Eddy Current
Senior Member
I know about thermal overloads in can lights but in a switch? Do switches get hot?
Thermal Overload Switch
- Thread starter Eddy Current
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Is this a thermal overload that you can interchange ? (different ratings)
If so, you probably actually have a manual motor starter.
They resemble a switch but have means to add a thermal motor overload heater.
See Pg 3
of link in next post
If so, you probably actually have a manual motor starter.
They resemble a switch but have means to add a thermal motor overload heater.
See Pg 3
of link in next post
Last edited:
Eddy Current
Senior Member
So the thermal overload isnt actually in the switch, the switch is controlling the thermal overload on whatever it is going to?
- Occupation
- Licensed Electrician
The power goes through the switch that contains a thermal overload and on to a motor. If the motor starts to pull too many amps the thermal opens and kills power to the motor.
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA
- Occupation
- Electrical Engineer
... by tripping the switch. As he said, it may LOOK like a regular toggle switch with a heater element, but it acts like a circuit breaker. The heater element is the current sensor that trips the switch if the motor load is too high.
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