Bug Zapper - On Sale Home Depot

[Teken]

Quite a few years ago I purchased one of those electric fly swatters from some random store. During the move to my new home it some how got lost. 

 

Fast forward this week it looks like Home Depot has them back in stock! Since I didn't have my electric fly swatter I still needed a method to bring in fresh air from the garage into the home. But didn't want to let the giant size black flies come streaming in.

 

So based on the same design as the electric fly swatter I made a massive door screen that does the same thing.

 

Ha . . .

 

Below is the portable unit I picked up for just under $5.XX at the local Home Depot. I can't even begin to tell you how rewarding it is to catch a fly and zap him to death!

 

All I can say is the smell and the amount of sparks this new unit outputs is incredible! As you can see in the video I was a little shocked when I saw how much sparks and smoke came out of this massive fly.

 

[smokegrub]

:  )

[Brian H]

Have you observed any Insteon issues when it goes off?

For that price I doubt is has a well filtered HV power Supply.

[Teken]

Have you observed any Insteon issues when it goes off?

For that price I doubt is has a well filtered HV power Supply.

I've haven't seen any Insteon related issues when using the device. Then again it's not like it's zapping hundreds of bugs an hour either!

 

The door zapper on the other hand has caused a few heated discussions though.

 

The girl friend doesn't like to get zapped and seeing all of the dead bugs on the floor.

 

Ha!

 

 

Ideals are peaceful - History is violent

[larryllix]

 

..... As you can see in the video I was a little shocked when I saw how much sparks and smoke came out of this massive fly.

 

 

Perhaps it needs to be double insulated or a better ground system?

 

I run my fresh air intake through an old microwave oven and surprisingly no flies or other bugs make it through.

[Teken]

Perhaps it needs to be double insulated or a better ground system?

 

I run my fresh air intake through an old microwave oven and surprisingly no flies or other bugs make it through.

 

I use the GDO left at quarter height to allow passive cooling in the home. My objective is to keep the house cool with out the use of any electricity as my end goal is to be NET Zero at the end of the year. I've been very successful in the last six years in regulating the homes internal temps even during the hottest summer months.

 

The only time passive cooling doesn't work is when its either very humid or where there are more than two consecutive hot evenings which doesn't allow the house to cool down enough.

 

My long term goal is to save up for one of those massive garage door screens. This would allow me to keep the entire door wide open and also use the space in the evenings while the hulk sized mosquitoes are out.

[larryllix]

I use the GDO left at quarter height to allow passive cooling in the home. My objective is to keep the house cool with out the use of any electricity as my end goal is to be NET Zero at the end of the year. I've been very successful in the last six years in regulating the homes internal temps even during the hottest summer months.

 

The only time passive cooling doesn't work is when its either very humid or where there are more than two consecutive hot evenings which doesn't allow the house to cool down enough.

 

My long term goal is to save up for one of those massive garage door screens. This would allow me to keep the entire door wide open and also use the space in the evenings while the hulk sized mosquitoes are out.

That only works until you make them angry! You won't like them when they are angry!

 

net isn't going to happen here. Last month got down to $35 for energy. After delivery and gov. grabs my sell back put my $120 bill down to just under the delivery charges of $70.

 

What is GDO?

Edit: duh! Garage Door opener.

[G W]

GDO = Gross Domestic Overhead

 

Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk

[Teken]

That only works until you make them angry! You won't like them when they are angry!

 

net isn't going to happen here. Last month got down to $35 for energy. After delivery and gov. grabs my sell back put my $120 bill down to just under the delivery charges of $70.

 

What is GDO?

Edit: duh! Garage Door opener.

 

Yes, I can relate it appears the new trend and all the rage is to amp up the so called delivery charges, so called connection fee, or what ever make belief B.S. they can think up.

 

My monthly electricity use and cost is very low . . .

 

But, when you add in all the tax's and make belief related costs its almost as much or more than my monthly electricity bill!

[larryllix]

I am currently arguing my delivery fees schedule with the Ontario Energy Board, as my $30 worth of energy costs an additional $70 for delivery, each month. Being an old meter guy, doing commercial consumer complaints,  they have a hard time BSing me with terms.

Based on $x per km of conductor, I argue from where? The next customer, nearest substation, generating plant, or what?

 

No answers( except the computer determines it)  If they say "generating plant" I want a really cheap delivery rate from the 120kW solar farm less than a block away when the sun shines! Oh... and it's not my fault if the owner in BC can't keep the panels clear of snow from December to April!   I don't think they know where to go with that one.    :) Heck I want better delivery rates either way!

