System and Method of Controlling A Variable-Capacity Compressor

A method of controlling a variable-capacity compressor operable in a first capacity mode and in a second capacity mode that is higher than the first capacity mode, the method comprising:

• receiving, with a control module, a demand signal from a thermostat;
• receiving, with the control module, an indoor relative humidity sensed by an indoor relative humidity sensor;
• determining, with the control module, whether the indoor relative humidity is greater than a predetermined humidity;
• and
• operating, with the control module, the variable-capacity compressor in the second capacity mode in response to receiving the demand signal from the thermostat and to the indoor relative humidity exceeding the predetermined humidity.

A system comprising:

• a variable-capacity compressor operable in a first capacity mode and in a second capacity mode that is higher than the first capacity mode;
• and
• a control module configured to determine whether to bypass the first capacity mode and initially operate the variable-capacity compressor in the second capacity mode during an operation cycle based on a demand signal from a thermostat, an indoor relative humidity sensed by an indoor humidity sensor, and a short cycle flag that is set and cleared by the control module;
• wherein the control module is configured to set the short cycle flag when the first capacity mode is bypassed, clear the short cycle flag when the first capacity mode is not bypassed, determine whether the indoor relative humidity is greater than a predetermined humidity, and bypass the first capacity mode to operate the variable-capacity compressor in the second capacity mode in response to receiving the demand signal from the thermostat, the short cycle flag being set, and the indoor relative humidity exceeding the predetermined humidity.