Theory homework question turining into a disaster.

[MasterTheNEC]

I know, I just dislike all the poor questions that people have mentioned here, this one is not nearly as bad as some are though.

The student also needs to realize the instructor is human and can make mistakes and if something doesn't seem right they can/should ask for clarification. Instructors should be open to the student for such questions, after all they are being paid to teach.

It may be. However, I came up with the answer to the question and to be honest with you maybe the load and so on was not intended to be part of the question. For example, many times we need to calculate something out without knowing the load...so that we can provide a limit to the load at a later date. We do this all the time...so knowing the ampacity limitations on a conductor (after corrections and adjustments) will (like in this question) provide us with the answer as the question is written. When I teach these types of classes I usually give many questions that are to have the student answer with only the information provided.

We know the conductor type, which gave us the column to use in 310.15(B)(16), they gave us the number of conductors, they gave us the size, and so on which was enough to calculate the requested ampacity of the conductors in the "Perfect World" situation the question presented.

But I get you my friend....and I also agree and I am just saying that the teacher might have known exactly what they were shooting for. We will have no idea since the teacher is not here to defend the question.

 

[kwired]

It may be. However, I came up with the answer to the question and to be honest with you maybe the load and so on was not intended to be part of the question. For example, many times we need to calculate something out without knowing the load...so that we can provide a limit to the load at a later date. We do this all the time...so knowing the ampacity limitations on a conductor (after corrections and adjustments) will (like in this question) provide us with the answer as the question is written. When I teach these types of classes I usually give many questions that are to have the student answer with only the information provided.

We know the conductor type, which gave us the column to use in 310.15(B)(16), they gave us the number of conductors, they gave us the size, and so on which was enough to calculate the requested ampacity of the conductors in the "Perfect World" situation the question presented.

But I get you my friend....and I also agree and I am just saying that the teacher might have known exactly what they were shooting for. We will have no idea since the teacher is not here to defend the question.

The question could have at least specified whether or not all 8 conductors were current carrying or not, and if any were equipment grounding conductors. As has been mentioned since part of the question was to size a non metallic raceway for those conductors, at least one EGC should be involved.

 

[MasterTheNEC]

The question could have at least specified whether or not all 8 conductors were current carrying or not, and if any were equipment grounding conductors. As has been mentioned since part of the question was to size a non metallic raceway for those conductors, at least one EGC should be involved.

Indeed....and i guess my answers could have gone like this.....(2) multiwire branch circuits with each having a EGC, or (2) 3-phase circuits with no grounded conductor and (2) EGC's....lol.....and just let the possibilities go on....lol

Guess we will never know...so I choose to take it at face value...lol...even if my answer would have been a code violation...lol....as mine assumed no other variables like the actual circuit needing an EGC...lol

 

[MasterTheNEC]

OK, I conceded....Bad Question...

 

[Strathead]

Wow three pages and no follow ups from the OP! On the first page there was a comment about teaching the student to learn. So, Apex, I hope you have read this far. Did you find an answer in the ramblings of us old folk on the preceding pages? If so, please submit the answer to us for review. If not, then please tell us what you think the answer is and maybe we can figure out where your confusion is.

 

[RichB]

I agree --- sort of- about a poorly written question--but my first impression was that it was to get the student looking in the book and finding the correct tables etc.-I use these type of questions a lot in a classroom environment, sometimes they even originate with a student-true there were some assumptions to make--but, being a student, he may not know that and this question should have him starting to ask the instructor those questions as he starts trying to answer--thus showing that "larnin' has tooken place"--so in conclusion--

A poorly written "test" question--yes

A poorly written "get you into the book and thinking question"--not really

Just my thoughts

 

[MasterTheNEC]

Wow three pages and no follow ups from the OP! On the first page there was a comment about teaching the student to learn. So, Apex, I hope you have read this far. Did you find an answer in the ramblings of us old folk on the preceding pages? If so, please submit the answer to us for review. If not, then please tell us what you think the answer is and maybe we can figure out where your confusion is.

Old Folks...Watch it buddy..:angel:

 

[ApexTech]

Thank you to all!

Thank you to all!

Thank you all very much for your feedback. Eventually I did whole lot of communicating with fellow class mates and exchanging ideas between one another. We came to the conclusion that many of you have came up with. My hat goes off to all of you and much thanks!