Hvac system remote monitoring and diagnosis

An apparatus for monitoring a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system, the apparatus comprising:

• a current sensor configured to generate a first current signal based on aggregate current consumed by components of an indoor unit of the HVAC system;
• a first refrigerant temperature sensor configured to generate a first refrigerant temperature signal based on a measured temperature of refrigerant circulating within the HVAC system;
• a second refrigerant temperature sensor configured to generate a second refrigerant temperature signal based on a measured temperature of refrigerant circulating within the HVAC system;
• and
• an indoor unit monitor module electrically connected to the current sensor, the first refrigerant temperature sensor, and the second refrigerant temperature sensor,
• wherein the indoor unit monitor module is configured to receive a second current signal from a secondary monitoring module,
• wherein the second current signal is based on aggregate current consumed by components of an outdoor unit of the HVAC system,
• wherein the indoor unit monitor module is configured to transmit data to a remote monitoring server to assess whether a failure has occurred or is likely to occur in the components of the indoor unit of the HVAC system or the components of the outdoor unit of the HVAC system, and
• wherein the data is based on the first current signal, the second current signal, the first refrigerant temperature signal, and the second refrigerant temperature signal.

A method for monitoring a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system, the method comprising:

• generating a first current signal based on aggregate current consumed by components of an indoor unit of the HVAC system;
• generating a first refrigerant temperature signal based on a measured temperature of refrigerant circulating within the HVAC system;
• generating a second refrigerant temperature signal based on a measured temperature of refrigerant circulating within the HVAC system;
• receiving the first refrigerant temperature signal and the second refrigerant temperature signal directly at an indoor unit monitor module;
• receiving, at the indoor unit monitor module, a second current signal from a secondary monitoring module, wherein the second current signal is based on aggregate current consumed by components of an outdoor unit of the HVAC system;
• and
• transmitting data to a remote monitoring server to assess whether a failure has occurred or is likely to occur in the components of the indoor unit of the HVAC system or the components of the outdoor unit of the HVAC system, wherein the data is based on the first current signal, the second current signal, the first refrigerant temperature signal, and the second refrigerant temperature signal.