Patent ID: 7540792

Claim:
A switching apparatus, comprising: an electrical contactor including a set of main terminals per phase; an auxiliary switch including a set of auxiliary terminals per phase, each set of the auxiliary terminals being electrically connected to a respective set of the main terminals via a resistance wire having a first end and a second end, such that each set of the auxiliary terminals is electrically connected in parallel with each respective set of the main terminals; a first terminal connected to the first end of the resistance wire operative to engage one of the set of auxiliary terminals; and a second terminal member having a connection tab portion connected to the second end of the resistance wire and a retention hook portion extending distally from the connection tab portion operative to slidably engage one of the set of main terminals with a compressive load self induced by the retention hook portion; wherein each main terminal comprises a connector having a wire clamp; and the retention hook portion is configured to slidably engage the wire clamp.