How many overload (OL) sections does a manual reversing starter require?

A manual reversing starter requires one overload section. The purpose of the overload section is to protect the motor from drawing excessive current, which can occur during overload conditions. This single overload protection mechanism is sufficient since it monitors the overall current flowing to the motor, regardless of the direction of rotation selected by the starter. The manual reversing starter can change the direction of motor rotation by simply reversing the connections, but it doesn’t necessitate additional overload protection for each direction.

Having only one overload section helps simplify the design and circuitry of the starter, which is both efficient and effective for typical applications where the motor operates within specified limits. This design ensures that any overload condition, whether the motor is running in forward or reverse, will still trigger the protection mechanism appropriately.