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Inside a bug zapper racket / racquet , with schematic.

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bigclivedotcom

bigclivedotcom

8 жыл бұрын

These devices have been around for a while. They're basically a bat/racket/racquet that has an electrified grid that zaps bugs when they pass near it. The units tend to run from two AA cells and have a very simple step-up circuit involving an initial transformer stage and then a short multiplier to charge the main capacitor to a high voltage. When an insect makes contact with two layers of the grid the capacitor discharges through it.
Two things surprised me about this design. the location of the NPN transistor in the transformer circuit and the unusual two section rectifier/multiplier that charges the main capacitor. Particularly unusual is the choice of different capacitor values for the two lower stages of the multiplier. I would guess it might be to optimise efficiency or to keep the cost to the minimum.
The older bats used to have open rows of alternate polarity wires, but the newer ones use a sandwich of three meshes and insulating layers. I would guess it's actually a lot easier to make them this way, and also results in a slightly safer and stronger bat.
The boost circuit isn't really designed for continuous operation, although the switching transistor only reached a temperature of 50C in normal use.
If you enjoy this channel than you can help support it with a dollar for coffee, cookies and technically interesting insect obliterators at / bigclive

Пікірлер: 584
@mattakudesu
@mattakudesu 8 жыл бұрын
I actually have to thank you Clive. I have worked in electronics manufacturing doing low skill assembly work for over 8 years now and have never bothered to learn how electronics worked. Well I tried for like a couple weeks due to an ever present job scare, but then got caught up in other (lazier) habits and kind of stopped. When I came across your channel though, I felt comfortable looking at electronics because you are there to basically give a rough (sometimes thorough) and easily understandable explanation of the cheap gadgets you buy. This has revived my interest in electronics and now I consider it something of a hobby. My knowledge is still the most basic of the basic, but I am working on it with the help of your videos. Please give me your knowledge senpai ,but please be gentle.
@miniwarrior7
@miniwarrior7 8 жыл бұрын
look into the arduino community! Electronics + Software with tons of through instructions
@sebimoe
@sebimoe 8 жыл бұрын
+Jonathan Green Clive-senpai - you killed me
@mattakudesu
@mattakudesu 8 жыл бұрын
***** all great suggestions, thanks peeps.
@GeoMatRay
@GeoMatRay 8 жыл бұрын
I came to know about him from the web, while looking to build an ionizer and an ozone generator. He teared-down a commercial product and showed how exactly it worked. Was later pleasantly surprised to find him on KZfaq. Sure, there are many places where you can learn about electronics, but this gentleman somehow keeps things interesting and not too intimidating even for beginners. Many people can teach, but not everyone is a good teacher. He has what it takes to be good.
@redoverdrivetheunstoppable4637
@redoverdrivetheunstoppable4637 6 жыл бұрын
electronics rules!! knowing it has the same use of knowing computers but software is a bit boring at the end, you can come up with the best piece of software ever made and everybody will say: "mh mh"... that's not the same thing with electronics, and you use you hands that is also a subjet on it's own
@drkastenbrot
@drkastenbrot 8 жыл бұрын
I love how you measure caps in Picofarts now.
@NitroGuyJH
@NitroGuyJH 3 жыл бұрын
That’s hilarious bro, I picked up on the same thing lmao. Noticed I’m the only comment 4 years later lol
@fizzyplazmuh9024
@fizzyplazmuh9024 2 жыл бұрын
We have similar versions in the U.S. and I rip the racquet off and mount contacts in the end and just plug them in when I need HV sources for plasma displays and general tinkering with. Also got tired of wee batteries going dead so I installed a fat 18650 rechargeable in the handle. Also installed a proper power switch so I could stop stunning myself. And thank you for doing such wonderful videos. Your efforts and warnings will likely save me, er... delay my eventual death by electrocution. If the isotopes don't do me in first. Good thing about being an old fart. Cancer has no teeth as a threat anymore.
@brianallen9810
@brianallen9810 8 жыл бұрын
I've got several of these, some are better than others. It seems that the cheaper ones from discount stores are the more powerful ones, and they maintain they're charge for a long time. These are a real hoot to use on warm summer nights, you can really do a number on the no-see-ums and skeeters.
@quantumleap359
@quantumleap359 8 жыл бұрын
+Brian Allen Yep, I stock up on them when China Freight has a blow out sale on them. They do make nice fireworks on summer night bugs.
@cannibol9009
@cannibol9009 7 жыл бұрын
The secondary circuit contains diode (connecting 100pF and 22nF) in the forward path while charging all 3 capacitors. This diode stops the current from the 2kV capacitor reaching the metal net during discharge, thus reducing a potential risk of nasty burns. The other 2 diodes are used for safe discharge of 100pF and 2.2nF through the 22MOhm resistors to avoid shock from the 2kV capacitor when the bat is not in use. At any given point the 22nF capacitor contains 2kV potential and charge (so be careful while disassembly), since it has no path to discharge.
