Can motor overload protection be shunted or cut out during the starting period for nonautomatically started motors?

Motor overload protection is designed to prevent damage to the motor during conditions of excessive current, often due to overloads or mechanical failures. Overload relays act by sensing the heat generated by the current flowing through the motor windings, and if the temperature rises above a safe level, the relay trips and disconnects the motor from the power source.

For nonautomatically started motors, it is critical that overload protection remains operational at all times during the starting period. This is because the starting current is typically much higher than the running current, and without proper protection, the motor could be at risk of damage from sustained excessive currents. Shunting or cutting out this protection can lead to potentially severe damage if the motor experiences a fault condition during startup or even if a prolonged starting time is experienced.

The reasoning is clear: the protection system is an integral part of ensuring the motor operates safely, and interrupting this protection, even temporarily, can result in severe risks. Thus, disabling this protection is not permissible, which makes the assertion that motor overload protection should not be cut out during the starting period accurate.