Introduction: DIY Portable Breathalyzer

Hello,

This is an instruction, how I built a DIY portable breathalyzer. I designed an enclosure for this project.

Features of the device:

- measures the actual ethanol concentration level

- shows the level of actual gas concentration in 8 channel LED display

How to use video: https://youtu.be/my1vd5xno_o

Enclosure: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2830439

Arduino and Fritzing source code: https://github.com/rundhall/DIY-Portable-breathal...

How to use

· turn on the device with the switch

· wait as long as only 2 LEDs are on (the heating in the sensor should warm up)

· the measured value is shown continuously

· blow into the sensor for at least 3 seconds

· wait and read the value

Step 1: BOM List

The components from Aliexpress. BOM

list:

Material Name amount unit price USD total price USD link

Single Slot 18650 Battery Holder 1 pc 0,28 $/pc 0,28 $/total row https://www.aliexpress.com/item/5pcs-lot-Free-Ship...

MQ-3 Alcohol Gas Sensor 1 pc 1,18 $/pc 1,18 $/total row https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1-pcs-MQ3-MQ-3-Al...

LED-s DIY module 1 pc 0,62 $/pc 0,62 $/total row https://www.aliexpress.com/item/8-way-Marquee-lig...

Arduino MiniPro Microcontroller Module 1 pc 1,68 $/pc 1,68 $/total row https://www.aliexpress.com/item/New-Pro-Mini-atme...

3 Position Mini Slide Switch 1 pc 0,05 $/pc 0,05 $/total row https://www.aliexpress.com/item/20PCS-DC-50V-0-5A...

Rechargeable battery 18650 Li-ion 2600mAh 1 pc 2,47 $/pc 2,47 $/total row https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4pcs-lot-2016-new...

Micro USB 5V 1A 18650 TP4056 Lithium Battery Charger Module 1 pc 1,30 $/pc 1,30 $/total row https://www.aliexpress.com/item/5PCS-Micro-USB-5V...

DIY Prototype PCB 1 pc 0,14 $/pc 0,14 $/total row https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10Pcs-DIY-Prototy...

DC-DC Mini Step Up Power Module 1-5V To 5V 1 pc 0,05 $/pc 0,05 $/total row https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2Pcs-500mA-DC-DC-...

Cable 1 pc 0,02 $/pc 0,02 $/total row https://www.aliexpress.com/item/5m-Red-5m-Black-S...

Total material cost of the project: 7,79 $/total project

Tools

The following tools are needed:

Soldering station 1 pc 67,8 $/pc 67,80 $/total row https://www.aliexpress.com/item/free-shipping-New...

Diagonal Cutters 1 pc 7,78 $/pc 7,78 $/total row https://www.aliexpress.com/item/PM-396F-Good-Qual...

Third Hand 1 pc 14,7 $/pc 14,70 $/total row https://www.aliexpress.com/item/magnifying-glass-...

Wire Strippers 1 pc 9,11 $/pc 9,11 $/total row https://www.aliexpress.com/item/New-10-24AWG-Desi...

Solder 1 pc 3,69 $/pc 3,69 $/total row https://www.aliexpress.com/item/New-Welding-Iron-...

Forceps 1 pc 1,89 $/pc 1,89 $/total row https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2PCS-ESD-14-ESD-1...

Screwdriver 1 pc 4,39 $/pc 4,39 $/total row https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Screwdriver-Set-2...

Arduino mini pro programmer 1 pc 7 $/pc 7,00 $/total row https://www.aliexpress.com/item/FTDI-Basic-Breako...

Total tools cost of the project: 116,36 $/total project

Step 2: ​Assembly

Take all component and connect them according to the schematic. Use a DIY Prototype PCB and solder everything, use wires to connect PIN-s. The LEDs module should be soldered to the back of the Arduino board to save space.

To check it is working, use any alcohol and put the opening of the glass next to the sensor, it should turn on all LEDs.

Step 3: Software / Housing

Software

Connect the Arduino board to a PC. Use Arduino IDE to compile an upload the program to the Arduino. The code is full of comments.

Arduino and Fritzing source code: https://github.com/rundhall/DIY-Portable-breathal...

Housing

Create a housing to protect electronics to be damaged by touching. The housing can be a 3D printed or small plastic boxes.

Enclosure: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2830439

Or you can crochet a housing, use this instruction:

https://www.instructables.com/id/Crochet-for-Gadge...

Pocket-Sized Contest

Participated in the
Pocket-Sized Contest