Electric control apparatus

An electric motor control apparatus (40) includes an electrical current control apparatus (60) which is operable to limit current to an electric motor (42). When the electric motor (42) is a three-phase motor, three current limiting switch assemblies (80) are provided in the electric current control apparatus. A single stack (130) of laminations (128) concentrates magnetic fields emanating from conductors in all three current limiting switch assemblies (80). Each of the current limiting switch assemblies (80) includes two movable contacts (98, 108) which are mounted on contact arms (100, 110). The contact arms (100, 110) are movable in slots (150, 156) in the stack (130) of laminations. A first series of splitter plates (196) is disposed in an array along a path of movement of the contact (108) on the first movable contact arm (110) and a second series of splitter plates (194) is disposed along a path of movement of the contact (98) on the second contact arm (100) for each of the current limiting switch assemblies (80). A short circuit splitter plate (200) conducts electrical current between the two series (194, 196) of splitter plates. A bypass splitter plate (286) is connected in a bypass circuit (76) which conducts excessive current around a motor starter (50) to protect the motor starter.