In a holding circuit, how are the contactor or relay arranged with the stop button?

In a holding circuit, the contactor or relay is arranged in series with the stop button. This configuration is crucial because it allows the circuit to maintain its state once the start button is pressed.

When the start button is activated, it closes the switch and energizes the relay or contactor, causing the contacts to close and allowing current to flow through the holding circuit. This arrangement keeps the circuit energized even after the start button is released. If the stop button is pressed at any point, it opens the circuit, de-energizing the relay or contactor, and breaking the holding circuit. This series arrangement ensures that the machine or load will remain operational until the stop button is used, allowing for safe and effective control of the system.

The parallel arrangement would not achieve this purpose since it would allow the circuit to remain on even if the stop button was activated, which is not the desired function of a holding circuit.