An electrosurgical bipolar instrument includes an instrument housing having a distal end, a proximal end and an elongated body therebetween. The electrosurgical bipolar instrument includes a pair of radio frequency (RF) electrodes disposed at the distal end of the instrument housing and a control circuit mounted within the instrument housing. The control circuit has a first cut/coagulate mode pad, a common pad and a first cut/coagulate mode push button configured to electrically couple the first cut/coagulate mode pad to the common pad when actuated. The electrosurgical bipolar instrument further includes a plug coupled to the proximal end of the instrument housing having first and second RF contacts electrically coupled to the pair of RF electrodes. The plug has a first cut/coagulate mode contact and a first common contact electrically isolated from the first and second RF contacts and the pair of RF electrodes.