Interactive control system for an HVAC system

An interactive system for controlling the operation of an HVAC system, the interactive system comprising:

• a thermostat configured to transmit signals to request signals to request the operation of the HVAC system in either a full capacity mode, or a mid-capacity mode that provides at least some degree of cooling operation;
• an outdoor condenser unit having a condenser fan motor, a compressor, a solenoid for switching the compressor to a mid-capacity mode, and an outdoor condenser unit controller in connection with the compressor motor and the solenoid, the outdoor condenser unit controller being configured to receive request signals from the thermostat and to activate the compressor for operating the compressor at full capacity or to activate the solenoid to switch the compressor to mid-capacity operation;
• an indoor blower unit having a blower fan motor, and a controller for the indoor blower unit in connection with the blower fan motor, the indoor blower controller being configured to operate the blower fan motor at full speed and at a low speed, the indoor blower unit controller being further configured to detect when a fault condition has rendered the blower motor inoperable at full speed, and to responsively switch the blower motor to low speed that provides at least some degree of cooling operation, and to communicate a signal indicating that the blower is inoperable at full speed;
• a multi-wire network in connection with the thermostat, outdoor condenser unit controller, and indoor blower unit controller, for enabling communication of information by the outdoor condenser unit controller and the indoor blower controller relating to the operation of the indoor blower and the outdoor condenser unit,
• where in response to the indoor blower controller communicating operating information of the blower fan motor being inoperable at full speed and switched to a low speed, the outdoor condenser unit controller responsively activates the solenoid to switch the operation of the compressor to mid-capacity mode of operation, regardless of whether the thermostat is requesting full capacity operation.

An interactive system for controlling the operation of an HVAC system, the interactive system comprising:

• a thermostat configured to transmit signals to request the operation of the HVAC system in either a full capacity mode or a mid-capacity mode that provides at least some degree of cooling operation;
• an outdoor condenser unit having a condenser fan motor, a compressor motor, a sensor for sensing a compressor motor current, a solenoid for switching the compressor to a mid-capacity mode that provides at least some degree of cooling operation, and an outdoor condenser unit controller configured to receive request signals from the thermostat and to activate the compressor for operating the compressor at full capacity or activate the solenoid to switch the compressor to mid-capacity operation, the outdoor condenser unit controller being configured to monitor the sensor to detect a sensed compressor motor current indicative of an excessively high compressor pressure, and to responsively activate the solenoid for switching the compressor to mid-capacity and communicate a signal indicating that the compressor is inoperable at full capacity and switched to mid-capacity operation;
• an indoor blower unit having a blower fan motor, and a controller for the indoor blower unit in connection with the blower fan motor, the indoor blower controller being configured to operate the blower fan motor at full blower speed and at a low blower speed;
• a multi-wire network in connection with the thermostat, outdoor condenser unit controller, and indoor blower unit controller, for enabling communication of information by the outdoor condenser unit controller and the indoor blower controller relating to the operation of the indoor blower and the outdoor condenser unit,
• where in response to the outdoor condenser unit controller communicating operating information of the compressor being inoperable at full capacity and switched to mid-capacity, the indoor blower controller responsively controls the operation of the blower motor at a low speed to provide at least some degree of cooling operation corresponding to the mid-capacity mode of operating the compressor, regardless of whether the thermostat is requesting full capacity operation.

An interactive system for controlling the operation of an HVAC system, the interactive system comprising:

• a thermostat for initiating the operation of the HVAG system in either a full capacity mode or at least one reduced capacity mode of operation;
• a controller for an outside condenser unit having a condenser fan motor and a compressor motor, the outside condenser unit controller being capable of operating the compressor in a full capacity mode and at least one reduced capacity mode;
• a controller for an indoor blower unit having a blower fan motor, the indoor blower unit controller being capable of operating the blower fan motor in a full capacity mode and at least one reduced capacity mode;
• a communication means for transmitting information between the outside condenser unit controller and the indoor blower controller relating to the operation of the indoor blower and the outdoor condenser unit, wherein the indoor blower controller responsively controls the operation of the blower fan motor in a full capacity mode or a reduced capacity mode based on information received from the outdoor unit controller;
• and
• a controller for a furnace unit having a high stage and at least one low stage of heating operation, where in response to the indoor blower controller communicating operating information of a reduced blower speed, the furnace controller responsively controls the operation of the furnace in at least one low stage of heating operation.

An interactive system for controlling the operation of a cooling system having at least a controller for an indoor blower and at least a controller for an outdoor condenser unit, where the controllers are in communication with each other through a multi-wire network, the system comprising:

• a thermostat configured to transmit signals to request the operation of the HVAC system in either a full capacity mode or a mid-capacity mode that provides at least some degree of cooling operation;
• an outdoor condenser unit having a condenser fan motor, a compressor motor, a solenoid for switching the compressor to a mid-capacity mode, a current sensor capable of sensing a low compressor motor current indicative of a low refrigerant charge;
• an outdoor condenser unit controller in connection with the compressor motor, solenoid, and current sensor, where in response to the controller detecting a low compressor motor current indicative of a low refrigerant charge, the outdoor condenser unit controller responsively communicates a signal via the network indicating a possible low refrigerant charge condition;
• an indoor blower unit having a blower fan motor, and a controller for the indoor blower unit configured to control operation of the blower fan motor and to receive information through the network, the indoor blower controller being further configured to operate the blower fan motor at full blower speed and at a low blower speed, where in response to detecting the signal indicating a possible low refrigerant charge, the indoor blower controller is configured for determining a sensed temperature difference across the air conditioning coil that is indicative of a low refrigerant charge, and sending information relating to the operation of the indoor blower and sensed temperature difference information;
• wherein the outdoor condenser unit controller and the indoor blower controller are each capable of receiving operating diagnostic information indicating a low refrigerant charge from each other and responsively confirming received diagnostic information with internal information indicating a low refrigerant charge, to provide notification to the thermostat of a cooling system low refrigerant charge condition or fault that requires service.