Which statement illustrates a characteristic of nominal voltage?

Question

Options

• ANominal voltage is the voltage reference published by the power company.
• BIn most geographies, nominal voltage is fixed at either 380 V or 460 V.
• CNominal voltage is calculated based upon the load characteristics of the end user.
• DNominal voltage is the voltage that is supplied to the building and factors in power distribution losses.

• A
  79% (30)
• B
  11% (4)
• C
  3% (1)
• D
  8% (3)

Explanation

Option A is correct because "nominal" means "in name" - nominal voltage is simply the labeled or designated voltage reference that the utility publishes to identify a power system (e.g., 120V, 208V, 480V). It is a standardized naming convention, not a guarantee of the exact voltage delivered at any moment.

Option B is wrong because nominal voltages vary widely by geography and system type - North America commonly uses 120V, 208V, and 480V, while Europe uses 230V and 400V, so there is no universal fixed value of 380V or 460V.

Option C is wrong because nominal voltage is set by the utility as a system standard, not derived from or calculated based on what any individual end user's equipment demands.

Option D is wrong because it describes utilization voltage (the actual voltage arriving at equipment after accounting for distribution losses), not nominal voltage, which is a reference label rather than a measured delivery value.

Memory tip: Focus on the word "nominal" itself - it shares a root with "name." Nominal voltage is simply the power company's published name for a voltage level, nothing more calculated or delivery-specific than that.

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