An electrosurgical apparatus comprising: an electrosurgical generator coupled to an electrical power supply configured to generate electrosurgical energy; a handpiece (200, 401) including: a housing having a passage extending therethough, the housing having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end configured to support an electrode; at least four switches (215, 217, 225, 227) disposed on a surface of the housing configured to be selectively activated by a user; and three wires (218, 220, 222) connected between the housing and a connector (212, 412), the connector configured to be operatively coupled to the electrosurgical generator, a first wire being coupled to the electrode and configured to receive electrosurgical energy from the electrosurgical generator, a second wire being coupled to a first switch of the at least four switches and configured to generate a first activation signal and a third wire being coupled to a second switch of the at least four switches and configured to generate a second activation signal, wherein a third and fourth switch of the at least four switches are coupled to the first wire and the second or third wire via a respective resonant circuit (230, 232) configured to generate third and forth activation signals; and at least one activation sense circuit configured to distinguish between the first, second, third and fourth activation signals and to execute a corresponding action. an electrosurgical generator coupled to an electrical power supply configured to generate electrosurgical energy; a handpiece (200, 401) including: a housing having a passage extending therethough, the housing having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end configured to support an electrode; at least four switches (215, 217, 225, 227) disposed on a surface of the housing configured to be selectively activated by a user; and three wires (218, 220, 222) connected between the housing and a connector (212, 412), the connector configured to be operatively coupled to the electrosurgical generator, a first wire being coupled to the electrode and configured to receive electrosurgical energy from the electrosurgical generator, a second wire being coupled to a first switch of the at least four switches and configured to generate a first activation signal and a third wire being coupled to a second switch of the at least four switches and configured to generate a second activation signal, wherein a third and fourth switch of the at least four switches are coupled to the first wire and the second or third wire via a respective resonant circuit (230, 232) configured to generate third and forth activation signals; and a housing having a passage extending therethough, the housing having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end configured to support an electrode; at least four switches (215, 217, 225, 227) disposed on a surface of the housing configured to be selectively activated by a user; and three wires (218, 220, 222) connected between the housing and a connector (212, 412), the connector configured to be operatively coupled to the electrosurgical generator, a first wire being coupled to the electrode and configured to receive electrosurgical energy from the electrosurgical generator, a second wire being coupled to a first switch of the at least four switches and configured to generate a first activation signal and a third wire being coupled to a second switch of the at least four switches and configured to generate a second activation signal, wherein a third and fourth switch of the at least four switches are coupled to the first wire and the second or third wire via a respective resonant circuit (230, 232) configured to generate third and forth activation signals; and at least one activation sense circuit configured to distinguish between the first, second, third and fourth activation signals and to execute a corresponding action.