Thermal relays cannot provide short-circuit protection—fuses must be installed separately. They are unsuitable for motors with very long starting times, frequent operation, or intermittent duty cycles. The operating curve of the heater unit closely duplicates the average heating curve of electrical machinery. Thermal relays are the perfect solution for providing protection to motors which provides the most precise tripping for the electric motor during single phasing and overload. Some of the primary causes include: 1. Selecting the right thermal overload relay requires understanding two critical factors: the heating element technology and the reset mechanism. What is a Thermal Relay? What is a.