making large bug zapper for mosquitos

Investigate the chances of getting an old neon advertising sign from your favorite bar. I'm guessing the transformer in it would zap bugs pretty good.

technomaNge

You have a bunch of issues looming: The wires radiate current into the air so the more wire the more current lost to ionization. Since most areas with mosquitoes are also damp with high humidity, your ionization losses will be just that much higher.

Once you use a bigger transformer you start getting into the possibility of fatal issues for humans. That is a big grid to keep small hands out of.

You will also have trouble keeping the spacing just right over that long a distance. I dealt with a large electrostatic dust collector, each wire was spring loaded to maintain uniform spacing. Also, the wires were nichrome to calm down corrosion problems.

Suitable transformers are the small neon sign transformers or the power supplies in old style microwaves with the BIG transformer.

I think I'd be looking at some sort of fan that draws a lot of air through a much smaller grid. Much less required current, much easier to get proper guarding.

mark wrote:

A single bat eats 3000 mosquitos every night. Given suitable shelter and reliable water supply, they can be enticed to move onto your property, handling your bat problem much more effectively than a zapper ever will.

Get a small squirrel cage fan and attach a burlap sack to the outlet. Place a light in front of the intake for the fan and you will suck up incredible quantities of mosquitoes and other flying bugs. A lot less dangerous and a lot quieter.

US 6655078 uses propane to generate heat and CO2 signatures that resemble a warm-blooded victim.

Best regards, Spehro Pefhany

50 years ago, my dad's buddy used the fan and light to catch a ton of bugs each night at Clear Lake, CA. The light generated heat that the biters would clue in on as well as the light sucking in lots of other annoyances to the sucker.

"

If he is still around ask him if he knew a State Highway Engineer named Gene Calman.

The size should not matter. Use the bug zapper power supply or a electronic air freshener. Do not use a Neon Sign Transformer or a Microwave Oven Transformer. They are too powerful. Will cost you more in electicity and can kill any pets, children or adults that contact your grid.

=20 Dan

Mosquitos are attracted to CO2. Make a small dispenser of that, and put a suction hose near it, and you will be amazed. You can use a small fan instead of a shop vac to keep the noise down.

Steve

That is funny because I bought a small $50 one last week and it is hanging in my garage and under it is a few 1000 dead mosquitos and no other insects. It has a UV light in the center and an Octenal attractant under it. My problem is I want to kill millions not thousands.

Let the Record show that mark on or about Sun,

7 Jun 2009 17:50:31 -0700 (PDT) did write/type or cause to appear in rec.crafts.metalworking the following:

I've always wanted to build a bug zapping laser setup. Aiming was always the issue, but I think we can get the bugs worked out now.

- pyotr filipivich We will drink no whiskey before its nine. It's eight fifty eight. Close enough!

Let the Record show that mark on or about Mon,

8 Jun 2009 11:51:53 -0700 (PDT) did write/type or cause to appear >> >>

If you're out to kill millions, either pony up for more zappers, or seek some other means. I.e. prevent the buggers from being hatched in the first place, or reaching maturity.

tschus pyotr

- pyotr filipivich We will drink no whiskey before its nine. It's eight fifty eight. Close enough!

"pyotr filipivich" wrote

IIRC, professional and governmental mosquito control programs are aimed at the eradication in the early stages of their lives before they take wing. Most effective way to get the most.

Steve

Gotta link?

Build a belfry on your house. Then you'll have bats in your belfry. And if you make it a traditional one (originally it was a medieval siege tower), you'll be ready to defend your house when the Others come charging up the hill -- no matter who the Others happen to be at the time.

-- Ed Huntress

I'll stick to the remote detonated mines ;)

Wes

-- PS just kidding DHS.

On Mon, 08 Jun 2009 18:54:31 -0400, the infamous Wes scrawled the following:

$70 my arse!

free plans

Several plans say to caulk and paint them. -Don't!- Bats don't like the fumes. They're the original eco-elitists.

I cut some 1/8" kerfs all the way across the inner boards at 1/2" intervals for my neighbor's bat houses. It gives the bats places to grip while they sleep.

-- The doctor can bury his mistakes, but an architect can only advise his client to plant vines. --FLW

Just an old memory of an article in TMEN. Let's see if their site can dig it up: Guess there are a bunch there. Here's the first one I ran across. Their search box turns up a bunch more.

[ ... ]

Hmm ... what about the tar paper on the roof of the bat house to absorb sunlight and warm it more? If that is outside, is it acceptable?

Enjoy, DoN.