Alcohol Gas Sensor
(Model:MQ-3)
Manual
Version: 1.3
Valid from: 2014-05-01
Zhengzhou Winsen Electronics Technology Co., Ltd
Statement
This manual copyright belongs to Zhengzhou Winsen Electronics Technology Co., LTD. Without the
written permission, any part of this manual shall not be copied, translated, stored in database or
retrieval system, also can’t spread through electronic, copying, record ways.
Thanks for purchasing our product. In order to let customers use it better and reduce the faults
caused by misuse, please read the manual carefully and operate it correctly in accordance with the
instructions. If users disobey the terms or remove, disassemble, change the components inside of
the sensor, we shall not be responsible for the loss.
The specific such as color, appearance, sizes &etc, please in kind prevail.
We are devoting ourselves to products development and technical innovation, so we reserve the
right to improve the products without notice. Please confirm it is the valid version before using this
manual. At the same time, users’ comments on optimized using way are welcome.
Please keep the manual properly, in order to get help if you have questions during the usage in the
future.
Zhengzhou Winsen Electronics Technology CO., LTD
Zhengzhou Winsen Electronics Technology Co., Ltd
www.winsensor.com
MQ-3 Semiconductor Sensor for Alcohol Gas
Profile
Sensitive material of MQ-3 gas sensor is SnO2, which
with lower conductivity in clean air. When the target
alcohol gas exist, the sensor’s conductivity gets
higher along with the gas concentration rising. Users
can convert the change of conductivity to correspond
output signal of gas concentration through a simple
circuit.
MQ-3 gas sensor has high sensitivity to alcohol
gas and can resistant to the interference of gasoline,
smoke and vapour. It is with low cost and suitable for
various applications of detecting alcohol at different
concentration.
Features
It has good sensitivity to alcohol in wide range, and has advantages such as long lifespan, low cost and
simple drive circuit &etc.
Main Applications
It is widely used in domestic alcohol gas alarm, industrial alcohol gas alarm and portable alcohol detector.
Technical Parameters
Stable.1
Model
MQ-3
Sens or Type
Semi conductor
Sta nda rd Enca ps ul a ti on
Pl a s ti c ca p
Ta rget Ga s
Al cohol ga s
Detecti on ra nge
25~500ppm a l cohol
Loop Vol ta ge
Vc
≤24V DC
Hea ter Vol ta ge
VH
5.0V±0.1V AC or DC
Loa d Res i s ta nce
RL
Adjus ta bl e
Hea ter Res i s ta nce
RH
29Ω±3Ω (room tem.)
Sensor character
Hea ter cons umpti on
PH
≤900mW
under standard
Sens i ti vi ty
S
Ro(i n a ir)/Rs (125ppm C2H 5OH)≥5
tes t conditions
Output Vol ta ge
Vs
2.5V~4.0V (i n 125ppm C2H 5OH)
Concentra ti on Sl ope
α
≤0.6(R 300ppm/R 50ppm C2H 5OH)
Sta nda rd Ci rcui t
Condi ti ons
Tem. Humi di ty
Sta nda rd tes t
condi ti ons
20℃±2℃;55%±5%RH
Sta nda rd tes t ci rcui t
Prehea t ti me
Vc:5.0V±0.1V
VH:5.0V±0.1V
Over 48 hours
NOTE: Output voltage (Vs) is VRL in test environment.
Fig1.Sensor Structure
Unit: mm
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Basic Circuit
Fig2. MQ-3 Test Circuit
Instructions: The above fig is the basic test circuit of MQ-3.The sensor requires two voltage inputs:
heater voltage (VH) and circuit voltage (VC). VH is used to supply standard working temperature to
the sensor and it can adopt DC or AC power, while VRL is the voltage of load resistance R L which is in
series with sensor. Vc supplies the detect voltage to load resistance R L and it should adopt DC
power.
Description of Sensor Characters
C2H 5OH
Air
CO
H2
Gas Concentration(ppm)
Fig3.Typical Sensitivity Curve
Fig4.Typical temperature/humidity characteristics
The ordinate is resistance ratio of the sensor (Rs/R 0), the
The ordina te is resista nce ra tio of the sensor (Rs/Rso). Rs
abs cissa is concentra tion of gases. Rs means resistance in
means resistance of sensor in 125ppm al cohol (C2H 5OH)
ta rget gas wi th different concentra tion, R 0 means
under different tem. and humi dity. Rso means resistance of
resistance of sensor i n clean air. All tests a re finished
the s ensor i n 125 a lcohol(C2H5OJ) under 20℃/55%RH.
under standard test conditions.