@BaronVonBeef
@BaronVonBeef 8 жыл бұрын
I've poked my fingers into nasty places on more than one occasion in the past
@jaywalt1311
@jaywalt1311 8 жыл бұрын
lol!
@kristina80ification
@kristina80ification 8 жыл бұрын
+Max Beefsteak Haven't we all? ;)
@seanrodden6151
@seanrodden6151 8 жыл бұрын
There's a vid around somewhere of a girl who touches a nipple to one of these zap bats. Cripes, chief!
@leplum2001
@leplum2001 8 жыл бұрын
+Kandi Gloss Show me now! ;)
@masterzedd4
@masterzedd4 8 жыл бұрын
+Sean Rodden I've seen that, she cries...
@hugeshows
@hugeshows 8 жыл бұрын
I think the old style ones you mentioned simply solved the wiring headache of interleaved bars by simply using something approximate to two combs facing each other.
@BrightSpark
@BrightSpark 8 жыл бұрын
My mum had one of the bug zapper rackets with alternating rods back when I was still living with her. I got a weird sense of pleasure out of frying dead flies on them until I smelled something that wasn't dissimiliar to gunpowder.
@bigclivedotcom
@bigclivedotcom 8 жыл бұрын
+Bright Spark The bugs really stink when they start to smoke.
@joshuahaynie3431
@joshuahaynie3431 8 жыл бұрын
A friend of mine had one of the older ones with the horizontal grids and decided to tap me on the shoulder while I was doing some electrical work in his house. Once I recovered I moved all the switches around in his 4 gang switch box in his den. he goes to turn on his den lights and the bathroom lights come on.
@HMPirates
@HMPirates 8 жыл бұрын
lol
@MazeFrame
@MazeFrame 8 жыл бұрын
+Joshua Haynie You deserve the "Do not f with me award"
@wdave6944
@wdave6944 8 жыл бұрын
+Joshua Haynie Yeah. Furniture movers... ok. Delivery personal... ok. Retail vendors... no problem. But you don't mess with electricians... or plumbers ;-)
@Borednesss
@Borednesss 8 жыл бұрын
+wdavid parks As long as the furniture movers or delivery men aren't home alone with your wife =P
@wdave6944
@wdave6944 8 жыл бұрын
She prefers electricians - one in particular :P
@worddunlap
@worddunlap 7 жыл бұрын
I took electronics two times in degree programs. The first time was at the end of the vacuum tube era with very few semi-conductors and the second after almost all the tubes had been replaced. Electron flow vs conventional current flow, in theory from a bunch of dusty professors that all had severe issues getting along with humans. I have been damaged by my experience, learning all the math and then learning it again exactly backwards. Because of my skills I normally was placed in the head of departments, maintenance, electrical and electronics but not confined to the areas. I was always doing what I loved. It's snice to see another electricity/electronics person doing what they love.
@andrea_frm_dubt8977
@andrea_frm_dubt8977 7 жыл бұрын
I purchased one of these a few years ago, and discovered that it did not have a discharge resistor when I picked it up to tap a fly and the bat bit me. we did find however, that we could hang the bat near a window and press the button to charge it and if we heard a pop just push the button again, we used to charge the bat (press the button) once or twice a day unless there were a lot of flies, in which case we would charge it every hour or when we heard it pop
@GRBtutorials
@GRBtutorials 5 жыл бұрын
Or you could just have used some tape on the button...
@nationalfactory6668
@nationalfactory6668 4 жыл бұрын
GRBTutorials the transistor would get hot
@g2macs
@g2macs 7 жыл бұрын
I've had one of these for years.....it is the best mossie killer I have ever had. Don't kill spiders though, they stink when they get crispy.
@pear7777
@pear7777 3 жыл бұрын
The person that cooked this up, should get the Nobel prize.
@leplum2001
@leplum2001 8 жыл бұрын
Exactly what is the value of a nanofart Clive? :)
@bigclivedotcom
@bigclivedotcom 8 жыл бұрын
+Le Plum It's exactly 1000 picofarts.
@frtard
@frtard 8 жыл бұрын
+bigclivedotcom So the magic smoke is... methane?
@Landrew0
@Landrew0 2 жыл бұрын
I've got one wired up to 4.5V continuous. It's slightly warm after running it for a few hours. It makes a louder snap than before with 3V from batteries.. I've got it positioned over a fruit fly trap to kill them all as they try to go in.
