7 best Breathalyzer

Here, an electrochemical sensor is also used - in fact, we included only such breathalyzers into our today's rating, since the accuracy of the vast majority of semiconductor meters cannot be called satisfactory. Moreover, the manufacturer promises measurement accuracy up to 0.005 ppm (output of the result is also available in mg / l). But high sensitivity has clear disadvantages: Alcogran is quite gentle, doesn’t like low temperatures, and most importantly, it has a strictly limited limit of measurements per day, no more than 7. It is overwhelmed when the alcohol content is more than 1 ppm.This, however, is enough: the current 0.16 mg / l corresponds to about 0.3 ppm, so there is a reserve for a threefold "reload".

Since it may only be a very persistent and impatient lover of the green serpent, “blown” seven times a day, we will not consider the limitation a serious disadvantage of this device. In the end, we are talking about domestic use, and not about checking discordant rows of fleet workers in the morning?

Well, in a particular case, the brand name fits just right. Indeed, it is better to insure communication with the pocket "Inspector" than to run into the present.

The device gives the measurement result immediately in milligrams per liter, and it is convenient - you do not need to remember how ppm is converted into the requirements of the law. The maximum displayed reading is 1 mg / l with an accuracy of 0.03 mg / l. If the measurement reveals an ethanol vapor concentration above 0.25 mg / l, the Inspector gives an alarm. But let us note that it’s already beating the alarm late: such concentration will already lead to deprivation of rights. Another thing is that he is still inclined to overestimate the testimony, "reinsuring."

Breathalyzer starts quickly enough in about 15 seconds. The pause between the individual measurements must be at least a minute. The measurement results are stored in memory with 5 cells.

This breathalyzer from Korea is warming up not very fast (up to half a minute), but its electrochemical sensor shows itself well in operation. Since it is unlikely that anyone will use a personal Alcotester in the winter outside or in the summer in the sun itself, a noticeable drift in the results is not a fundamental drawback - in the temperature range around the room you can trust his testimony, the repeatability of the measurement results is decent.

The measurement range is up to 2 mg / l with a stated accuracy of ± 0.025 mg / l. It is necessary to treat this with a clear degree of skepticism. The main claim to the cheapest alcotester is that the manufacturer does not indicate anywhere the maximum number of measurements per day, nor the frequency of calibrations of the device.

The Drager company (however, if you already write without a-umlaut, then according to the new German spelling rules, Draeger will be correct) doesn’t need much introduction - we will hope that (unlike the author, alas) you won’t get acquainted with the products of this brand : do not fall under artificial respirators or general anesthesia for a good life, so take my word for it.

As for the Alcotester, their presence in the product line of the company is even amusing - it began its activity more than a hundred years ago with the production of beer supply systems under the pressure of carbon dioxide. Therefore, if you have already gone too far in the contents of the beer keg, and then got to be examined, you can safely assume that Johan Dreger has twice been guilty of depriving you of rights.

But back to the breathalyzer. Naturally, he, as befits the old German mark, is not cheap at all - even if you remove the printer from the package bundle, it will be twice as expensive as the Korean competitor. On the other hand, it maintains accuracy even at small negative temperatures, which has always been a serious test for electrochemical sensors (they are usually used only for positive ones). Alcotest 6820 is ready for use already 2 seconds after switching on, fast and data processing: the test takes no more than 10 seconds.

For power supply, two AA batteries or two nickel batteries of the same size are used. The built-in USB port can also be used to charge batteries without interrupting use - a great solution!

But, anyway, the price of this undoubtedly high-class device will often be the main reason to choose a different model. Therefore, the rating of this breathalyzer, we are forced to put less than it could be.

Now in the line of Drager breathalyzers, presented on the official website of the Russian representative office, there are only two models. So the Drager Alcotest 5510 is the most affordable option offered in our country.

As a portable, it is more convenient than the Model 6820 due to its compactness and lower weight. Printer connectivity is not: if the Alcotest 6820 is more suitable for medical hospitals, then this model will best show itself in the arsenal of a road inspector. The sensor is exactly the same here, so all the advantages of the Alcotest 6820 can be repeated for 5510.

The difference is in less autonomy and the absence of built-in charging for batteries; there is no optical connection to a branded printer. The memory of tests is also reduced - only 10 cells are available.