subject: Things to Know While Buying a Breathlyzer [print this page] DUI awareness and the dire consequences of driving while intoxicated have lead to a recent surge in purchases of breath alcohol testers, better know as breathalyzers. Unfortunately, when it comes to understanding the differences between each make and model most consumers don't have a clue where to begin.
When looking for a digital breathalyzer, there are a few key design characteristics that separate the quality models from some of the cheaper rip-offs. Don't let price or size fool you either. These things are never indicators of whether or not a particular breathalyzer is a good pick since many of the lower priced, mini breathalyzers provide very accurate, reliable results. The more digits present on the screen, the more specific a breathalyzer result will be, so go for a device that features a four-digit display. A digital breathalyzer with more digits on the display is a great tool in a zero-tolerance environment where the detection of even trace amounts of alcohol is very important.
Most people don't even know that they can get their own breathalyzer, but it's very accessible, and it's actually not nearly as hard as you'd like to think it is. In fact, getting your own breathalyzer is extraordinarily easy. There are several breathalyzers available to the public that work very well, and we're going to talk about how to find the right one for you, and how you can use it to ensure the safety in your drinking, and be more confident that you won't get too intoxicated.
When you blow into a breathalyzer your breath passes over a sensor that interprets the level of alcohol and a formula is applied to extrapolate the blood alcohol content (BAC).
The "Legal Limit" in all 50 states is .08 BAC. At .08 BAC or above you are considered legally intoxicated. But beware. Many people become impaired at .04 BAC (and lower) and you can be charged with "Driving While Impaired" at .04. Although it is a lesser offense, it can still be costly and cause some major aggravation. More importantly, you could endanger yourself and others even at these lower BAC levels.
Many of the newer devices feature what is known as "fuel-cell technology" for detecting alcohol particles in the breath. In a fuel cell digital breathalyzer, internal platinum plates produce a chemical reaction as the alcohol particles oxidize. This process results in an electrical current which aides in giving an extremely accurate reading. With fuel-cell technology, false readings are greatly reduced, typically a result of acetone in the breath of diabetics or those on a strict low-calorie diet. Typical breathalyzers work by using semi-conductors to oxidize the incoming alcohol particles but are more susceptible to false positive readings. This is not to say that semi-conductor based breathalyzers are not accurate or reliable. It's just that they require greater level of care and maintenance and they require at least 15 minutes after a person's last drink before taking a breath sample.
The sensor is the component inside a breathalyzer that reads and interprets your BAC. For personal use there are two types to consider, fuel cell sensors and semi-conductor sensors. When the breathalyzer is used correctly each of these types of sensors will yield accurate results up to approximately 1.5 X's the legal limit.
At higher blood alcohol levels (well over the legal limit) fuel cell sensors yield more accurate results. Fuel cell breathalyzers are more expensive to make typically costing between $450 and $1500.
Semi-conductor sensors are more economical to manufacture which helps keep the overall cost of the breathalyzer down. Depending on the quality of the sensor and other features, good quality breathalyzers with semi-conductor sensors cost between $55.00 and $300.00.
Things to Know While Buying a Breathlyzer
By: starcity
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