Florida Master Exam Woes

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POWER_PIG

POWER_PIG

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Just finished taking the thompson prometric Master exam #20112 here in Brevard County Florida. Just to give a "heads up" to anyone that cares to know, It was much more difficult than I thought it would be. I took the Mike Holt on-line version of the simulated Master/Contractor exam after studying his material since last November and did quite well. In those studies I was made to believe that I would only deal with parts and pieces of service feeder calculations, whether it be single dwelling, multi-family or commercial. I understood that calculating the whole service from start to finish would not be expected of me. I was in utter shock when I was asked to calcualate a single family dwelling from start to finish, and a 16 unit apt complex service feeder and neutral..(laundry not on premises and do not use the optional method) One question really surprised me...they want to know the secondary available fault of a 75 kva fully loaded single phase transformer ...impedance = .02 ohms......Im not sure how to turn resistance from ohms to a pecentage for that calculation. If they are going back to "old school" calcualations, I think they should increase the time limit to at least 6 hours, with a pee break included ( for cryin out loud) Im still trying to find a "look up" about how thick sealing compound must be in a 1/2 " rigid seal-off. Im pretty sure I tanked it, but I'll be back in a month or so, hopefully much better prepared.
 
Keep in mind these types of tests are designed to make you fail. They want you to fail, because if you do you are a repeat customer.
 
Not to be controversial, but recommend when you do Mike's materials, do the DVD or Video tapes, it's a world of difference! I have also done quite a few live Mike Holt seminars, and it changes when the dynamic is expanded.

I had a minor "accident" back in 92, that required surgery, and discovered Mike Holt Materials back then! Did the video tapes, and passed the Washington state Administrator exam. It used to be 200 questions on code, theory, and general knowledge in three hours, and five hours to do the 29 code calculations in the afternoon. Had to do apartments optional, get the neutral load for the answer. Do a school calculation, some restaurant calculations, and hospital questions. Best cash I ever put to work. Had it not been for Mike's tapes, I'd have floundered.

Im still trying to find a "look up" about how thick sealing compound must be in a 1/2 " rigid seal-off. Im pretty sure I tanked it, but I'll be back in a month or so, hopefully much better prepared.
Click to expand...
here you go...

501.15(C)(3) for conventional Classification.

505.16(D)(3) for zones (European incrementalism to the NEC)

Just because you stubbed your toe, doesn't mean you can't come back and kick it's azz next go around!
 
Thanks all for the info/advice (special thx to rockyd for solving the sealing compound dilema) LOL!! I swear I was so stressed, I would have had a hard time finding my watch pocket much less some of those "look ups".....he he he much thx to all!
 
Well sir..(sirs) I'll have you know I spent a lot of money on Mike Holts Exam prep books and dvds. I dilegently studied My arse off for 6 months only to find that full claculations that Mr. Holt said would not be on the exam was. My intenion was only to give a heads up to another potential test taker not to get all caught up in that mess like I did. I did not mean to imply I didn't know the material (accept maybe the available short ckt one) Given enough time Im sure I would have done really well. The 2.4 minutes per question is no where near enough time for such entailed calculations, and it caught me off gaurd thats all...............No disrespect to Mr Holt or the fine people in this forum. :smile:
 
... ohm's law...

... ohm's law...

quote: One question really surprised me...they want to know the secondary available fault of a 75 kva fully loaded single phase transformer ...impedance = .02 ohms......

PowerPig...
You're not gonna like this answer,....... ohm's law!!! :mad:

I=V/R
short-circuit amps (I) = 240(V)/0.02 ohms (R) = 12,000 amps

Tests can be so intimidating that they blurr the obvious.

JM
 
Thanx to all

Thanx to all

Yes your all right......If I had it to do over I would be much more relaxed and prepared....... The test was much harder than I expected but was able to pass with a respectable grade of 83%. I have done some research on the questions that blew me away, and they were all kinda simple after all.
"its normal to be anxious of the unknown" Quote from Dr. Phil LOL!!
Thanx to all the good ppl affilitated with this forum that helped me through the "rough" times.:smile:
 
bphgravity said:
It sounds like you were not as prepared as you could be. If you fail to prepare, then you should prepare to fail...
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.

Heard That !

And your where shocked that they asked you (OP) to Calc. on a house....

There's plenty of examples in the back of NFPA-70, that they can make into wonderful test questions, It frankly make me ponder what people think might be required in a State level test, based on the "NEC" ...

I just like look at it like work, either your the machine to process all the information, math, application / function, apply it, Or it's something else.
Present company excluded!

What ever You concieve, You can achieve, keep studing :rolleyes:
 
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