 

I keep getting the StatsCan figures thrown in my face how the cost of living is so much cheaper in the rural. Off-grid seems very appealing but I cannot afford the $10-20K in batteries every ten years so I just spend $5K (exag) on lightbulbs   My wind turbine destroyed itself, my roof,  a strip in  my lawn (please replace the divets) and possibly a neighbours whatever (never found the third blade ) so it's gone now. Too scary for me! 

[Teken]

I am currently arguing my delivery fees schedule with the Ontario Energy Board, as my $30 worth of energy costs an additional $70 for delivery each month. being an old meter guy doing consumer complaints  they have a hard time BSing me with terms.

 

I keep getting the StatsCan figures thrown in my face how the cost of living is so much cheaper in the rural. Off-grid seems very appealing but I cannot afford the $10-20K in batteries every ten years so I just spend $5K (exag) on lightbulbs   My wind turbine destroyed itself, my roof,  a strip in  my lawn (please replace the divets) and possibly a neighbours whatever (never found the third blade ) so it's gone now. Too scary for me! 

 

My ultimate goal is to be completely off grid at some point. With the advent of Tesla's *Power Wall* and many others coming to market in the next five years.

 

The whole hybrid grid tied system will become a reasonable cost vs reality for many of us. I've been tracking many companies who are in the mist of releasing their own power pack similar to Tesla.

 

To date he is the only one actually on target to produce, release, and sell units to the general public. He has the massive benefit in the fact he is being supported by the utilities in his commercial space.

 

This will help drive down the costs for the consumer grade power wall. If I ever win the lottery I am going to purchase one of their commercial style power packs or the Bloom Box.

[larryllix]

My ultimate goal is to be completely off grid at some point. With the advent of Tesla's *Power Wall* and many others coming to market in the next five years.

 

The whole hybrid grid tied system will become a reasonable cost vs reality for many of us. I've been tracking many companies who are in the mist of releasing their own power pack similar to Tesla.

 

To date he is the only one actually on target to produce, release, and sell units to the general public. He has the massive benefit in the fact he is being supported by the utilities in his commercial space.

 

This will help drive down the costs for the consumer grade power wall. If I ever win the lottery I am going to purchase one of their commercial style power packs or the Bloom Box.

 

hmmmmm... Tesla is most expensive battery I have ever seen, and things may be updated, but the prices are only for distributors purchasing large quantities. "deliveries should begin this summer" As a LioN battery it is only capable of putting out 2kW. With it's 3-400 volt connection it seems only suited to time shift their car charging times.

 

By the time you get an alternative energy system with co-gen inverters, switch overs, and lock-out safety equipment, the cost will runabout $15-20K.  I can buy (just) flooded LA batteries for about 1/10 of that price per kWh advertised. My current batteries, although small, run 6.2kWh capacity and cost under $380 CAD, deep cycle, Crown. That's a far cry from Tesla's 7kWh battery  for $3500 USD plus distributor markup. I doubt it will fly except for the investors that push. Apparently the Tesla CEO would like to get paid this year.

 

Yes,  I am with the car owners still looking for promised battery swap stations, and not impressed, so far, but I have some rare earth magnets that can generate all the power need for a whole city in a shoebox if you have extra cash.

 

http://www.teslamotors.com/en_CA/powerwall

 

We are talking about peak shaving here. With the difference in energy rates between on peak and off peak, the payback time on a system like Tesla would be about.....oooops! wait!,  It will accumulate interest faster on the debt than the energy savings costs. Alternative energy people with storage capacity learned this the hard way.

 

....and we haven't even considered the inefficiencies of the system.

[Teken]

I think it really comes down to how you intend to use these battery storage units and what markets. In places like Australia, UK, and some States the ROI and the use of them for peak use makes sense. There seems to be a gradual and idiotic movement in the ToU (Time Of Use) and Tiered rates from many of these POCO's.

 

Its fair to say most of them are simply out of control and just want to squeeze that last nickle out of the consumer. The latest push is charging those with grid tied solar systems some kind of fee WTF??

 

Let me understand this; because I am helping reduce my consumption and also directing any extra power back into the grid which helps the POCO and my neighbors they want to penalize those kind of people?

 

Because they are not consuming electrical power???

 

These two issues are being pushed by many places in the world and has nothing to do with being fair or helping anyone. Its simply about the bottom line as solar is gaining adoption and they simply are not able to pay off their high paid hacks because revenue has started to fall.

 

With respect to wet cell technology it works but really needs to be pushed into the 21 st century. It doesn't matter if its a Crown, Rolls Saurette, etc all of these batteries have limited cycle life and DOD limits.

 

In 2015 no one should have to accept 700 - 1000 cycles or 50% DOD, none.

 

With newer tech being worked on my homes (yeah still a dreamer I know) some of these new battery technologies will be pushed out where it allows 10K cycles, 100% DOD, and of course can be speed charged and not worry about strict voltage charging.

