The starting relay contacts are described as normally open. What does this mean when the coil is not energized?

• A. They are closed
• B. They are open
• C. They short circuit
• D. They drift open/closed unpredictably

Answer: (B)

Normally open means the contact gap is open when there is no magnetic pull from the coil. With the coil not energized, the contacts stay separated, so the circuit remains open and no current can flow. When the coil is energized, the magnetic field pulls the contacts together and the circuit closes, allowing current to pass. This default-off behavior is the opposite of normally closed contacts, which are closed when the coil is not energized. There’s no short circuit or unpredictable behavior—the contact status is determined solely by whether the coil is energized.