ALC Alert BT5500 User manual
Warranty
The manufacturer warrants this Breathalyser to be free from defects in workmanship or material
(excluding calibration) under normal use for one year from the date of purchase. Manufacturer’s
obligations under this limited warranty are limited to replacing, adjusting, or repairing the unit if
returned along with the proof of purchase. This warranty is void if the unit has been tampered with,
maliciously damaged, or physically abused. The enforceability of this warranty is limited to the original
consumer purchaser and is not transferable to, or enforceable by, any subsequent owner. In the event
of a defect, malfunction or other failure to conform to this warranty, UKBreathalysers, will, at its sole
discretion, repair or replace the unit. You are responsible for all shipping cost in connection with
warranty service. This warranty commences on the date of purchase and shall be effective for a period
of one year and does not affect your statutory rights.
Should you need to return your unit or obtain service during the warranty period, please call 0870 321
Remember to return your detector postage paid, insured and in suitable packaging. DO NOT return
your unit without contacting us first!
Disclaimer
UKBreathalysers makes no warranties, expressed or implied, as to the ability of this device to
determine whether a person is intoxicated, and expressly disclaim any liability for incidental, special, or
consequential damages of any nature.
The user undertakes not to make any decisions and/or carry out any actions based upon the
reading of this device. UKBreathalysers assume no responsibility for consequences of subjects who
test negative when using this device and later show that they are under the influence of alcohol or their
judgment has been impaired by alcohol.
This device should only be used as a screening device and may only give an indication of the possible
presence of alcohol in the blood of the test subject. Correlation between breath alcohol content and
blood alcohol concentration depends on many variables, including temperature and health conditions.
A safe or low reading on a breath alcohol screener does not mean that the driver’s reaction times can
respond to any emergency encountered. The exact concentration of alcohol in the blood of the test
subject cannot be exactly determined by using a breath alcohol screening device. THIS
BREATHALYSER IS A SCREENING DEVICE ONLY, NOT ADMISSIBLE IN THE COURT OF LAW.
DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL AND DRIVE!
ALWAYS USE A DESIGNATED DRIVER AFTER DRINKING ALCOHOL.
BE SAFE AND DRINK RESPONSIBLY.
Customer Care
If you have questions about UKBreathalysers products or services, please contact us via phone, e-mail
or mail. Our customer service agents will gladly assist you in any way they can. Please contact us via
UKBreathalysers Limited
Fosters Yard, Forge Lane
Broadbridge Heath
West Sussex
RH12 3JA
United Kingdom
Overview
The AlcAlert is a breath alcohol screening device designed to test for the presence of alcohol in the
blood. This device is intended to be used in all populations with lung capacity capable of producing at
least 1.5 litres of exhaled air. The AlcAlert is powered by 2 x AAA Batteries that generally lasts be-
tween 200-300 tests.
Preparing For Use
Install the included AAA Batteries. Apply a small amount of pressure on the indentation of the battery
compartment cover and then push down and away from the unit simultaneously in order to release the
cover. Install the batteries and replace the battery compartment cover. (See the following diagram).
Observe the correct polarity on the inside of the case as incorrect insertion may damage the
unit.
AlcAlert BT5500 User Manual
If you do not wait 20 minutes before testing, the reading will measure the alcohol in your mouth,
which is many times that related to your blood alcohol level. The detector contains a highly sensitive
semi-conductor sensor, and not waiting the required time could damage (saturate) this sensor and
can cause all future readings to be inaccurate. Please also ensure you do not blow any smoke or
liquid into the unit, or the same damage can result and de-calibrate the detector.
Press the “ON” button and the unit will beep once. The “WAIT” indicator flashes and the unit begins
to warm up, displaying a countdown from 14 to zero. You must wait until the countdown is complete,
after which the unit will beep twice and the “BLOW” indicator will flash. Take a deep breath, then
gently and steadily blow into the breath intake at the top of the unit until the unit beeps 3 times in
succession. Blow from a distance of about 3cm, as if you are trying to cool soup on a spoon. As you
are blowing, “Err” appears in the display until the sampling process is completed. If you do not blow a
sufficient sample, “Err” will continue to be displayed. Once sampling is complete, the unit displays the
results in BAC% (see “how to analyse the results” below) and the reading will remain displayed for 5
seconds, after which it will flash for 3 seconds before the unit automatically switches off. To retest,
simply repeat the above process.
