Patent ID: 8861148

Claim:
An HVAC unit, comprising: a condensing coil; a compressor fluidly coupled to said condensing coil; a condenser fan having a motor and configured to move air over said condensing coil; terminals electrically coupled to said condenser fan and said compressor and configured to receive a split-phase, three-wire AC voltage supply, wherein a first hot leg of said split-phase, three-wire AC voltage is supplied to said compressor and a second hot leg of said split-phase, three-wire AC voltage is supplied to said motor of said condenser fan; and a surge protector collocated in a housing with said compressor and said condenser fan to provide dedicated surge protection for said compressor and said condenser fan motor, including: a first lead, a second lead and a third lead connected to said terminals, said first and second leads connected to said three-wire AC voltage supply via a contactor and said surge protector includes no more than three leads; and a protective network having three surge protection units with a first one of said three surge protection units coupled between said first and said second leads, a second one of said three surge protection units coupled between said second and said third leads, a third one of said three surge protection units coupled between said third and said first leads, said first, second and third surge protection units having equal protection capacities and configured to provide simultaneous surge protection between each of said distinct combinations.