Pump controller system and method
A method and apparatus for a pump control system. One or more embodiments of the invention include a pump controller that can perform a self-calibrating procedure, can provide precise motor speed control, can provide a limp mode before shutting down the motor when system parameters are exceeded and/or fault conditions occur, can detect fault conditions, and can store fault conditions for later retrieval.
1. A method of detecting a fault condition in a motor of a pump, the method comprising:
positioning a temperature sensor on a heat sink of a controller;
sensing a first temperature value of the heat sink with the temperature sensor;
generating and storing a fault condition code if the first temperature value is greater than a temperature upper limit;
shutting down a drive to the motor;
sensing a second temperature value of the heat sink with the temperature sensor; and
attempting to restart the drive to the motor if the second temperature value is less than a limp mode temperature limit.
2. The method of claim 1 and further comprising generating a fault condition code if the first temperature value is greater than about 70 degrees Celsius.
3. The method of claim 1 and further comprising attempting to restart the drive to the motor if the second temperature value is less than about 60 degrees Celsius.
4. The method of claim 1 and further comprising indicating to a user that a fault condition code has been generated.
5. The method of claim 1 and further comprising setting the limp mode temperature limit based on an input voltage.