A controller in a fuel cell system performs various operating parameter checks
at a predefined schedule, including one or more of a stack current check; a stack
voltage check; a cell voltage check; a purge cell check; an oxygen concentration
check; a hydrogen concentration check; a stack temperature check; an ambient air
temperature check; a fuel pressure check; and an airflow rate check; a hydrogen
sensor heater check; a battery voltage check; a microcontroller self-check; and/or
toggling a watchdog. The frequency of the checks are set relative to achieve an
efficient control of the fuel cell system by selectively distributing the load
on the microcontroller.
