How is a panic button most usually wired?

• A. Normally open
• B. Normally closed
• C. Latching
• D. Momentary

Answer: (A)

Panic buttons are wired so that pressing the button creates a signal to trigger the alarm. The standard arrangement is normally open, meaning the switch is open (no connection) when nothing is pressed. When you press the button, the contacts close and complete the circuit, sending the alarm signal to the control panel. This setup ensures the system only activates when someone deliberately presses the button, not just because the line is resting in a closed state.

If the switch were normally closed, pressing it would open the circuit and likely not produce the intended alarm signal. A latching design would keep the alarm active after a press until someone performs a reset, which is not desirable for a quick, one-time panic trigger. While many panic buttons are also momentary (they close only while being pressed), the choice described focuses on the resting state of the contacts, which is normally open.