Which item is not a recognized overcurrent protective device category?

• A. Equipment Overcurrent Protective Devices
• B. Application-Limited OCPDs
• C. Branch-Circuit Overcurrent Protective Devices
• D. Supplementary Overcurrent Protective Devices

Answer: (C)

Protection device categories describe the protective role and limits defined in the standard, not just where the device sits in the circuit. The recognized categories specify the purpose of the protection: Equipment Overcurrent Protective Devices guard the equipment and conductors from overcurrent; Supplementary Overcurrent Protective Devices provide backup or additional protection under specific conditions; and Application-Limited OCPDs refer to devices used under constrained conditions to meet particular coordination or application requirements. A label like “branch-circuit overcurrent protective devices” describes where a device is used (on a branch circuit) rather than a distinct protective function defined by the standard. Because it does not denote a separate category, it is not recognized as a formal OCPD category. In practice, a branch circuit is protected by an OCPD whose primary category would be one of the recognized types (often equipment OCPD or a category defined by its specific application), but the term itself isn’t a formal category.