Which relay terminal is normally open (NO) and which is normally closed (NC)?

Per the diagram, terminal 87 is NO (normally open) and terminal 87A is NC (normally closed).

What connects to relay terminals 85 and 86?

Terminal 85 gets the hot wire from the switch and terminal 86 goes to ground (GRD-). The diagram notes terminals 85 and 86 can be swapped.

Where does relay terminal 30 get its power?

Terminal 30 is fed from Batt+ through a fuse.

Which terminal goes to the load in this diagram?

The diagram shows terminal 87A labeled 'To Load+', indicating the load is on the normally-closed contact in this example.

Does coil polarity matter on terminals 85 and 86?

No — the diagram states terminals 85 and 86 can be swapped.

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Automotive 5-Pin Relay Diagram - Terminals 30, 85, 86, 87 & 87A (NO/NC)

Bosch-style 5-pin relay terminal reference diagram with 85/86/30/87/87A pinout

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Relay terminal reference showing coil terminals 85 (switched hot) and 86 (ground), output terminal 30 from battery through fuse, 87 normally-open and 87A normally-closed to load.

AI caption February 2008 · Photo 356 of 579

This document is a simple hand-drawn style diagram explaining the terminal layout and functions of a standard 5-pin automotive relay that has both normally-open (NO) and normally-closed (NC) output terminals. The diagram shows a relay box with two coil terminals on top: terminal 85, labeled 'Hot wire from switch,' and terminal 86, labeled 'GRD-' (ground). Text inside the box notes that terminals 85 and 86 can be swapped, meaning coil polarity is interchangeable. The bottom of the diagram shows the output (switched) terminals: terminal 30, labeled 'From Batt+ Through fuse,' which is the common power input; terminal 87A, labeled 'To Load+,' which the diagram identifies as the normally-closed (NC) contact; and terminal 87, identified as the normally-open (NO) contact. A reader can learn which relay pins receive switched trigger power, ground, fused battery power, and which pin feeds the load, as well as the NO/NC behavior of terminals 87 and 87A. The diagram is generic and not tied to any specific vehicle, year, or part number, though it was uploaded to a 1997 Ford Taurus gallery alongside Taurus-specific wiring references.

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Frequently asked questions

Which relay terminal is normally open (NO) and which is normally closed (NC)?: Per the diagram, terminal 87 is NO (normally open) and terminal 87A is NC (normally closed).
What connects to relay terminals 85 and 86?: Terminal 85 gets the hot wire from the switch and terminal 86 goes to ground (GRD-). The diagram notes terminals 85 and 86 can be swapped.
Where does relay terminal 30 get its power?: Terminal 30 is fed from Batt+ through a fuse.
Which terminal goes to the load in this diagram?: The diagram shows terminal 87A labeled 'To Load+', indicating the load is on the normally-closed contact in this example.
Does coil polarity matter on terminals 85 and 86?: No — the diagram states terminals 85 and 86 can be swapped.