If you are interested in purchasing your own personal breathalyzers then you may want to educate yourself on what makes these devices tick, and why ACE XS offers you the market’s best.
Breathalyzers estimate your Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) by measuring the amount of ethanol (alcohol) in someone’s breath. When you drink, alcohol enters your bloodstream and is partially exhaled through your lungs; this is what the breathalyzer detects. This is captured by a sensor in the breathalyzer that is specially calibrated to detect the amount of alcohol in your breath, which directly correlates with the concentration of alcohol in your blood. In the breathalyzer world, there are three different kinds of sensors that brands use to record BAC.
- Semiconductor Sensors:
- Measures a change in electrical resistance when alcohol molecules contact the sensor’s tin dioxide coating
- They are inexpensive, compact, and overall, less accurate because of their sensitivity to temperature and humidity which makes it more prone to false positives
- Used mainly by cheaper brands, as these sensors are ready for the trash after a few months of use
- Fuel Cell Sensors (used in the ACE XS):
- It measures the amount of ethanol in your breath by oxidizing it into acetic acid in a platinum-based electrochemical fuel cell which then creates an electric current
- They have a tendency for highly accurate results and long-term stability
- They last for a while and are the reason why the XS is as accurate as it is
- Infrared Spectroscopy:
- It measures the infrared absorption of ethanol in your breath
- It is considered the gold standard for accuracy, but they are very bulky and are typically only used for police evidence, and prohibitively expensive
As stated above, ACE XS uses the fuel cell sensor to provide the most accurate BAC readings you can find in the personal breathalyzer market. By breaking down the measurement process of the ACE XS step-by-step, you can get a better understanding of how our fuel cell sensor stands out from the rest.
- Warm-up: After turning on your ACE XS, wait three seconds for the sensor to warm up before the test. For other leading brands, this process can take up to 10 seconds, but the ACE XS does it in 3
- Breath Sample: After your device is warmed up, blow into the sensor through a mouthpiece for 3-4 seconds, or until you hear a “click-clack” sound from the device
- ACE Pro Tip: Blowing too hard or softly can result in a breath sample failure. Blow as if you were whistling without any noise
- Results: The ACE XS sensor will immediately calculate your BAC after completing the breath sample, whereas other brands would have you waiting for a few seconds to provide a reading
Though you are now familiar with the sensor and its efficiency, there are other components of ACE XS that are also crucial to its function and accuracy. Let’s break them down for you:
- Mouthpiece: Ensures the sensor captures a full and complete breath sample. It is important that these should be disposes of after every test, not just for hygiene purposes, but also because alcohol residue from prior tests can interfere with the accuracy of future tests
- Fuel Cell Sensor: Reliably used by law enforcement on patrol, the fuel cell sensor ensures that the alcohol molecules from your breath are accurately detected and measured
- Microprocessor: ACE XS’ microprocessor converts the fuel sensor’s raw data into a readable BAC value
- Display: ACE XS sports an OLED display that is designed to highlight your results while also complementing the device’s sleek design
- Outer Casing: ACE XS is designed to comfortably fit in your hand with a grippable casing that protects everything in the device, wherever you go
- Keychain: The stylish detachable keychain encourages everyone to carry the ACE XS wherever you go, because you never know when you might need it for yourself, or others
There are tons of different personal breathalyzers out there to choose from, but after gaining a new understanding on how they operate and the importance in their build quality and components, it is clear that ACE XS is the most accurate breathalyzer you can trust. When we created the ACE XS, we wanted to provide the U.S. with the finest of German design and engineering, because we believe that everyone should have access to only the best. When your life is in your hands, your ACE XS will be too.
