Mq3

MQ-3 Alcohol Sensor – High Sensitivity Ethanol Detection

The MQ-3 is a semi‑conductive polymer gas sensor designed for fast, reliable detection of alcohol vapors such as ethanol, methanol, and acetaldehyde. The sensor’s integrated heating element and non‑linear sensor layer provide a stable baseline and a clear %10–100% alcohol concentration response, making it ideal for safety, monitoring, and consumer applications. With low power consumption (≈40 mA at 5 V) it can be integrated into battery powered IoT devices, breath‑analysis kits, or vehicle safety systems.

Embedded ceramic heaters autonomously raise the sensor to ~400 °C, ensuring consistent response times (typically <20 s) and minimal drift. The external analog voltage output (10‑bit ADC) can be easily interfaced with microcontrollers, while the digital serial interface allows for calibration and status monitoring.

• Operating Voltage: 5 V DC
• Processing Power: 40 mA at 5 V, 15 mW total
• Detection Range: 50 ppm – 10 % (by volume) ethanol
• Common Use Case: Alcohol breath analyzers, combustion monitoring, safety alarms in personal protective equipment, and vehicle emissions monitoring