Retrieving diagnostic information from an HVAC component

In a climate control system comprising at least an air conditioning system or a heating system, a controller for controlling the operation of at least one component in the heating or air conditioning system comprising:

• a first low voltage power supply for the controller, which may be connected to an external alternating current power source;
• a low-voltage receptacle plug connector which may be connected to a second external low voltage power supply to the controller;
• a processor for controlling the operation of at least one component in the climate control system, wherein the processor is capable of determining the operating condition of the controller and at least one component of the climate control system, and the processor is capable of detecting the absence of a connection to the external alternating current power source when receiving power from a second external low voltage power supply that is connected to the low-voltage receptacle plug connector;
• a non-volatile memory for storing diagnostic information pertaining to the operating condition of the controller or at least one component in the heating or air conditioning system, or a combination thereof;
• and
• a communication means for communicating the diagnostic information, wherein the processor retrieves stored diagnostic information from memory pertaining to the controller or the at least one component in the heating or air conditioning system and outputs the diagnostic information to the communication means when the processor receives power from an external low voltage power supply connected to the low-voltage receptacle plug connector, and detects the absence of a connection to an external alternating current power source.

In combination with a climate control system comprising at least an air conditioning system or a heating system, a controller for operating at least one component in the heating or air con system comprising:

• a first low voltage power supply for the controller, which may be connected to with an external alternating current power source;
• a plug-in connection which may be connected to a second external low voltage power supply to the controller;
• a processor for controlling the operation of the climate control system, wherein the processor is powered by either the first low voltage power supply or a second external low voltage power supply, and wherein the processor is capable of detecting the absence of a connection to an external alternating current power source when the processor receives power from a second external low voltage power supply that is connected to the plug-in connection;
• a memory for storing diagnostic information pertaining to the operating condition of the controller or at least one component in the heating or air conditioning system;
• and
• a display device for displaying the diagnostic information, wherein the processor retrieves stored diagnostic information and outputs the diagnostic information to the display device when the processor receives power from an external low voltage power supply that is connected to the plug-in connection and detects the absence of a connection of an external alternating current power source to the first low voltage power supply for the controller.

A method of controlling the operation of a controller for a climate control system having a low voltage power supply which may be connected to an external alternating current power source, a plug-in connection which may be connected to an external low voltage power supply, a processor for controlling the operation of the climate control system, a non-volatile memory, and a display, the method comprising the steps of:

• determining the operating condition of at least one component of the climate control system;
• storing diagnostic information pertaining to the operating condition of the at least one component of the climate control system;
• detecting the presence of a connection of an external low voltage power supply to a plug-in connection for supplying power to the processor and the absence of a connection to an external alternating current power source;
• and
• responsively communicating the stored diagnostic information pertaining to the operating condition of the at least one component of the climate control system.