Heat Pumps and Electric Heating - Heat pump runs aux heat even in A/C mode

My heat pump is producing heat with the aux heat strips when in A/C mode or when set to off as well.

I don't know what all the parts inside my heat pump are called so here is a picture of what I'm talking about.

http://imgur.com/ijM84.jpg

the part labeled A in that image is connected to the breakers on one side and two heat strips on the other. With the unit in cool mode and the stat set below room temp I'm reading voltage (with a voltmeter) across the heat strips.

If I turn the fan to auto and the system to off I read voltage on the heat strips as well.

Does this mean that "part A" is bad? and if so what is it called? If not, what do I need to test next? While I'm at it, connected to the other side of the heat strips are what I assume are relays, is that correct?

Thanks

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/Houston204/sequencer.jpg

Do you have 24VAC to the bottom terminals of your heat sequencer with no heat demand? Do you have an Amp meter?

Heat sequencers only interrupt one leg of power. Voltage is always present. Power must be on for this test, so be Very careful.