Most other continuous duty motors having a marked service factor of not less than 1.15 or, with a marked temperature rise not over 40 degrees Celsius, are required to have overload protection rated at 125 percent of the motor nameplate full-load current rating.

Do all motors need overload protection?

EVERY motor needs overload protection of some type. Some small motors are impedance protected by design. Some motors can be overload protected by breakers or fuses. Some motor have internal temp probes that shut down the motor starter.

What size motor needs overload protection?

The NEC states this overload device shall be sized at no more than 125% of the motor's FLA for motors with a service factor of 1.15 or more. Use an overload protection device with a rating of 30 amps because the rating cannot exceed 125% of the FLA. This overload protection device can be a fuse or circuit breaker.