Patent ID: 8508374

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a module adapted to connect to a relay that includes a plurality of terminals, wherein the module includes: at least one control circuit that is adapted to connect to the plurality of terminals of the relay, wherein the control circuit includes at least one power terminal which receives a connection of at least one AC power line, wherein the control circuit includes at least one windings terminal which receives a connection to at least one of run windings, start windings or a combination thereof of a single phase AC motor, wherein the control circuit includes at least one start capacitor terminal that receives a connection to a start circuit including a start capacitor in operative connection with the start windings of the motor, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the relay to open and close portions of the control circuit that connect electrical power supplied from the at least one power terminal to the at least one start capacitor terminal and to the at least one windings terminal that supplies power to the run windings of the motor, wherein the control circuit is configured to monitor a usage of at least one of the start capacitor, the start windings or a combination thereof, wherein responsive to the monitored usage corresponding to at least a predetermined level, the control circuit is configured to at least temporarily remove a supply of electrical power from the at least one power terminal to the at least one start capacitor terminal while the control circuit continues to supply electrical power from the at least one power terminal to the at least one windings terminal that supplies power to the run windings of the motor.