Although not as effective as other types of traps that specifically target biting insects like mosquitos, bug zappers can make porches and open areas in humid areas tolerable, if not insect-free. Biting insects are attracted to the violet and ultra-violet light emitted by the lamp which, if all goes well, will be the last thing they ever see. Does this Spark an idea?
Protective Cage
One of the most misunderstood parts of the bug zapper is its protective cage. The protective cage is not connected to the electrical element, and serves as a sort of Faraday cage to prevent electrical arcing past the limits of the bug zapper even under highly humid or rainy conditions.
The Light
The light inside of a bug zapper is a fluorescent design, and is closely related to a black-light in that it's primary emissions are in the ultraviolet spectrum. While most would classify the type of light used inside as a "neon," it does not contain any neon gas. The only real difference between a standard black-light and those used in bug zappers are that the bug zapper light uses less expensive glass. The plain glass used in the zapper bulb blocks less of the visible mercury spectrum light, making them appear purple-blue to the naked eye (as opposed to the black-light's deep purple).
Voltage Multiplier
The purpose of the voltage multiplier is to take current from the home (which has very high amperage, but low voltage) and converts it to the over 2,000 volts requires to vaporize a bug. The multiplier does this with a network of capacitors and diodes, which receive their "charge" from the house circuit, and store the energy like a battery. The capacitors permit a more rapid discharge of high voltage/low amperage current than would be possible without them. The zapper's voltage multiplier works very similarly to those used in tasers, and can charge and discharge within milliseconds.
Power Grid
The power grid connected to the voltage multiplier is composed of a series of either horizontally or vertically arrange wires, spaced about 1/8 inch (3 mm) apart. The wires are alternated to the current, so that where one wire is connected to the positive side of the multipliers current, the next wire is connected to the negative side. This alternation continues all the way around the bulb. When an insect approaches the power grid, its body bridges the gap between the positive and negative wires and absorbs the current.
Impedance
The system's impedance is more of a design attribute than any specific component, but this property refers to the amount of voltage allowed to pass through the bug zapper over any given period of time. The system's impedance circuit is specifically calibrated so that the bug zapper will not be able to drive a dangerous current through larger mammals like humans.
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