AlcoSense Excel User manual

1
Cover
1
Cover
PROBLEMS?
Before returning it to the shop,
call us on 0800 195 0088
([phone] outside
the UK) Mon-Sat 9am-5pm.
We can resolve most issues
on the phone in a couple
of minutes!
WARNING: AlcoSense is a sensitive measurement device. Performing a breath
test less than 10 minutes after drinking risks blowing high levels of alcohol
directly from your mouth into the system which could permanently damage
the sensor and cause the system to read inaccurately. Blood alcohol levels
can continue to rise for up to 90 minutes after drinking, as a result we only
recommend using the Breathalyser after this time (and ideally the morning
after) to ensure your reading will not increase after you test yourself. Do not
blow directly into the blow hole without a blow tube – this can damage the
sensor and significantly reduce the lifetime of your unit.
Instruction
Manual

2 3
How Breathalysers Work 4
How Alcohol is Processed by the Body 4
Do’s and Don’t’s 5
Getting Started 6
Unpacking the Box 6
Understanding the Buttons and Screens 7
What the Icons Mean 8
Installing the Batteries 10
First Time Setup 11
How to Perform a Breath Test 12
Understanding the Results 14-15
Changing Settings & Recalling Results 16
Changing Limits, Units of Measure and Driving Abroad 17-18
How can a Breathalyser Display a Blood Alcohol Reading? 19
The Blood Breath Ratio 19
Common Drink Drive Limits and Blood Breath Ratios 20-21
Maintaining your AlcoSense Excel Breathalyser 22
Technical Support 23
Troubleshooting 23-25
Specification 26
Accessories 26
Legal & Warranty 27
Contents
AlcoSense Excel Instruction Manual
Thank you for purchasing your new AlcoSense Breathalyser.
As you know, you never can tell how long it takes for alcohol to clear from
your body after having a drink. It depends on many variables including body
mass, time of day, food intake and even if you have a cold.
Road safety is our primary concern. AlcoSense breathalysers are designed to
quickly and accurately indicate your level of intoxication, making it easy for
you to tell when the alcohol has cleared from your system the morning after a
few drinks.
Thank you again for purchasing one of our products and helping to make
our roads a safer place. I’m sure you will be delighted with it.
Yours sincerely,
Hunter Abbott, Managing Director
Important - Please read
It is safest to drive when you have no alcohol left in your blood stream. As a result we only
recommend driving when the AlcoSense breathalyser shows zero and you feel 100%. If you have
any doubt that you may still have alcohol in your system - do not drive. Before using the AlcoSense
breathalyser you agree you have read the operating instructions & are aware of the legal alcohol
limit in your jurisdiction. The manufacturer distributors and sellers of this product exclude all liability
for improper use or loss or damage caused by actions taken by you after use of this product.
AlcoSense Excel User Manual Version 1.0

