Zirconia O2 sensor alternate modes of operation

[Zack]

TK,

Well, the SAE papers I'm reading are using a Zirconia sensor as a current
source, biased to some fixed voltage, which means the load they're putting
on it is basically zero ohms.  Anyway, I found the following in the O2
Sensor FAQ:

>What will damage my O2 sensor? 
>
>   <snip>
>Just shorting out the sensor output wire will not hurt the sensor. This
simply grounds the output >voltage to zero. Once the wiring is repaired,
the circuit operates normally.
>   <snip>

Interesting, eh?

Zack

----------
> On your original question, I would assume that any significant current
> forced through the O2 would damage it.  It's impedance must be lower than
> the source impendance of the .45V source when it heats, so It's a
battery. I
> guess you could read the current through a known load. What, I don't
know.
> 
> Bottom line, I wouldn't.
> 
> The only reliable measurement is .456V is stoich.
> 
> TK