This is caused by too much load on a motor. While overloads are allowed for a short time (usually minutes), prolonged overloads will use thermal action to cause a protective device to trip. This article explores the most common causes of these overloads, the human factors that contribute to them, and the most effective solutions to prevent. When a motor is first started, before the shaft has a chance to pick up speed and begin to rotate, the characteristics of the stator coil are that of a short circuit. As such the motor starts to draw very high values of current. This current creates a magnetic field that causes the motor shaft to. Abstract: To protect personnel, equipment, and maintain continuity of service for an electrical system, protection or fault interrupting devices are required. Adequate system designs allow for the system to withstand and isolate faults while not causing additional damage and/or outages. System. Two common protective trip conditions in low-voltage AC drives (and similarly in DC drive systems) are overcurrent faults and motor overloads. We focus on practical scenarios. Reliable protective devices prevent or minimize costly damage to transformers, conductors, motors, and the other many components and loads that make up the complete distribution system. Undervoltage can have a significant impact on the reliability of equipment and machinery.