The Excalibur is a typical keychain breathalyzer

The Excalibur Alcohol Breath Tester is a typical keychain mini-breathalyzer. It shares many of the same features as other mini breathalyzers, such as the GTMax reviewed elsewhere.

The Excalibur uses the Green, Yellow, and Red LED indicator lights to indicate the user’s blood alcohol content (BAC) rather than a digital BAC readout. It also has the stopwatch and flashlight common on other keychain breath testers.

Although the Excalibur retails for a few dollars more, coming in at around $15, than similar models it is still much less expensive than larger professional grade personal breathalyzers. However, it should be remembered that law enforcement warn against reliance on these keychain breath testers. In fact, the Excalibur is advertised as merely a novelty item for entertainment purposes only and should not be used to decide whether an individual has had to much to drink in order to drive. For a higher grade minibreathalyzer check the Breathkey review.

This is one of the smallest breathalyzers available weighing less than an ounce and fitting on a keychain.

If you are in the market for purchasing a small personal keychain breathalyzer you may want to consider the Breathkey. Unlike many keychain breathalizers the Breathkey has a digital readout of the user’s blood alcohol content (BAC). Most mini breathalyzers simply use a red, yellow, and green LED system to indicate BAC ranges. This device, however, provides the actual BAC level as a number. It is important to note that any personal breath test may not be accurate and may not be usable as a defense to a DUI/DWI charge.

The Breathkey also boasts a fuel cell sensor which does make its accuracy more stable over time. However, as with all breathalyzers it will have to be calibrated periodically, for which there is typically a calibration fee. The fuel cell sensors also use no power to operate while the more widespread semiconductor alcohol sensor does require power and warmup time to operate.

This alcohol breath analyzer's digital readout indicates when you should blow and beeps when you should stop.

The Breathkey is an easy to use personal breathalyzer. You should always wait 10 to 20 minutes after your last alcoholic beverage to ensure that the alcohol is removed from your mouth. When operating, you merely press the start button, wait for the device to read BLOW, then blow into the mouthpiece for four seconds until the tester beeps, and then wait for your BAC reading.

The Breathkey has been approved by the FDA, but not the Department of Transportation (DOT). This means that it is safe to use but the level of accuracy does not meet DOT standards. The Breathkey has an accuracy of plus or minus .01 BAC at .08 BAC. DOT standards, and the breathalyzers used by police officers, have an accuracy range of plus or minus .005 BAC at .08 BAC. So, while the Breathkey is a safe device that does measure blood alcohol content keep this accuracy range in mind when making decisions regarding drinking and driving. Further, remember that you may be charged regardless of BAC indicators.

This device does not have the novel features of many other keychain mini-breathalyzers, such as a flashlight, stopwatch, or alarm, but is marketed closer to a professional grade breathalyzer.

The Breathkey can be purchased for the retail price of $69.95. This is more expensive than other mini breathalyzers but it does have the fuel cell technology and provides a digital readout that other cheaper mini breath testers do not have. It is available from the Breathkey website or is on Amazon advertised as “The Digital Alcohol Breath Tester with Professional Features.”

More information on mini breathalyzers in general can also be found here. There is also a review of the GTMax Mini Breathalyzer, a much cheaper keychain alcohol tester option.

Features of the AL3500 include a large LED display with a three digit readout. Further, this readout provides an exact BAC rather than a range that the customer may fall within.

Another impressive feature of this AlcoScan breath tester is that it does not require being sent in for calibration. Rather the owner merely has to replace the sensor module after 500 tests. This alcohol breath test machine comes with two free semi-conductor alcohol sensor modules. That means 1,000 tests before a replacement alcohol sensor module must be purchased.

The AL3500 Breathalyzer also has an impressive BAC range of 0.00% to 0.40%.

The owner can set the activation to either require coins or simply the press of a button for free use. Some owners may prefer to provide the breathalyzer as a free service to their customers.

The AlcoScan Breath Analyzer weighs approximately 10 pounds and is 20 x 14 x 8 inches and can be attached to a wall.

Free straws are provided for blowing into the machine but any plastic straws may be used.

The AL3500 Breathalyzer is a unique vending opportunity for bars, pubs, restaurants, and other establishments that can provide an owner with profit while providing a service to their customers.

