System and method for compressor motor protection

1. A system comprising:

a refrigerant compressor including an electric motor;

a current sensor that measures current flow to the electric motor;

a switching device configured to close and open to allow and prevent current flow to the electric motor, respectively;

a maximum continuous current (MCC) device that includes a resistance corresponding to a maximum continuous current for the electric motor;

a motor protection module that:

communicates with the MCC device, the current sensor, and the switching device;

determines a first MCC value for the electric motor as a function of the resistance of the MCC device;

selectively sets a predetermined MCC to the first MCC value; and

controls the switching device based on a comparison of the current flow to the electric motor and the predetermined MCC.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the motor protection module opens the switching device when the current flow to the electric motor is greater than the predetermined MCC.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a temperature sensor that measures a temperature of the electric motor,

wherein the motor protection module controls the switching device further based on a second comparison of the temperature of the electric motor and a predetermined temperature.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the motor protection module opens the switching when the temperature is greater than the predetermined temperature.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the MCC device includes a digitally programmable potentiometer having the resistance.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the motor protection module selectively sets the resistance of the MCC device.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the MCC device is integrated with the motor protection module.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second MCC device that includes a second resistance corresponding to a second MCC for the electric motor,

wherein the motor protection module:

determines a second MCC value for the electric motor as a function of the second resistance; and

selectively sets the predetermined MCC to the second MCC value.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the motor protection module sets the predetermined MCC equal to a lesser one of the first and second MCC values.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the second MCC device is integrated with the refrigerant compressor and remote from the motor protection module.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the switching device includes a contactor.

12. A method comprising:

measuring current flow to an electric motor of a refrigerant compressor using a current sensor;

selectively opening and closing a switching device to allow and prevent current flow to the electric motor, respectively;

communicating with the current sensor, the switching device, and a maximum continuous current (MCC) device, the MCC device including a resistance corresponding to a maximum continuous current for the electric motor;

determining a first MCC value for the electric motor as a function of the resistance of the MCC device;

selectively setting a predetermined MCC to the first MCC value; and

controlling the switching device based on a comparison of the current flow to the electric motor and the predetermined MCC.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising opening the switching device when the current flow to the electric motor is greater than the predetermined MCC.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

measuring a temperature of the electric motor using a temperature sensor; and

controlling the switching device further based on a second comparison of the temperature of the electric motor and a predetermined temperature.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising opening the switching device when the temperature is greater than the predetermined temperature.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the determining the first MCC value for the electric motor as a function of the resistance of the MCC device comprises determining the resistance of a digitally programmable potentiometer of the MCC device.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising selectively setting the resistance of the MCC device.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising determining the resistance of the MCC device, wherein the MCC device is integrated with a motor protection module.

19. The method of claim 12 further comprising controlling the switching device further based on a second comparison of the resistance of the MCC device with a predetermined resistance range.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising opening the switching device when the resistance of the MCC device is one of:

less than a predetermined lower boundary of the predetermined resistance range; and

greater than a predetermined upper boundary of the predetermined resistance range.

21. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

determining a second MCC value for the electric motor as a function of a second resistance of a second MCC device; and

selectively setting the predetermined MCC to the second MCC value.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising setting the predetermined MCC equal to a lesser one of the first and second MCC values.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising determining the second resistance of the second MCC device, wherein the second MCC device is integrated with the refrigerant compressor and remote from a motor protection module.