Each motor used in a continuous-duty application and rated more than how many horsepower shall be protected against overload?

In continuous-duty applications, it is essential to protect motors against overload to prevent overheating and potential failure. The National Electrical Code (NEC) specifies that motors rated more than 1 horsepower must have overload protection. This is to ensure that if the motor experiences excessive current due to mechanical binding, excessive loading, or other issues, the overload protection device will interrupt power to the motor before it can sustain damage.

Motors operating at more than 1 horsepower are commonly used in applications requiring reliable and consistent operation. Therefore, integrating overload protection is critical for maintaining operational safety and longevity of the equipment. This requirement underscores the importance of protecting higher-rated motors, which are more likely to experience situations leading to overload conditions, compared to smaller motors.