Bug
Zapper
It's summer, and here in Atlanta we're having a drought so the
bugs are sucking on us for moisture. Well, it's payback time!
Build this bug zapper and turn those six-legged suckers into dust.
This circuit can be found in ASCII form at www.repairfaq.org.
We've reproduced it here as a graphic schematic. The circuit is
essentially a high voltage, low current power supply in parallel
with a fluorescent light. The lamp is surrounded by a wire mesh.
The wires in the mesh are wound in such a way that the potential
between any two adjacent conductors is about 500 to 600 volts.
The high voltage supply is based on a basic voltage quadrupler.
R1 and R4 provide current limiting when a strike occurs or if
someone should come in contact with the grid. The lamp, FL1, is a
complete fluorescent lamp assembly which can be purchased from a
number of surplus sites (http://www.proformance.net/blacklite.htm). If you desire to kill really big bugs or
even rodents, then you may have to use bigger caps.
Warning: this device use potentially fatal voltages! Keep
all high voltage wires covered and use extreme caution during
assembly and test.
![zapper.gif (7612 bytes)](zapper_small.gif)
Click the above thumbnail to view the schematic
There are some negative reports on the true benefits of bug
zappers. You might be better off building a bat house or a
birdhouse. But, to present a balanced view, here are a couple of
links that describe the downside of these devices:
- Bug
Zappers are harmful, Not Helpful
- Yecch!
Don't Eat Near Bug Zappers
Disclaimer
How to save and view
schematics
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