A data acquisition system and method includes monitoring a cooling system having a refrigerant compressor, evaporator, and condenser, and employs a number of sensors to monitor various operating parameters of the system. In an embodiment, a thrust-bearing apparatus including first and second thrust-bearing assemblies is received or provided. The reception port of the first radio is designed to read data modulated in terms of the frequency andor intensity of an external magnetic field at a first low frequency, for example a frequency between 50 and 300 khz. An intelligent control module includes control circuitry, such as a digital processor, for controlling the switching circuitry.