@myth-termoth1621
@myth-termoth1621 8 жыл бұрын
Putting the primary on the emitter side protects the transistors emitter-base junction from the high voltage spike. If primary and feedback coils are identical then a high negetive voltage will be applied to both emitter and base so there will be no net difference. If the feedback is a smaller inductance then the junction will be forward biased and the 470 ohm will limit the current and stabilise the voltage. The original version seemed to have a higher chance of getting the insect into the circuit with its simpler weave and finer wires. Put nicads in them and the voltage is quite fly-frying, with a good chance of light, crack, smoke and smell all being emitted from the victim.
@alexanderthomas2660
@alexanderthomas2660 7 жыл бұрын
I still have one of the very first models that ever hit the market, it had quite a more complicated circuit. It was also easy to tune this circuit to considerably boost the voltage output. I brought it up to about 2.7 kV. It does not merely zap mosquitoes, it pretty much vaporises then, very satisfying (aside from the smell).
@auto396
@auto396 2 жыл бұрын
i like how the smoke smells (the electrical smoke not the normal smoke) no idea why
@auto396
@auto396 2 жыл бұрын
oh and i dont smoke noone in my family smokes
@nitrogen76
@nitrogen76 8 жыл бұрын
The previous owners of my house left us one of these. Its the most useful little bug killin gadget EVER. I had never seen one until we moved in here.
@PeterEdin
@PeterEdin 6 жыл бұрын
I have one of these, virtually identical in design, with subtle differences and dismantled it as I played this video. My pcb is slightly different, with only 1 large capacitor, same transistor and transformer. Your Poundland one looks better quality inside than mine which I inherited, so supplier unknown.They work great. Swatted an annoying fly at work and works great with wasps.
@pierreuntel1970
@pierreuntel1970 8 жыл бұрын
there is rechargeable version which use lead acid battery and a capacitive dropper as a charger
@mikaelmleczko1984
@mikaelmleczko1984 8 жыл бұрын
220 nano farts
@eddiespencer1
@eddiespencer1 8 жыл бұрын
Nano farts have a cumulative affect, lol.
@krashd
@krashd 7 жыл бұрын
220 nano farts is the fuel required to travel between Earth and Ork.
@macforme
@macforme 6 жыл бұрын
I heard that too... thot he was just being funny... can't help it tho. nanofarad Clive.... there's a D ... not T. lmao
@kirkstallings30
@kirkstallings30 2 жыл бұрын
@@krashd ⁶6y 5hrs
@kirkstallings30
@kirkstallings30 2 жыл бұрын
@@macforme 7⁷7 eye was 43w e⁸tt7 788887g8 79HRS that
@cambodianexpress8557
@cambodianexpress8557 3 жыл бұрын
If you're looking on how to soup these up to be more lethal on bugs like I was... this is the wrong channel. He just discusses how they work.
@johnhutchinson5398
@johnhutchinson5398 3 жыл бұрын
I opened on of these bug zappers open and made me a self defense weapon and so it worked so well I got another one and made a fish shocker out of it. Lol 😂 funny what a mind can come up with. And they are also fun when running two wires to you bird feeder and zapping squirrels. Some never goes to my feeders again but there’s some really stubborn squirrels that I think likes the feeling. Lol. Great video once again Clive.
@petersage5157
@petersage5157 5 жыл бұрын
It's amazing how the more you learn about electronics the more you start seeing the same building blocks over and over again. I was genuinely surprised to see a joule thief on the primary side of that circuit.
@bigclivedotcom
@bigclivedotcom 5 жыл бұрын
Every electrical/mechanical device breaks down into blocks. The first part if fault identification is to work out which block has failed and then explore it further. Some of the most fun circuitry to reverse engineer is the stuff where they have blended the functions of different blocks to economise. It's like an electronic puzzle working out how they designed it.
@crashsitetube
@crashsitetube 7 жыл бұрын
You can replace the 2 AA cells with a single 14500 Li-ion cell and make the fly swatter somewhat more powerful (about 3.7V instead of the 3V of the alkalines). Just put the 14500 in one side of the battery holder and put a conductive spacer the size of a AA cell (or solder a wire across) to complete the battery circuit. I've modified the Harbor Freight ones (use 2 D cells), using an 18650 Li-ion cell and some centering and pass-thru stuff. This fly zapper is much easier to mod.
@ghost_ship_supreme
@ghost_ship_supreme 7 жыл бұрын
I love these, they work very well. Especially with flys and mosquitos.
@9HighFlyer9
@9HighFlyer9 8 жыл бұрын
most painful shock I ever received was from one of these. An overzealous swing resulted in the frame separating. While trying to snap it back together I managed to close the circuit via the negative in one hand and positive into the other. Those electrons doing what they do, took the shortest path. Up my arm across my chest and down the other arm. I do a lot of remodel work so I've grown accustomed to a 110V joly occasionally. Stun guns? Uncomfortable but localised. I've been Tased(not directly police related) and while intensely debilitating the shocks weren't anything compared to that $4 fly swatter. I'm fairly certain that I came close to getting a ride to the hospital that day.
