Abstract: A thermally actuatable auxiliary switch (10, 10', 100) used with a refrigerator compressor system (60) has a generally U-shaped bimetallic element (12) mounted at one end on a base plate (16, 16', 102) and with a movable contact (28) mounted on the high expansion side (12a) of the bimetallic element in alignment with a stationary contact (32) mounted on a stationary contact support (18, 18', 116). A thermal generator (34) in the form of a PTC pill (36) wire-wound resistor (28), or other electrically energizable heater or in the form of a discharge tube (60e) of a compressor, provides heat to the bimetallic element (12) causing it to deflect after the solid state starter (50) has switched to its high resistance state to switch out the solid state starter while the compressor motor remains energized.