Abstract: A switching circuit having hybrid contactors connects the three output lines of a 3 phase AC power source to three input lines of a load, such as a motor and the like. A single pair of relay contacts is used to directly connect one output line of the AC power source to one input line of the load, whereas each of the other two phases of the AC power source are supplied to the load by one of a pair of pilot relay contacts in series with a diode-shunted one of a pair of master relay contacts. Only two extra pilot relays are used to provide a reversing function. The switching circuit further includes a zero-crossing detector, a phase-sequence detector, a control circuit including four flip-flops arranged in a tumble-down chain and a single distribution circuit having a data select circuit. The control circuit causes the making and breaking of the contacts at particular times, and in a sequence, such that arcing is prevented.