Red Seal Electrician Practice
Wiring and componentsQuestion 66 of 1506

What does a snubber (resistor and capacitor in series, across a contact) do?

  1. It increases the voltage across the open contact
  2. It limits the current when the contact is closed
  3. It reduces arcing when the contact opens
  4. It increases the wetting current
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Correct answer: It reduces arcing when the contact opens

The capacitor slows the voltage rise at opening. The resistor limits the capacitor discharge on closing.

Source: Lessons in Electric Circuits IV: Digital (Kuphaldt), 4.2: Switch Contact Design

Practice wiring and components

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026