A thermal trip assembly for an electrical switching apparatus , said electrical switching apparatus including a housing , separable contacts enclosed by the housing , an operating mechanism for opening and closing said separable contacts , and a number of shunts , said thermal trip assembly comprising: a load conductor ; a bimetal adapted to cooperate with said operating mechanism to open said separable contacts in response to a trip condition; and a bypass heater element structured to be electrically connected to said shunts , wherein said bypass heater element directs the flow of electric current to at least partially bypass said bimetal ; wherein said bypass heater element comprises a first end , a second end distal from the first end , and an intermediate portion extending between the first end and the second end ; wherein the first end extends perpendicularly outwardly from the intermediate portion to form a flange ; wherein said flange is structured to be electrically connected to said shunts ; wherein said load conductor comprises a first end , a second end distal from the first end , and an intermediate portion extending between the first end and the second end ; wherein the first end of said load conductor extends perpendicularly outwardly from the intermediate portion of said load conductor to form a flange ; wherein said flange of said load conductor is disposed in a direction opposite said flange of said bypass heater element ; characterised in that said load conductor further comprises a thru hole extending through the intermediate portion of said load conductor ; wherein said bypass heater element further comprises an aperture and an adjustment mechanism ; wherein the aperture extends through the intermediate portion of said bypass heater element ; and wherein said adjustment mechanism extends outwardly from the aperture of said bypass heater element and through the thru hole of said load conductor . a load conductor ; a bimetal adapted to cooperate with said operating mechanism to open said separable contacts in response to a trip condition; and a bypass heater element structured to be electrically connected to said shunts , wherein said bypass heater element directs the flow of electric current to at least partially bypass said bimetal ; wherein said bypass heater element comprises a first end , a second end distal from the first end , and an intermediate portion extending between the first end and the second end ; wherein the first end extends perpendicularly outwardly from the intermediate portion to form a flange ; wherein said flange is structured to be electrically connected to said shunts ; wherein said load conductor comprises a first end , a second end distal from the first end , and an intermediate portion extending between the first end and the second end ; wherein the first end of said load conductor extends perpendicularly outwardly from the intermediate portion of said load conductor to form a flange ; wherein said flange of said load conductor is disposed in a direction opposite said flange of said bypass heater element ; characterised in that said load conductor further comprises a thru hole extending through the intermediate portion of said load conductor ; wherein said bypass heater element further comprises an aperture and an adjustment mechanism ; wherein the aperture extends through the intermediate portion of said bypass heater element ; and wherein said adjustment mechanism extends outwardly from the aperture of said bypass heater element and through the thru hole of said load conductor . <EOS>