Comparison Guide: BACtrack C8 vs BACtrack S35 Breathalyzer
06 February, 2023
Nowadays, modern breathalyzers are accessible for personal use. Likewise, personal breathalyzers like the BACtrack devices at Breathalysers Australia significantly reduce alcohol-related accidents. The BACtrack S35 breathalyzer is among the first to provide accurate BAC readings for consumers. However, a more advanced version of this unit is available now, the BACtrack C8. Checking and monitoring the blood alcohol level before driving is essential to minimise road accidents. Additionally, one of the leading causes of roadside accidents is alcohol-impaired driving.
That is why more people opt for a personal breathalyzer to know their alcohol or intoxication level. A breathalyzer is a compact and portable device that measures Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) levels. Moreover, police officers first used breathalyzers to determine individuals driving under the influence. This article will discuss the importance of personal breathalyzers and the features of the S35 and the C8.
Importance of Breath Testing: BACtrack S35 breathalyzer and BACtrack C8
Australia implements a strict alcohol limit that helps minimise roadside accidents. It is illegal to operate a vehicle with a BAC of 0.05%. Therefore, many people use personal devices like the BACtrack C8 or the BACtrack S35 breathalyzer. Personal breathalyzers like the BACtrack C8 and the BACtrack S35 are valuable devices to determine a person’s impairment degree. Knowing your BAC levels helps deter drink driving and avoid legal charges.
Alcohol consumption is a common thing people do, like at social events. Alcohol elevates the mood and brings an overall pleasing effect in moderate consumption. However, excessive consumption can cause severe impairment or intoxication. In addition, excessive alcohol consumption negatively affects the body’s functions. It can include blurry vision, reduced coordination, risky behaviour and reasoning and reduced reaction time. In particular, driving under the influence of alcohol increases the risk of accidents.
A breathalyzer gives a real-time update on your alcohol level to help you make more intelligent safety decisions. Moreover, the BACtrack S35 breathalyzer and C8 provide highly accurate and reliable BAC readings to help keep people safe. Therefore, choosing the most suitable device is critical in ensuring safety on the road, at the workplace, or home. Looking at the features and sensors helps in selecting an eligible device. You can get the BACtrack C8 at Breathalysers Australia.
BACtrack C8 and BACtrack S35 Breathalyzer Features
A personal alcohol tester like the BACtrack S35 breathalyzer or C8 smartphone can prove highly accurate BAC readings. They are one of the smallest alcohol testers that deliver fast and reliable results. Both devices share the following features:
- Effective breath capture
- One-touch button
- Fast results – BAC results in 10 to 15 seconds.
- Hygienic mouthpieces
BACtrack C8 vs BACtrack S35 Breathalyzer: Different Sensors
A breathalyzer’s performance counts on the quality of the sensors. There are two standard types of sensor technology; semiconductors and fuel cell sensors. Semiconductor sensors are cheaper; therefore, they are ideal for alcohol screening or personal use. The BACtrack S35 breathalyzer uses advanced MicroCheck semiconductor sensor technology to measure BAC levels. In addition, this sensor technology goes through a patented burn-in process to oxidise alcohol and a specially tuned algorithm to determine precise BAC levels.
If you want an upgraded version of the S35, the BACtrack C8 smartphone is the go-to device. The primary difference between the two is the sensor technology used. The BACtrack C8 uses a BluFire enlarged fuel cell sensor for higher accuracy. Fuel cell sensors only react to ethanol and do not react with other substances. Therefore, fuel cell sensors are less likely to produce false positives. Thus, it will not affect the BAC results of people with diabetes.
In addition, fuel cell breathalyzers maintain accuracy and consistency for an extended period. It is the same technology found in law enforcement breathalyzers or workplace alcohol monitoring devices. However, they are made more compact to enhance the device’s portability. The BACtrack C8 also requires less frequent recalibration or servicing than the semiconductor sensors of the BACtrack S35 breathalyzer.
The BACtrack C8 Smartphone Capabilities
The C8 breathalyzer pairs with a smartphone via Bluetooth to provide the BAC results. This feature lets you view, record, and share your BAC results from your smartphone. In addition, the BACtrack app offers the following functions:
- Tracking graph
- Dual-mode operation
- ZeroLine technology
- Apple Health integration
- Ride-sharing
Operating the BACtrack C8 and BACtrack S35 Breathalyzers
Breathalyzers are handy devices that are easy to use and highly portable. When consuming alcohol and you feel intoxicated, you can easily operate the BACtrack S35 breathalyzer or the C8 smartphone. These breathalyzers offer a one-button operation, immediately activating upon pressing the power button. A countdown timer will start while the sensors warm up and prepare you to blow into the device. You should inhale deeply and blow sufficiently into the mouthpiece until you hear the end of the beep.
The BACtrack S35 personal breathalyzer has a warm-up time of 15 seconds and a blow time of at least 3 seconds. In addition, it can conduct at least 150 tests from a single set of batteries. On the other hand, the BACtrack C8 smartphone breathalyzer has a shorter warm-up time of 10 seconds and a longer blow time of 5 seconds for increased BAC reading accuracy.
The BACtrack S35 breathalyzer is reliable and cost-effective for quick and reliable breath testing. The breathalyzer’s compact design and ease of use make it simple for most people. However, you can benefit from the same convenience and efficiency with additional valuable features from the BACtrack C8 Smartphone breathalyzer.
A beneficial feature of the BACtrack C8 is the dual-mode operation. You can view your BAC on the device by choosing the standalone unit. On the other hand, the App mode lets you receive the BAC results on your smartphone.
The BACtrack Companion App
The free BACtrack app provides these functions:
- View and store the BAC test results.
- Track previous BAC results in a graph.
- Share your BAC results with a loved one
- Book rideshare
- Categorise the results between your results and friends.
- Use the Apple Health tools
- ZeroLine Technology – Estimates when your BAC goes back to 0.00%
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding how alcohol affects your body is essential to staying safe and healthy while consuming alcohol. Devices like the BACtrack S35 breathalyzer or the C8 Smartphone help minimize hazards. It also helps moderate alcohol consumption to avoid over-intoxication. BACtrack ensures safety by continuously innovating and improving breathalyzer sensor technology. In addition, a personal breathalyzer is cost-efficient in estimating the real-time BAC level. The breathalyzer’s reliability and performance depend on how accurately the sensors measure BAC levels.
While you can trust the BACtrack S35, fuel cell sensors like the BACtrack C8 are more precise. In addition, fuel cell sensors also provide high consistency for high-volume testing. A vital feature of fuel cell breathalyzers like the C8 is that they maintain their accuracy longer than semiconductor sensors. For reliable, cost-effective breath testers, the BACtrack C8 is an excellent device. You can view the extensive selection of personal and workplace models at Breathalysers Australia.