Electrician's Licensing Practice Exam

According to the NEC, what should be separated when it comes to electrical panels?

1. Ground and neutral wires

2. Hot and cold circuits

3. Panel boards and receptacles

4. Motors and switches

The correct answer is: Ground and neutral wires

The requirement to separate ground and neutral wires in electrical panels is outlined in the National Electrical Code (NEC) to ensure safety and proper functionality of the electrical system. Grounding is essential for safety, providing a path for fault current to flow back to the ground, thereby reducing the risk of electric shock or fire. Neutral wires, on the other hand, are part of the normal current-carrying path in a circuit. When ground and neutral wires are mixed, it can create parallel paths that may lead to shock hazards and interference with the operation of circuit breakers. This is particularly crucial in residential installations, where the grounding system is designed to protect individuals from electric shock. By keeping these wires separated, the electrical system maintains its integrity and adheres to safety standards established by the NEC. For context, the other options do not address the same critical safety issues. While hot and cold circuits might be relevant in specific applications, they pertain more to HVAC systems than electrical panel safety. Separation of panel boards and receptacles or motors and switches also does not carry the same significance in the context of protecting against shock or fire hazards that the separation of ground and neutral wires does.