Bug Zapper
June 23rd, 2011 | 
Author: A bug zapper is a device that attracts and kills insects that are attracted by light. A light source attracts insects to an electrical grid, where they are electrocuted by touching two wires with a high voltage between them. The name stems from the characteristic zap sound produced when an insect is electrocuted. History In its October 1911 issue, Popular Mechanics magazine had a piece showing a model “fly trap” that used all the elements of a modern bug zapper, including electric light and electrified grid. The design was executed by two unnamed Denver men and was conceded to be too expensive to be of practical use. The device was , contained 5 incandescent light bulbs, and the grid was wires spaced apart with a voltage of 450 volts. Users were supposed to bait the interior with meat.
According to the US Patent and Trademark Office, the first bug zapper was patented in 1934 by William F. Folmer and Harrison L. Chapin. They were issued .
Design Bug zappers are usually housed in a protective cage of plastic or grounded metal bars to prevent people or animals from touching the high voltage grid. A light source is fitted inside, often a fluorescent lamp designed to emit violet and ultraviolet light, which is visible to and attracts insects. The light is surrounded by a pair of interleaved bare wire grids or spirals. The distance between adjacent wires is typically about . A high-voltage power supply powered by mains electricity, which may be a simple transformerless voltage multiplier circuit made with diodes and capacitors, generates a voltage of 2,000 volts or more, high enough to conduct through the body of an insect which bridges the two grids, but not high enough to spark across the air gap. Enough electrical current flows through the small body of the insect to heat it to a high temperature. The impedance of the power supply and the arrangement of the grid is such that it cannot drive a dangerous current through the body of a larger animal (e.g., human).
Bug zappers are fitted with trays that collect the electrocuted insects, however some models are designed to allow the debris to fall to the ground below.
Variations A variant is the manual bug zapper or electric flyswatter, which resembles a small tennis racquet strung with wire. A high voltage is maintained between two adjacent grids by a battery-powered high-voltage generator operated when a switch is pushed; when an insect is swatted it touches both grids. These devices are not protected against touch (they are only live while the switch is depressed); if touched they give a sharp but harmless electric shock.
A related device is the electric flea comb, a very fine-toothed comb which can be used to comb the hair of a pet with fleas or a person with head lice. There is a high voltage between alternate teeth which electrocutes and destroys insects and eggs. The tips of the teeth are insulated to prevent shock to the pet or person being groomed. There appears to have been no systematic trial of these devices. A study concludes “battery-powered ‘electronic’ louse combs that resemble small ‘bug zappers’ … would seem to offer little advantage, if any, over a well-designed traditional louse comb. The teeth of these devices may not effectively reach to the scalp and do not kill or remove nits”.
Drawbacks External traps
These traps are not effective at killing biting insects (female mosquitoes and other insects), being much more effective at attracting and killing other harmless and beneficial insects. A study over a summer found that 13,789 insects were killed, of which 31 were biting insects. Mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide and water vapor in the breath of mammals, not ultraviolet light. However there are bug zappers now made with external bait that contains excessive carbon dioxide on the bottom of the lamp, that leads into the light.
Scattering
Research has shown that when insects are electrocuted bug zappers can spread a mist containing insect parts up to about from the device. The air around the bug zapper can become contaminated by bacteria and viruses that can be inhaled by, or settle on the food of people in the immediate vicinity. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advise the bug zapper should not be over a food preparation area, and insects should be retained within the device ; Scatter-Proof designs are produced for this purpose.
See also
- Electronic pest control
- Radio wave pest control
- References
Category:Consumer electronics Category:Pest control Category:1911 introductions
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