4 5
Things That Can Affect the Reading of Your Breathalyser
There are some factors that can affect the reading of breathalysers
whether it be the AlcoSense breathalyser or a police system. Please note
that certain medications and conditions including diabetes can give false
positive readings. If you find you have a positive reading when you have
not drunk alcohol please contact us for assistance.
Do:
• Use the breathalyser the morning after a few drinks.
• Read the instructions carefully.
• Phone us if you have any difficulties.
• Only drive when the AlcoSense says 0.00 and you feel 100%.
Any amount of alcohol in your system will affect your ability to drive.
• Leave a minimum of 3 minutes between tests. Do not perform more
than 10 tests in one hour and no more than 30 tests in 24 hours.
More frequent testing can cause a build-up of breath condensation in
the breathalyser which can temporarily affect accuracy.
Don’t:
• Blow into the breathalyser within 10 minutes of drinking, high levels of
alcohol in the mouth can permanently damage the sensor.
• Do a breath test within 90 minutes of drinking. Blood alcohol levels
can rise for up to 90 minutes after drinking (see page 4 for more info).
Results taken before this time can rise or fall quickly.
• Use the breathalyser for at least 30 minutes after using mouthwash,
breath spray, cough medicine or anything else that may contain alcohol
- you may get a false positive reading.
• Use the breathalyser for at least 30 minutes after having a cigarette or
eating ripe fruit - you may get a false positive reading.
• Perform a test in dirty air, i.e. a smokey room or pub.
• Use the breathalyser if you are breathing quickly (for example, after
running up the stairs) or have been holding your breath. This can
falsely lower or raise the reading respectively. Wait until you are
breathing normally again.
• Perform two tests sequentially, you may get a variation between
readings. This is because it can take a few minutes for the alcohol
concentration inside the lungs to stabilise again after the first test.
How Breathalysers Work
Breathalysers work by measuring the concentration of alcohol vapour
in your breath. Contrary to popular belief the alcohol is not coming from
residue in your mouth but is actually evaporating from the blood that
passes through your lungs when you breathe. The amount of alcohol
evaporating from your lungs is directly proportional to the amount of
alcohol in your blood stream making it possible to accurately calculate the
per mil Blood Alcohol Concentration (‰BAC) or Milligrams of alcohol per
Litre of Breath (mg/l) and therefore your level of intoxication.
How Alcohol Is Processed by the Body
When you drink, alcohol is absorbed into the blood stream through
your mouth and throat but mostly through the stomach and small
intestine. The more you drink the more alcohol is absorbed by the body
and the higher your blood and breath alcohol readings will become.
Approximately 90 minutes after your last drink the alcohol is distributed
equally around the body and through the blood stream. This is known as
the point of Equilibrium.
As blood flows round the body around 90% of the alcohol is broken down
in to water and carbon dioxide by the liver in a process called Oxidation.
The remaining 10% of the alcohol continues to the lungs and kidneys. A
healthy liver typically breaks down alcohol at a rate of one unit of alcohol
per hour but sometimes it can take a longer or shorter time.
When you stop drinking your level of intoxication can change quickly (rise
or fall) for up to 90 minutes afterwards because of the time it takes for
alcohol to reach the bloodstream after drinking. For example it will take
longer for alcohol to reach the bloodstream if you have eaten recently,
less time on an empty stomach. There are too many factors that can
influence the reading just after drinking, this is the reason why we do not
recommend using the breathalyser within 90 minutes of drinking, the ideal
time is the morning after.

6 7
Getting Started
This section will take you step by step through the basics of using your
new AlcoSense Breathalyser, namely:
1. Unpacking the box
2. Understanding the buttons and screens
3. What the icons mean
4. Installing the batteries
5. First Time Set-Up
6. How to perform a breath test
7. Understanding the results
Unpacking the Box
In the box you will have the following components:
1. 1 x AlcoSense Breathalyser
2. This Instruction Manual
3. 3 x AAA Batteries
4. 5 x Blow Tubes
5. 1 x micro USB cable for software updates (not charging)
Understanding the Buttons and Screens
First, take a minute to understand the how to use the screens and buttons
on the AlcoSense Excel BEFORE turning it on for the first time. There are
three buttons on the front, the ideal place to press each button is shown
below by grey circles.
The icons at the bottom of each screen will change according to the
function of the button beneath it. For example, in the diagram on the
left below, the left hand button accesses the main menu and the middle
button will power the unit off.
In the diagram on the right the left hand button will scroll down the menu,
the middle button will select the option the white box is highlighting and
the right hand button will scroll up the menu.

8 9
What the Icons Mean
Navigation icons are shown at the bottom of the screen, indicating the
function of each button.
Navigation Icons
Icon Name Description
Power When you see this icon, press and
hold the central button down for 3
seconds to turn the unit off
Up Scrolls up a list of options
Down Scrolls down a list of options
OK Selects an option or progresses you
to the next screen
Main Menu When you see this icon on the left of
the screen, press the left hand button
to access the main menu
Back This icon will take you back one step
Repeat / Next This icon will either allow you to
repeat a step or progress to the
next step
Message icons are shown on the screen to communicate a message.
Message Icons
Icon Name Description
Don’t Drive
Icon
Displayed when you are close to or
over your set limit - do not drive
Warning Icon Either signifying you have alcohol in
your sample, but are below the limit
or alerting you to an error
Usage Tip AlcoSense Excel will give you tips to
help you perform a good test the next
time round.

