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The Van de Graaff Bugzapper is, predictably, a few Van de Graff generators mounted on poles in strategic spots in the garden. An insect flying through will pick up quite a hefty charge.
Then when the insect goes to land on something: zap. Even if it doesn't kill the insect, a charged insect landing
on a person will be stunned, noticeable (ie: you will get slightly zapped) and easily squished long before they get around to stinging.
Van de Graaff
http://en.wikipedia...de_Graaff_generator
Note the double "a" [csea, Aug 22 2009]
Electrostatic Flies
http://www.scienced...145b91ab79e9253f426
Who knew? Houseflies walking on PVC gain + charge. [csea, Aug 22 2009]
Electrostatic bouncing
http://www.youtube....watch?v=5goWZiy6As0
Charge transfer with insulating particles [csea, Aug 22 2009]
Electrostatic Induction
http://en.wikipedia...trostatic_induction
Redistribution of charge [csea, Aug 24 2009]
[link]
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Interesting, but here's the problem: |
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//An insect flying through will pick up quite a hefty charge.// |
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An insect (with neutral charge) flying in the vicinity of a VdG generator will initially be repelled, then as it loses similar charge, will be attracted. |
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By the time it lands on the VdG, it will have essentially the same charge as the generator, and suffer no "zap." |
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This is similar to the reason birds can safely alight on high-tension wires. |
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High charge (voltage) doesn't kill; current does, and a small insect flying in air won't allow much current flow without being connected to ground. |
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who said anything about the bug landing on the generator ? I want it to fly through the zone and shed a load of electrons, then when it lands on something with a different charge (ie: anything)... zap. Bonus if it's something grounded to the other end of the generator but either way... |
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Pretty low capacitance, that flying bug. Mostly 'cause it's small. And it has plenty of low-radius appendages from or to which electrons will jump, so even if you can get it to a high enough voltage to be noticably "charged", the charge won't stick to the little critter. |
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Still, if you can get your VdG BzzzzZapper cranked up to a high enough voltage, you should be able to toast the peskies on a two or three inch long lightning bolt, rather than the measly 1/8th inch short circuit of a normal 'zapper. So I'm good with it... here, zap this pastry a time or two. (It might be [+] charged...) |
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[lurch]s' scenario is quite possible. I don't know much about the electrical characteristics of flies. |
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Much of what happens when a fly meanders past a high-voltage terminal will depend on how well the fly holds onto charge. cf. [link2]. |
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If the fly is sufficiently insulating (dry), it may bounce back and forth between the high voltage (+) terminal and ground (see [link3].) |
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//An insect (with neutral charge) flying in the vicinity of a VdG generator will initially be repelled// |
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If it has neutral charge, then why would it be repelled? I thought it would need a like charge to be repelled. |
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See link on Electrostatic Induction [link4]. |
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The addition of lasers would be an excellent step. Possibly marketable to Bungco? |
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Bungco already has a line of unrelated preventative devices. |
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Thank you for the links, [csea], but they suggest to me rather that the bug's wings (or whichever other parts of it are more distant from the vdG) would be repelled from one another (like the leaves on a gold leaf ... thingy), than that the whole bug would be repelled from the vdG. |
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//thingy// sp. electroscope |
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//a line of unrelated preventative devices//
Bug condoms? |
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Thank you, [lurch]. An electroscope was on the tip of my tongue. I'm still getting the after-taste. |
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//An electroscope was on the tip of my tongue//
That should make for interesting osculation. |
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certainly worth additional baking! you could get a grant!! |
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//interesting osculation//
Possibly visible only with an oscullascope. |
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great visual: [pertinax] screaming "CHARGE!", with his gold leaf standing out like a handlebar moustache... |
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//Edenite// ... nah, one of the ritzy neighbors from down in Havilah. |
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