Compressor terminal fault interruption method and apparatus

A hermetic compressor including a terminal assembly and fault interruption circuit for disconnecting power to said compressor terminal assembly under very high current conditions to prevent damage to the terminal assembly, the circuit including:

• a current sensing circuit disposed externally of said compressor for sensing input current provided to the terminal assembly by a power source and outputting a sensed signal representing said current;
• and
• a control circuit including a first circuit for outputting a reference signal representing input current higher than locked rotor current, a second circuit connected to the current sensing circuit and the first circuit for comparing the sensed signal to the reference signal, and a third circuit connected to the second circuit for rapidly and externally disconnecting power to the terminal when the sensed signal exceeds the reference signal;
• wherein the reference signal corresponds to current draw that will subsequently heat the terminal assembly to a level that the differential temperature between a pin and surrounding glass of the terminal assembly exceeds a level where stresses in the glass will cause failure of the pin/glass seal.