Integral compressor motor and refrigerant/oil heater apparatus and method

A compressor apparatus comprising:

• a power source;
• a shell;
• an electric motor having motor windings, wherein the electric motor is located within the shell;
• and
• a control assembly for providing power to the motor windings from the power source in two modes, wherein a first mode provides power to the motor windings to generate heat without producing force output with the motor, wherein a second mode provides power to the motor windings to produce force output with the motor, wherein the control assembly activates the first mode for a selected time period prior to activation of the second mode in order to drive out a fluid to reduce a risk of a flooded compressor start;
• and
• wherein the control assembly comprises a current sensing circuit for measuring current flowing between the power source and the motor windings, wherein in the first mode the control assembly provides power to the motor windings to generate heat for the selected time period as a function of feedback from the current sensing circuit.