10 11
Installing the Batteries
Keep the AlcoSense Breathalyser in the closed position and turn the
machine round so the back is facing you. Following the diagram below
remove the battery compartment cover. Insert the three 1.5v AAA
batteries supplied into the slots provided in the battery compartment
making sure that the batteries are inserted the right way round as
indicated in the battery compartment. Put the battery compartment cover
back on again following the diagram below but in reverse.
IMPORTANT: When replacing the batteries do not mix old and new
batteries. For best accuracy only use a matching set of new good quality
branded batteries.
First Time Setup
1. Press and hold the power button in the middle down until the screen
lights up or slide the unit open.
2. IMPORTANT: You must set the date correctly to today’s date when
it asks you. This will be used to calculate when the unit will alert you
to recalibrate it. This date cannot be changed once set. Use the up and
down buttons to change the numbers, and press the middle button to
move to the next item.
3. Default Drink Drive Limit Settings. When you first turn your
AlcoSense Excel on it is set to measure in ‰BAC, to alert you at the
Scottish drink drive limit of 0.50‰BAC (0.22mg/L) and set to the
UK Blood Breath Ratio (BBR) of 2300:1. If you wish to change these
settings please go to the contents page and find the section called
“Changing Limits, Units of Measure and Driving Abroad”.
4. You should now check for any software updates.
Go to the Main Menu > Info and check the “Version” number. Go to
www.alcosense.com/support and check if a later version number
of software is available for the AlcoSense Excel. If so, follow the
instructions on the web page to update your unit. We recommend
checking back regularly to get the latest software and keep your unit
up to date.
Turning Off
The unit will enter a power saving mode and dull the screen brightness
after 1 minute of inactivity, and turn itself off after a further 2 minutes
of inactivity.
If you wish to turn the unit off manually, press and hold the middle key
with the power logo on for 3 seconds from any screen.

12 13
How to Perform a Breath Test
AlcoSense is a sensitive measurement device. Performing a breath test less
than 10 minutes after drinking risks blowing high levels of alcohol directly from
your mouth into the system causing permanent damage to the sensor and
causing the system to read inaccurately. Blood alcohol levels can rise for up to
90 minutes after drinking, for best results only use after this period and ideally
the morning after. Do not blow directly into the blow hole without a blow tube
– this can damage the sensor and significantly reduce the lifetime of your unit.
1. Slide the AlcoSense open and put a blow tube on the system as shown
in the image below. It is recommended to use a new blow tube for each
test for the most accurate readings and hygiene.
2. The AlcoSense will display two warnings, please read these carefully.
On further tests these warnings can be skipped by pressing the central
button twice.
3. You will then see the following screen on the left. You will need to
blow for approximately 6 to 8 seconds at a steady pressure (like you’re
taking a sigh) so make sure you pace your breath for this. When you
start blowing into the breathalyser the screen will change to the one
in the middle below if the pressure is strong enough, and after 6 to 8
seconds of blowing you will see your result. Keep blowing until you
hear a beep.
If you are not blowing hard enough the left hand screen will continue
to show. If this is the case, stop blowing and start again with a slightly
harder pressure. If you do not blow for long enough or do not blow at
a steady pressure the screen on the right will be shown and you must
try again.
PLEASE NOTE:
Leave a minimum of 3 minutes between tests. Do not perform more than 10
tests in one hour and no more than 30 tests in 24 hours. More frequent testing
can cause a build-up of breath condensation in the breathalyser which can
temporarily affect accuracy until it evapourates.
If you perform sequential tests you may get varying results. This is due to
the alcohol level in your lungs needing a couple of minutes to stabilise after
performing the first test, and the fact your body is constantly processing
alcohol into and out of your blood stream. As a result UK law allows a 15%
difference between two sequential test results.

14 15
Understanding the Results
AlcoSense Excel will alert you not to drive from 20% below your selected
drink drive limit. Before using the device, make sure you have set the
correct drink drive limit and BBR for your country or region. Please see the
relevant sections of this manual which show how to change this and what
settings are required.
You can check the current setting in Main Menu > Info, then scroll down
to “Limit”. Drink drive limits do sometimes change, before making a
trip to a different region or country always check the limit with the local
authorities and go to the support section on www.alcosense.com to check
for updates.
Description Screen Example Alcohol Level
Zero or low level alcohol
The reading is below your
chosen drink drive limit
Zero to
0.09mg/L
(0.20‰BAC).
Caution, Alcohol Present
There is enough alcohol in the
sample to affect your driving
but you are below your chosen
limit. We recommend you do
not drive
Between 20%
and 80% of
your set drink
drive limit
Close to or Over Limit
The sample was very close to,
or over the set limit –
DO NOT DRIVE
20% below
your set drink
drive limit or
greater
Sensor Saturation Risk
The unit has received an
extremely high sample outside
the range expected from a
human. This is normally caused
by blowing alcohol into the unit
directly from the mouth after
drinking. Readings taken after
this time may be inaccurate
until the sensor has recovered.
To allow recovery the unit will
lock down for 24 hours, and
then work as usual afterwards
Above
1.00mg/L
(2.30‰BAC)
IMPORTANT NOTE ON READINGS:
To comply with the pan-European breathalyser standard, EN16280, the
AlcoSense Excel adds 20% to the reading shown to the end user. This
minimises the risk that the item will under-read even toward the end of the
12 month calibration period. The Excel will also not show a reading below
0.09mg/L (0.20‰BAC) but will instead show the “LOW” screen opposite.
USING YOUR BREATHALYSER IN A NOISY ENVIRONMENT:
The operation of the breathalyser can be compromised in noisy
environments over 95dBA, resulting in a breath test error
message being shown. When the unit is slid open to start a test,
pressure changes as a result of loud noises can occasionally cause
the unit to think breath is entering the device, and then show a
blow error. If this occurs please move to a quieter area away from
the source of the sound and attempt the test again.

