St. Louis County homeowner test?

[Innovate1]

Planning to do my own wiring for everything but the main panel (which I am required to get an electrician for). For that I need to take a test and wondering what sort of things might be on the test. I have done a fair amount of electrical work over the years and usually look up the details of what I need to do rather than have everything committed to memory.

Some cities in the area do their own permitting and some have the county do it. For those that do their own I have heard it can be as simple as talking to the inspector so he knows you know enough for the particular project. Mine is through the county and apparently is a standard test for any project. Just wanting to know what to expect.

 

[BillK]

When I built my detached garage the Homeowner test was an open book test on the code. I am pretty sure they even supplied the book I think they mainly want to make sure you can find the proper way to do things in the book. Its been a while and I cant remember what they asked but it wasnt difficult.

 

[Stuart in MN]

What state is St. Louis County in? I know there's one in Minnesota, another in Missouri, and there may be others. Someone here may be familiar with the specific test you're talking about.

 

[Innovate1]

Dohh!! It didn't occur to me that there could be more than one. St. Louis, Missouri.

What state is St. Louis County in? I know there's one in Minnesota, another in Missouri, and there may be others. Someone here may be familiar with the specific test you're talking about.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Dohh!! It didn't occur to me that there could be more than one. St. Louis, Missouri.

helps to add your location in your profile

 

[6768rogues]

A test? There is a stipulation that NY has not thought of so I will try not to let them know. Here some cities have licensing of electricians, but most of the state has none. Anyone can do electrical work. A permit is required for new work or extending or modifying an electrical system. There are independent fee based electrical inspectors. A permit is issued, the work is done, the owner/contractor pays for an inspection, and the municipality is happy.

 

[dangdude]

Innovate1, did you find anything out or take the test? I'm also in St. Louis County and would like to take the test. I hear the guys help you through it if you display you have common sense, but I tend to overprepare, and I honestly don't know how to read the IRC books directly.

 

[4xdog]

i took that test in Saint Louis County, Missouri about ten years ago as part of new service and rewiring to my garage in Richmond Heights.

It's not a trivial test. I read and re-read the NEC for a week or two and probably did "OK" on the test, but certainly not stellar.

The inspector had already had talks with my brother who came over from Ohio to help out, and as my brother was an EE who knew the code by *heart* the inspector felt OK to let us work on it. I'd guess it was probably a combination of my making a legitimate effort to learn the main parts of the code and Dave's intimate familiarity with it that reassured him.

We passed our final inspection with glowing remarks. Saint Louis County is mainly looking to see that you get it, and aren't going to do something dumb that's gonna need complete reworking on inspection.

 

[Innovate1]

I took the test. It's fairly basic but you need to be able to look stuff up in the NEC. No questions that I would consider trick questions. Questions are not multiple choice - you have to write the answer. They provided the book with some tabs so it wasn't too bad. One question was how close to a box the cable needed to be secured. I found them to be pretty helpful and reasonable (didn't get that impression from other areas of county building I dealt with!). I completed it in about 45 min as I recall and they seemed a little surprised I was done that quick. I work in electronics and deal with power wiring some so that helps but it's not building wiring so has different rules.

We ended up scrapping our plans to build there - partly due to all the red tape and partly for other reasons. Where we ended up I can do all my own wiring including the main panel and all the plumbing on my own residence. I done it other places so it's not something I do all the time but not something I haven't done before either. Basically nothing I can't do here as long as it is my home.

You can register to view the NEC on line for free. If you have trouble finding it I can try to find a link.

 

[Innovate1]

They won't let you do the main panel or sub panels. Only branch wiring.

 

[4xdog]

They won't let you do the main panel or sub panels. Only branch wiring.

That must be a change in the last few years. When we did my project we installed a sub panel in the house and another in the garage. I had a pro do the hookup of the sub to the main, but even that would have been allowed, I believe. We just felt it safer to have a real electrician take care of that part.

 

[Innovate1]

I also recall there was a question on box fill.

 

[dangdude]

Thank you, this was very helpful. I haven't found the actual NEC book yet but there are tons of quizzes online.