 

Tesla has on paper sold out until 2016 of any production units on the reserve list. In the big picture I really don't care who comes out with what. What does matter to me is someone has finally stepped up to the plate and done it. I have been tracking this effort for the last ten years and 99.99999999% of all the tech I have read about has never come to market.

 

That is quite telling . . .

 

The Tesla power wall is obviously not ideal in every scope or meets the target for the general masses in terms of price to KWH ration. But, the reality is in time it will come down and the tech will be improved upon. Its a working copy that is being sold, marketed, and developed.

 

This in my mind is in the order 99999999999999999999999999% better than the vaporware I have been reading for eons! 

[G W]

hmmmmm... Tesla is most expensive battery I have ever seen, and things may be updated, but the prices are only for distributors purchasing large quantities. "deliveries should begin this summer" As a LioN battery it is only capable of putting out 2kW. With it's 3-400 volt connection it seems only suited to time shift their car charging times.

 

By the time you get an alternative energy system with co-gen inverters, switch overs, and lock-out safety equipment, the cost will runabout $15-20K. I can buy (just) flooded LA batteries for about 1/10 of that price per kWh advertised. My current batteries, although small, run 6.2kWh capacity and cost under $380 CAD, deep cycle, Crown. That's a far cry from Tesla's 7kWh battery for $3500 USD plus distributor markup. I doubt it will fly except for the investors that push. Apparently the Tesla CEO would like to get paid this year.

 

Yes, I am with the car owners still looking for promised battery swap stations, and not impressed, so far, but I have some rare earth magnets that can generate all the power need for a whole city in a shoebox if you have extra cash.

 

http://www.teslamotors.com/en_CA/powerwall

 

We are talking about peak shaving here. With the difference in energy rates between on peak and off peak, the payback time on a system like Tesla would be about.....oooops! wait!, It will accumulate interest faster on the debt than the energy savings costs. Alternative energy people with storage capacity learned this the hard way.

 

....and we haven't even considered the inefficiencies of the system.

Have a look at evtv.me and what is being sad about batteries. I think you'll enjoy the videos.

 

Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk

[larryllix]

I think it really comes down to how you intend to use these battery storage units and what markets. In places like Australia, UK, and some States the ROI and the use of them for peak use makes sense. There seems to be a gradual and idiotic movement in the ToU (Time Of Use) and Tiered rates from many of these POCO's.

 

Its fair to say most of them are simply out of control and just want to squeeze that last nickle out of the consumer. The latest push is charging those with grid tied solar systems some kind of fee WTF??

 

Let me understand this; because I am helping reduce my consumption and also directing any extra power back into the grid which helps the POCO and my neighbors they want to penalize those kind of people?

 

Because they are not consuming electrical power???

 

These two issues are being pushed by many places in the world and has nothing to do with being fair or helping anyone. Its simply about the bottom line as solar is gaining adoption and they simply are not able to pay off their high paid hacks because revenue has started to fall.

 

With respect to wet cell technology it works but really needs to be pushed into the 21 st century. It doesn't matter if its a Crown, Rolls Saurette, etc all of these batteries have limited cycle life and DOD limits.

 

In 2015 no one should have to accept 700 - 1000 cycles or 50% DOD, none.

 

With newer tech being worked on my homes (yeah still a dreamer I know) some of these new battery technologies will be pushed out where it allows 10K cycles, 100% DOD, and of course can be speed charged and not worry about strict voltage charging.

 

Tesla has on paper sold out until 2016 of any production units on the reserve list. In the big picture I really don't care who comes out with what. What does matter to me is someone has finally stepped up to the plate and done it. I have been tracking this effort for the last ten years and 99.99999999% of all the tech I have read about has never come to market.

 

That is quite telling . . .

 

The Tesla power wall is obviously not ideal in every scope or meets the target for the general masses in terms of price to KWH ration. But, the reality is in time it will come down and the tech will be improved upon. Its a working copy that is being sold, marketed, and developed.

 

This in my mind is in the order 99999999999999999999999999% better than the vaporware I have been reading for eons! 

I agree totally that it's a good start but an unreal one based on a lot of hype

So far, in my circles, every person out of a dozen I have encountered,  that are aware of it, think it is a complete system you just plug into the wall and away it goes saving power all by itself.

 

Wrong! but I can see why. The Telsa second hand advertising hype portrays it that way without even understanding what it is. Telsa loves this and does nothing to correct people's misconceptions. Tesla has been caught with crap lies before about their car success. Read the actual Tesla website about the specs on the unit.

 

Lion batteries.

Any LioN battery I have used has a definite life cycle of so many discharges. I have had to replace a few of them already. Reports are 500-1000 cycles also. While the amperehour capacity of them is quite impressive, any rechargeable model I have read specs on, with 100% DoD once, is a done battery.  LioN charging is very precise with tightly controlled parameters and takes temperature considerations as plane cockpits that supposed exploded in the 1980s from blackbox recorders with them. I understand that was the hold up to release LioN batteries to the public until the 1990s. I can't quickly find substantiation of those stories though.

