Trip switches are devices used to protect the circuit and equipment from hazards caused by excessive current flow or short circuit in an electrical circuit.  It is an electrical switch that automatically switches off the electrical circuit.  These reduce the risk of accidents by automatically operating in cases of overload and overcurrent.


 When continuous overcurrent flows through these, the bimetallic strip heats up and bends.  This deflection of the bi-metallic strip operates a mechanical latch.
  As this mechanical latch is attached to the operating mechanism, it causes the miniature circuit breaker contacts to open, thus turning off the trip switch and thereby stopping the current flow in the circuit.  The trip switch must be turned on again to resume current flow.


 In some cases higher voltages are required in vehicles.  In this way, instead of 12 or 24 volt DC, up to 240 volt AC electricity is used in vehicles to reduce accidents like trip switches.