AlcoSense Lite 2 User manual

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1
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.
User
Manual
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AlcoSense Lite 2 Instruction Manual
Thank you for purchasing your new AlcoSense Lite 2 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, specifically making it easy for you to know
when you are clear of alcohol. With only one-eighth of the English limit in your
system you are 37% more likely to be involved in a fatal accident than when
completely sober.AlcoSense gives you the tools to make an informed decision
about when the alcohol has cleared your system.
Like me, many responsible drivers use the AlcoSense breathalyser to help
make sure they’re OK to drive the morning after. Thank you again for
purchasing this product and 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 reads ‘LO’. 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. Please
be aware of the drink drive limit in your jurisdiction.
AlcoSense Lite 2 User Manual Version 1.2

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How Breathalysers Work 4
How Alcohol is Processed by the Body 4
Do’s and don’ts: Things That Can 5
Affect the Reading of Your Breathalyser
First Time Setup 6
Set the BBR 6
Install the batteries and clean the sensor 8
Set the Drink Drive Alert Level 9
Understanding the Symbols on Screen 10
How to Perform a Breath Test 11
Understanding the Results 13
Maintaining your AlcoSense Breathalyser 14
Recalibration 14
Technical Support 15
Troubleshooting 16
Technical specifications 18
Legal & Warranty 20
Common Drink Drive Limits and Blood Breath Ratios 22
Contact us Back cover
Contents

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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 BAC or mg/l reading will become. Between 20 and 90 minutes after the
alcohol is consumed it is distributed equally around the body through the
blood stream. This is known as the Point of Equilibrium.
As blood flows round the body around 90% of the alcohol it contains is
broken down in to water and carbon dioxide by the liver in a process
called Oxidation. The remaining 10% of the alcohol is passed from the
body through the lungs and kidneys. A healthy liver typically breaks down
alcohol at a rate of one unit of alcohol per hour but the more alcohol
that is consumed the longer it can take for the liver to process each unit.
When you stop drinking your level of intoxication may stay constant or
if you have been drinking heavily it could even increase for around
90 minutes afterwards. This is because of the time it takes for alcohol to
reach the bloodstream from the time you actually had the drink. If you have
eaten food this can also increase the time, as the release of alcohol into the
bloodstream can be slowed by it being absorbed by food in the stomach.
This is the reason why we do not recommend using the breathalyser
just after finishing drinking because there are too many factors that can
influence the reading. The ideal time is the morning after.

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Do’s and dont’s: 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 LO and you feel 100%. Any amount of
alcohol in your system will affect your ability to drive.
• Leave a minimum of 5 minutes between tests. Do not perform more than
5 tests in one hour and no more than 20 tests in 24 hours. More frequent
testing can cause a build-up of breath condensation or alcohol vapour 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.
• Perform a breath test within 90 minutes of drinking. Blood alcohol levels
can rise for up to 90 minutes after drinking (see page 3 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 smoky 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, or residual alcohol
vapour in the breathalyser may affect the accuracy of the second reading.

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First Time Setup
1. Set the BBR
2. Install the batteries and clean the sensor
3. Set the Drink Drive Alert level
1. Set the BBR
a. The BBR (Blood Breath Ratio) must be set for your country of use.
Please see the table on the inside back cover to find your setting, the
UK and Ireland is 2300:1.
b. Open the battery compartment as shown in figure 1 below and pull
out the strip labelled “PULL OUT BEFORE USE”.
c. There is a small slide switch inside the top left-hand corner of the
battery compartment, highlighted red in figure 2 opposite (please
note the switch is BLACK in real life). Using a pen or other thin
object, slide the switch to correspond with the BBR value for your
country of use as found in the inside back cover of this manual. If you
have any difficulties, feel free to call us.
Figure 1

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Figure 2
Please note: the
switch is black on
the product.
Continue to the next step overleaf

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IMPORTANT: When replacing the batteries only use new, good quality
branded batteries. Never use batteries previously used elsewhere or
a mixture of new and used batteries. Although the battery voltage
indicator may show OK, under load the battery power may collapse
causing inaccurate readings.
2. Install the batteries and clean the sensor
a. Insert the three AAA batteries included in the box in the back of the
unit.
b. The breathalyser will now perform a self-clean process which lasts
between 1 and 2 minutes. Do not touch any buttons during this
time as it will stop the process. If you need to restart it, remove the
batteries, wait 10 seconds and insert them again.
c. When the cleaning process is finished you can then set the drink
drive alert level. Please note that the first test performed after a clean
may give a slightly higher result or show a small amount of alcohol
present when there is none due to vapour released during cleaning.
After an hour this will clear.

