A starter whose contacts open the power circuit when its control circuit is energized is said to have normally ________ contacts.

• A. Open
• B. Closed
• C. Neutral
• D. De-energized

Answer: (B)

Normally closed describes a contact that conducts in its resting, de-energized state. Here, the control circuit being energized causes the contact to open and interrupt the power circuit. That means when there’s no energizing signal, the contact is closed and power can flow; energizing the control opens it to stop the circuit. So the term that fits the situation is normally closed. Normally open would do the opposite—it’s open until the control is energized to close it. Neutral isn’t used to describe contact state, and de-energized refers to the coil, not the contact’s conducting condition.