 

We can only hope, and  maybe Tesla will actually lead the way. They are leading somewhat  with their vehicles despite any negatives, true or false.

[mwester]

To get back on-topic   Regarding the original (and immediate follow-up) post, specifically the "bug-zapper door" and the "microwave oven" vent -- I use this new-fangled technology called a "screen door" for that purpose.  It's amazing - it consumes ZERO electrical energy, has absolutely NO hazardous voltages or radiation, causes NO smoke or noxious odors, requires no wiring, and little technical expertise to install!  Plus, you can get it at Home Depot, probably a few aisles over from that horribly-colored zapper in the first post:  http://www.homedepot.com/p/Screen-Tight-36-in-x-80-in-Unfinished-Wood-T-Bar-Screen-Door-WTBAR36HD/202504408

 

 

(Carry on gentlemen!)

[Teken]

To get back on-topic Regarding the original (and immediate follow-up) post, specifically the "bug-zapper door" and the "microwave oven" vent -- I use this new-fangled technology called a "screen door" for that purpose. It's amazing - it consumes ZERO electrical energy, has absolutely NO hazardous voltages or radiation, causes NO smoke or noxious odors, requires no wiring, and little technical expertise to install! Plus, you can get it at Home Depot, probably a few aisles over from that horribly-colored zapper in the first post: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Screen-Tight-36-in-x-80-in-Unfinished-Wood-T-Bar-Screen-Door-WTBAR36HD/202504408

 

 

(Carry on gentlemen!)

Well played . . . ️

[larryllix]

To get back on-topic   Regarding the original (and immediate follow-up) post, specifically the "bug-zapper door" and the "microwave oven" vent -- I use this new-fangled technology called a "screen door" for that purpose.  It's amazing - it consumes ZERO electrical energy, has absolutely NO hazardous voltages or radiation, causes NO smoke or noxious odors, requires no wiring, and little technical expertise to install!  Plus, you can get it at Home Depot, probably a few aisles over from that horribly-colored zapper in the first post:  http://www.homedepot.com/p/Screen-Tight-36-in-x-80-in-Unfinished-Wood-T-Bar-Screen-Door-WTBAR36HD/202504408

 

 

(Carry on gentlemen!)

I don't think they will ship to Canada.

 

I wonder if there is an equivalent or another less high-tech technique I could use.

 

You lucky Americans have everything!

[Teken]

Yeah, I checked the Canadian side for this same product and its no where to be seen no surprise! The ratio has to be like 200 to 1 at this point which is really pathetic.

 

The American Home Depot simply carries thousands more products when compared to the Canadian side. I just shake my head given its 2015 and with the whole e-commerce why the hell don't you sell even a small percentage of the same thing here?

 

I've probably heard every story under the sun as to why it is. Some of the excuses are valid but the majority of the reason(s) I hear are simply B.S.

 

And don't even get me going about the disparity of the Canadian Netflix vs the American side!

 

Thank God for DNS spoofing resolution . . .

[larryllix]

Yeah, I checked the Canadian side for this same product and its no where to be seen no surprise! The ratio has to be like 200 to 1 at this point which is really pathetic.

 

The American Home Depot simply carries thousands more products when compared to the Canadian side. I just shake my head given its 2015 and with the whole e-commerce why the hell don't you sell even a small percentage of the same thing here?

 

I've probably heard every story under the sun as to why it is. Some of the excuses are valid but the majority of the reason(s) I hear are simply B.S.

 

And don't even get me going about the disparity of the Canadian Netflix vs the American side!

 

Thank God for DNS spoofing resolution . . .

I did see a website the other day, and I believe it was directed at Canadians mostly, on how to make your own bug screen out of fine thread,  or was it fishing line? I don't know if I can find it but it may help so many insect bitten Canuckistanis, if they can lay off the beer drinking for a few hours.

[mwester]

Y'all must be young'uns, then.  I grew up in Alberta -- back then we just used our snowshoes.  In the winter, no bugs -- so no need for a screen door (and it would just get in the way when you had to go get another beer outa the snow-drift cooler).  In the summer, well, the only bugs we were worried about up there were the ones too big to fit through the weave.  They'd'a busted right through that thar fine thread!  And why waste fishin' line on a bug?  

[larryllix]

.....  And why waste fishin' line on a bug?  

Not my idea but it must be a good one cause it is patented. You can look it up in the Canadian patent records. Go past about the first 5 or 6 of them and you should find it.

 

What would you need snowshoes in Alberta for, or are they those them there vertical climbing types?