In 2020, Honda Power Sports & Products, a business unit of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., took an ambitious step in generator safety by being the first manufacturer to equip all models in its portable generator lineup with CO-MINDER™, a new advanced carbon monoxide (CO) detection system designed to help reduce risk of injury or death from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. The Honda CO-MINDER™ system continuously measures carbon monoxide levels in the air near the generator and automatically shuts down the engine before detected CO reaches a dangerous level. Honda Power Sports & Products was the first in the industry to commit to installing CO detection systems on its full line of generators. Today, all Honda generator models (Super Quiet, Economy and Industrial Series) include the CO-MINDER™ system.
During summer 2025, Honda took another important step toward even greater generator safety by equipping its portable generators with an advanced version of its original CO-MINDER™ carbon monoxide (CO) detection and automatic shutoff system. All Honda generators across the Economy, Deluxe, Industrial and Super Quiet Series now integrate CO-MINDER™ enhancements, meaning all models meet American National Standards Institute (ANSI) / PGMA G300-2023 safety and performance standards. Honda engineers recalibrated and reprogrammed the CO sensor to automatically shut down a generator immediately when it detects 600 parts per million (PPM) of carbon monoxide at the generator, or if it detects a 10-minute average of 400 parts of CO per million.
Millions of customers depend on Honda generators for work, home, and play—tailgating, camping, on-the-job—and for emergency home backup during power outages. Generators must be used outdoors and away from windows and doors to prevent the buildup of carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and deadly gas. Even outdoors, if there is little air movement, it is possible for CO to accumulate to life-threatening levels in certain locations, such as under the tongue of a fifth wheel recreational vehicle.
The Brain Behind the Honda CO-MINDER™ Carbon Monoxide Detection System
The Honda CO-MINDER™ carbon monoxide detection system incorporates a robust, fast-reacting, battery-powered sensor that continuously monitors for carbon monoxide in the air near the generator. If the sensor detects a CO level at or exceeding 600 parts per million (ppm) at a given time, or an average of 400 ppm for 10 minutes, it triggers the engine to shut down automatically. A safety light on the main panel notifies the user that a buildup of carbon monoxide caused the generator to shut down. And, if the user is connected to the generator using the Honda My Generator Bluetooth® App (available only on electric-start models), a notification is sent via the app indicating the generator shutdown due to high levels of carbon monoxide.
Honda designed the CO-MINDER™ system to be fast-acting, reducing nuisance shutdowns from false positives. Slower CO sensing systems must respond to dangers at a lower CO concentration in order to react in time to shut down the generator. Higher, but temporary, concentrations of CO can occur in certain conditions, such as when a gust of wind blows exhaust back toward the sensor, creating a false positive, a shutdown, and an inconvenience to the user. Honda CO-MINDER™ is an improvement over those systems.
The Honda CO-MINDER™ carbon monoxide detection system is built with a comprehensive range of safety features. The system is not intended to be overridden or tampered with, and the sensors are designed to work even if they are accidentally blocked. The sensors, with a wide temperature operating range, match the design running temperatures of Honda generators, allowing for use just about anywhere in the U.S. Both moisture and dust resistant, the sensors are designed for years of use. Further, the generator sensor system automatically tests itself and is equipped with a built-in warning, alerting the user to replace the sensors prior to end of life. Finally, the sensors conform to the ANSI / PGMA G300-2023 quality standards established for carbon monoxide monitors for generators.
Labels on the Honda generator models equipped with the CO-MINDER™ carbon monoxide detection system contain additional safety information, such as an exhaust directional safety warning decal, an anti-tamper message, and information on restarting the generator after an automatic CO-related shutdown.
In addition, a portable generator should never be used to backfeed via a standard outlet. A safe connection starts with a transfer switch installed by a licensed electrician. The switch cuts off the utility power while the generator operates and may power only selected circuits. When utility power is restored, the user disconnects the generator from the transfer switch so that power is not fed back to the utility power source (thereby preventing injury to a utility worker). The Honda generator line offers a range of wattages and other innovative features, including inverter technology that provides clean, stable power, protecting against damaging power surges, large fuel tanks, full frame protection, and electric starters.
