Methods and apparatus for coupling capacitors
View Patent ↗A method for supplying a plurality of capacitance values to a plurality of heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC/R) components is provided. The method includes configuring a first set of terminals of a connection device to couple a first capacitor to the connection device and configuring the connection device to couple the first capacitor to at least one of the plurality of HVAC/R components. The method further includes configuring a second set of terminals of the connection device to couple a second capacitor to the connection device and configuring the connection device to selectively couple the second capacitor to at least one of the plurality of HVAC/R components.
1. A connection device for selectively coupling a plurality of capacitors to a plurality of components included in a heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC/R) system, said connection device comprising:
a first conductor operable to couple a first contact of a first capacitor to a first HVAC/R component;
a second conductor operable to couple a second contact of said first capacitor to a second HVAC/R component; and
a third conductor operable to selectively couple a first contact of a second capacitor to one of said first HVAC/R component and said second HVAC/R component.
2. A connection device according to claim 1 wherein said first capacitor is a dual-rated capacitor unit.
3. A connection device according to claim 1 wherein said first HVAC/R component and said second HVAC/R component comprise at least one of a condensing fan motor and a compressor motor.
4. A connection device according to claim 1 wherein said third conductor comprises a selection device, wherein said selection device comprises at least one of a switch and a jumper-wire.
5. A connection device according to claim 1 wherein said third conductor operable to selectively couple said first contact of said second capacitor to at least one of said first HVAC/R component and said second HVAC/R component further comprises selectively coupling such that a capacitance value of said first capacitor is added to a capacitance value of said second capacitor and provided to at least one of said first HVAC/R component and said second HVAC/R component.
6. A connection device according to claim 1 wherein said connection device comprises at least one securing feature configured to couple said connection device to an HVAC/R system.