Customer Reviews

AlcAlert BT5500 Personal Alcohol Detector

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I received my Personal Alcohol detector a couple of weeks ago. I used it on several occasions after having multiple drinks. Here is what I think:

Likes:

* Small size
* Feels like a high quality device
* Very portable

Dislikes:

* Only goes to .12. Although this is sufficient to decide whether to drive or not, you can't tell how much longer it will be until you are safer to drive. For example, if you knew that you were .14, you know to wait over 2 more hours before it is legal to drive (depending on what state you live in).
* Does not work well inside bars or nightclubs due to the smoke and or fog. Usually displays SAT when used in these environments.
* Unit is not always accurate. In one case, according to the unit, my BAC increased hours after having my last drink. As the instructions elude to, you should only use this as a guide.

I will agree that the unit reaches saturation too quickly - the only reading this thing gives is .12 - and that is well after 30 minutes past my last drink. And it would appear to be mathematically impossible to have that high a BAC based on # of drinks vs weight. I also have a unit from Sharper Image, which gave readings in the .015 to .02 range while this one said .12 (Yes, the decimals are in the right place.)

I will experiment with it some more and/or look into contacting the manufacturer; perhaps there is a problem with the unit. But for now I have concluded that I don't really trust any device of this type.

I am very pleased with this unit. It is only a warning, and I would never drive after drinking. One of the reviewers stated that the saturation point arrives too quickly. Most likely that is due to taking a reading while you are drinking. It is important to have a 30 minutes period between the time you take your last drink and the time you use the machine. If done correctly, the results are accurate and repeatable. I myself have taken a drink, then immediately tried the AlcAlert and got a .12+ reading. This is from the alcohol in your mouth, not in your blood or breathe.

If this unit does nothing more than make you think before you drink and drive, it is worth buying.

I have had this little device for a couple of years. I have found that it is somewhat tempermental but it does give reliable readings. For instance, smoke causes the device to read, "SAT" which stands for saturated. Also, if you have had any alcohol within the last 30 minutes, it reads "SAT." I have found that if i stop drinking 30 minutes or more before using it and i go away from smoke (usually outside), the device is pretty accurate.

I don't drive drunk for moral reasons. I have been stopped at a roadblock after this device has shown that i was under the legal limit, 0.08% BAC where i live, and the cops breathalyzer also showed i was under the legal BAC. I have to admit I was nervous having trusted this device, but now that i had that experience i feel much better. Of course, I did a lot of expermentation with it to verify it worked before truly putting it to the test. I recommend you doing the same as some AlcAlerts could possibly be faulty.

The AlcAlert BT5500 is a novelty item and I do not recommend relying on it for an accurate reading of blood alcohol content. The display showed "SAT" (saturated) at least 75% of the time regardless of prior use or level of cigarette smoke in the room. The instructions say to shake it 5 or 6 times but that does nothing to remove the saturation level. Therefore, the item is useless. Pay the extra money for a better device.

It seems to work except it reaches the "saturated" level very quickly (when I am in fact, not saturated :-)) My brother bought this for me and he said that it is unusual and has never had a problem with his. I will send it back to see if it is an error with the device itself. I like it for entertainment reasons, but I can see how it would be very useful to have in the car. It is hard to argue with a digital readout! It is very tiny so convenient for a purse or car glove compartment.

The price on Amazon is good and since it has a 90 day guarantee, you can't lose.

Had this for several years before we lost it. Good battery life. Pretty accurate. Per instructions, if you have just had a drink it will read
'saturated'.