Certification Examination Practice

Illinois Street Lighting Technician Certification Examination Practice Questions And Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf

• What is the primary purpose of street lighting systems?
• To improve daytime visibility
• To reduce vehicular emissions
• To provide nighttime visibility and enhance public safety
• To supply power to roadway signage

Rationale: Street lighting is designed to improve visibility and safety for

drivers and pedestrians at night.

• Which standard typically governs illumination levels for public

roadways? 1 / 4

• NEC Article 430
• IES (Illuminating Engineering Society) guidelines

C. NFPA 58

D. OSHA 1910

Rationale: IES sets recommended illumination levels for roadway and area

lighting.

• What is the typical operating voltage for most roadway lighting circuits?

A. 48V

B. 120/240V DC

• 120V or 240V AC

D. 12V AC

Rationale: Most street lighting systems operate on standard AC

distribution voltages.

4. A photocell on a streetlight primarily functions to:

• Regulate voltage
• Turn the light on at dusk and off at dawn
• Measure underground cable temperature
• Monitor utility metering

Rationale: Photocells detect light levels and control switching of luminaires

accordingly.

• LED streetlights are preferred because they: 2 / 4

• Use more energy
• Require ballasts
• Have higher efficiency and longer lifespan
• Operate only on DC

Rationale: LEDs are efficient, durable, and require less maintenance.

• What does the term “lumen output” describe?
• Fixture voltage rating
• Lamp color
• Total light produced by a source
• Fixture weight

Rationale: Lumens measure the amount of visible light emitted.

7. A Type III lighting distribution is typically used for:

• Highways
• Roadways and parking lots
• Stadiums
• Indoor facilities

Rationale: Type III provides a wider forward throw commonly used on

streets and parking areas.

8. A street lighting pole foundation must be designed to:

• Provide water drainage
• Resist wind loads and support pole weight
• Store conduit 3 / 4

• Improve electrical grounding only

Rationale: Structural integrity under wind loading is critical for pole

foundations.

9. The NEC article most relevant to street lighting installation is:

• Article 690
• Article 410
• Article 300
• Article 701

Rationale: NEC Article 410 covers luminaires and associated equipment.

10. The CRI (Color Rendering Index) measures:

• Solar absorption
• Fixture wattage
• Human eye response time
• Accuracy of color appearance under a light source

Rationale: CRI indicates how accurately colors appear under lighting.

11. A common cause of streetlight flickering is:

• Excessive lumens
• Loose neutral or failing photocell
• Over-sized gauge wire
• Incorrect pole height

Rationale: Neutral issues and photocell failures often cause intermittent

operation.

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