I turn power off with the relays power. 

Bob,

 

On second thought, that seems like a superb way to run the monthly tests.  Just pull the relay breaker if that's how it was wired.

 

In an emergency (such as a bad relay), the checklist should still provide for pulling the motor breaker.

 

You wrote:

 If that 50 A breaker ever popped in flight, I don't
think I would want to try to reset it until I landed.

 

I certainly agree with that.  I guess you could check that the transition light won't come on in case the breaker is covered up (assuming the transition light is testable).

 

You also wrote:

"How would you turn power off?"
What the heck? Nothing is perfect.  And that's what the thermal protection
is for.

If the intermittent duty relays are selected long enough, they will fail.  The only way I could imagine the thermal protection popping is the motor overheating from having to work up to its internal pressure relief because of a failed pressure switch or a stuck relay - maybe also because there is no fluid to pump.

 

Interesting for those LML readers that haven't thought about their gear system lately......