16 17
Changing Settings & Recalling Results
From the home screen, shown below, press the left hand button with the
menu icon above it. From here you will find access to previous results,
settings and system information.
Once in the menu, the left hand button will scroll down the options, the
right hand button will scroll up the options and the centre button will
select the option.
Adjusting the Time & Date
Access the main menu and select “Settings”, then select the “Time &
Date” option.
Recalling Last Results
AlcoSense Excel stores your previous 24 test results. When the memory is
full the oldest record is deleted to make space for the newest record. To
review the previous results navigate to Main Menu > Last Results. Use the
up and down key to navigate through the results. The central button will
exit back out of this feature.
Changing the Screen Brightness
From the main screen press the left hand button to access the Main Menu.
Navigate to Main Menu > Settings > Brightness.
Turning the Key Beep On and Off
From the main screen press the left hand button to access the Main Menu.
Navigate to Main Menu > Settings > Key Beep.
Resetting the Unit
If you ever need to reset the unit back to factory settings navigate to
Main Menu > Settings > Advanced > Reset and follow the on screen
instructions. The calibration expiry date and your previous test results will
not be reset or deleted.
Service Menu
This option can only be accessed by AlcoSense approved service engineers.
Changing settings here will affect the accuracy of your device.
Changing Limits, Units of Measure and Driving Abroad
Changing the Drink Drive Limit
This is accessed through Main Menu > Settings > Set Limit. This will
change the point at which the AlcoSense Excel will display the don’t drive
alert. Please note, the don’t drive alert is displayed from 20% below your
chosen limit. For example, if the limit is set at 0.35mg/L it will display the
don’t drive alert from 0.28mg/L upwards.
To check the current setting please go to Main Menu > Info and scroll
down until you see “Limit”. If you wish to change the limit please go to
Main Menu > Settings > Set Limit. You can then adjust the limit up or
down as you choose.
Changing the Unit of Measure
You can change the AlcoSense’s unit of measurement between blood (BAC)
or breath (BrAC) alcohol concentrations. If using a blood alcohol unit of
measure we STRONGLY recommend double checking the Blood Breath
Ratio (BBR) is set correctly first by referencing the tables at
www.alcosense.co.uk/support. The UK and Irish BBR is 2300:1. If you use
the wrong BBR your readings will display incorrectly (see section on Blood
Breath Ratio). The choice of units are:
• mg/L BrAC (milligrams of alcohol per litre of breath)
• ‰BAC (per mil Blood Alcohol Concentration)

