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Calibration
Can
we recalibrate our Detector ourselves?
Professional recalibration equipment is required, and either a dry gas system or
wet bath simulators (and a licence from Customs
& Excise is needed to purchase, store and use the materials required) so
normally the detector must be
returned to us for recalibration. Larger companies and offshore operations
however can, and have, purchased the necessary equipment to carry out this
function in-house. Calibration Equipment is only available to special order. For more technical information on how
Breathalysers are calibrated, see our
FAQ
What if I have a
screener with exchangeable sensor?
If you have an AlcoMate Prestige,
AL6000 Pro,
AL7000,
AlcoScan 6000i or DigiPro
sensors are available for
£ that you can fit yourself -
Buy Here
How often do they need
to be Calibrated?
Think of calibration as a service on your car. If you use the car a lot,
you need to have it serviced more often but even if your car just sits in the
garage for most of the time, it still needs an annual service - and sometimes,
leaving your car out of use can lead to more service work than using it
regularly. It's the same with a Breathalyser. Most people will do less
than 500 tests a year, in which case an annual service will be fine, however if
it spends long periods of time out of use, this in itself can lead to problems
with the sensor drying out. It's best to use it at least a couple of times
a month to make sure this doesn't happen.
Another reason for regular
calibration is because if a Breathalyser hasn't been recalibrated for some time
it is possible that the sensor will move so
far out of range that it cannot be brought back into the operating range. We therefore
recommend re-calibration be done every 6-9 months or 500 tests, whichever
the sooner. Using a
detector within less than the minimum time after drinking (20mins) or smoking
(10mins) can dramatically reduce a sensor's life before it needs recalibrating,
or in some cases replacing if excessive smoke/alcohol or other contaminants have
been blown into the unit. Users must remember that these are sensitive medical
instruments and must be used in accordance with the supplied User Guide.
How do I know if my unit
needs Calibrating?
When the readings start to lose consistency. 3 tests, each taken 2 minutes apart
and with a consistent blow should produce readings within a narrow margin; the
degree of "wander" will vary depending upon the quality of detector purchased
but a regular user will become accustomed to the level of accuracy he/she would
expect and when the readings start to vary too greatly for accurate use then the
unit should be sent for calibration. If in doubt,
give us
a call!
How do I get my Detector
calibrated, and what does it cost?
Professional
Fuel Cell devices, such as the Dräeger 6510 & 7510 cost £ per detector
inc vat. Please ensure the unit is adequately
packed as we cannot be responsible for damage sustained in transit to our
facility.
Calibration of Semi-Conductor based detectors
costs £ per detector
inc vat.
Can you recalibrate a
Detector I've purchased elsewhere?
Possibly - contact us and let us know what type of
unit it is. If we can, we will.
To order
Calibration now,
Click Here.
© UKBreathalysers
2005
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