Patent ID: 8353678

Claim:
A method of controlling a motor operating a pumping apparatus of a fluid-pumping application, the pumping apparatus comprising: a pump having an inlet to receive a fluid and an outlet to exhaust the fluid, and the motor coupled to the pump to operate the pump, the method comprising: controlling the motor to rotate at one of a first speed and a second speed to operate the pump; monitoring the operation of the pump, the monitoring act comprising: monitoring a current having a relation to the motor, determining a voltage having a relation to the motor, determining a power value for input power to the motor based on the monitored current, the determined voltage, and an angle between the monitored current and the determined voltage, and determining whether the power value indicates a condition of the pump; and controlling the motor to operate the pump based on the condition of the pump, wherein the condition of the pump includes a suction entrapment event.