Priming Protection

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a pumping system for at least one aquatic application. The pumping system includes a pump, a motor coupled to the pump, and a controller in communication with the motor. The controller determines an actual power consumption of the motor and compares the actual power consumption to a reference power consumption. The controller also determines that the pump is in an unprimed condition if the actual power consumption is less than the reference power consumption and that the pump is in a primed condition if the actual power consumption is at least equal to the reference power consumption.

1 . A pumping system for at least one aquatic application, the pumping system comprising:
 a pump;   a motor coupled to the pump; and   a controller in communication with the motor,
 controller determining an actual power consumption of the motor, 
 controller comparing the actual power consumption to a reference power consumption, 
 controller determining that the pump is in an unprimed condition if the actual power consumption is less than the reference power consumption, 
 controller determining that the pump is in a primed condition if the actual power consumption is at least equal to the reference power consumption, and 
 controller performing a timeout interrupt routine to protect the pumping system from damage by stopping the motor if the pumping system remains in the unprimed condition. 
   
     
     
         2 . The pumping system of  claim 1 , wherein the timeout interrupt routine increments a prime error counter to keep track of failed priming attempts. 
     
     
         3 . The pumping system of  claim 1 , wherein the timeout interrupt routine pauses for a predetermined amount of time if the failed priming attempts are less than a prime error threshold and locks the pumping system if the failed priming attempts are greater than the prime error threshold.