Homemade Bug Zapper

by Frenchtoast

18K6125

Intro: Homemade Bug Zapper

You've all seen with plastic racket bug zappers right? They're pretty cool huh? Have you always wanted to make one but didn't know how? Welll you have come to the right place Follow these steps to make your own, homemade, bug zapper

STEP 1: EDIT:

The way this instructable will show you how to power the bug zapper won't work. You will either have to modify it, or try using the flash circuit from a disposable camera. Sorry for the inconvenience.

STEP 2:

THIS DEVICE USES HIGH VOLTAGE. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INJURIES/DEATHS. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK!

STEP 3: You Will Need:

FRAME:

1. Piece of 2 x 4 (10 inches, more or less)
2. Bare copper wire
3. Duct tape
4. Optional: spray paint for decorating

ELECTRONICS:

1. AC Adapter( PREFERABLY INPUT : 120V, OUTPUT : 9V)
2. 9V Battery
3. Two short pieces of stranded wire (about 5 inches long)

Tools :

1. Hammer
2. Screwdrivers
3. Bandsaw or similar
4. Drill with large wood bore and 1/8 drill bit
5. Sharpie (or other writing utensil)
6. Wire cutters
7. Knife
8. Jigsaw
9. Sandpaper

STEP 4: Main Shape:

Draw a raquet shape with a handle on your 2 x 4. Make sure that the handle is about as wide as your adapter. Cut out the shape with your bandsaw etc.

STEP 5: Wood Frame:

Next, cut along where the blue line would be on your board, with your saw. Go down until it's only 1 inch thick.

Now, draw a circle inside it about an inch away from the outside edge. Using your drill and a large wood bore, drill a hole in the center. You will probably want to put the piece in a clamp first.

Next, get out your jigsaw and cut out the circle.

(Please excuse my not-so-pretty cutting job, you can probably do better)

Sand.

STEP 6: Drilling:

Along both sides, drill 2 rows of about 9 holes, spaced about 1 hole length apart.

Do the same with the front and back, using only 8 holes.

Sand.

STEP 7: Adapter Dissasembly:

To get the high voltage we need, we need to take the transformer assembly out of the adapter.

1. Pry the top off ( Or unscrew if screwed on ) - to do this, first poke a thin screwdriver into the groove, then pound the top of it with a hammer; then pry upwards until loose; repeat until you can pry the top off
2. Pull the transformer out of th plastic casing
3. Loosen the knot in the output wire
4. Cut the output wire right at the plastic piece
5. Strip the rubber coating off the top of the output wire, about a centimeter, with a knife; also split the black and white wires apart for about an inch; twist the wire strands

STEP 8: Wiring:

Cut the wire into 36 pieces about 6 inches long. You will also need to cut 32 pieces about 9 inches long ( or a bit more than the length of the frame ). Hammer them straight if you need to.

Wire the bottom first. See pictures. Thread the wires through the holes and then bend them over. Do the same thing the other way. Repeat for the top frame, using the top holes. I ran out of copper wire, so I used haywire to finish. Trim the wires that are too long. Make sure that none of the wires from the top frame are touching the bottom frame and vice versa. Duct tape all the sides except for the one by the handle.

Squeeze the wire frames close together, but NOT touching!

STEP 9: Assembly:

Surround the front of the transformer with duct tape. Place battery and transformer on handle as shown. Tape the black output wire to the positive lead on the battery and the white wire to the negative lead. Wrap duct tape around the transformer and the battery, connecting them to the handle.

STEP 10: More:

Get two short pieces of stranded wire, strip the ends and twist them. Attach one to the right prong of the transformer and the bottom frame. Attach the other wire to the left prong and the top frame.

STEP 11: Congratulations!

You have finished! Now go electrocute some bugs (in the summer). Thanks for reading! Any questions?

23 Comments

GrimTime 3 years ago

My goal of a bug zapper is making one that is a rectangle shape 4' length, 2' height, 1' deep. The bottom and top height would be 2" height 4' length 1' deep. Have a 2"*4" rectangle shape metal fence around it or a 2"* 2". The inside light would be a black fluorescent light with the zapper running across the interior part of it.

Frenchtoast 8 years ago

If this transformer doesn't work for you, you may need to use a portable lantern's lighting assembly.

HavnFunHere 8 years ago

This can't work "Correctly" because of the AC Transformer and how your trying to use said transformer, as Was Explained by other's Above. You should Actually "TRY OUT" What You Build Before You WASTE People's Time with a Build that Can NOT Work CORRECTLY. All because of the Parts USED and The WAY that you Implemented those "Parts." A Good instructor will ALWAYS Test Out Their "build for safety and to make sure it Actually WORK'S CORRECTLY" as to the stated build. And BEFORE Your Project is "Shared With The Entire World." Thanks for your effort anyway, just PLEASE Test Your Builds with the correct part's to use 'FIRST' Before Posting them for others use in the Future.

Frenchtoast 8 years ago

Thanks you all. I will have to find another way to get the voltage. (I read somewhere that the circuitry from a portable lantern might work)

Omnivent 8 years ago

All you need is a small oscillator to excite the transformer. A single transistor or two (depending on the transformer topology) a couple of resistors and caps and you're all set, but I wonder if it's worth it, as the finished fly swatters are probably cheaper than the components+shipping - they use special transformers I've attached a schematic I made from a physically broken unit).

HavnFunHere 8 years ago

You're correct it's way cheaper to purchase the "Bug Zapper tennis racket" then to try and make yourself one at home. It's Three Times as Expensive to Make One yourself. Way cheaper to just "Buy one" that's already built and is for sale on Amazon. I bought a couple on there for $9.98 U.S. Currency.

Frenchtoast 8 years ago

Thanks, what did you use to get the high voltage?

Frenchtoast 8 years ago

What kind of a transformer? What was the output and input?

Frenchtoast 8 years ago

Nevermind, the lantern assembly needs a voltage multiplier.

rafununu 8 years ago

The best would be a flash electronics you could grab from an old disposable camera. There are several examples on the site.

Frenchtoast 8 years ago

I was considering that but I thought it didn't have enough power.

steven4872 8 years ago

Next time test your ceation before posting about it. Make ure it does what you claim fisht. Also in addition to the previously mentioned tranformer issue you do not need thick wire for the screens. Thin wire would work well. You might want to look at the chines electric fly swatters. When I saw them they appeared to be highly effective.

http://www.amazon.com/BugKwikZap-Zapper-Electric-Swatter-Model/dp/B007YJSM8C/ref=sr_1_6?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1458108121&sr=1-6&keywords=electric+fly+swatter+AA

PONG123 8 years ago

This would not work becuase you cant turn AC into DC without an inverter circut. And transformers only work with AC. Hope that helps.

mgrenzoni 8 years ago

The transformer reversal could work but not without some additional electronics in front of it. You need to convert the 9VDC to 9VAC before sending it to the step-up transformer. You don't need a pure sine wave but will need at least a pulse. I'm sure a search on this site could help you out. Look up DC/AC converters. I'm not sure that 120V is going to be high enough voltage either but that's easy enough to determine once you have a couple of flies to experiment on...

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