What is a potential risk of connecting a capacitor across control contacts?

Connecting a capacitor across control contacts can indeed create a significant risk if the capacitor shorts. When a capacitor fails by shorting, it can essentially create a direct path for current to flow around the control circuit. This bypassing can lead to unintended operation of components downstream, potentially causing equipment malfunction or even damage to sensitive components.

In essence, the control circuit is designed to manage the flow of electricity and to operate equipment within safe parameters. When a capacitor shorts, it disrupts this management by circumventing control mechanisms, which might cause the equipment to run continuously or operate under unsafe conditions.

The other scenarios presented do illustrate potential concerns related to electrical systems, but the specific risk associated with a shorted capacitor leading to a bypass of control is a fundamental aspect of circuit design that technicians must be aware of to prevent equipment failures.