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Figure 3
3. Set the Drink Drive Alert Level
a. Please go back to the table in the inside back cover and find the
relevant drink drive limit for your country of use.
b. Remove the battery cover.
c. Turn the breathalyser on by pressing and holding the power key.
d. Using a pen or similar thin object, press the button in the hole for the
battery cover clip on the back of the unit as shown in figure 3 below.
Each time you click it the drink drive limit will be shown on the screen
and rotate through the options below. If set to OFF, the unit will
display readings but will not alert you. Initial setup is now complete.
“Click” “Click”
“Click” “Click”“Click”
With only 0.1‰BAC in your system you are 37% more likely to be
involved in a fatal accident than when sober. As a result, do not drive
with any alcohol in your system.

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Understanding the Symbols on Screen
Symbol Description
Please wait, the breathalyser is warming up or cleaning the sensor.
When this symbol flashes the unit is ready to perform a breath test.
Please blow into the breathalyser.
Please wait, sensor cleaning is in progress.
DO NOT DRIVE. You are close to or over your set brink drive limit.
Please note the don’t drive symbol will be displayed from 20%
under your set limit.
The breathalyser requires recalibration. Please see the recalibration
section of the manual.
Shows the battery level. Replace the batteries with new good quality
batteries when one bar is remaining.
This is the unit of measure that the breathalyser is set to.
‰BAC
RECALIBRATE

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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. Insert a new blow tube in the hole on the left side of the breathalyser,
shown figure 4 below. Re-using blow tubes can decrease the accuracy
of your readings and unhygienic. Do not use drinking straws or similar
as the diameter may be different giving a bad fit, or split causing air
to escape and reducing the accuracy of your readings. Replacement
tubes are inexpensive can be purchased from alcosense.co.uk or an
AlcoSense retailer.
Figure 4

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2. Turn the unit on by pressing and holding the power key. The unit
will display the number of days left until recalibration is due, then it
will display “Wait” symbol while the sensor is heated to operating
temperature.
3. The AlcoSense will then beep and the “blow” symbol will flash on the
screen. Blow into the breathalyser using a pressure similar to a sigh
and keep blowing until it stops beeping (around 6-7 seconds).
4. Your result will be displayed. If you see FLO or ERR on the screen
please check the tips below .
Please note: Leave a minimum of 5 minutes between tests. Do not perform
more than 5 tests in one hour and no more than 20 tests in 24 hours. More
frequent testing can cause a build-up of breath condensation or alcohol
vapour in the breathalyser which can temporarily affect accuracy. If you
perform two tests sequentially, you may get a variation between readings
for the above reasons and that it can take a few minutes for the alcohol
concentration inside the lungs to stabilise again after the first test.
The AlcoSense Lite 2 is accurate to +/-0.2‰BAC.This means that
taking into account all variables the reading shown could be 0.2‰BAC
lower or higher than the actual reading. For example, if you see
0.6‰BAC there is a possibility that you might have a true reading of
0.8‰BAC. As a result, always add 0.2‰BAC to the reading you see on
screen to be safe and only ever drive when you are clear of alcohol and
feel 100%. If you require greater accuracy, please consider one of our
models higher up the range.

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LO
Less than 0.1‰BAC
Zero or Trace Alcohol
There is either no alcohol in the sample or
such a small amount it is negligible. The
reading is well below the legal drink drive
limit.
Alcohol present,
but under the limit
you set
Alcohol Present - DO NOT DRIVE
Your are below the limit you set in the
breathalyser but you have alcohol in your
system.Your reading is displayed on the
screen.
Above 2.0‰BAC
Close to or above
the limit set in the
breathalyser
DO NOT DRIVE. The sample’s alcohol level
is above 2.0‰BAC and is outside the reading
range of this device.
DO NOT DRIVE. You are close to or over the
drink drive limit you set in the breathalyser.
Note, the unit will display the don’t drive
symbol from 20% below your chosen limit.
Breath flow error
Either the pressure you blew at was too
variable or you did not blow for long enough.
Take a deep breath before blowing and blow
out at a consistent pressure like you’re taking a
sigh until it stops beeping (6-7 seconds). If you
continue to experience problems please call us.
Error in Reading
Either the breathalyser did not detect your
breath as the pressure was too low, or you
did not blow into the breathalyser within
10 seconds of it starting to say blow on the
screen. If you still experience problems after
several attempts please contact us.
ScreenDescription Explanation
Understanding the Results

