A communication network comprising: a master device; an actuator-sensor-interface (AS-I) communication bus; an electromagnetic contactor configured to be monitored and controlled; a slave device in communication with the master device via the actuator-sensor-interface (AS-I) communication bus, the electromagnetic contactor configured to be monitored and controlled operatively connectable to the slave device, and the slave device configured to receive commands from the master device via the AS-I communication bus, and to execute the commands to control the electromagnetic contactor; a power relay disposed and configured to actuate the electromagnetic contactor; a sensor disposed and configured to sense a signal representative of a movement of a moveable contact carrier of the electromagnetic contactor in response to the electromagnetic contactor being actuated, wherein the sensor is configured to send the sensed signal to the slave device and the slave device is arranged to send the sensed signal to the master device; wherein the master device is configured to send a command to the slave device instructing the slave device to actuate the electromagnetic contactor, wherein the master device is configured to determine an operating state of the electromagnetic contactor based on the sensed signal, the operating state of the electromagnetic contactor being one of a normal state, an abnormal closed state, or an abnormal open state, the master device determining that the electromagnetic contactor is in the normal operating state if (i) when the power relay is in an off state, the sensed signal indicates an opening action of the movable contact carrier and (ii) when the power relay is an on state, the sensed signal indicates that the movement of the movable contact carrier is interrupted, and wherein, if the master device determines that the electromagnetic contactor is in the abnormal closed state or the abnormal open state, within a predetermined period of time the master device sends a signal to the power relay to change to the off state, thereby de-energizing the electromagnetic contactor. a master device; an actuator-sensor-interface (AS-I) communication bus; an electromagnetic contactor configured to be monitored and controlled; a slave device in communication with the master device via the actuator-sensor-interface (AS-I) communication bus, the electromagnetic contactor configured to be monitored and controlled operatively connectable to the slave device, and the slave device configured to receive commands from the master device via the AS-I communication bus, and to execute the commands to control the electromagnetic contactor; a power relay disposed and configured to actuate the electromagnetic contactor; a sensor disposed and configured to sense a signal representative of a movement of a moveable contact carrier of the electromagnetic contactor in response to the electromagnetic contactor being actuated, wherein the sensor is configured to send the sensed signal to the slave device and the slave device is arranged to send the sensed signal to the master device; wherein the master device is configured to send a command to the slave device instructing the slave device to actuate the electromagnetic contactor, wherein the master device is configured to determine an operating state of the electromagnetic contactor based on the sensed signal, the operating state of the electromagnetic contactor being one of a normal state, an abnormal closed state, or an abnormal open state, the master device determining that the electromagnetic contactor is in the normal operating state if (i) when the power relay is in an off state, the sensed signal indicates an opening action of the movable contact carrier and (ii) when the power relay is an on state, the sensed signal indicates that the movement of the movable contact carrier is interrupted, and wherein, if the master device determines that the electromagnetic contactor is in the abnormal closed state or the abnormal open state, within a predetermined period of time the master device sends a signal to the power relay to change to the off state, thereby de-energizing the electromagnetic contactor.