18 19
Driving Abroad > Changing the Blood Breath Ratio
If you are using your AlcoSense breathalyser abroad you may need to
change the Blood Breath Ratio (BBR) setting as well as the drink drive
limit. The BBR is the ratio that is used to convert a breath alcohol reading
(displayed in mg/L) into a blood alcohol reading (displayed in ‰BAC).
Different countries use different BBRs. The UK uses 2300:1 which gives the
highest blood value from a breath reading. A more detailed explanation of
the Blood Breath Ratio is shown on the page opposite.
A list of the common BBR’s is displayed overleaf. If you do not know the BBR
in the country you are travelling to, use 2300:1 as this will always give the
highest reading, or change the unit of measure to mg/L (breath alcohol) and
use the local mg/L limit.
To check the current setting please go to Main Menu > Info and scroll down
until you see “Ratio” or “BBR”.
To change the BBR go to Main Menu > Settings > Advanced >
Blood Breath Ratio.
WARNING:
Do not forget to reset the BBR to 2300:1 when you return to the UK. Using a
lower BBR in the UK will cause your unit to under-read.
How can a Breathalyser Display a Blood Alcohol Reading?
Breathalysers measure the alcohol concentration in a persons breath and can
convert the breath reading into a blood reading using the Blood Breath Ratio.
The Blood Breath Ratio
IMPORTANT: The Blood Breath Ratio (BBR) used in drink driving law differs
slightly from country to country, but is normally 2000:1, 2100:1, 2200:1
or 2300:1. If the wrong BBR is used in the wrong country, a breathalyser
could give a falsely high or low blood alcohol reading. For example, the UK
uses a BBR of 2300:1 which means a breath reading of 0.22mg/L = a blood
reading of 0.50‰BAC. However, France uses a BBR of 2000:1 which means
a breath reading of 0.22mg/L = a blood reading of 0.44‰BAC. This means
that a motorist who drives from the UK to France using the wrong BBR
setting could be over-reading in France, or a French motorist driving to the
UK could under read. This is why it is very important to select the correct
BBR in Main Menu > Settings > Advanced > BBR. If you do not know the
correct BBR for the country, set it to 2300:1 as this is the option which will
give the higher reading.
The Relationship Between Different Units of Measure
AlcoSense Excel converts the value for you if you choose a different unit of
measure and the correct Blood Breath Ration is set (see relevant section
above). If you wish to convert between units manually the following
explains the relationship between different units of measure:
Breath Units Blood Units
0.35 mg/L = 35 μg/100mL 0.80‰BAC = 0.080%BAC
To convert a breath reading to a blood reading or vice versa you will need
to know the correct Blood Breath Ratio (see relevant section above) for the
country you are in. You can convert a breath reading to a blood reading
using the following formula:
Reading in mg/L x BBR / 1000 = Reading in ‰BAC

20 21
Common Drink Drive Limits and Blood Breath Ratios
PLEASE NOTE: Due to differing Blood Breath Ratios (see page 18–19)
used in different countries the same breath reading may equate to a
different blood reading in different countries. For example, a breath
reading of 0.25mg/L equals a blood alcohol reading of 0.50‰ BAC in
France, but in Scotland this would equal 0.575‰ BAC. You must ensure
you have set the correct Blood Breath Ratio (BBR), if you are not sure of
the BBR please set it to 2300:1. See page 18 to see how.
Breath Alcohol Blood Alcohol
Country Blood Breath Ratio
(BBR) mg/L Limit* ‰BAC Limit*
Australia 2100:1 0.24 0.50
Australia (Prof. Drivers) 2100:1 0.10 0.20
Austria 2100:1 0.24 0.50
Belgium 2100:1 0.24 0.50
Canada 2100:1 0.24 0.50
Cyprus 2300:1 0.09 0.20
Czech Republic 2100:1 0.00 0.00
Denmark 2100:1 0.25 0.50
Finland 2000:1 0.25 0.50
France (Lower Limit) 2000:1 0.10 0.20
France (Normal Limit) 2000:1 0.25 0.50
Germany (Lower Limit) 2100:1 0.00 0.00
Germany (Normal Limit) 2100:1 0.24 0.50
Holland (Lower Limit) 2100:1 0.10 0.20
Holland (Normal Limit) 2100:1 0.24 0.50
Hungary 2100:1 0.00 0.00
Ireland (RoI) 2300:1 0.22 0.50
Breath Alcohol Blood Alcohol
Country Blood Breath Ratio
(BBR) mg/L Limit* ‰BAC Limit*
Ireland (RoI) Prof. Drivers 2300:1 0.09 0.20
Italy (Lower Limit) 2100:1 0.00 0.00
Italy (Normal Limit) 2100:1 0.24 0.50
Luxembourg (Lower Limit) 2100:1 0.09 0.20
Luxembourg (Normal Limit) 2100:1 0.22 0.50
Malta 2300:1 0.35 0.80
New Zealand 2100:1 0.24 0.50
New Zealand (Under 20) 2100:1 0.00 0.00
Norway 2100:1 0.09 0.20
Poland 2100:1 0.09 0.20
Russia 2300:1 0.00 0.00
Slovakia 2100:1 0.00 0.00
Spain (Lower Limit) 2100:1 0.14 0.30
Spain (Normal Limit) 2100:1 0.24 0.50
Sweden 2100:1 0.09 0.20
Switzerland (Lower Limit) 2100:1 0.00 0.00
Switzerland (Normal Limit) 2100:1 0.24 0.50
Turkey 2100:1 0.24 0.50
UAE 2300:1 0.00 0.00
UK (England & Wales) 2300:1 0.35 0.80
UK (Northern Ireland) 2300:1 0.35 0.80
UK (Scotland) 2300:1 0.22 0.50
USA (varies by state) 2100:1 0.24 - 0.38 0.50 - 0.80
*Limits correct as of January 2015, errors and omissions excluded. Always check the limit with your
local road authority.

