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CSLB C-7 Low Voltage Systems (Trade Exam) Exam Cheat Sheet (2026)
A free, printable CSLB C-7 Low Voltage Systems (Trade Exam) exam cheat sheet: the 42 highest-yield points to know, grouped into 7 sections that follow the exam's content areas, each section with its published weight.
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- The real CSLB C-7 Low Voltage Systems (Trade Exam) exam: 210 minutes.
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- 100 free CSLB C-7 Low Voltage Systems (Trade Exam) practice questions on the same material, every one explained.
- Last updated: October 2026.
Job Planning and Design
18% of the exam- C-7 limit
- Energy limited and not over 91 volts; telephone, sound, CATV, CCTV, satellite, controls and landscape lighting are named.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 16 §832.07
- Fire alarm
- Low voltage fire alarm systems are specifically not included in C-7.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 16 §832.07
- Class 2 and 3
- The power source must be listed and marked as Class 2 or Class 3.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §§2585.1, 2585.2
- Horizontal limit
- 295 feet (90 meters) from patch panel to outlet.· UFC 3-580-01 (2024), para. 2-3.3.2.1
- Pull points
- No more than 100 feet or 180 degrees of bends between pull boxes.· UFGS 27 10 00 (2025), para. 3.3.1
- Separation
- Indoor communications cable 2 inches from power conductors unless a barrier or equal method is used.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §2587.3(d)
- Room cooling
- Not on time clocks or setbacks; no piping over racks.· UFC 3-580-01 (2024), para. 2-3.1.3.4
- Firestopping
- Rated penetrations sealed with tested F, T and L rated systems.· UFGS 07 84 00
- Existing plant
- Test reused pairs before splicing; retag after count transfers.· UFC 3-580-01 (2024), paras. 3-9.2, 3-9.3
Material Selection and Estimation
15% of the exam- Fiber colors
- Single-mode yellow; OM3 aqua; OM4 violet or aqua; OM5 lime green.· UFC 3-580-01 (2024), Table 2-3
- Coax
- RG-6 drops, RG-11 trunks, no RG-59 on CATV.· UFC 3-580-01 (2024), para. 2-3.5.2
- PoE
- 802.3af 15.4 W; 802.3at 30 W; 802.3bt 60 W and 90 W, at the switch port.· UFC 3-580-01 (2024), Table 2-8; IEEE 802.3 liaison on P802.3bt (May 2017)
- Slack
- 10 feet in the room and 12 inches above the ceiling per cable.· UFGS 27 10 00 (2025), para. 3.4.2
- Down payment
- Home improvement: no more than $1,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less.· CSLB home improvement contract guide
- Changes
- Price changes by written change order.· CSLB home improvement contract guide
Wire/Cable Installation and Termination
12% of the exam- Tension
- 25 pounds maximum on four-pair copper, monitored.· UFGS 27 10 00 (2025), para. 3.4.2
- Bend radius
- UTP 4 × diameter; fiber 20 × pulling, 10 × installed.· UFGS 27 10 00 (2025), para. 3.4.2
- J-hooks
- 4 to 5 feet apart, 20 cables maximum, attached to structure.· UFGS 27 10 00 (2025), para. 3.3.4
- Untwist
- No more than 1/2 inch at the termination.· UFGS 27 10 00 (2025), para. 3.4.2
- Labels
- Mechanically printed, To/From at both ends; handwritten labels unacceptable.· UFGS 27 10 00 (2025), para. 3.8
- Shared boxes
- Class 2 and 3 conductors stay out of power boxes and raceways without a barrier.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §2585.3
Systems Configuration and Installation
16% of the exam- Rack clearance
- 36 inches front and back.· UFC 3-580-01 (2024), para. 2-3.1.5.3
- Bonding test
- Less than 100 milliohms between any two points.· UFGS 27 10 00 (2025), para. 3.11.1.2
- Antenna masts
- Grounded without a splice in the grounding conductor.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §2587.5
- Cameras
- PoE reach 100 meters; 7–15 fps adequate for most security uses.· UFC 4-021-02 (2025)
- Audio
- 25 or 70.7 V lines; size amplifiers at total taps × 1.4.· UFGS 27 51 16
- VoIP
- 150 ms one-way latency bound; separate voice and data networks.· NIST SP 800-58
Testing and Project Closeout
17% of the exam- Tester levels
- IIe Cat 5e, III Cat 6, IIIe Cat 6A at 500 MHz.· UFC 3-580-01 (2024), Table 2-14
- Fiber acceptance
- Connector 0.5 dB or less; splice 0.3 dB or less.· UFGS 27 10 00 (2025), para. 3.11.1.2
- OTDR distance
- Time converts to distance with the operator-set group index.· NBSIR 87-3078
- Package
- Test results with as-built labeling records as one package.· UFGS 27 10 00 (2025), para. 3.11.1
- Failures
- Corrected before turnover.· UFC 3-580-01 (2024), para. 2-6.5
- Commissioning
- Required where more than passive equipment is provided.· UFC 3-580-01 (2024), para. 2-7
System Troubleshooting, Repairs, or Replacements
7% of the exam- Assume energized
- Equipment is treated as energized until tested.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §2320.3
- No splices
- Horizontal cable is not spliced; replace the run.· UFGS 27 10 00 (2025), para. 3.4.2
- Records
- Retag cables and terminals after transfers.· UFC 3-580-01 (2024), para. 3-9.3
Safety
15% of the exam- IIPP
- Written program with inspections, investigation, correction and training.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §§1509, 3203
- Under 50 volts
- Gloves may be omitted only after a qualified person's determination.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §2320.2
- Locks
- Removed only by the person who placed them.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §2320.5
- Ladders
- Foot out 1/4 of working length; 36 inches above the landing.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §3276
- Fall protection
- Over 7½ feet in construction; free fall no more than 6 feet.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §1670
- Heat
- Outdoors: shade above 80°F, high-heat procedures at 95°F. Indoors: the indoor heat standard applies at 82°F.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 §§3395, 3396
Now prove you know them
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Study aid, not a substitute for the official material — always confirm the current rule with CSLB — C-7 study guide (13E-7).