Just a little note for all those out there who might not be clear on the roles played by different parts of a motor circuit....
The motor has a nominal horsepower rating. We use this rating, together with the NEC, to size the wires feeding the motor.
The NEC also has tables for selecting the fuse or breaker size. We can use these, but we usually use the motor nameplate information.
Some equipment ... HVAC stuff comes to mind ... has nameplates that specify the maximum and minimum overcurent device sizes. Uf the nameplate reads "maximum fuse," then fuse you must use; breakers are considered inadequate by the manufacturer. Whether fuse or breaker, the size is usually quite a bit larger than any normal running load.
The fuses, or breakers, get power to the starter. They are there for "overcurrent" protection - that is, to protect against a serious, immediate fault, like a short.
A "starter" is nothing but a contactor with the addition of overLOAD protection, commonly called 'heaters.' These protect against long, sustained, over loading of the motor. These are often sized very close to the usual running amps of the motor. The newer electronic ones provide additional protections, against things like low voltage, single phasing, etc.
What is important is that you not confuse "over current" with "over load" protection. Each is distinct.
