Earlier, only doctors and traffic police inspectors with the appropriate equipment could determine the degree of intoxication. With the development of technology, a similar procedure can be carried out at home. For this, there are special devices - breathalyzers.
The modern market offers a wide range of devices of this kind. You can buy in pharmacies breathalyzers for personal use of various types and shapes. And if experienced users have long determined the best options for themselves, then beginners are tormented by doubts.
So the question is: “How to choose a breathalyzer for personal use?” more than relevant. Whatever they say about the practicality of the device, it will save the driver from many problems. By the way, such devices are in great demand in everyday life.
So, let's try to find out which breathalyzer is better to buy for personal use, what to pay special attention to and how not tomiscalculate with the purchase. Let's analyze the main characteristics of the devices and consider the rating of the most successful models.
How to choose a breathalyzer for personal use?
Many consumers make the same common mistakes, after which they write angry reviews about gadgets. If you buy a breathalyzer for personal use from the professional segment of devices used by traffic police and doctors, then you will get a functional, but expensive toy.
The fact is that such devices work on a stream and are distinguished by "capricious" settings. In addition, considerable experience is required to handle the device. Yes, these are the most accurate gadgets, but their price is sky-high. So as a breathalyzer for personal use, such a device is not suitable. There are many non-professional high-precision devices on sale, so pay attention to them.
The other extreme is to buy a breathalyzer for personal use from the ultra-budget segment. We are talking about devices from China - key fobs and other small trinkets. The accuracy of readings of inexpensive devices is “plus or minus a bottle of vodka”, that is, they cannot correctly determine the presence of ethanol in the exhaled air.
Pocket instruments are equipped with cheap semiconductor sensors with a floating operating life (and sometimes without it at all). They stop working after the third or fourth purge. Before choosing a breathalyzer for personal use, look at its “pedigree” and never mess with cheap no-name models. To nothingit will not lead to good.
Measurement technique
Judging by the reviews of breathalyzers for personal use, these devices most accurately determine the ethanol content no earlier than ten minutes after consumption. That is, we are talking about air measurements from the lungs, and not residual vapors from the mouth area.
It is necessary to exhale with the same intensity, slowly, until the device gives an appropriate signal, confirming the intake of air in the required volume. In some cases, it is better to take a control measurement after a couple of minutes.
The main characteristics of the device
Before choosing a breathalyzer for personal use, pay attention to the basic parameters of the devices. You should immediately abandon two groups of devices:
- Yes/no models, that is, confirming or denying the presence of ethanol in the air.
- Proximity devices that collect from some distance. Accuracy, as well as the efficiency of devices, is a big question. For normal analysis, tight and complete contact of the exhaled air with the sensors is necessary.
Which breathalyzer to buy for personal use?
It's best to look for instruments that offer a quantification of the ethanol content in the air. The best option for Russian realities is the result in ppm, because this particular unit appears in the rules of the road and other restrictive documents. If the device is workingwith milligrams per liter, then you will have to translate the resulting value into ppm, and doing calculations with a sick head after yesterday is not the most pleasant thing.
For most ordinary motorists, knowing the exact (up to hundredths) ratio of ethanol in the sample is completely useless. In a good half of the cases, it is enough that the device will filter out three critical values without errors: the presence of alcohol vapor in the exhaled air, residual effects (borderline) and the complete absence of ethanol. It makes no sense to buy the most accurate breathalyzer for personal use, unless you are a licensed operator of sophisticated equipment or come into contact while working with ethanol.
Devices from the mainstream and premium segment are equipped with a set of disposable mouthpieces and a 12-volt power adapter for the car. It would be useful to ask the seller about the length of the operational period. This parameter most often depends on the survivability of the sensor and the number of measurements taken. After the resource allotted to the device is exhausted, it starts to "lie" or refuses to work at all.
By the way, it is worth noting that it is very easy to disable even the best breathalyzer for personal use. It is enough to demonstrate the device at a home feast and put it in a circle for verification. After the stress test, the device can be safely thrown away. The fact is that frequent and unsystematic use almost instantly disables the main sensor.
Where to buy the device?
It is better to buy a device at specialized points of sale. The distribution of breathalyzers is carried out mainly by enterprises working with medical institutions - hospitals and pharmacies.
In addition to professional devices, these organizations are engaged in the implementation of relatively inexpensive, but most importantly - proven devices, the results of which can be trusted. Judging by the reviews about breathalyzers for personal use, good devices can be found on the shelves of manufacturers from South Korea, Germany and Russia. But it will be mid-price and premium segment. The public sector is dominated by products from China.
Let's make a list of the best (according to reviews) breathalyzers for personal use. We present the list of models in the form of a rating. Consider both inexpensive options and more advanced - premium.
Rating of breathalyzers for personal use:
- Alcotest 6810.
- AlcoHunter Professional X.
- "META 01 STSI".
- "Delta AT-300".
- "Dingo E-010".
- "Delta AT-500".
- Ritmix RAT-303.
Let's analyze their work in more detail.
Alcotest 6810
The first place in our rating of breathalyzers for personal use is occupied by a device from Germany. According to user reviews, Alcotest 6810 is the best that this segment has to offer. The device can be called professional, but many use it exclusively for personal purposes.
It should be noted that the traffic police have repeatedly recognized this model as the most accurate breathalyzer and compared it with their standard equipment. Practicallythe only drawback that users complain about is the power supply exclusively from the network without the possibility of autonomous operation. Nevertheless, it is difficult to call this moment critical, because most devices of this kind are used in cars where there are no problems with a 12-volt supply.
