In the described conduit arrangement, the 8 AWG conductors in Conduit I are which type?

• A. Tap
• B. Feeder
• C. Branch-circuit
• D. Service-entrance

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is telling apart the different ways conductors are classified by where their protection is and what they feed. Service-entrance conductors bring utility power into the building, feeders carry power from the service equipment to distribution equipment, and branch-circuit conductors run from a distribution device to specific loads. Taps are short conductor runs used to connect from one point to another where the overcurrent protection is at the end of the tap or in the next device, often between enclosures or panels.

In this setup, the 8 AWG conductors in Conduit I don’t extend power all the way from the service to loads, nor do they form the main feeder between service equipment and a panel. Instead, they serve as a short, intermediate connection to another point in the circuit. That short, localized nature is exactly what characterizes a tap, which is why these conductors are considered taps.