A current overload detection circuit comprising: a protection circuit configured to interrupt current to a load; a trip circuit coupled to the protection circuit and configured to cause interruption of current to the load via the protection circuit; a current detection circuit comprising: a sensing network having first and second nodes (D, A) configured to sense a current proportional to the load current; and a resistance network comprising a first fixed resistance coupled between the first node of the sensing network and a junction node, a second fixed resistance coupled between the first node of the sensing network and an output node of the resistance network, and an adjustable resistance coupled between the junction node and the output node of the resistance network, wherein the adjustable resistance is a linear potentiometer, wherein the second node of the sensing circuit is the junction node, or wherein the resistance network further comprises a third fixed resistance coupled between the second node of the sensing circuit and the junction node, wherein the input of the current detection circuit is the current between the first and second nodes (D,A) and the output is the voltage at the output node, and wherein values of the first and second fixed resistances (R2, R4) and of the adjustable resistance are selected to obtain a substantially logarithmic response; and a comparison circuit coupled to the output node of the resistance network for comparing the output voltage at the output node of the resistance network to a predetermined voltage and tripping the trip circuit when the output voltage exceeds the predetermined voltage, such that the output approximates a linear function of the resistance of the potentiometer. a protection circuit configured to interrupt current to a load; a trip circuit coupled to the protection circuit and configured to cause interruption of current to the load via the protection circuit; a current detection circuit comprising: a sensing network having first and second nodes (D, A) configured to sense a current proportional to the load current; and a resistance network comprising a first fixed resistance coupled between the first node of the sensing network and a junction node, a second fixed resistance coupled between the first node of the sensing network and an output node of the resistance network, and an adjustable resistance coupled between the junction node and the output node of the resistance network, wherein the adjustable resistance is a linear potentiometer, wherein the second node of the sensing circuit is the junction node, or wherein the resistance network further comprises a third fixed resistance coupled between the second node of the sensing circuit and the junction node, wherein the input of the current detection circuit is the current between the first and second nodes (D,A) and the output is the voltage at the output node, and wherein values of the first and second fixed resistances (R2, R4) and of the adjustable resistance are selected to obtain a substantially logarithmic response; and a comparison circuit coupled to the output node of the resistance network for comparing the output voltage at the output node of the resistance network to a predetermined voltage and tripping the trip circuit when the output voltage exceeds the predetermined voltage, such that the output approximates a linear function of the resistance of the potentiometer. a sensing network having first and second nodes (D, A) configured to sense a current proportional to the load current; and a resistance network comprising a first fixed resistance coupled between the first node of the sensing network and a junction node, a second fixed resistance coupled between the first node of the sensing network and an output node of the resistance network, and an adjustable resistance coupled between the junction node and the output node of the resistance network, wherein the adjustable resistance is a linear potentiometer, wherein the second node of the sensing circuit is the junction node, or wherein the resistance network further comprises a third fixed resistance coupled between the second node of the sensing circuit and the junction node, wherein the input of the current detection circuit is the current between the first and second nodes (D,A) and the output is the voltage at the output node, and wherein values of the first and second fixed resistances (R2, R4) and of the adjustable resistance are selected to obtain a substantially logarithmic response; and a comparison circuit coupled to the output node of the resistance network for comparing the output voltage at the output node of the resistance network to a predetermined voltage and tripping the trip circuit when the output voltage exceeds the predetermined voltage, such that the output approximates a linear function of the resistance of the potentiometer.