Abstract

A fume detector including a gas sensor having a heater element and a variable impedance element associated therewith whose impedance decreases in the presence of toxic gases or fumes, or a decrease of free oxygen in an atmosphere being monitored. A load resistor in series circuit with the gas sensor and a pair of series connected potentiometers in parallel circuit with the gas sensor and the load resistor form a Wheatstone bridge. A first voltage comparator connected to one of the potentiometers and a reference voltage provides a signal when the supply voltage decreases below a predetermined level. A second voltage comparator connected to the other potentiometer and a junction between the gas sensor and the load resistor provides a signal when the gas sensor fails in the open circuit condition. A third voltage comparator connected across the bridge provides a signal when a toxic gas condition exists. The first, second and third voltage comparator outputs are commonly connected to the input of a fourth voltage comparator. A warning device is connected to the output of the fourth voltage comparator and is energized when any one of the signals of the first, second and third voltage comparators falls below a predetermined level.