Abstract: A motor starter for use with a motor (20) having a main winding (M) and a start winding (S). The starter has a PTC thermistor (30) connected in series with the start winding (S). A triac (40) is connected between PTC thermistor (30) and a power source line. A control circuit (50) is connected to the power source line for providing a voltage for a gate terminal (G) of triac (40) and an overload relay (60) is connected between the power source (10) and the motor (20). The control circuit (50) preferably includes a current detecting circuit (52) for detecting the inrush current and a voltage generating circuit (54) for generating the voltage in response to the detected inrush current. At the startup of motor (20) the control circuit (50) allows triac (40) to turn on by providing the gate terminal (G) with the voltage based on the inrush current. According to this invention, the power consumption of the start winding S after the startup of the motor (20) can be almost zero thus providing low power consumption.

Abstract: A motor starter for use with a motor (20) having a main winding (M) and a start winding (S). The starter has a PTC thermistor (30) connected in series with the start winding (S). A triac (40) is connected between PTC thermistor (30) and a power source line. A control circuit (50) is connected to the power source line for providing a voltage for a gate terminal (G) of triac (40) and an overload relay (60) is connected between the power source (10) and the motor (20). The control circuit (50) preferably includes a current detecting circuit (52) for detecting the inrush current and a voltage generating circuit (54) for generating the voltage in response to the detected inrush current. At the startup of motor (20) the control circuit (50) allows triac (40) to turn on by providing the gate terminal (G) with the voltage based on the inrush current. According to this invention, the power consumption of the start winding S after the startup of the motor (20) can be almost zero thus providing low power consumption.

Abstract: A protector device (1) has a fixed electrode plate (12) with a fixed contact (12b) attached thereto and a movable electrode plate (14) with a movable contact (14b) attached thereto in which the movable contact (14b) is positioned to be able to make and break contact with the fixed contact (12b). A snap acting thermally responsive bimetallic member (15) is positioned adjacent the movable electrode plate (14) and is movable from a first position to a second position upon being heated to a prescribed temperature for causing either the engagement or disengagement of said fixed contact (12b) and said movable contact (14b). Additionally, an insulator member (13) is provided to insulate said movable electrode (14) and said bimetal member (15) from said fixed electrode plate (12) and an attachment member (17) is used to securely fix both the movable electrode (14) and the bimetal member (15) on the insulator (13).

Abstract: In a sealed casing (2) there are provided a bimetal disc (8) which carries out the switching of an electric current path by snapping between oppositely dished configurations in conformity with the level of the electric current that flows therethrough and ambient temperature by moving a movable contact (10) into and out of the electric current path. A fuse terminal (14, 15, 141, 142, 143, 144) is connected in series with the bimetal disc (8) and shuts off the current path by being melted by an over-current. The fuse terminal (14) in one embodiment is fixed on one surface of a support member (3) that serves as a heater. The fuse terminal (14) and the bimetal disc (8) are connected through a connective pin (12) which is provided through the support member (3) electrically insulated therefrom. In another embodiment the bimetal disc (8) and the fuse terminal (15) are disposed on opposite face surfaces of support member (3).

Abstract: A terminal connector (10, 60, 80, 100, 120, 142) for connecting a lead wire to a terminal which is a component of a current path so that the current path will be established. The terminal connector has a lead wire attachment portion (12, 62, 82, 102, 122, 144) which is fixed to the terminal connector with continuity maintained with respect to the lead wire, a terminal mounting portion (13, 63, 83, 103, 123, 143) mounted on the terminal, a fuse portion (14, 64, 84, 104, 124, 145) which electrically connects the lead wire fixing portion and the terminal mounting portion to each other and which melts at a predetermined overcurrent, and a reinforcement portion (15, 85, 105, 125, 146) which protects the fuse portion against external forces.