@iamdarkyoshi
@iamdarkyoshi 8 жыл бұрын
Nanofarts. Brilliant. Have you seen my comment on the led ripple projector about combining it with the multicolor disco light?
@hsupss
@hsupss 8 жыл бұрын
I looked at several of these zappers and typically they generate ~1500v. The output capacitors there are 0.22 to 0.33uF and are rated only @ 630V so they wouldn't last very long. I replaced the output capacitor with what is called "X2" capacitors (much more expensive capacitors), they are designed for direct AC line application and they can handle peak voltages of up to 2500V. Also you can replace the capacitor with larger value 0.47 to 1.0uF (any larger value wouldn't fit in the case) which will produce much larger energy spark.
@rogersmith9808
@rogersmith9808 8 жыл бұрын
#1 - You get a much better grade of "junque" at your pound stores than we do here at our dollar stores. I bought one of these several years ago at "Harbor Freight Tools" (a tool store that sells mostly Chinese made tools) and think I paid $2-3 on a coupon sale price. #2 - I remember that I once made really solid contact with a big fat bee and when I hit it, it went "crack"!! And then I saw what appeared to be a glowing ember went a flying!!! ;^) lol
@MF-le7fp
@MF-le7fp Жыл бұрын
Great video! This is the video that gained me as a new sub for you about three years ago. Well, I'm back here again this morning to ask you to please consider doing a "Part 2" to this zapper video, if you have the time, of course. One thing I would definitely be interested in seeing is how one would go about checking the voltage output on any given unit, using a multimeter (if that's possible to do, without torching the average budget meter). And the second thing (of course!), would be to see you mod one of these to increase it's effective "dispatching" power. Thanks for any reply! 👍
@RonaldSL-
@RonaldSL- 8 жыл бұрын
I love the "I should've checked that... I could still check it... I'm going to check it!"
@rfburns5601
@rfburns5601 8 жыл бұрын
Thanks for showing this. Bought one of these at the annual spring tent sale at the local hardware store. Haven't had a chance to try it out yet.
@kristina80ification
@kristina80ification 8 жыл бұрын
reminds me of the wire weaves I used to make as art as a teenager. I also found they ended up making really good antenas for AM and shortwave radio, wonder if these things would too, disconnected from the power of course.
@absoleet
@absoleet 3 жыл бұрын
I would prefer the discharge resistors to be a lot lower so that the main capacitor can still hold the charge for about a minute after releasing the button. It makes it easier to hold while swatting flies without having to press on the button all the time.
@Silver_Turtle
@Silver_Turtle 8 жыл бұрын
I say, Clive old bean; just what is the voltage across the grid that zaps the bugs? Inquiring minds would like to know...
@bigclivedotcom
@bigclivedotcom 8 жыл бұрын
+Silver Turtle I think it's around 1-1.5kV.
@Silver_Turtle
@Silver_Turtle 8 жыл бұрын
I thank you.
@miniwarrior7
@miniwarrior7 8 жыл бұрын
+bigclivedotcom so buy ten for $10 combine the circuits add power supply and 10kv?
@drkastenbrot
@drkastenbrot 8 жыл бұрын
Some crap ones are 800v and some go up to 2kv. Clives one seemed like 1.2kv.
@GeoMatRay
@GeoMatRay 8 жыл бұрын
I've seen some being advertised as 5 kv. Of course it would vary by manufacturer.
@XOIIOXOIIO
@XOIIOXOIIO 8 жыл бұрын
Heh, I love these things, always fun to rig them into shocking things/mock tazers, and you can use a 9 volt on them to give a really good zapp. Stick a 6 volt lantern battery on them and flies just fry. Best part is pranking others though, years ago I rigged up a briefcase with metal clasps with the guts from one of these wired up to them, told people that there was $20, and all they had to do was open the case. Good times. I also mounted one on a glove and used some thick solid wire, the weird stuff with a kind of oily coating, on the fingers, and basically made a taser glove of sorts. Ahh childhood.
@44R0Ndin
@44R0Ndin 8 жыл бұрын
+Jesse You might try sections of guitar string mounted on a leather golf or driving glove, if you're looking for something more permanent. Also change out the drive transistor for one in TO-220 package, it's physically larger and the metal tab on it provides a small amount of heatsinking. This prevents the thing from burning out on the higher supply voltages, and also probably makes it capable of continuous duty on lower voltages.