Click here to purchase the AlcoScan AL3500 Breathalyzer. Also purchase Replacement Sensor Modules for the AlcoScan AL3500 or AL3100 Breathalyzer.

A typical keychain mini-breathalizer with stop watch and LED light.

You’re not going to find many breathalyzers smaller or less expensive than the GTMax. However, you will find breathalyzers with more detailed features if you are willing to pay more. This item is a great example of the keychain mini-breathalyzer.

The Keychain Alcohol Tester is 80 mm long and retails for only $10.99. Rather than using numbers that indicate the amount of alcohol in the blood system this device uses traffic lights to indicate the blood alcohol content. A green light indicates a blood alcohol level below .02, a yellow light means the alcohol content is between .02 and .05 and you should wait to drive, and a red light means that the user is has a blood alcohol content above .05 and that person should not drive.

The GTMax has a range of .00 and .19, has a test accuracy of .01, and uses two AAA batteries. The device also features a stop watch and LED flashlight.

It is important to note that police have warned against using such simple breathalyzers, though this item does make a novel gift for a friend.

There are several vendors on Amazon where you can purchase the GTMax mini keychain breathalyzer.

If you’re interested in a more expensive mini device with fuel cell technology check out a review of the Breathkey Mini Breathalyzer.

The easy to use BACTrack Select S80.

The BACTrack Select S80 falls into the latter category and is marketed as a breathalyzer to be used by professionals such as law enforcement, medical personnel, or businesses. However, this breathalyzer my be considered by those looking for a breathalyzer to use for personal purposes as well, retailing for $249.99.

The Select S80 uses Xtend Fuel Cell Technology. This provides a four digit readout detecting and displaying trace amounts of alcohol, which is important in zero-tolerance situations. Remember, that even mouthwash may cause trace amounts of alcohol to be detected.

The Select S80’s technology also allows for a longer sensor-life, requiring less maintenance and service. The S80 is also marketed as having a longer battery life and runs on AA batteries.

The Select S80 also features easy to use one button operation. You simply press the power button and begin testing.

A keychain mini-breathalyzer with green, yellow, and red lights to indicate blood alcohol content.

Many of these mini-breathalyzers do not provide an actual number indicating you blood/alcohol content but rather use a system such as a red, green, and yellow light to indicate whether you are safe to drive.  A green light indicates you are safe, a yellow light means you should be cautious and perhaps wait to drive, while a red light means you are over the legal limit.  However, it is important to know the DUI/DWI laws in your state to know the legal limit and to use a number to gauge how close your blood alcohol content is to that legal limit.

There are reports of police officials warning against the use of mini-breathalyzers, indicating that they may provide people with a false sense of security in their ability to drive.  Law enforcement officers often note that drivers may be arrested for driving under the influence despite registering under the legal limit on any type of breathalyzer.

There are some mini breathalyzers that are more reliable and provide a numerical readout for you blood alcohol content, but of course, these will be more expensive. And, as law enforcement officials point out, no breathalyzer guarantees safety from a DUI.

A typical example of a mini keychain breathalyzer is the GTMax Alcohol Tester. This small keychain breathalyzer comes with a stop watch and LED light.

Some Ignition Interlock Devices equipped with GPS allow real-time monitoring via the internet.

Ignition interlock systems are now becoming available equipped with GPS. A new invention combines the technology of global positioning systems with ignition interlock devices. While this may not be used very soon with court mandated ignition interlock devices, it may be more helpful for parents wishing to locate a teen that has been drinking alcohol. However, it may also be used by law enforcement in the future as GPS tracking has become more popular for monitoring criminal offenders.

With the addition of a GPS unit combined with an ignition interlock device a parent can monitor the ignition interlock device from a remote location, such as their personal computer via the internet, and if the preset blood alcohol limit is exceeded rendering the vehicle inoperable, the parent will be able to locate the car.

While this sort of system may raise issues of privacy for their teenage child it does provide a means for a parent to monitor their teen’s behavior and potentially save the teenager from a dangerous situation.

Interceptor Ignition Interlock offers once such model, the Interceptor V-3. The V-3 is marketed to parents looking to protect their teenage drivers and retails at $899 plus $125 installation fee. The tracking and internet monitoring adds an additional $239 to the retail price. However, there is a lease option and the installation of the device by a certified technician may lower insurance costs.