Q&A
1. In Honda gas-powered portable (and inverter) generators, are any of the CO-sensing devices operated by battery?
Yes. The Honda CO-MINDER™ carbon monoxide detection system incorporates a robust, fast-reacting, battery-powered sensor that continuously monitors for carbon monoxide in the air near the generator. If the sensor detects a CO level at or exceeding 600 parts per million (ppm) at a given time, or an average of 400 ppm for 10 minutes (per Portable Generators Manufacturers’ Association [PGMA] G300-2023 standards), it triggers the generator to shut down automatically. A safety light on the main panel notifies the user that a buildup of carbon monoxide caused the generator to shut down. And, if the user is connected to the generator using the Honda My Generator Bluetooth® App (available only on electric-start models), a notification is sent via the app indicating the generator shutdown due to high levels of carbon monoxide.
2. Is it possible for Honda's CO shutoff device to sense high levels of CO and trigger an alarm even when the generator is not in use—say, when the generator is being stored in a closed garage?
In Honda generator models equipped with the CO-MINDER™ system, if the sensor detects a CO level at or exceeding 600 parts per million (ppm) at a given time, or an average of 400 ppm for 10 minutes (per Portable Generators Manufacturers’ Association [PGMA] G300-2023 standards), it triggers the generator to shut down automatically. A safety light on the main panel notifies the user that a buildup of carbon monoxide caused the generator to shut down. But if the generator is not running, that activity does not happen (CO-MINDER is not intended to be a replacement for a dedicated CO-alarm).
3. What troubleshooting steps can consumers take to determine whether the CO shutoff devices' batteries have sufficient charge? Is this mentioned in Honda generator user guides?
If the battery to the CO-MINDER™ is not working, the generator is designed to not be able to start: a fault indication light will illuminate to represent a problem with the CO-MINDER™ unit. Prior to that, if the batteries are getting weak, a visual indicator when the generator runs (and shortly after turned off) signals that battery life is getting low, and the generator should be serviced by a Honda trained and authorized technician to replace the entire sensor (the battery is incorporated into the sensor system, and the entire unit must be refreshed at that time). This indication occurs up to one year prior to the true end of life of the system.
4. What remedies can consumers take for depleted CO shutoff batteries while a Honda generator is under warranty? (And how long do most Honda generator warranties last?)
When the generator is under warranty and the battery fails, consumers can take the generator to a Honda authorized service dealer for warranty replacement of the entire CO shut off system. Warranty for consumer use is 3 years (36 months).
Warranty information:
Products manufactured on or after April 1, 2023
Products manufactured between January 1, 2010 and March 31, 2023
5. What remedies can consumers take when the generator is no longer under warranty?
When the generator is no longer under warranty, it still must be taken to an authorized dealer for replacement. The generator is designed to have the CO-MINDER™ be tamper resistant and avoid the potential for someone to bypass it and run the generator without protection. To gain access, special tools are required that are not readily available to end users.
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Operating a Generator
Take it outside! As the only safe place to operate a portable generator, taking it outside is absolutely mandatory to keep your family safe from carbon monoxide. But there's even more you can do. By educating yourself about all carbon monoxide risks, you'll be better prepared to protect your family from this colorless, odorless threat. The Portable Generator Manufacturers’ Association (PGMA) provides a fact sheet and website dedicated to safe portable generator operation, and the information can be found at http://www.takeyourgeneratoroutside.com/.
About Honda Power Sports & Products
Honda Power Sports & Products, a business unit of American Honda Motor Co., Inc.,
markets a complete range of outdoor power equipment, including generators, walk-behind lawn mowers, pumps, snow blowers, tillers, string trimmers, outboard marine engines and small, general-purpose engines for residential, commercial and rental applications. Honda is the world's largest manufacturer of engines for a diverse array of automotive, power sports, marine, aerospace and power equipment products. The company offers a complete line of small, general-purpose engines for industrial, commercial, rental industry, and consumer applications. Honda engines supply smooth and dependable power for thousands of different product applications including pressure washers, lawn mowers, rescue and construction equipment. Additionally, Honda engines are some of the quietest and easiest to start of their kind, even in harsh commercial and construction environments. Such attributes have made Honda engines the popular choice for original equipment manufacturers looking to add value to their own brands.
Lightweight, compact Honda generators for commercial and consumer applications produce between 1,000 and 10,000 watts of power, providing smooth, dependable power for recreation, construction, rental, computers, appliances and emergency use. All Honda generators are powered by advanced Honda 4-stroke engines and incorporate technology that make Honda generators among the world’s quietest. Honda generators for typical residential use average 64-73 decibels with the Super Quiet Series operating at noise levels as low as 49 decibels—roughly the noise level in a private office. models also carry the Honda industry-competitive, commercial-use, three-year warranty.
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