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Maintaining your AlcoSense Breathalyser
Recalibration
Keep it Clean
To keep your AlcoSense in tip top condition we recommend keeping it clean
using a soft dry cloth. We recommend keeping your unit safe using the
AlcoSense carry case which is sold separately from alcosense.co.uk and
AlcoSense retailers.
Clean the Sensor Every 4-6 Weeks
We recommend performing a sensor clean once every 4–6 weeks, or if the
breathalyser has not been used for a period of time. To clean the sensor
remove the batteries then re-insert them. “Clean” will flash on the screen
and it will count down the remaining seconds.
This process increases the accuracy of your breathalyser by removing any
oxidation or contaminants which could build up on the sensor. Please note
that the first test performed after a clean may give a slightly higher result or
show a small amount of alcohol present when there is none due to vapour
released during cleaning. The cleaning process uses a significant amount
of power from the batteries. If you clean the sensor several times in a row
Like any breathalyser, whether for Police use of otherwise, your
AlcoSense will require re-calibration after a period of use. We
recommend your AlcoSense breathalyser should be re-calibrated once a
year or every 300 tests, whichever comes first. If you do not have your
breathalyser calibrated within these schedules it may read inaccurately.
When you turn your breathalyser on it will display how many days it
has left until calibration is due. If you have reached 300 tests before
the end of 12 months the unit will display “RECALIBRATE” on the
screen. Recalibration is a chargeable service, but necessary to maintain
the accuracy of your breathalyser. When this appears, go to the
calibration section of www.alcosense.co.uk to arrange your calibration.

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you can exhaust your batteries. If you have recently performed a clean and
wish to skip the process when replacing the batteries this can be done so by
double clicking the power button.
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 contact us to arrange to have the unit
serviced. A protective carry case is sold separately at alcosense.co.uk.
Technical Support
If you experience any difficulties please check the troubleshooting section
of this manual. If you queries which are not covered in this manual or need
assistance using your unit please call our technical support number Monday
to Friday 9am to 5.30pm. When calling please make sure you have your
breathalyser to hand.
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
*Subject to change and may vary by retailer

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Troubleshooting
If the below does not solve your issue, please visit
www.alcosense.co.uk for more help.
I have got a positive reading but I haven’t drunk any alcohol.
If you experience any difficulties please check the
troubleshooting section of this manual. If you have any
queries which are not covered in this manual or need assistance using
your unit please call our technical support number Monday to Friday 9am
to 5.30pm. When calling please make sure you have your breathalyser to
hand. This can occur for the first couple of hours after you clean the sensor
(either during the initial setup or later on); if this happens please leave the
unit to stand for a couple of hours and try again. If this continues to happen
it could 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/ketones 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 suffer from any of the above medical conditions you may
wish to consider one of our Fuel Cell breathalysers which will work for you
without issue. If none of the above apply to you please call us and we will
go through some diagnostics on the phone to solve the issue.
I’m doing a breath test and it says FLO or ERR.
Please see the section titled “Understanding the Results”. If you continue to
experience problems please call us.
“RECALIBRATE” is shown on screen
Please see the section of the manual on recalibration. If you believe the
recalibration alert has been shown prematurely please call us.

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I’ve done two breath tests and got different results.
This is expected. The first test is the most accurate, if you perform a second
test within a few minutes of the first test the breath 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. This
is why you should only use the breathalyser 90 minutes after drinking or
ideally, the morning after. If you test two different breathalysers back to
back you will also expect slightly different readings for the same reason.
This is why you cannot use one breathalyser to test the accuracy of another,
it can only be done using Breath Alcohol Simulators. This is why UK law
allows for up to 15% difference on sequential test results taken by the
Police.
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 or alcohol vapour
from previous tests 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 5 minutes between
tests and do not perform more than 5 tests in one hour, and no more than
20 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.
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 turned on and ready to receive a blow sample 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.

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Any other issues
Please check the www.alcosense.co.uk support section for more
troubleshooting advice. If you still experience problems after this point
please contact us, our contact details are displayed on the back page of
the manual.
Technical specifications
Specifications Limit
Reading Range 0.0‰BAC to 2.0‰BAC, results below
0.1‰BAC will display as “LO”
Accuracy +/- 0.2‰BAC
Operating Temperature 5˚C to 40˚C
Storage Temperatures -10˚C to 50˚C
Storage conditions Store in a cool dry place out of direct
sunlight
Calibration Intervals 12 months or 300 tests, whichever comes
first
Sensor Semi-Conductor

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This page is for notes

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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.
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.