A thermal limiter system for protecting an electric motor, the thermal limiter system comprising: at least one thermal limiter fuse (150, 300, 350) comprising: a housing (200, 352) having a first end and a second end opposing the first end; a first terminal (160, 378) attached to the first end, wherein the first terminal (160, 378) further comprises an exterior portion, a mounting collar (166, 374), and a first guide rod portion (168, 376), and wherein the exterior portion extends externally from the housing (200, 352), and the mounting collar (166, 374) and the first guide rod portion (168, 376) extend internally to the housing (200, 352); a second terminal (162, 388) attached to the second end; and a thermal limiter assembly (180, 302, 370) connected between the first terminal (160, 378) and the second terminal (162, 388), the thermal limiter assembly (180, 302, 370) including a hollow contact element (182, 304, 392) anchored by solder to at least one of the first terminal (160, 378) and the second terminal (162, 388), and a coaxial spring element (196, 400) at least partially surrounding the hollow contact element (182, 304, 392) and causing the hollow contact element (182, 304, 392) to slidably release and separate from one of the first and second terminals (160, 378, 162, 388) due to overheating of the solder that is not caused by a flow of electrical current, wherein an electrical current path between the first terminal (160, 378) and the second terminal (162, 388) is completed through the solder when the solder is in a hardened state, and the hollow contact element (182, 304, 392) slides on the first guide rod portion (168, 376) when the solder is in a softened state. a housing (200, 352) having a first end and a second end opposing the first end; a first terminal (160, 378) attached to the first end, wherein the first terminal (160, 378) further comprises an exterior portion, a mounting collar (166, 374), and a first guide rod portion (168, 376), and wherein the exterior portion extends externally from the housing (200, 352), and the mounting collar (166, 374) and the first guide rod portion (168, 376) extend internally to the housing (200, 352); a second terminal (162, 388) attached to the second end; and a thermal limiter assembly (180, 302, 370) connected between the first terminal (160, 378) and the second terminal (162, 388), the thermal limiter assembly (180, 302, 370) including a hollow contact element (182, 304, 392) anchored by solder to at least one of the first terminal (160, 378) and the second terminal (162, 388), and a coaxial spring element (196, 400) at least partially surrounding the hollow contact element (182, 304, 392) and causing the hollow contact element (182, 304, 392) to slidably release and separate from one of the first and second terminals (160, 378, 162, 388) due to overheating of the solder that is not caused by a flow of electrical current, wherein an electrical current path between the first terminal (160, 378) and the second terminal (162, 388) is completed through the solder when the solder is in a hardened state, and the hollow contact element (182, 304, 392) slides on the first guide rod portion (168, 376) when the solder is in a softened state.