Laundry appliance utilizing a permanent split capacitor motor having a sensor for providing temperature control within the appliance

An appliance comprising:

• a blower that selectively delivers process air through an airflow path;
• a rotating drum that defines a portion of the airflow path, wherein rotation of the blower and the rotating drum are operated by a permanent split capacitor motor;
• and
• a heater that selectively delivers heat to the airflow path, wherein the heater defines an energizing state when a motor current delivered to the permanent split capacitor motor is within a predetermined motor current range that is indicative of the permanent split capacitor motor operating, wherein the heater defines an idle state when the motor current is outside of the predetermined motor current range, wherein the motor current outside of the predetermined motor current range is indicative of the permanent split capacitor motor, the rotating drum and the blower defining one of a stalled condition and an inactive condition.

A method for operating a heater for an appliance including steps of:

• detecting a level of a motor current delivered to a permanent split capacitor motor that drives a drive shaft that is coupled with a blower and a rotating drum;
• energizing the heater to define an energizing state when the level of the motor current is above a lower threshold current and below an upper threshold current, the lower threshold current being indicative of the permanent split capacitor motor operating and the upper threshold current being indicative of a stalled condition of the permanent split capacitor motor;
• activating the heater when in the energizing state and when an activation signal is delivered to the heater;
• and
• deactivating the heater when the level of the motor current is one of below the lower threshold current indicative of the permanent split capacitor motor being inactive and above the upper threshold current indicative of the permanent split capacitor being active and the rotating drum defining the stalled condition.