What happens to current in an overload relay as the load increases?

In an overload relay, the current is directly related to the load being placed on the motor. As the load on the motor increases, the current flowing through the motor also increases correspondingly. This is due to the relationship defined by Ohm's Law, where current is the result of the voltage across the motor divided by the resistance.

In the context of an overload relay, these devices are designed to monitor the current flowing through the motor. When the load increases, the relay senses the rise in current. If the current exceeds a predetermined threshold, the overload relay will activate to protect the motor from overheating and potentially being damaged.

The characteristics of an overload relay make it a crucial part of motor protection systems, as they help to prevent motor burnout by disconnecting power when excessive currents are detected. Thus, the correct understanding is that as the load increases, the current flowing through the overload relay also increases, which is why this choice is accurate.