@PeteVanDemark
@PeteVanDemark Жыл бұрын
Why not eliminate the discharge resistors to give the transistor light duty? Pump up the 2kV capacitor and let it ride. Push the button once in a while to replace the cap leakage. Just keep your pinkies out of the mesh!
@countrpoint9072
@countrpoint9072 4 жыл бұрын
I had the same zapper and decided to take out the PCB and make a little taser kinda thing. I replaced battery with a 3.7v li-on and threw on a different switch. When soldering the switch, the + wire slipped ( - was already soldered) and energized the circuit while my other hand was across the 2kv capacitor foolishly securing the board to my desk. It hurt reaaaaaal fucking bad and the pain lasted for 5 or 6 hours. It was a good lesson.
@countrpoint9072
@countrpoint9072 4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the video!
@Sabbatheist
@Sabbatheist 8 жыл бұрын
Love the instructions on the packet "but when any part of its body hits the inner net, it will eventually get zapped immediately."
@creswoods4304
@creswoods4304 2 жыл бұрын
Was wondering if bug needs to contact two different pole meshes in order to get shocked?
@coondogtheman
@coondogtheman 8 жыл бұрын
Thank you Clive for doing a video on these zappers they are the greatest thing ever. I have about a dozen of these and have fixed and modified many. I've fried tons and tons of bugs on these it's so fun. I have some videos of mine. search "bug zapper" on my channel. Also I might try to make a CCFL driver circuit using the guts of one of these zappers.
@TheEPROM9
@TheEPROM9 8 жыл бұрын
We got a hole load of these back in college, most of the class turned then into tazers.
@bgregg55
@bgregg55 7 жыл бұрын
built my own flying insect killer using a cheap artists light box covered with clear sticky fly paper. i keep it on top of the frig. it works beautifully.
@jort93z
@jort93z 7 жыл бұрын
yeah those simple ones you talked about at the start without any safeties hurt quite a bit. nasty things.
@WolfmanDude
@WolfmanDude 8 жыл бұрын
I remember removing the "racket" thing and attaching two nails to the HV wires when I was a kid. DIY electro shocker! I was instantly the coolest kid in class :D
@qchemp420
@qchemp420 6 жыл бұрын
They have changed the Harbor Freight zappers. An older one that worked well until the kids busted the head, was wired like yours. The newer ones suck, no satisfying snap; they have the output circuit changed to one diode, two resisters, the large capacitor, and no smaller capacitors.
@bluefoxtv1566
@bluefoxtv1566 8 жыл бұрын
This makes me think of when you tuber photonicinduction altered one of these with a bigger capacitor for a bigger bang.
@drkastenbrot
@drkastenbrot 8 жыл бұрын
I once replaced the entire cirtcuitry with a disposable camera flash circuit. That stores one hell of a bang and makes entire flies disappear.
@EpicLPer
@EpicLPer 8 жыл бұрын
PhotonicInduction should make more videos tbh, seems quite inactive lately.
@quantumleap359
@quantumleap359 8 жыл бұрын
I wonder if he got the shit shocked out of him?
@krashd
@krashd 7 жыл бұрын
Heh, a camera flash circuit was the meat of a cattle prod I contrapted when I was 11. Though mum wasn't too happy that I had dismantled a 35 quid camera in 1991.
@Xanthopteryx
@Xanthopteryx 5 жыл бұрын
The one with bars is really simple: Every odd one is soldered together on one side. Every even one is soldered on the other side.
@smallenginedude71
@smallenginedude71 8 жыл бұрын
i once made a bug zapper with a television flyback transformer. It somewhat worked. It was quite fun.
@proudsnowtiger
@proudsnowtiger 8 жыл бұрын
Hah. I bought one of these for about a fiver at a market stall before going on for a drink with an ex. Said ex was heavily into kink. "What are you doing with THAT?" they said when they saw it. It transpired that an enterprising supplier of gizmos for pervery had been flogging them for fifty quid a pop to those who enjoy electro-play and paddling. I like to think that, given how well-connected the scene is, my accidental enlightening of my ex to the true nature of the device knocked, if you will, the bottom out of that market...
@bigclivedotcom
@bigclivedotcom 8 жыл бұрын
+proudsnowtiger I believe the first ones with open grids were used as electro spanking paddles.
@dave-io
@dave-io 8 жыл бұрын
+bigclivedotcom The same circuit (I imagine) is used in the 'Tazapper' device sold specifically for kink, though from personal, er, 'investigation', I'm pretty sure there's no discharge path for the big cap, as the bloody thing holds a charge even after you switch it off.
@8bpspfreak2
@8bpspfreak2 8 жыл бұрын
What is more beautiful than watching big Clive at 2 a.m.? ...maybe sleep would be nice, too, but Clive wins this one \o/ And really, some times you get stuff so cheap you are like "Did this product make them go broke? And I am buying products of (financially) dead people?!"