22 23
Maintaining your AlcoSense Excel Breathalyser
Keep it Clean
To keep your AlcoSense in tip top condition we recommend keeping it
clean using a soft dry cloth and storing it in a clean, temperate, non
dusty environment. Please see the specification section at the back of the
manual for further details.
Be Careful
Take care not to drop the AlcoSense breathalyser as sudden knocks can
affect the unit’s accuracy. If you have dropped your AlcoSense and feel that
it is not reading correctly please call us to arrange to have the unit serviced.
Keep it up to Date
Regularly check the support section of www.alcosense.com for software
updates. Instructions for updating your unit are available online.
Servicing
We will happily service your breathalyser to keep it in top condition so
that it is reading to the highest levels of accuracy and reliability. Servicing
normally takes around 5 working days to complete as after each service
your AlcoSense breathalyser will be quality tested before leaving us.
Please choose your level of service below:
1. Re-Calibration
We will re-calibrate your AlcoSense breathalyser to ensure it continues
to read at its most accurate. This service is charged at £24.99 and
includes return postage costs to you. Please call 0800 195 0088 (or
[phone] from outside the UK) to arrange this. We recommend
this is done once every 12 months.
2. Out of Warranty Repair
If your breathalyser is out of warranty don’t worry, we can repair it
for you. You will be charged for the parts and labour required at a
reasonable cost.
Please go to www.alcosense.com to arrange this.
Technical Support
First , please check the troubleshooting section in this manual and
www.alcosense.com/support. If you have any queries which are not
covered or need assistance using your unit please call our technical
support team on 0800 195 0088 ([phone] outside the UK)
Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. When calling please make sure you have
your breathalyser to hand.
Re-Calibration
Your AlcoSense breathalyser will require re-calibration after 12 months,
after this period there is a risk of obtaining erroneous results. Calibration
can only be performed by AlcoSense or an officially authorised service
centre. Please contact us to arrange this.
Troubleshooting
I have got a positive reading but I haven’t drunk any alcohol.
This can be caused by testing within 10 minutes of eating some strong
foods, using dental products, chewing gum or smoking. On some occasions
it can also be caused by the body releasing acetone/keytones released
during the metabolism of acetoacetic acid. This can be increased with the
use of some prescribed medications or certain medical conditions, most
commonly diabetes. A healthy body can also create these substances
occasionally, it is more likely if you are on a low carbohydrate diet such as
the Atkins diet or similar. If you experience this problem please call us.
I’m doing a breath test and I can’t get it to work.
This can be because you are blowing too hard, too soft or not for long
enough into the mouthpiece. Try blowing like you’re taking a sigh. If the
screen shows the “insert a blow tube” message still, try increasing the
pressure until it says keep blowing. Blow steadily at this pressure until the
result is shown. Conversely if you are running out of breath before the result
is shown, reduce the pressure of your breath slightly.

