Chapter 27

Hand-Off-Automatic
Controls

Objectives
After studying this chapter, the student will be able to
●● Describe the operation of a hand-off-automatic control switch.
●● Connect a hand-off-automatic control circuit.
●● Recognize hand-off-automatic switches on a schematic diagram.

Hand-off-automatic (HOA) controls are used to
permit an operator to select between automatic
and manual operation of a motor. The circuit shown
in Figure 27–1 permits a motor to be operated by
a float switch or to be run manually. The switch is
shown as a single-pole, double-throw switch with a
center Off position.
Another symbol for a hand-off-automatic
switch is shown in Figure 27–2. This switch is
shown to contain two separate sets of contacts.
One set is labeled 1–2 and the other is labeled 3–4.
The switch chart indicates that when the switch is
in the Off position, there is no connection between
any of the contacts. When set in the Hand posi-
tion, connection is made between terminals 1 and
2. When set in the Automatic position, connection
is made between terminals 3 and 4. This circuit is
the control for a large fan that pulls air through a
building. The motor in this example is water cooled:
It requires a flow of cooling water when running.
Starter M1 controls the fan motor, and starter M2
controls a pump used to circulate water through
the motor. Flow switch FS1 detects the flow of
­water to ensure that the fan motor cannot run if
there is no flow of cooling water. A warning lamp
indicates that there is no flow of water when the
circuit is energized.
When the hand-off-automatic switch is set in
the Hand position, connection is made between
terminals 1 and 2. This permits the motor to be
controlled by a start–stop push button station.
In this mode, the fan runs continuously until the
Stop button is pressed. When the HOA switch is
placed in the Auto position, a thermostat controls

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Chapter 27  Hand-Off-Automatic Controls

L1 L2 L3

M OLHTR

M OLHTR
MOTOR
M OLHTR

CONTROL TRANSFORMER

OL
HAND

© Cengage Learning 2014

M
OFF

AUTO

Figure 27–1
Hand-off-automatic switch provides manual control of a
motor, or control can be provided by a float switch.

CONTROL
TRANSFORMER

H O A
1-2 X 0 0
H O A
3-4 0 0 X
START
STOP OL1
1 2 FS1
M1

3 4 M2

OL2
TEMP 1
M2
© Cengage Learning 2014

Figure 2­7–2 
A water-cooled motor must have a flow of water before it is permitted to run.

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Chapter 27  Hand-Off-Automatic Controls

the action of the fan. A combination push button

station with a hand-off-automatic switch and pilot
lamp is shown in Figure 27–3.
The flow switch shown in Figure 27–2 employs
two separate contacts, one normally open and the
other normally closed. The dashed line indicates
that the two switches are mechanically connected.
When one switch changes position, the other
switch changes position also. If a flow switch with
two separate switches cannot be obtained, it is pos-
sible to use a single-pole, double-throw switch with
a common terminal, a normally open terminal, and

© Cengage Learning 2014

a normally closed terminal in this circuit. Notice
that one terminal of both the normally open switch
and normally closed switch are connected together.
This forms a common point for both switches and
Figure 27–3 could be used as the common terminal for a flow
push button control station with hand-off-auto switch switch that contains a single-pole, double-throw
and pilot light. switch, Figure 27–4. Although the circuit shown
in Figure 27–4 looks different from the circuit in
­F igure 27–2, electrically they are the same and
­operate in the same manner.

CONTROL
TRANSFORMER

H O A
1-2 X 0 0
H O A 3-4 0 0 X
START OL1
FS1
STOP NO
1 2 C M1
NC

R
3 4
M2
© Cengage Learning 2014

OL2
TEMP 1
M2

Figure 27–4 
A flow with two separate switches has been replaced with a single-pole, double-throw switch.

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●● Review Questions
1. Refer to the circuit shown in Figure 27–2. Would
it be possible to replace the hand-off-auto switch
in this circuit with a hand-off-auto switch that
contained a common terminal and center Off
position like the HOA switch shown in Figure
27–1? Explain your answer.
2. Refer to the circuit shown in Figure 27–2. Would
the temperature have to increase or decrease to
permit the fan to turn on?
3. Refer to the circuit shown in Figure 27–2. Which
starter controls the holding contacts connected
in parallel with the start push button?
4. Refer to the circuit shown in Figure 27–4. Assume
that the HOA switch is in the Hand position and
that the motor is running. Now assume that OL1
opens its contacts. Would this cause the pump
motor to stop operating? Explain your answer.
5. Refer to the circuit shown in Figure 27–2. As-
sume that the HOA switch is in the Hand posi-
tion and that the motor is running. Now assume
that OL2 opens its contacts. Would this stop the
operation of the fan motor? Explain your answer.
6. Refer to the circuit shown in Figure 27–4.
Assume that the HOA switch is in the Auto
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Chapter 27  Hand-Off-Automatic Controls
position. Also assume the fan is running. Now
assume that the fan stops running and the
red warning light turns on. Which of the fol-
lowing could cause this condition?
a. The OL1 contacts are open.
b. The Temp 1 switch is open.
c. The OL2 contacts are open.
d. The HOA switch has been moved to the
Off position.
7. Refer to the circuit shown in Figure 27–2. As-
sume that the HOA switch is set in the Hand
position. When the Start button is pressed,
the red warning lamp lights. When the Start
button is released, the light turns off, but the
fan motor does not start. Each time the Start
button is pressed, the warning lamp lights
for as long as the Start button is held down,
but it goes out each time the Start button is
released, and the fan does not start. Which of
the following could cause this condition?
a. The Temp 1 switch is open.
b. The M2 starter coil is open.
c. The M1 starter coil is open.
d. The Stop push button is open.