@muppetpaster
@muppetpaster 3 жыл бұрын
I have the alternating(grillstyle) one.....my little niece grabbed it to play the guitar on.....Boy oh boy did we have a laugh.....as she actuated the switch on accident while strumming along with some music.....She now has the greatest respect for the thing......lol....
@IMadeChuckNorris
@IMadeChuckNorris 8 жыл бұрын
See a channel called "bugzapperreview" in the related videos, a channel dedicated to reviewing bug zappers, I need this in my life.
@dunedainranger
@dunedainranger 8 жыл бұрын
Thanks! I've been wondering how those things work for a while now. Great video!
@mdbjorklund
@mdbjorklund 7 жыл бұрын
Is it possible to replace the batteries with a 3.7V 18650 size Lithium? I would like it rechargeable...
@vincentrobinette1507
@vincentrobinette1507 4 жыл бұрын
I would recommend using LiFePO4 cells, (3.2 volts per cell) which is the same as the open terminal voltage of 2 alkaline cells connected in series. They have a much lower internal resistance than alkaline cells, so it will charge more quickly. It may even be necessary to insert a low value of series resistance between this cell and the circuit, to emulate the equivalent series resistance of the alkaline cells, it's replacing. The cells are available in a size similar to an alkaline "AA" cell, but are very slightly larger in diameter. They are manufactured by Westinghouse, for solar marker lights. I bought mine at Walmart. about $10.00 US for a pack of 4 cells. If you use the original holder, the holder needs to be modified to connect the cells in PARALLEL. Otherwise, the 6.4 volts will almost surely blow out the step-up supply.
@sebastiankusyk7764
@sebastiankusyk7764 Жыл бұрын
In my one, transistor's base is connected to batteries without any resistor, just through the feedback winding. However, the base is also connected (parallel) to some other winding probably from the secondary side in series with resistor.
@ruuddegraaf886
@ruuddegraaf886 8 жыл бұрын
Nice going Clive! Actually the used schematics differ from different manufacturers, but the basics are all the same. If you want to zap fruitflies with those standard zappers it won't work because the fruitflies are too small and just fly through the mesh. Because we had a lot of them at home, I bought 2 zappers and used only the middle finer grid to assemble a zapper with 2 of those finer grids. I also had to bring the meshes closer together. I did that with my soldering iron, just by melting the plastic between the meshes a bit. Now I can zap them like crazy! However, a lot of those fruitflies where only dizzy after the zap treatment, so I also had to use the capacitor of the disassembled left over zapper to double the charge capacity and now I no longer have use of this 'fruitfly zapper' because they are all dead haha. They even sometimes exploded! You could also use the vacuum cleaner to suck them up, but believe me this is much more fun...
@andrewlee9111
@andrewlee9111 Жыл бұрын
Mine works pretty well with fruitflies although some do miss the mesh. About 80% effective I think.
@Kepe
@Kepe 8 жыл бұрын
A friend of mine modified one of the older models with the alternating wires to accept a 9V battery. One drunken night I turned the thing on and stuck my tongue into it. I must say it was a proper jolt, my tongue felt numb for minutes, and it felt weird for hours.
@nikhiljaiyam3611
@nikhiljaiyam3611 7 жыл бұрын
what would happen if i cut off the feed back from the collector to the base near the primary?
@Spiderelectron
@Spiderelectron 8 жыл бұрын
irfanview - wow - just got to love the early 90's styled website. The only thing missing is flashing text!
@M0LHA
@M0LHA 8 жыл бұрын
My nerdy side wants me to tell you, these rackets work great for spreading model railway "grass". I believe it works by static, though could be wrong.
@mrgallop8586
@mrgallop8586 7 жыл бұрын
The most powerful zapper (racket style) I know is the Decamp 07398 you're talking fireworks, it's shockingly great. Charges of the main too.
@thewhizard
@thewhizard 6 жыл бұрын
any reasons why the 2 caps on the bottom on the double circuit are different?
@andrewlee9111
@andrewlee9111 Жыл бұрын
I've purchased maybe 5 of these. They work great in the beginning but after a while, the zap is just not strong enough to zap the insects that fly into the mesh. Battery is good. The on light is lit when the button is pressed. When I hit the inner mesh, it sparks but it just stops zapping bugs. Any ideas??? I would love to be able to fix rather than having to purchase new ones.
@YouTubeSupportTeams
@YouTubeSupportTeams 8 жыл бұрын
i have that, tried it in an area with a bunch of flies and they just avoided it!? and if you waved it around even gently the wind blew the flies out of the path of it. evolution. they got smart!
