Alcosense Zero breathalyser teardown

One of Aldi's special deals this week was a breathalyser. Let's put it through its paces then see what's inside.
INDEX
0:00 Index
0:10 Introduction and unboxing: Alcosense Zero breathalyser
2:34 Testing (with and without booze)
8:42 A look inside
13:51 More testing
15:03 Conclusions

[@superdau]

The 6 pin sensors are essentially 4 pin (they have pins connected together in the case). Those sensors aren't catalytic btw. They are oxide semiconductors which change their resistance in the presence of the gas they are built to measure. Those sensors adsorb oxygen from the air which then gets "burned" away by the measured gas. The missing oxygen acts like doping in silicon and makes the sensor material more conductive. You have to wait between measurements, because it takes time for oxygen from the air to adsorb to the sensor again.

[@AintBigAintClever]

Useful info. This is why I work in IT, not electronics :D

[@zaprodk]

Apart from the EEPROM keeping a count of number of measurements, it might have a calibration value for that exact sensor as well, as no two are alike. For 20₤ it seems like a steal and a well built product. Thanks for sharing this.

[@arcadeuk]

I think you were reading the limit for Scotland wrong, they don't measure in %bac there, it's done as a fraction of bottles of whiskey

[@jusb1066]

in america it depends who your father is, amazing system

[@AintBigAintClever]

BAC = Bottled Alcohol Consumed :D

[@grahamr6545]

I thought this was a Big Clive video went I clicked on it.. Maybe you should name your channel to AintBigAintClive Lol

[@pdrg]

The famous Aldi jumble sale aisle! I see on the box that it's calibrated for Wales :)

[@Razor2048]

If you are going to beat the police ones, is it possible to drink enough alcohol that their meter experiences an integer overflow when trying to measure your blood alcohol content?

[@iamdarkyoshi]

Time to dump the contents of that chip!

[@sparkyprojects]

Maybe the switch is the length of time to blow ?

[@geotechmore8855]

Maybe it shows lower because you ate something? It could be because of taking the test too repidly between tests? Cool video! 😀.

[@AintBigAintClever]

It wasn't exactly a scientific test. I wasn't watching the time, nor did I leave the bottles alone during filming :D

[@0x8badf00d]

I was going to suggest that it was reading 0.2 % rather than 0.02% (3*0.05% = about 0.2%). But I can't find any evidence.

[@lb5sh]

Enigma - Phenomena inspired logo at the end there, or am I way off here?

[@AintBigAintClever]

Spot on. Also the fade-out of the index at the beginning of most of the videos I've done in the past few years (the text background used is referenced on my PC as "enigma fade.avi").

[@anameisrequired3729]

\o/ drunk teardown

[@0x8badf00d]

WTF, a useful manual?

[@simontay4851]

I wouldn't trust this to be acurrate enough to know whether I'd be able to drive without comparing it to the calibrated machine the police use. Best just to not have any alcohol at all or just half a pint of weak beer or cider with food if you're driving.

[@jam99]

Yeah, but what do you do if you're so drunk you can't remember how much you have drunk? This gadget would then be essential! Seriously, though, if you have someone you care about who sometimes drinks a little too much for your liking before driving home, it might make a nice bit of fun to politely make the point to him/her.

[@colinclarke4285]

Surely if you are unsure of the level of booze consumed it's best not to drive at all? It's not rocket science. ..If you have to drive don't drink ...If you've had drink don't drive ...A taxi is a far better option than a DD conviction. ..cos it don't stop at that. ..higher insurance for at least ten years. ..loss of employment. ..criminal record. ...don't give plod any reason to take your license