Thermal compensation control for a motor starter

A method of thermally protecting a motor and compensating a motor starter comprising the steps of:

• periodically monitoring an ambient temperature and a pole temperature of each pole in a motor starter;
• recording the periodically monitored ambient and pole temperatures;
• comparing present ambient and pole temperatures to previously recorded ambient and pole temperatures;and
• preventing a motor start if the temperature comparison reaches a maximum safe parameter and an FLA adjustment is at a motor limit.

A motor starter control for thermally protecting a motor and a motor starter comprising:

• an ambient temperature sensor for sensing ambient temperature and creating ambient temperature signals;
• a pole temperature sensor for sensing a pole temperature in the motor starter and creating pole temperature signals therefrom;
• a memory for periodically storing ambient and pole temperature signals;
• a processor for comparing current ambient and pole temperature signals to previous ambient and pole temperature signals stored in memory, and for increasing an Full-Load-Amperes (FLA) adjustment to the motor when current ambient and pole temperature conditions cause a previous FLA adjustment to be inadequate to start the motor due to increases in internal resistance.