@darrannewman7113
@darrannewman7113 8 жыл бұрын
Some of the early ones used a 9v battery and would realy cook bluebottles to the point they would explode. Not seen them for years though.
@MurthyER
@MurthyER 8 жыл бұрын
I would like if you can provide circuit for making Ionizer, modifying zap bat.
@realvanman
@realvanman 8 жыл бұрын
It would be interesting to know what the input current is on no load, as well as the ultimate voltage that the cap and grids charge up to....
@NewExperienceExplorer
@NewExperienceExplorer 5 жыл бұрын
Clive how do i supercharge this to smoke flies on the slightest touch ?. Praying to the Full bridge rectifier to have Clive answer my question.
@caveman123ization
@caveman123ization 8 жыл бұрын
Love your videos...they are a critical part in a relaxing evening.
@commentsonthetube14
@commentsonthetube14 7 жыл бұрын
So if I wanted to modify this to kill the wasps that plague the lunch area at work, would I be best served adding a few more of those 22nf capacitors in parallel? I also wouldn't mind making the circuit more robust. But I'm kind of new to electronics. I've mostly done work with digital circuits and analog circuits are still rather confusing to me.
@han_pritcher
@han_pritcher 8 жыл бұрын
Just the other day I was trying to power one of these with a solar panel. Does that transistor have any markings on it?
@djnor1979
@djnor1979 7 жыл бұрын
Just a simple question / correction: The discharge resistors are not only there so you will not get shocked after a while, they are there so the capacitor wont get overcharged and blow up ... I am not sure if you have thought about this before, but that is mainly the reason. (otherwise an open circuit would charge the capacitor forever, reaching higher and higher voltages, until the capacitance simply collapses ...) BTW i like your videos, i am a skilled electrician technician, but you have shown me things i would never know from school ... Sorry if this one has been pointed out by someone, but i checked the last comments and they did not contained any info regarding my question
@PhilXavierSierraJones
@PhilXavierSierraJones 8 жыл бұрын
Some even cheaper, nastier versions have NO discharge resistor, and they're dipped in some sort of reclaimed wax, probably scraped off the bin at the candle factory. Some versions have rechargeable "Li-ion" or "li-ion" or "lion" cells in it, which is actually really extremely cheap sealed lead acid battery or Ni-MH/Ni-Cd cells, typically at around 2.7V. Some do have swappable batteries, or a basic capacitor dropper based charging circuit which, obviously, has no discharge resistor in it. Some versions have flashlight built into it, sometimes with a generic garden light circuit hacked into boost converter mode. But most of the times, they just have four straw hat LEDs wired in series.
@gadgetdan1
@gadgetdan1 4 жыл бұрын
Just purchased a newer version of this bat. They eliminated the discharge resistors from the circuit board, so it still has one good zap in it AFTER the button is released.
@CrustyBiker
@CrustyBiker 8 жыл бұрын
what would happen if you pressed the button while standing in the rain? ...or if the mesh bit was submerged in water?
@ChrisD4335
@ChrisD4335 8 жыл бұрын
They still make the old version you spoke of. I have one and also convinced a cam girl to use one as a paddle for one night then never again.
@1hdsquad
@1hdsquad 8 жыл бұрын
I hope you recorded that ;-3
@brainndamage
@brainndamage 8 жыл бұрын
Trying to watch bigclive's videos on 0.5 speed is very amusing.
@360MIX
@360MIX 8 жыл бұрын
+Jernej Jakob lol he sounds drunk.
@mwnci1000
@mwnci1000 8 жыл бұрын
+Jernej Given the amount of shot glasses Clive seems to have this is probably how he normally sounds. He just speeds the video up during editing to sound normal.
@wfla2285
@wfla2285 7 жыл бұрын
Thanks! Using a link to you for my class. They are building Tesla coils with modified flyswatters. This is a great resource for them.
@bigclivedotcom
@bigclivedotcom 7 жыл бұрын
Can I suggest you take a look at the Slayer coil. It's one of the simplest, safest and most gratifying Tesla-like coils around.
@ashleysmith3106
@ashleysmith3106 3 жыл бұрын
Could one add a suitable PIR and have a basic circuit for a rodent zapper ??
@kwd57
@kwd57 8 жыл бұрын
I have 2 of the rechargeable types and I can't believe how much of a jolt the flies get, but after they hit the ground, they can get up and still fly away.
@xephorce
@xephorce 2 жыл бұрын
I am about to turn one of these into a static grass applicator. trying to be cheap. My first one was a failure but I think I got some non functioning parts from china so ya i should have know. but I seen some vids of people doing this so I am gonna try. about the transistor getting hot from continual use, what do u suggest as a replacement for it?
