Multilevel power converters, power cells and methods are presented for selectively bypassing a power stage of a multilevel inverter circuit, in which a single relay or contactor includes one or more normally closed output control contacts coupled between a given power cell switching circuit and the given power cell output, along with a normally open bypass contact coupled across the power stage output, with a local or central controller energizing the coil of the relay or contactor of a given cell to bypass that cell.