A thermal trip assembly (100, 200) for an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical switching apparatus including a housing, separable contacts (6, 8) enclosed by the housing, an operating mechanism for opening and closing said separable contacts (6, 8), and a number of shunts, said thermal trip assembly (100, 200) comprising: a load conductor (102, 202); a bimetal (130, 230) adapted to cooperate with said operating mechanism to open said separable contacts (6, 8) in response to a trip condition; and a bypass heater element (160, 260) structured to be electrically connected to said shunts, wherein said bypass heater element (160, 260) directs the flow of electric current to at least partially bypass said bimetal (130, 230); wherein said bypass heater element (160, 260) comprises a first end (162, 262), a second end (164, 264) distal from the first end (162, 262), and an intermediate portion (166, 266) extending between the first end (162, 262) and the second end (164, 264); wherein the first end(162, 262) extends perpendicularly outwardly from the intermediate portion (166, 266) to form a flange (168, 268); wherein said flange (168, 268) is structured to be electrically connected to said shunts; wherein said load conductor (102, 202) comprises a first end (104, 204), a second end (106, 206) distal from the first end (104, 204), and an intermediate portion (108, 208) extending between the first end (104, 204) and the second end(106, 206); wherein the first end (104, 204) of said load conductor (102, 202) extends perpendicularly outwardly from the intermediate portion (108, 208) of said load conductor (102, 202) to form a flange (110, 210); wherein said flange (110, 210) of said load conductor (102, 202) is disposed in a direction opposite said flange (110, 210) of said bypass heater element (160, 260); characterised in that said load conductor (102, 202) further comprises a thru hole (112, 212) extending through the intermediate portion (108, 208) of said load conductor (102, 202); wherein said bypass heater element (160, 260) further comprises an aperture and an adjustment mechanism (180, 280, 280'); wherein the aperture extends through the intermediate portion (166, 266) of said bypass heater element (160, 260); and wherein said adjustment mechanism (180, 280, 280') extends outwardly from the aperture of said bypass heater element (160, 260) and through the thru hole (112, 212) of said load conductor (102, 202). a load conductor (102, 202); a bimetal (130, 230) adapted to cooperate with said operating mechanism to open said separable contacts (6, 8) in response to a trip condition; and a bypass heater element (160, 260) structured to be electrically connected to said shunts, wherein said bypass heater element (160, 260) directs the flow of electric current to at least partially bypass said bimetal (130, 230); wherein said bypass heater element (160, 260) comprises a first end (162, 262), a second end (164, 264) distal from the first end (162, 262), and an intermediate portion (166, 266) extending between the first end (162, 262) and the second end (164, 264); wherein the first end(162, 262) extends perpendicularly outwardly from the intermediate portion (166, 266) to form a flange (168, 268); wherein said flange (168, 268) is structured to be electrically connected to said shunts; wherein said load conductor (102, 202) comprises a first end (104, 204), a second end (106, 206) distal from the first end (104, 204), and an intermediate portion (108, 208) extending between the first end (104, 204) and the second end(106, 206); wherein the first end (104, 204) of said load conductor (102, 202) extends perpendicularly outwardly from the intermediate portion (108, 208) of said load conductor (102, 202) to form a flange (110, 210); wherein said flange (110, 210) of said load conductor (102, 202) is disposed in a direction opposite said flange (110, 210) of said bypass heater element (160, 260); characterised in that said load conductor (102, 202) further comprises a thru hole (112, 212) extending through the intermediate portion (108, 208) of said load conductor (102, 202); wherein said bypass heater element (160, 260) further comprises an aperture and an adjustment mechanism (180, 280, 280'); wherein the aperture extends through the intermediate portion (166, 266) of said bypass heater element (160, 260); and wherein said adjustment mechanism (180, 280, 280') extends outwardly from the aperture of said bypass heater element (160, 260) and through the thru hole (112, 212) of said load conductor (102, 202).