@PhilXavierSierraJones
@PhilXavierSierraJones 7 жыл бұрын
The alternate bar type thing is really good at batting big bugs but is very unsafe to use, while the mesh type is safer to use but useless if they're too big.
@BoB4jjjjs
@BoB4jjjjs 5 жыл бұрын
I found one of these on the kitchen worktop one morning, I pushed it out of the way. Unknown to me, batteries were in it and the button for activating it was facing downwards! Yes, you guessed it, it HURT!!!! I put a safety switch in it after that so it could be turned off and no accidental activations could happen.
@Sheepsville
@Sheepsville 4 жыл бұрын
I have one of these and had to take it apart because the grills got mis-shaped and were permenently touching. It works great again now :) And why is it, when I first bought it, did I feel the need to touch the grills whilst pressing the button? Doesn't half give off a jolt!
@EdOfTheNorth
@EdOfTheNorth 8 жыл бұрын
Really good video. Now if only they would make a comfortable Muskoka style lawn chair with an always on bug zapper screen canopy so I could sit outside in the fresh air and not be bothered by bugs. lol. I bet that would be a multi million dollar in sales invention. Mosquito season here in northern Canada and you have to cover up and run, just to get from the house to the car.
@bikecontroller3268
@bikecontroller3268 3 жыл бұрын
How many volts in these raquets? How many amps when it discharges ? I'm too scared to touch it and feel the shock .I once disassembled a disposable camera flash ; the part that says 'Danger do not open here ' I was sitting on a metal bedstead and I got quite a shock.
@johnberry5339
@johnberry5339 7 жыл бұрын
Great tutorial thanks, would it be possible to modify the zapper for continuous use? I was wanting to make an enclosure for it with some blue or UV led's to attract the bugs. I know you can buy them but I wanted to try and make one if it was possible. Thanks, John.... :)
@Palmit_
@Palmit_ 5 жыл бұрын
@Bigclivedotcom i recently (may 2019) bought some of these. the circuitry is different. there is only 1 diode. one big fat capacitor (looks same as your vid). 3 resistors, (1x megohm and 2x500ohm) a transistor (marked C2328A Y 514) a green led and the button. i ran 9volt battery through one of these bats and i think i killed the transistor. the led lights, but nothing happens when the layers are shorted. i wanted a little more "punch" in the zap.. thetransistor is supposed to be able to take 30v max. what have i done wrong and how can i make it "snappier"?
@W4BIN
@W4BIN 8 жыл бұрын
I believe the primary is in the emitter circuit because of greater current gain. I believe the alternating rod design (which have) allows a greater chance of contacting bug backs and legs. A surplus outfits sell little power supplies for these and they produce seven thousand Volts. (per the ads)
@folkmarcmetal
@folkmarcmetal 5 жыл бұрын
I shouldn't have to say this, hook up a couple of 18650's, a voltage multiplier and hunt some turkey's with that bad boy.
@davidyoung6608
@davidyoung6608 8 жыл бұрын
Lol. I was just going to ask you to review this today. I got one of these for free at a local Harbor Freight here in the states. Great review btw.
@stevenA44
@stevenA44 4 жыл бұрын
I got one of these free from Harbor Freight. It was one of the 3 free items you could get on the day that I went. Looks like an easy circuit to build to make a mouse trap maybe?
@himselfe
@himselfe 8 жыл бұрын
Oh hey, you decided to do a teardown on video after all! Nice to see your opinions on these.
@danielrubino9438
@danielrubino9438 8 жыл бұрын
What's the temperature camera brand and model? Thanks!
@Tom5TomEntertainment
@Tom5TomEntertainment 8 жыл бұрын
I was always afraid of these things as a child and that fear has carried into adulthood. Even if it can't hurt me, I'm not a fan of shocks!
@connorlange594
@connorlange594 6 жыл бұрын
Almost the same voltage multiplier as a Cockroft-Walton voltage multiplier, however, it's odd that the capacitors are of different capacitances.
@pjthemonkey
@pjthemonkey 8 жыл бұрын
These are good if you swap the end and fix a small metal sieve it can be used in hobbies for flocking gaming table's.
@ezradlionel711
@ezradlionel711 7 жыл бұрын
Tried to kill a mosquito on my laptop screen and it started flickering then went black. displays similar symptoms to an lcd I had. Could this function as an emp?
@abyssalreclass
@abyssalreclass 8 жыл бұрын
What exactly is poundland? Is that basically a british version of the Dollar store?
@TheRealSasquatch
@TheRealSasquatch 8 жыл бұрын
+averagejoe2843 yes - a chain of stores called Poundland - where everything cost £1. There is also a chain called Poundworld. There used to be a smaller chain called The 99p store - but they were purchased by Poundland which was a shame - everything now costs more ;)
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