)

Question 16: In addition to construction work and holiday decorative lighting, NEC 590.3(C) permits temporary wiring for:

Emergencies, and tests, experiments, and developmental work
Permanent tenant fit-outs until the next inspection cycle
Any commercial occupancy for up to 1 year
Seasonal retail kiosks indefinitely

NEC Reference: NEC 590.3(C)

Question 17: Under NEC 590.4(J), which of the following may NOT be used to support overhead spans of temporary branch circuits or feeders (other than holiday lighting arranged per the exception)?

Poles installed for the purpose
Building structural members
A messenger wire
Trees or other vegetation

NEC Reference: NEC 590.4(J)

Question 18: NEC 590.4(D)(2) prohibits temporary receptacles from being connected to:

Any circuit protected by a GFCI
The same ungrounded conductor of a multiwire circuit that supplies temporary lighting
A 20 A branch circuit
A panelboard located outdoors

NEC Reference: NEC 590.4(D)(2)

Question 19: How does an Assured Equipment Grounding Conductor Program (AEGCP) differ philosophically from GFCI protection?

GFCI detects faults in real time; AEGCP verifies grounding continuity through scheduled testing beforehand
They are functionally identical with no philosophical difference
AEGCP is a type of GFCI device sold under a different name
GFCI is a paperwork program and AEGCP is a physical device

NEC Reference: NEC Article 590

Question 20: Under NEC 590.5, decorative lighting used for holiday lighting and similar purposes must be:

Rated for indoor use only
Installed only by a licensed master electrician
Listed and labeled on the product
Supplied only from a 15 A circuit

NEC Reference: NEC 590.5

Question 21: On a construction site, NEC 590.4(G) permits a splice without a box, conduit body, or other enclosure when:

The circuit conductors are multiconductor cord or cable assemblies and equipment grounding continuity is maintained
The splice is wrapped with at least three layers of tape
The circuit is rated 15 A or less
The splice is located more than 8 ft above the floor

NEC Reference: NEC 590.4(G)

Question 22: Under NEC 590.4(I), flexible cords and cables entering enclosures containing devices that require termination must be:

Knotted inside the box to provide strain relief
Taped to the outside of the enclosure
Left loose so the cord can pull free in an emergency
Secured to the box with fittings designed for the purpose

NEC Reference: NEC 590.4(I)

Question 23: NEC Article 525 primarily covers which type of occupancy?

Carnivals, circuses, fairs, and similar traveling attractions
Permanent office buildings
Health care facilities
Data center IT equipment rooms

NEC Reference: NEC Article 525

Question 24: Under NEC 590.2(B), temporary wiring methods are acceptable only when:

They are approved based on the conditions of use and any special requirements of the temporary installation
The job is expected to last less than 30 days
They are installed by the general contractor
They use only Type NM cable

NEC Reference: NEC 590.2(B)

Question 25: Under NEC 590.4(C), temporary branch circuits must originate in:

Any receptacle of the permanent wiring, through an extension cord
An approved power outlet, switchgear or switchboard, panelboard, motor control center, or fused switch enclosure
A splice box on the feeder
A portable generator only

NEC Reference: NEC 590.4(C)

Key NEC References for This Test

Article	What It Covers
Art. 220	Load Calculations — optional and standard methods for multifamily
Art. 230	Services — service design, sizing, multiple disconnects
Art. 430	Motors — complete branch circuit design (conductor + OCPD + overload + disconnect)
Art. 445	Generators — standby systems, transfer switches
Art. 450	Transformers — sizing, primary/secondary OCPD, installation
Art. 706	Energy Storage Systems — battery/solar storage (major NEC 2026 expansion)

Study Tip: Practice transformer kVA calculations daily. Know the formula: I = kVA × 1000 ÷ (V × 1.732) for three-phase. This comes up on almost every master exam.

Master Electrician Practice Test 28 – Temporary Wiring & Special Events

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Topics in This Test

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Key NEC References for This Test

Master Electrician Practice Test 28 – Temporary Wiring & Special Events

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How is the Master exam different from the Journeyman exam?

Before You Start

Topics in This Test

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Master Electrician Practice Test 28 – Temporary Wiring & Special Events — Question List

Question 1: Under NEC 590.3(A), how long may temporary wiring remain installed on an active construction site?

Question 2: NEC 590.3(B) limits temporary electric power and lighting installed for holiday decorative purposes to a maximum of:

Question 3: NEC 590.3(D) requires temporary wiring to be removed:

Question 4: NEC 590.6 requires which receptacles used by personnel on a construction site to have GFCI protection?

Question 5: A receptacle is already part of the building's permanent wiring, but the contractor uses it temporarily to power tools during construction. Does NEC 590.6 still require GFCI protection on that receptacle?

Question 6: NEC 590.6 permits which alternative to a GFCI-protected receptacle for a portable tool on a job site?

Question 7: What is an Assured Equipment Grounding Conductor Program (AEGCP), as recognized in NEC Article 590?

Question 8: NEC Article 590 primarily applies to which types of installations?

Question 9: NEC 590.4 requires temporary wiring to be:

Question 10: Temporary feeders on a construction site are run as multiconductor cords. Under NEC 590.4(B), what type of cord must be used?

Question 11: Are flexible cords permitted for temporary wiring on a construction site under NEC Article 590?

Question 12: A temporary multiwire branch circuit supplies receptacles on a construction site. What does NEC 590.4(E) require for its disconnecting means?

Question 13: Temporary lighting used during construction should generally be:

Question 14: At a carnival or fair, NEC 525.23(A) requires GFCI protection for 125 V, single-phase, 15- and 20-A non-locking-type receptacles that are:

Question 15: NEC Article 525 requires the disconnecting means for a carnival ride or attraction to be located:

Question 16: In addition to construction work and holiday decorative lighting, NEC 590.3(C) permits temporary wiring for:

Question 17: Under NEC 590.4(J), which of the following may NOT be used to support overhead spans of temporary branch circuits or feeders (other than holiday lighting arranged per the exception)?

Question 18: NEC 590.4(D)(2) prohibits temporary receptacles from being connected to:

Question 19: How does an Assured Equipment Grounding Conductor Program (AEGCP) differ philosophically from GFCI protection?

Question 20: Under NEC 590.5, decorative lighting used for holiday lighting and similar purposes must be:

Question 21: On a construction site, NEC 590.4(G) permits a splice without a box, conduit body, or other enclosure when:

Question 22: Under NEC 590.4(I), flexible cords and cables entering enclosures containing devices that require termination must be:

Question 23: NEC Article 525 primarily covers which type of occupancy?

Question 24: Under NEC 590.2(B), temporary wiring methods are acceptable only when:

Question 25: Under NEC 590.4(C), temporary branch circuits must originate in:

Key NEC References for This Test

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