Prepare for the NCCER Electrical Level 2 Control Systems and Fundamental Concepts exam. Utilize flashcards and multiple choice questions with hints and explanations. Ensure success on your exam!

Multiple Choice

In a relay, what does a normally open contact do when the coil is energized?

A normally open contact is open by default and completes the circuit only when the coil is energized. Energizing the coil creates a magnetic field that pulls the contact closed, allowing current to flow. So, when the coil is energized, this contact closes. If the coil isn’t energized, there’s no path through that contact. This is why it’s called normally open—it’s open at rest and closes with activation.

A normally open contact is open by default and completes the circuit only when the coil is energized. Energizing the coil creates a magnetic field that pulls the contact closed, allowing current to flow. So, when the coil is energized, this contact closes. If the coil isn’t energized, there’s no path through that contact. This is why it’s called normally open—it’s open at rest and closes with activation.