In a commercial building, a 100-ampere branch circuit is supplying a piece of equipment that requires a 125-ampere overcurrent protection device. According to the 2026 NEC, what type of overcurrent protection device should be used?
- A100-ampere circuit breaker
- 125-ampere circuit breaker
- C100-ampere fuse
- D125-ampere fuse
Exam tip
Be aware of the requirements for overcurrent protection in relation to the rating of the equipment and the branch circuit.
Why B is correct
The NEC requires that the overcurrent protection device for a branch circuit be equal to or greater than the rating of the equipment being protected. Therefore, a 125-ampere circuit breaker should be used to protect the 100-ampere branch circuit.