A thermostat includes a case having a sealed interior and an exterior. A contact extends from the sealed interior to the exterior. The contact is fixed with respect to the casing and has an interior contact position. A first blade extends from the sealed interior to the exterior and has an interior end. The interior end of the first blade moves between a first position where the interior end of first blade contacts the interior contact position of the contact and a second position where the interior end of the first blade is spaced from the contact position end of the contact. A separator is disposed between the first blade and the contact in the interior of the case. The separator is made of an insulating material. The separator has a first side facing the contact and a second side facing the first blade. A first conductive contact pad is disposed on the first side of the separator. A second conductive contact pad is disposed on the second side of the separator. A resistor disposed within that separator is electrically connected between the first conductive contact pad and the second conductive contact pad. The resistor has sufficient resistance so that when the interior end of the first blade moves from the first position to the second position, sufficient heat is generated by the resistor to maintain the interior end of the first blade in the second position until a load current being applied to the contact and the first blade is removed.
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