Ethanol Sensor (ETH-BTA)

Specifications and User Guide

Troubleshooting

  • Primary Test: Place the sensor over a sample containing 1% ethanol. The readings will rise within a minute to near 1%.
  • Secondary Test: Verify that the sensor reads 0.01% or less in air after warming up for 5 minutes.
  • Tertiary Test: Check the calibration screen to make sure the live voltage reading is stable and greater than 4.5V when not exposed to ethanol after warming up for 5 minutes.

Tips

  1. Did you allow the sensor to warm up? There is a 5 minute warm up period each time you plug the sensor in.
  2. Is your data collection time long enough? Diffusion of gases is a fairly slow process and there are delays in readings.
  3. Are you collecting in a controlled environment? Use the 250 mL Nalgene collection bottle and split stopper that is included with the sensor.
  4. Is your expected concentration of ethanol too high for the sensor? If you are testing something with an expected ethanol concentration above 3%, dilute the sample before collecting.
  5. The ethanol sensor cannot be used with Go!Link (GO-LINK) as the sensor draws too much current.

Additional Troubleshooting

Specifications

  • Range: 0% to 3%
  • Response time 95% of full scale in 60 seconds (after initial warm up)
  • Accuracy (factory calibration): ±1.5% at 3%
  • Accuracy (custom calibration):
    ⚬ 1-3%: ±0.5% at 3%
    ⚬ 0.1-1%: ±0.3% at 1%
  • Resolution (12-bit):
    ⚬ 0.02% from 2-3%
    ⚬ 0.01% from 1-2%
    ⚬ 0.001% from 0-1%
  • Default calibration: Y = C*X^p
    ⚬ C: -2.995
    ⚬ p: 0.9054

Calibration

For experiments looking at rate of change, calibration is not necessary. For quantitative analysis, a two point calibration is recommended. For details on calibrating a sensor, see How do I calibrate my sensor?

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Published: December 12, 2012. Updated: April 22, 2025.