24 25
I’ve done two breath tests and got different results.
This is expected for several reasons. The first test is the most accurate, if
you perform a second test within a few minutes of the first test the alcohol
levels in your lungs may not have stabilised after the first test, causing
the second test to give you a different reading. If you have recently drunk
alcohol, your blood alcohol level can also change quickly over the course of
a few minutes. UK law allows for a 15% difference in sequential readings
as a result. This is why you should only use the breathalyser at least 90
minutes after drinking or ideally, the morning after.
Additionally, this is why you cannot use a human to test the accuracy of
two different breathalysers back to back, you will also expect slightly
different readings for the same reason. It can only be done using approved
Breath Alcohol Simulators.
My unit says “Saturation Lockdown”
This is caused by blowing in an abnormally high level of alcohol. It is
normally caused by doing a breath test just after sipping an alcoholic drink
and there is residual alcohol left in the mouth. This overloads the sensor
and can make it read inaccurately for a period of time while the sensor
recovers. For your safety the unit stops you from performing further tests
until the sensor has recovered. After the period has expired your unit
should work as usual again.
My unit says “Calibration Expired” or “Calibration Due”
The 12 month calibration interval is about to or has expired. After this
time readings may become unreliable. Please contact us to arrange re-
calibration of the unit, our contact details can be found on the back cover
of the manual.
My calibration expiry date appears to be wrong
This happens if you do not set the date correctly when you turned the unit
on for the first time during initial setup. Please contact us to resolve the
issue.
I’ve done a lot of tests in quick succession and I’ve got a strange result
This can be caused by a build-up of breath condensation in the
breathalyser which sometimes cause temporary inaccuracy until it
evaporates, this can affect any breathalyser, including Police breathalysers.
To avoid this leave a minimum of 3 minutes between tests and do not
perform more than 10 tests in one hour, and no more than 30 tests in 24
hours. Always use a new mouthpiece for each test. If you do experience
this problem the condensation should evaporate within 2 hours at normal
room temperature and the breathalyser will return to normal operation.
I got a LOW Result
A LOW result means that there is very little or no alcohol in your sample.
To comply with the pan-European breathalyser standard, EN16280,
the AlcoSense Excel cannot show a reading when a sample of less
that 0.09mg/L (0.20‰BAC) is detected. This is remove the likelihood
of a false positive result being displayed. Please see the section titled
“Understanding the Results” for more information.
My breathalyser started to do a test by itself and displayed an error
This can happen if the breathalyser is used in a noisy environment over
95dBA. When the unit is slid open to start a test, pressure changes as
a result of loud noises can occasionally cause the unit to think breath is
entering the device, and then show a blow error. If this occurs please
move to a quieter area away from the source of the sound and attempt
the test again.
Any other issues
Please check the www.alcosense.com support section for any software or
firmware updates, if available please download and update your device.
If you still experience problems after this point please contact us.
For any other queries please call us on 0800 195 0088 from inside
the UK, or on [phone] from outside the UK.

