Push button starting system for outdoor power equipment

摘要

A starting system (36) for outdoor power equipment that has a controller (38) and a start button (26) to control the activation of an internal combustion engine. The starting system includes a controller that receives a start signal from a start button. The controller monitors for the presence of an enable (30) device in an enable device receptacle (24) and, upon activation of the start button (26) and the presence of the enable device (30) in the enable device receptacle (24), the controller provides electric power to the electric load of the power equipment. When the start button is depressed for longer than a minimum engagement period, the controller initiates (38) operation of the engine. If the start button (26) is pressed for less than the minimum engagement period, the controller activates the electric load for an auxiliary period without starting the engine. During engine operation, if the start button is depressed, the controller (38) terminates operation of the engine.