220-1202 Safety Procedures and Compliance Practice Question
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of safety procedures and compliance. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A technician is troubleshooting a PC that repeatedly shuts down. The user mentions the computer is plugged into a power strip that also has a space heater and a laser printer. What is the most likely cause of the shutdowns?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The power strip is overloaded and cannot supply stable voltage.
The most likely cause is that the power strip is overloaded because it is simultaneously supplying power to a space heater (a high-wattage resistive load), a laser printer (which draws significant current during fuser warm-up), and the PC. This overload causes the power strip's circuit breaker to trip or the voltage to sag below the PC's power supply tolerance, resulting in repeated shutdowns. Option B is correct because the combined current draw exceeds the power strip's rated capacity, leading to unstable voltage delivery.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
The computer's power supply is failing.
Why it's wrong here
While possible, the more likely immediate cause is the overloaded circuit, as indicated by the high-draw devices on the same strip.
✓
The power strip is overloaded and cannot supply stable voltage.
Why this is correct
Excessive load on the power strip causes voltage sag or trips the breaker, leading to shutdowns.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The space heater is emitting electrical interference.
Why it's wrong here
Interference is unlikely to cause shutdowns; the main issue is current draw.
✗
The laser printer needs a toner replacement.
Why it's wrong here
Toner level does not affect power draw or cause shutdowns.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the concept that high-wattage peripherals sharing a power strip can cause voltage sags or breaker trips, leading candidates to incorrectly blame the PC's power supply (Option A) or assume electrical interference (Option C) rather than recognizing the simple overload condition.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A typical power strip is rated for 15 amps (1800 watts at 120 VAC). A space heater can draw 1500 watts, a laser printer during fuser warm-up can draw 800–1200 watts, and a PC with monitor may draw 300–500 watts, easily exceeding the strip's capacity. When overloaded, the strip's thermal breaker may trip, or voltage drop across the strip's internal wiring can cause the PC's power supply to enter undervoltage lockout (UVLO), triggering a shutdown. In real-world scenarios, this often manifests as intermittent shutdowns that correlate with the heater cycling on or the printer starting a print job.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 220-1202 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 220-1202 question in full detail.
Safety Procedures and Compliance — This question tests Safety Procedures and Compliance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The power strip is overloaded and cannot supply stable voltage. — The most likely cause is that the power strip is overloaded because it is simultaneously supplying power to a space heater (a high-wattage resistive load), a laser printer (which draws significant current during fuser warm-up), and the PC. This overload causes the power strip's circuit breaker to trip or the voltage to sag below the PC's power supply tolerance, resulting in repeated shutdowns. Option B is correct because the combined current draw exceeds the power strip's rated capacity, leading to unstable voltage delivery.
What should I do if I get this 220-1202 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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