Compressor diagnostic and protection system and method

A system comprising:

• a compressor operable in a refrigeration circuit, said compressor having a shell and a motor disposed within said shell;
• a first sensor detecting high-side data indicative of an operating condition of a high-pressure side of the refrigeration circuit;
• a second sensor detecting low-side data indicative of an operating condition of a low-pressure side of the refrigeration circuit;
• and
• processing circuitry receiving said high-side data and said low-side data from said first and second sensors and processing said high-side data and low-side data to determine at least one of a low-side fault and a high-side fault, said processing circuitry operating said compressor in a normal mode in the absence of a low-side fault and a high-side fault, operating said compressor in a reduced-capacity mode if a low-side fault or a high-side fault is determined, or operating said compressor in a shutdown mode if said low-side fault or said high-side fault is identified by said processing circuitry as being a severe low-side fault or a severe high-side fault.