26 27
AlcoSense limited warranty
WARRANTOR
This Limited Warranty is granted by and this Limitation of
Liability is stipulated for the benefit of AlcoSense, a trade
mark of Now Group UK Ltd, at the address displayed on
www.alcosense.co.uk
WHAT THIS WARRANTY COVERS
1) Now Group UK Ltd. (“AlcoSense”) warrants to you that
the Hardware will be free from defects in workmanship and
materials under normal use (“Defects”) for a period of one (1)
year (unless the country of purchase requires a longer period
under local legislation) from the date that the Hardware was
first purchased by you from an authorised AlcoSense dealer
(“Warranty Period”). During the Warranty Period the Hardware
will be repaired or replaced at AlcoSense’s choice (“Limited
Warranty”) without charge to you for either parts or labour.
This Limited Warranty covers the replacement of the Hardware
only. If the Hardware is repaired after the Warranty Period has
expired (at your cost), the Warranty Period for the repair will
expire six (6) months after the date of repair.
WHAT THIS WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER
2) The Limited Warranty does not apply to normal wear
and tear, does not apply when the Hardware is opened or
repaired by someone not authorised by AlcoSense and does
not cover repair or replacement of any Hardware or part
thereof damaged by: misuse, moisture, liquids, proximity
or exposure to heat and accident, abuse, non-compliance
with the instructions supplied with the Hardware, neglect or
misapplication. The Limited Warranty does not cover physical
damage to the surface of the Hardware or calibration of the
Hardware.
HOW TO MAKE A WARRANTY CLAIM
3) In order to make a claim of a Defect, you must contact
AlcoSense by email or telephone during the Warranty Period
via www.alcosense.com to explain the Defect and to obtain an
RMA number (Return Materials Authorisation) if necessary. You
must return the Hardware during the Warranty Period, along
with an explanation of the Defect, to the address provided
to you by AlcoSense. If a defect arises and a valid claim
under this Limited Warranty is received by AlcoSense after
the first one hundred and eighty (180) days of the Warranty
Period,AlcoSense is entitled to charge you for any reasonable
shipping and handling costs made in connection with the
repair or replacement of the Hardware. You must comply with
any other return procedures stipulated by AlcoSense, if any.
YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS
4) Some countries may not allow the exclusion or limitation
of damages. If any part of this Limited Warranty is held to
be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of the Limited
Warranty shall nonetheless remain in full force and effect.
5) This Limited Warranty is the only express warranty made
to you and is provided in lieu of any other express warranties
or similar obligations (if any) created by any advertising,
documentation, packaging, or other communications.
6) Except for the Limited Warranty and to the maximum extent
permitted by applicable law, AlcoSense and its suppliers
provide the Hardware “AS IS AND WITH ALL FAULTS”, and
hereby disclaim all other warranties and conditions, whether
express, implied or statutory, including, but not limited to, any
(if any) implied warranties, duties or conditions of satisfactory
quality, of fitness for a particular purpose, of reliability or
availability, of accuracy or completeness of responses, of
results, of workmanlike effort, of lack of viruses, and of
reasonable care and skill, all with regard to the Hardware,
and the provision of or failure to provide support or other
services, information, software, and related content through
the Hardware or otherwise arising out of the use of the
Hardware. Also, there is no warranty or condition of quiet
enjoyment, quiet possession, or non-infringement with regard
to the Hardware. This exclusion does not apply to (i) any
implied condition as to title and (ii) any implied warranty as to
conformity with description.
7) This Limited Warranty does not affect any legal rights
under applicable national legislation governing the sale of
consumer goods.
8) This Limited Warranty cannot be transferred to any other
person.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
1) Neither Now Group UK Ltd nor its suppliers shall be liable
to you or to any third party for any damages either direct,
indirect, incidental, consequential or otherwise (including
in each case, but not limited to, damages for the inability to
use the equipment, loss of business, loss of profits, business
interruption or the like) arising out of the use of or inability to
use the Hardware even if Now Group UK Ltd has been advised
of the possibility of such damages.
2) Notwithstanding any damages that you might incur for any
reason whatsoever (including, without limitation, all damages
referenced herein and all direct or general damages in contract
or anything else), the entire liability of Now Group UK Ltd and
any of its suppliers shall be limited to the amount actually paid
by you for the Hardware.
3) Now Group UK Ltd shall not be liable for (i) any fraud on
the part of its employees and/or agents; or (ii) any fraudulent
misrepresentation on the part of its employees and/or agents.
4) Notwithstanding the above, neither party’s liability for
death or personal injury resulting from its own negligence
shall be limited.
5) If any of these terms shall become or be declared illegal,
invalid or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever such term
shall be divisible from these terms and shall be deemed to be
deleted from them.
Note on Environmental Protection
After implementation of the European Directive 2002/96/EU in the national legal system, the following applies: Electrical and
electronic devices may not be disposed of with domestic waste. Consumers are obliged by law to return electrical and electronic
devices at the end of their service lives to the public collecting points set up for the purpose or point of sale. Details to this are
defined by the national law of the respective country. This symbol of the product, packaging or instruction manual indicates that
this product is subject to these regulations. By Recycling, re-using the materials or other forms of utilising old devices, you are
making an important contribution to protecting our environment.
Although every effort has been made to ensure that the contents of this manual are accurate and reliable Now Group UK Ltd
accept no liability for errors or omissions and we reserve the right to change information without notice.
Specification
Reading Range 0.00mg/L to 1.00mg/L, results below 0.04mg/L
will display as “LOW” (0.00mg/L)
Accuracy -0.0‰BAC, +0.15‰BAC at 0.50‰BAC or
-0.00mg/L, +0.07mg/L at 0.22mg/L
Operating Temperature 5˚C to 40˚C
Storage Temperatures -20˚C to 70˚C
Storage conditions Store in a cool dry place out of direct sunlight
Calibration Intervals 12 months
Sensor 64mm2Platinum Fuel Cell
Sampling System Pressure and volume
Accessories
The following accessories are available for your AlcoSense unit, which are
available either from your local dealer or directly from www.alcosense.com
Accessory Description Price*
Protective Carry
Case
Keep your AlcoSense breathalyser
safe and sound in this beautiful
carry case
£12.99
Pack of 20 Spare
blow tubes
Pack of 20 blow tubes for
breath tests
£4.99
Pack of 25 one-way
mouthpieces
Mouthpieces designed for
ultimate hygiene so vapour from
a previous test cannot enter the
mouth of the next user.
£9.99
*Subject to change

28
Now Group UK Limited
AlcoSense™ is a trademark of Now Group UK Ltd
Patents Pending www.alcosense.com/ip © Now Group UK Ltd
Unit 3, Maidenhead Enterprise Centre, Cordwallis Street,
Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 7BE. United Kingdom
UK calls: 0800 195 0088
International calls: [phone]
[email protected]
www.alcosense.com