The thermal overload contacts on a line starter are usually ______ reset:

The thermal overload contacts on a line starter are usually ______ reset:

• A. Auto
• B. Manual
• C. Automatic
• D. Push

Answer: (B)

Thermal overload protection trips to prevent damage when the motor overheats due to excessive current. After that trip, the reset method is typically manual, meaning you must press a reset button and verify the fault condition before the circuit can be re-energized. This requirement ensures you don’t restart a motor that is still overheated or faulty, which could cause further damage or a fire. Automatic reset would clear the trip and restart on its own, potentially reapplying a fault as soon as cooling occurs, which is unsafe for this protection device. Push-to-reset isn’t the standard terminology used for these overloads, so manual reset is the correct concept here.

Thermal overload protection trips to prevent damage when the motor overheats due to excessive current. After that trip, the reset method is typically manual, meaning you must press a reset button and verify the fault condition before the circuit can be re-energized. This requirement ensures you don’t restart a motor that is still overheated or faulty, which could cause further damage or a fire. Automatic reset would clear the trip and restart on its own, potentially reapplying a fault as soon as cooling occurs, which is unsafe for this protection device. Push-to-reset isn’t the standard terminology used for these overloads, so manual reset is the correct concept here.