Sourcing ABB Thermal Overload Relay: Stock, Lead Times & Export When a thermal overload relay trips on a critical motor circuit, or a planned panel upgrade calls for a specific frame size, the question isn't just "which relay?" — it's "how fast can it land, and who can actually supply it?" This guide covers what UK buyers and international procurement teams need to know about sourcing genuine ABB thermal overload relays: current UK stock positions, realistic lead times, and export considerations for multi-site or overseas projects. Need help sourcing an ABB thermal overload relay for your site? Talk to Our Expert Team Stock Availability ABB's thermal overload relay range spans small frame sizes (T-series and TF42, typically 0.1A to around 32A full load current) up to larger frame relays for higher-current motor circuits. Commonly specified frame sizes and current ranges are the ones most likely to be held as stock in the UK; less common combinations, older series, and relays for obsolete contactor frames are more likely to require a short lead time or direct sourcing from ABB's wider distribution network. Sizing a Thermal Overload Relay Correctly A thermal overload relay is set to the motor's full load current (FLC), not the contactor's current rating — this is the detail most often missed on a re-order. The relay's adjustable dial range needs to bracket the motor's FLC (usually with the dial set at or slightly above nameplate FLC), and the trip class — typically Class 10 for general-purpose motors or Class 20/30 for motors with longer start times, such as high-inertia fans or compressors — needs to match the motor's starting characteristics. A Class 10 relay on a long-starting motor will nuisance-trip during start-up; a Class 30 relay on a standard motor will under-protect it during a genuine stall condition. When you're sourcing a replacement or cross-referencing an obsolete part, always confirm the motor's nameplate FLC and starting duty alongside the contactor frame size — a relay that physically mounts but is calibrated to the wrong trip class is a specification error that won't show up until the motor is under real load. Thermal Overload Relay vs Motor Protection Circuit Breaker Buyers sometimes ask whether a motor protection circuit breaker (MPCB) can simply replace a contactor-and-overload-relay combination — the answer is that they solve the same core problem (motor overload protection) via different architectures, and the right choice depends on the panel design. A thermal overload relay is a separate device mounted directly to a contactor, giving you two components (contactor for switching, relay for protection) that can be replaced or upgraded independently. An MPCB combines short-circuit protection, overload protection and isolation in a single DIN-rail mounted device, often paired with a separate contactor for remote switching duty. MPCBs tend to suit new panel builds where footprint and simplified spares holding matter; contactor-plus-relay combinations remain the standard for retrofits and like-for-like replacements on existing panels, since replacing one component doesn't require re-engineering the whole starter. If you're specifying a new panel from scratch, it's worth pricing both approaches before committing. Export & Shipping Considerations EPC contractors, plant operators and distributors in the Middle East, Africa and Asia commonly source through ZF Corporation for exactly this reason — export orders need the correct commercial invoice, HS code and, where applicable, certificate of origin and conformity documentation to clear customs without delay. Confirm freight method (air for urgent single-unit orders, sea freight for bulk panel-build quantities) and Incoterms at RFQ stage so landed cost and delivery date are clear before you commit to the order. Lead Times & MOQs The table below reflects typical scenarios rather than a guarantee for a specific part — always confirm against the exact relay reference and destination at RFQ stage, particularly for export orders where customs documentation lead time can matter as much as freight transit time itself. Scenario Typical Lead Time Notes Common frame size & current range Ex-stock to 2-3 working days Subject to stock confirmation at time of order Less common current rating 1-2 weeks May require sourcing from wider ABB distribution Obsolete/superseded relay cross-reference 1-3 weeks Depends on whether a direct or functional equivalent is used Export order (air freight) lead time + 3-7 days transit Subject to destination customs clearance Export order (sea freight, bulk) lead time + 4-8 weeks transit Recommended for large panel-build quantities Minimum order quantity No fixed MOQ for standard stock lines Bulk pricing available on request Installation, Wiring & Troubleshooting Basics A thermal overload relay is normally mounted directly onto the base of its matching contactor, with the motor supply conductors passing through the relay's curre…