Reliable electromechanical sensor provides fast and accurate testing. A small mini-printer is included with the device, with which you can immediately print the results. As such, the device does not need calibration, but the manufacturer recommends reconfiguring once a year. The latter can be done both in the service center and on your own by downloading the appropriate software.
Naturally, such an advanced device simply cannot be cheap, so you will have to pay about 20 thousand rubles for it. But high performance and exceptional build quality have never come at an affordable price tag.
AlcoHunter Professional X
This is a Russian product that appeared in almost all thematic ratings and tops in the first places. The model is a continuation of the series and a serious work on the bugs. The result is an excellent device: accurate, reliable, ergonomic and stylish.
The breathalyzer is able to detect even ultra-low concentrations of ethanol in samples (0.01 ppm). All data is clearly visible on the color display, and the interface, judging by user reviews, is intuitive and understandable even for beginners in this business.
After factory calibration, the manufacturer guarantees accurate measurements for 1000 samples. The device can work both from a network, and from accumulator batteries. It is also worth noting the relatively low cost of the breathalyzer for the declared characteristics - about 9,000 rubles. Users in their reviews say that the device has no serious flaws, except that it warms up longer than its counterparts.
META 01 GIBDD
Another domestic solution that received a lot of accolades from the owners. The device is powered by a rechargeable battery and allows you to make an impressive number of measurements per day. Each sample remains in the device's memory, so you can follow the dynamics.
In terms of accuracy, according to experts, the device produces excellent results. Among other advantages of the device, one can single out a high-quality assembly and an intuitive interface. All elements of the body are tightly fitted to each other, no squeaks, crackles and other shortcomings were noticed.
Users also liked the look of the device and its ergonomics. The device is comfortable to hold in the hands, all buttons are within finger reach. This model is a frequent guest in specialized stores, the device can be bought for over six thousand rubles.
Delta AT-300
This is a joint product of Russian and Chinese companies. The model attracts primarily with its design. If a good half of the devices look like small bricks, then this device surprises with smooth lines andwell-chosen shades.
The device offers the user not only an attractive wrapper, but also a filling. The semiconductor sensor provides accurate readings of the ethanol content of the samples. True, some users in their reviews complain about the long preparation of the sensor - 20 seconds, but for many this is not critical.
The device is equipped with a backlit liquid crystal display, which allows you to take samples even in complete darkness. After turning on the breathalyzer, it starts self-diagnosis in order to exclude the influence of extraneous factors.
Local firmware set to 0.25mg/l ppm threshold. If this mark is exceeded, the device gives a warning signal. Many users were pleased with the ergonomics of the device: it is comfortable to hold in hands, and the controls are well-placed on the body.
To power the device, 3 small finger batteries (AAA) are required. Judging by the reviews, they last for about a month if you use the breathalyzer every day. In addition, the manufacturer allows the device to be used in tandem with a network adapter (4.5 V / 120 mA), but it will have to be purchased separately. The device can be purchased for a thousand and a half in pharmacies and specialized stores.
Dingo E-010
This is a South Korean model, which also received a lot of accolades from both experts and ordinary users. The device can be called universal, because sampling takes place both from the mouthpiece and with the help of a conventional purge.
The model is powered by a standard battery and conventional batteries. In addition, the manufacturer has launched several modifications of the device on the market, differing from each other in the package.
For personal and non-daily use, the simplest one will do. In other cases, it is better to choose an extended version with different mouthpieces, a more capacious battery and additional accessories (case, carrying bag, etc.). The instrument (regardless of modification) must be calibrated after every thousand samples. The basic version of the model will cost about 700 rubles.
Many users, judging by the reviews, were pleased with the ergonomics of the breathalyzer. It sits comfortably in the hand, and the received data is perfectly readable on the large display. The latter does not have a backlight, so you can’t work in the dark. The only thing that owners sometimes complain about, especially heavy smokers, is the prolonged exhalation time, which can be up to 1 minute.
Delta AT-500
The device has a good cost-benefit ratio. For just over 600 rubles, we get a light, reliable and efficient breathalyzer. The model runs on conventional batteries, AC adapters are not provided by the manufacturer.
The appearance of the device can be called calm, and the dimensions are small. It fits easily in your hand and is comfortable to use. The interface is not complicated, and the controls are within fingertip.
Judging by the reviews of the owners, the device accurately determines the ratioppm, but about once a year it needs to be reconfigured, otherwise the error increases noticeably. There are no questions regarding assembly.
The device looks solid, the body elements do not creak or play. Some owners in their reviews noted that they dropped the breathalyzer on a hard surface more than once without harm to it. The completeness of the model acts as a fly in the ointment here. There are no batteries or mouthpieces in the box with the device, so you will have to buy the necessary accessories separately.
Ritmix RAT-303
This is one of the simplest options that can be found on the domestic market. The model from China is inexpensive, but you can’t call it poor quality. The device is powered by two standard batteries without the ability to connect to the network. The autonomy of the gadget is quite decent. Users in their reviews note that the device worked quietly for two or even three months on one set of batteries.
The device is quite accurate, it was not noticed in issuing false information. In addition, users were pleased with the large backlit display, which perfectly reads all the data presented. Sample results are displayed 20 seconds after sampling.
The device received from the creators of an attractive guitar-shaped design and high-quality assembly. All elements are tightly fitted to each other, the design looks monolithic. True, there are some questions about the material itself - it is mediocre plastic, but the price of the breathalyzer (about 400 rubles) does not implyuse of quality materials. Some users complain about the too bloated dimensions of the device. It is not very comfortable to hold it in your hand, especially for people with small hands, but again, looking at the price tag, the device can be forgiven for all the shortcomings.