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125ppm C2H 5OH(RL=4.7k)
Time(s)
Gas Concentration(ppm)
Fig5.Sensitity Curve
Fig6.Responce and Resume
Fi g5 shows the VRL i n al cohol with di fferent concentration.
Fi g5 shows the changing of V RL in the process of
The resistance load R L is 4.7 KΩ a nd the test is finished in
putti ng the sensor into ta rget gas and removing i t
s ta ndard test conditions.
out.
125ppm C2H 5OH(RL=4.7k)
Time(day)
Fig6.long-term Stability
Tes t i s finished in standard test conditions, the a bscissa i s observing time a nd the ordinate is VRL.
Cautions
1 .Following conditions must be prohibited
1.1 Exposed to organic silicon steam
Sensing material will lose sensitivity and never recover if the sensor absorbs organic silicon steam.
Sensors must avoid exposing to silicon bond, fixature, silicon latex, putty or plastic contain silicon
environment.
1.2 High Corrosive gas
If the sensors are exposed to high concentration corrosive gas (such as H 2 S, SOX, Cl2 , HCl etc.), it will
not only result in corrosion of sensors structure, also it cause sincere sensitivity attenuation.
1.3 Alkali, Alkali metals salt, halogen pollution
The sensors performance will be changed badly if sensors be sprayed polluted by alkali metals salt
especially brine, or be exposed to halogen such as fluorine.
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1.4 Touch water
Sensitivity of the sensors will be reduced when spattered or dipped in water.
1.5 Freezing
Do avoid icing on sensor’s surface, otherwise sensing material will be broken and lost sensitivity.
1.6 Applied higher voltage
Applied voltage on sensor should not be higher than stipulated value, even if the sensor is not
physically damaged or broken, it causes down-line or heater damaged, and bring on sensors’
sensitivity characteristic changed badly.
1.7 Voltage on wrong pins
For 6 pins sensor, Pin 2&5 is heating electrodes, Pin (1,3)/(4,6) are testing
electrodes (Pin 1 connects with Pin 3, while Pin 4 connects with Pin 6).If
apply voltage on Pin 1&3 or 4&6, it will make lead broken; and no signal
putout if apply on pins 2&4.
Fig8. Lead sketch
2 .Following conditions must be avoided
2.1 Water Condensation
Indoor conditions, slight water condensation will influence sensors’ performance lightly. However, if
water condensation on sensors surface and keep a certain period, sensors’ sensitive will be decreased.
2.2 Used in high gas concentration
No matter the sensor is electrified or not, if it is placed in high gas concentration for long time, sensors
characteristic will be affected. If lighter gas sprays the sensor, it will cause extremely damage.
2.3 Long time storage
The sensors resistance will drift reversibly if it’s stored for long time without electrify, this drift is
related with storage conditions. Sensors should be stored in airproof bag without volatile silicon
compound. For the sensors with long time storage but no electrify, they need long galvanical aging
time for stability before using. The suggested aging time as follow:
Stable2.
Storage Time
Suggested aging time
Less than one month
No less than 48 hours
1 ~ 6 months
No less than 72 hours
More than six months
No less than 168 hours
2.4 Long time exposed to adverse environment
No matter the sensors electrified or not, if exposed to adverse environment for long time, such as high
humidity, high temperature, or high pollution etc., it will influence the sensors’ performance badly.
2.5 Vibration
Continual vibration will result in sensors down-lead response then break. In transportation or
assembling line, pneumatic screwdriver/ultrasonic welding machine can lead this vibration.
2.6 Concussion
If sensors meet strong concussion, it may lead its lead wire disconnected.
2.7 Usage Conditions
2.7.1For sensor, handmade welding is optimal way. The welding conditions as follow:
Soldering flux: Rosin soldering flux contains least chlorine
homothermal soldering iron
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Temperature: 250℃
Time:less than 3 seconds
2.7.1If users choose wave-soldering, the following conditions should be obey:
Soldering flux: Rosin soldering flux contains least chlorine
Speed: 1-2 Meter/ Minute
Warm-up temperature:100±20℃
Welding temperature:250±10℃
One time pass wave crest welding machine
If disobey the above using terms, sensors sensitivity will be reduced.
Zhengzhou Winsen Electronics Technology Co., Ltd
Add: No.299, Jinsuo Road, National Hi-Tech Zone,
Zhengzhou 450001 China
Tel: +86-371-67169097/67169670
Fax: +86-371-60932988
E-mail: sales@winsensor.com
Website: www.winsensor.com
Tel: 86-371-67169097/67169670
Fax: 86-371-60932988
Email: sales@winsensor.com