Portable generator including carbon monoxide detector
A generator includes an engine, an air-fuel mixing device coupled to the engine, where the air-fuel mixing device is configured to receive air from an air intake and combine the air with fuel to create an air/fuel mixture, an exhaust outlet positioned on a first side of the generator and coupled to the engine, wherein the exhaust outlet is configured to emit exhaust gases from the engine, and a carbon monoxide (CO) sensor positioned on a second side of the generator opposite the exhaust outlet, where the CO sensor is configured to detect CO concentration near the generator.
1. A generator comprising:
an engine;
an air-fuel mixing device coupled to the engine, wherein the air-fuel mixing device is configured to receive air from an air intake and combine the air with fuel to create an air/fuel mixture;
an exhaust outlet configured to emit exhaust gases from the engine; and
a CO sensor configured to detect CO concentration, wherein the CO sensor is positioned at a lower elevation on the generator than the exhaust outlet;
a CO sensor controller coupled to the CO sensor and configured to control operation of the CO sensor, wherein the CO sensor controller comprises:
a shutdown circuit configured to determine an environment of the generator, wherein the environment of the generator includes at least an enclosed environment and an open environment; and
an alert circuit configured to receive an alert indication from the shutdown circuit and alert a user of the generator to the detected CO concentration;
wherein the shutdown circuit is further configured to determine a first predetermined threshold for the enclosed environment and a second predetermined threshold for the open environment.
2. The generator of claim 1 , wherein the shutdown circuit is further configured to complete a shutdown procedure upon determining the generator is in the enclosed environment and the first predetermined threshold is exceeded.
3. The generator of claim 1 , wherein the shutdown circuit is further configured to complete a shutdown procedure upon determining the generator is in the open environment and the second predetermined threshold is exceeded.
4. The generator of claim 3 , wherein the shutdown circuit determines the environment of the generator by calculating a variance of output values from the CO sensor.
5. A method of shutting down a generator including an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
determining, by a CO sensor controller, an environment of the generator, the environment comprising at least one of an enclosed environment and an open environment;
determining, by the CO sensor controller, a first predetermined threshold for the enclosed environment and a second predetermined threshold for the open environment; and
completing, by the CO sensor controller, a shutdown procedure upon determining the generator is in the enclosed environment and the first predetermined threshold is exceeded;
wherein the shutdown procedure is completed by grounding an ignition of the generator until the engine is turned off.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
receiving, by the CO sensor controller, an alert indication, the alert indication including a determination that the first predetermined threshold and the generator is in the enclosed environment; and
prior to completing the shutdown procedure, generating, by the CO sensor controller, an alert alerting a user of the generator to the detected CO concentration.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the shutdown circuit is further configured to complete a shutdown procedure upon determining the generator is in the open environment and the second predetermined threshold is exceeded.