Shredders which are subjected to continuous, heavy work can become very hot quite quickly. Unless the machine has been specifically designed to operate in such a way, the motor can be severely damaged, and can even burn out completely, if it is not stopped before it overheats. To prevent this happening, sensors are therefore built into most machines, including all of the larger, more expensive ones, to detect motor overheating and stop the machine automatically before any damage occurs.

The shredder then enters a cooling down, or off-cycle period, which is normal. This prevents overheating damage, lengthens motor life and avoids costly repair bills. However, buyers who intend to subject their shredder to long periods of continuous use should initially choose one that is designed for the purpose rather than rely on the thermal protection that is built in, as the cooling down period can be quite lengthy and very inconvenient if it happens in the middle of a large shredding job. See the term 'Duty Cycle' in the Glossary.

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