The present disclosure provides a method of safely activating and deactivating hot-swap circuitry powered off of a bus bar. One aspect of the present technology provides a method that includes receiving a bus bar connector. The bus bar connector includes a housing having first and second electrical contacts. The first and second electrical contacts are configured to connect with a bus bar. The bus bar connector also includes a short pin detector attached to the housing. The short pin detector is configured to transmit one or more signals. The method includes engaging the first and second electrical contacts with the bus bar. In response to engaging of the first and second electrical contacts, a first signal can be transmitted indicating that the housing is connected to the bus bar and a hot-swap payload associated with the bus bar connector is activated.