Error Messages
• Flowcheck: if the unit does not sense that a sufficient sample has been provided, Err will
appear on the display. In this case, turn off the unit and try again.
• Low Battery: If the battery power is too low to enable accurate testing, the indicator to the
left of “WAIT” will illuminate. Do not test – replace the batteries prior to further use.
• Saturation: If the unit detects very high levels (ie. Alcohol in the mouth) the unit will beep
three times in short succession and display “+1.2”. DO NOT RETEST for at least 20 minutes.
How to Analyze the Results
• The UK Drink-Drive limit is 0.08% BAC, shown on the unit as 0.08
• Do not Drink and Drive. The AlcAlert BT5500 is sold for advisory purposes only and cannot
be solely relied upon to determine the users’ level of intoxication.
• If you consume very little alcohol (ie insufficient to read more than 0.02%) the device may not
be activated and the display will read 000. The unit is designed to operate most efficiently
between 0.04% and0.10%; readings will be less accurate at very high, or very low levels.
Precautions
1. Always wait at least 20 minutes after your last drink before testing. This is because it
can take up to 20 minutes for any residual alcohol in the mouth to dissipate and for alcohol to
be fully absorbed in the blood.
2. Avoid testing in strong winds, in a closed room with a heavy smoke, or where a lot of alcohol
is being consumed.
3. Do not blow cigarette smoke, food or liquid into the instrument
4. The AlcAlert is designed for use in a temperature range of 10 – 40 (C) or 50-104 (F).
Operation of the unit in extreme temperature ranges above or below this range may affect
the accuracy of results.
5. Avoid testing in the presence of any substances that contain methyl alcohol, isopropyl
alcohol or acetone. These substances may interfere with the results of the test.
6. Conditions that increase the amount of ketenes on the breath, such as diabetes and low
caloric intake, may cause a false positive test.
7. DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE. Always have a designated driver if you are drinking
Alcohol.
Always leave at least 20 minutes between drinking and testing
How does it work?
When you drink alcohol it passes through the lining of the stomach into the blood supply. As the
blood moves around your body it is filtered by the liver (which extracts the alcohol over a period of
time) but also passes through the lungs. At the same time as the oxygen in your breath passes
through the alveoli into your blood, a certain amount of the alcohol that is carried by the blood passes
back the other way. It is therefore important to measure deep lung air as this is where the blood has
been in contact with the air in the lungs. A breath from any other part of the lungs will have a lower
alcohol concentration and can give a lower reading than should be the case.
To achieve a consistent reading, a consistent sample of deep lung air is therefore required. Law-
Enforcement devices measure an absolute quantity of air (usually 1.7ltr) each time they are used and
employ a chemical fuel cell to measure alcohol concentration. This however makes such devices
significantly more expensive to manufacture than personal detectors like this that use a “timed blow”
& semi-conductor sensor, but with practice the user can achieve a reasonable level of accuracy by
ensuring that as far as possible the same blow pressure is used each time a sample is taken.
How to get the most from your Breathalyser
When first using the device, 20 minutes after your last drink try testing yourself three times,
approximately two minutes apart, in order to “bracket” the readings. An average reading can then be
assessed, as can the consistency of the blow level required. Note the reading, and then test again
30 minutes later and so on until the unit reads zero.
Try the unit on others; you are likely to find considerable variance in the way in which individuals
metabolise alcohol, depending upon body mass, when they last ate, time of day etc. After a while you
will start to develop a reasonable idea of the way in which you personally react to Alcohol and you
can then modify your drinking appropriately to ensure that you always leave a more than adequate
period after drinking and before driving.
UKBreathalysers would always recommend you do not drive with ANY alcohol in your system, and
that you leave a substantial safety margin between the time you believe you have reached a zero-
level and the point where you may consider driving. Never rely solely upon the readings of this
detector in determining your fitness to drive!
Cleaning
Although it may seem logical to clean the alcohol detector with alcohol or other cleaning agents, in
reality, this is very harmful to the semiconductor sensor in detector. All semiconductor sensors are
intolerant to high doses (saturation) of alcohol, and other cleaning or anti bacterial agents. Simply
wipe the unit over with a damp (not wet) cloth and dry thoroughly.
AlcAlert BT5500 User Manual
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