Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Creating habitat Light bug zapper

Anyone tried the light thing that zaps bugs and drops them in the water?

I have a bug-o-matic that I got from Memphis Net and Twine. It works great. I think a zapper cooks the bugs. I too like my steaks rare. Must be the same with fish!

Martin - I think what you have is what I was thinking of. Do you see fish congregating under it at night?

I have been wanting to get one of those for years. This should be an interesting thread.

Has anyone built a battery/solar bug fan? I dont have power at my pond.

Frank

Frank, I am looking into it. Trying to find 12VDC timer. Alternatively use a small inverter and lamp timer. With a 15watt solar panel and small(30 amp-hour) deep cycle battery, you should easily get 2 or 3 hrs. of bug feeding, if a flourescent bulb is used. Try to find a system that uses 50 or less watts total.

I have a small bug-zapper hung over the pond on a tripod sort of arrangement with a 110/120 dusk-dawn timer. Works good if I remember to knock out all the stuck bugs once in a while. The BG and minnows hang out under it even during the day waiting for the wind to knock 'bits' out onto the water. The ones for sale that knock the bugs down onto the surface rather then fry them look like the way to go to get the most bang for your buck.

Hey NEDoc I think Blue Valley has a few of the bug sluggers. I thought Jeff said that they use them inside in the summer and the trout go crazy, but LMB and BG would have to like them as well. (Along with all the other "stuff" you have in your mixed bag of a pond.)

burgermeister

I found a 12V solar charge controller that also functions as a timer on Ebay for about $25. It prevents overcharging of the battery and turns on the light at dark or at a set number of hours after dark. Timer then turns light off after your specified number of hours OR if battery gets too low.

I am thinking of using a 12V LED bulb with 18 super bright white LED's. Use 2 watts of energy. Approx. 60,000-hour life. Output 40 lumens. I found it on sundancesolar.com

What 12V fan do you recommend?

Frank

Thanks for that NEfish. I may have to go see if I can get one from them. When you get back here, take some time to come out in the evening and watch the fish feed. Wow!!!! The wipers are getting NASTY!! The smallies are pretty aggressive as well.

Frank, that is good info. I haven't found a particular fan, it would depend on the lighting arrangement and housing. I was thinking of getting one that I could remove the blades and put some trimmer line in it's place, or find a 12vdc motor. Some sort of personal fan for a vehicle, whichever spins the fastest per current draw. I will look at your items and get back.
What is the Ebay controller type and manufacturer? I would try a white LED and see how it attracts bugs first. I dont know.

tnx

Battery operated would be great as I was going to have power trenched to my pond just for this purpose.

burgermeister

The controller is Polar Power SLC92. it "is designed specifically for photovoltaic (PV) powered lighting systems. The SLC92 combines the functions of a charge controller, a nighttime sensor, daytime sensor, an on/off timer, and a low voltage load disconnect, into a single solid state circuit. " (from mfg site)
http://www.polarpowerinc.com/products/solar_ele/slc92.htm

What color LED would you suggest?

Frank

Frank, I will definitely buy that charge controller. Thanks for the tip. As for the white LED drawing bugs or what color, I just dont know. Some or most bug whackers/zappers use flourescent, I was thinking of a DC flourescent. Some lanterns have them. I know that LEDs are very pure in the one color they give off. You may do some testing at your pond, I have many projects going at mine and it is a long way off. Please update this thread with progress and I will do the same, hope others will join in.

Just dont outbid me on Ebay LOL.

I may go with the 11W Compact flourescent 12V in warm white.

Frank

The shorter the wavelength of light you can get, the better it should attract bugs. UV would be optimum.

After reading this intrigueing topic i couldnt help but do a google search and this is what i came up with, i think this is what NEDOC was referring to: http://www.cajunshoppe.com/slugger.htm


- Jighead

Question guys: Do you think this Bugslugger could just be hooked up to a trolling motor battery and than have a solar charger hooked to it? I am pretty serious about buying one of these but want to work out the details first.

NEfish, I think once I get a little dock built, we will have a cool little weekend project to work on.

That is what I was going to build. Didn't know anyone already marketed a DC version. I dont particularly care for the auto light bulbs, though. They draw too much current and get too hot. I will use flourescent, ultraviolet as Theo suggested,if can get in 12vdc. NEDOC, yes you could use a battery and solar charger, but need a timer to keep from running the battery down too low.

Another link to a 12v for $40.

http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/iid/10388/cid/2430

I don't know if you guys are already tappin' into the boating end of 12V supplies, but when I was determined to lose my shirt with foot-itus, I used to hit these guys for all kinds of cool low voltage stuff:
West Marine
also, West Marine's "Advisor Articles" are v helpful.
Overton\'s
Boat US

Has anyone ever bought and used the one from aquaticeco's website? Thoughts?

Any suggestions on timers? I think I am ordering one today and will post progress.

I am too, in the same boat (pun intended) with 8-foot-itus. Just have to save up for the bigger one now.

Oh, and I am known by name at my old native west marine store. So is my father. Sad, I tell ya.

I was repairing one of my sons rc cars and got to thinking about this thread, those motors really spin and are real torgue monsters for their size. Not sure what the wattage draw would be or if they would be designed to run cool enough for a few hours of whacking bugs.

NEDOC

Let me know how you like aquatico bug zapper. What size is it? Wat watt light does it use?
Thanks

Frank