Patent ID: 7804262

Claim:
An electronic apparatus to externally detect open protector contacts inside of a compressor comprising: a compressor motor having a run winding and a start winding, the run winding and the start winding each having a first and a second winding connection, the first connection of both the start winding and the run winding electrically connected together and to a common terminal, the second connection of the start winding electrically connected to a start winding terminal, the second connection of the run winding electrically connected to a run winding terminal, the compressor motor also including internal protector contacts that open the electrical circuit to the common terminal in a protection condition; a contactor to switch power to the compressor motor, the contactor electrically connected to a source of power and to the compressor motor; a capacitor electrically connected between the source of power and the start winding or the run winding of the compressor motor; a compressor running indicator circuit electrically connected between the start winding and the run winding terminal to indicate a compressor running condition; and a protection indicator circuit electrically connected between the common terminal and the start winding terminal to indicate a voltage present across the common terminal and the start winding terminals, wherein the protection indicator circuit is also coupled to the compressor running indicator circuit such that the protection indicator circuit is disabled when the compressor is running normally and a protection indicator is enabled and indicates when the protector contacts open inside of the compressor.