Method and apparatus for monitoring a refrigeration-cycle system
View Patent ↗A monitoring system for monitoring operation of a refrigerant-cycle system is disclosed. An electrical sensor measures an electrical quantity indicative of power consumption of a component of the refrigerant-cycle system. A processing system selectively identifies a condition indicative of an airflow restriction through the refrigerant-cycle system based on the power consumption of the component.
1. A method of monitoring operation of a refrigerant-cycle system, the method comprising:
tracking, using a timer, a first period of an air handler outputting air and a second period of the air handler not outputting air; and
using a processing system:
applying a first weighting value to the first period to produce a first weighted period, wherein the first weighting value is greater than zero;
applying a second weighting value to the second period to produce a second weighted period; and
determining a period of use of an air filter of the refrigerant-cycle system based on the first and second weighted periods; and
notifying an owner to replace the air filter in response to the period of use of the air filter being greater than a predetermined period.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
using a thermostat:
controlling operation of the refrigerant-cycle system; and
receiving user input indicative of the predetermined period; and
setting, using the processing system, the predetermined period based on the user input.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first weighting value is greater than the second weighting value.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising setting the period of use of the air filter based on a sum of the first and second weighted periods.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising, using the processing system:
receiving data indicative of an amount of atmospheric dust; and
determining the period of use of the air filter further based on the amount of atmospheric dust.
6. A monitoring system for monitoring operation of a refrigerant-cycle system, the monitoring system comprising:
a timer tracking a first period of an air handler outputting air and a second period of the air handler not outputting air; and
a processing system that:
applies a first weighting value to the first period to produce a first weighted period, wherein the first weighting value is greater than zero;
applies a second weighting value to the second period to produce a second weighted period;
determines a period of use of an air filter of the refrigerant-cycle system based on the first and second weighted periods; and
notifies an owner to replace the air filter in response to the period of use of the air filter being greater than a predetermined period.
7. The monitoring system of claim 6 further comprising a thermostat that controls operation of the refrigerant-cycle system and that receives user input indicative of the predetermined period,
wherein the processing system sets the predetermined period based on the user input.
8. The monitoring system of claim 6 wherein the first weighting value is greater than the second weighting value.
9. The monitoring system of claim 6 wherein the processing system sets the period of use of the air filter based on a sum of the first and second weighted periods.
10. The monitoring system of claim 6 wherein the processing system receives data indicative of an amount of atmospheric dust and determines the period of use of the air filter further based on the amount of atmospheric dust.