Mistake-proof electrical connectors for HVAC systems

An electrical connector for a compressor of a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:

• a plurality of electrical leads configured to supply power to the compressor;
• and
• a plug communicatively coupled to the plurality of electrical leads, wherein the plug comprises:
• a plug body;
• a connector cavity assembly formed in the plug body and configured to electrically couple the plurality of electrical leads to a terminal post assembly of the compressor, wherein the connector cavity assembly comprises at least one axis of symmetry that enables the connector cavity assembly to align with the terminal post assembly in a plurality of alignment orientations;
• and
• at least one interference projection radially extending from a periphery of the plug body, wherein the at least one interference projection is configured to physically interfere with a positioning guide of the compressor in all except for one alignment orientation of the plurality of alignment orientations, wherein the at least one interference projection comprises a first number of discrete interference projections that is one less than a second number of the plurality of alignment orientations.

A wiring harness for a compressor of a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:

• a plurality of electrical leads configured to supply power to the compressor;
• and
• a plug communicatively coupled to the plurality of electrical leads, wherein the plug comprises:
• a plug body;
• a plurality of connector cavities configured to electrically couple the plurality of electrical leads to a plurality of terminal posts of the compressor, wherein the plurality of connector cavities is symmetrically distributed on the plug body in a regular polygon shape such that the plurality of connector cavities can align with the plurality of terminal posts in a plurality of alignment orientations of the plurality of connector cavities and the plurality of terminal posts, wherein a number of the plurality of alignment orientations is equal to a number of sides in the regular polygon shape formed by the plurality of connector cavities;
• and
• at least one interference projection radially extending from a periphery of the plug body, wherein the at least one interference projection is configured to physically interfere with a positioning guide of the compressor in all except for one alignment orientation of the plurality of alignment orientations.

An electrical connector for a compressor of a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:

• a plurality of electrical leads;
• and
• a plug comprising:
• a plug body;
• a plurality of first connectors electrically coupled with the plurality of electrical leads and configured to electrically engage a plurality of second connectors of the compressor, wherein the plurality of first connectors is symmetrically distributed on the plug body such that the plurality of first connectors can align with the plurality of second connectors in a plurality of alignment orientations of the plurality of first connectors and the plurality of second connectors;
• and
• at least one interference projection radially extending from a periphery of the plug body, wherein the at least one interference projection is configured to physically interfere with a positioning guide of the compressor and block engagement between the plurality of first connectors and the plurality of second connectors in all except for one alignment orientation of the plurality of alignment orientations, wherein the at least one interference projection comprises a single skirt extending radially along at least half of the periphery of the plug body.