how much damage would it do to stick your tongue on a bug zapper?

[mugs]

Originally posted by: rudeguy

Originally posted by: Gurck
I'd expect to see this kind of question on MTV or maybe WWF Wrestling forums, not Anandtech.. how low has ATOT sunk?

enough for someone to become a lifer in a year simply by bitching about Ipods.

Right now the pool is up to about $50. I zapped my finger with it a bunch of times and it doesnt really hurt. I even tried it with my finger wet to see if it hurt any worse like that and nothing really happenned. This thing is only powered by 2 C batteries. If I do it, it will be tomorrow so we can videotape the event.

You work in an electronics store, use a demo model. We need instant satisfaction or we lose interest.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Are you sure you want to risk damaging the nerves in your tongue/face?

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: shuan24
uh it's not the voltage that kills, its the power. (which is a function of the voltage and current) So at 40W with your tongue, it's definitely gonna leave a mark!

It's current, not power.

1volt at 1000 amps isn't going to do anything to you..

 

[rudeguy]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: rudeguy

Originally posted by: Gurck
I'd expect to see this kind of question on MTV or maybe WWF Wrestling forums, not Anandtech.. how low has ATOT sunk?

enough for someone to become a lifer in a year simply by bitching about Ipods.

Right now the pool is up to about $50. I zapped my finger with it a bunch of times and it doesnt really hurt. I even tried it with my finger wet to see if it hurt any worse like that and nothing really happenned. This thing is only powered by 2 C batteries. If I do it, it will be tomorrow so we can videotape the event.

You work in an electronics store, use a demo model. We need instant satisfaction or we lose interest.

the boss is here tonite. I can try to get a pic of the spark when I touch it with my finger.

 

[arcas]

Speaking of bug zappers, I'm still curious how the grids work. I haven't really found an adequate explanation using google.

I've had 2 mains-powered bug zappers. One used a pair of nested wire mesh cylinders. The other used a series of rods. In the case of the mesh grid, presumably one piece of mesh was connected to one end of the transformer secondary and the other mesh to the other end. Similarly with the rods, it was clear that adjacent rods were isolated from each other and were connected to opposite ends of the secondary. That's fine.

What I never understood is how the bugs actually get zapped. It's clear that if a bug is big enough to bridge the gap between the meshes or rods (maybe 1/4 inch), then current would flow and zap the bug. I have no conceptual problem with that. But what is the mechanism behind tiny bugs like mosquitos being zapped? These are clearly too small to bridge the gap between the mesh or rods for current to flow in the traditional sense.

Is it simply a case of the insect touching one of the meshes/rods and thus gaining some quantity of static charge and then eventually coming close enough to a grid/rod of the opposite charge so that a static discharge actually zaps the bug?

/ashamed to admit he has a physics degree and yet doesn't have a convincing answer to this question :-/

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
Are you sure you want to risk damaging the nerves in your tongue/face?

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: shuan24
uh it's not the voltage that kills, its the power. (which is a function of the voltage and current) So at 40W with your tongue, it's definitely gonna leave a mark!

It's current, not power.

1volt at 1000 amps isn't going to do anything to you..

Perhaps. If the circuit isn't closed.

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/shock.html

 

[sharkeeper]

Electric bug zappers are not particularly effective on mosquitoes.

That said, smaller insects that cannot bridge the gap between the grid will trigger an arc because their bodies have lot of moisture. A capacitor is placed across the secondary to prevent the arc from staying continuous. This is what gives the charcteristic zap sound.

 

[shimsham]

are you the same guy that shot the fireworks out of his ass crack?

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: sharkeeper
Tongue factor doesn't apply at this voltage. All will flow at that pressure. Lucky it's only 9mA.

Some other more powerful potentials easily obtained:

- Oil burner ignition transformer. Most are 10,000V at 23mA. This is on threshold of becoming dangerous.

- Neon sign transformer. Available up to 15,000V at 60mA. Touch one of these and you'll live. You will also scream like a girl that saw a mouse on the floor.

- Microwave oven. *only* 2,000V but 500mA. That will kill you. Don't even think about playing with this.

- Pole pig. Sky is really the limit but if you have the typical 200A electrical system and "borrow" a 50A circuit from your range or have a welder in your garage you can get 30,000+ volts at 1/2A or more. This is lethal obviously and only highly experienced and trained people should even think of messing with one.

You are now the official go-to-guy when somebody is holding information that I need, and unwilling to cooperate.

 

[ktehmok]

The Bug-Zapper I have on my back porch has a 4500 volt secondary. You can stick your tongue on that while my kids' roast marshmallows on the flame from your nuts.....

 

[rudeguy]

its a small one guys...~3volts

 

[ktehmok]

Then do it, p|_|ssy, I rode the lightning on a neutral from a 2000 amp switch-gear... that won't be sh|t.

 

[NeoPTLD]

Originally posted by: rudeguy
its a small one guys...~3volts

Depends on how it works. On a big one, when a bug goes in, you can smell its flesh burning. If its got a setup like a camera flash in which the grid is powered by charging a capacitor, it could do a serious burn to your tongue.

The capacitor in disposable camera holds enough charge to melt through a soda can, yet its powered by a AAA or a AA cell.

 

[rudeguy]

Originally posted by: NeoPTLD

Originally posted by: rudeguy
its a small one guys...~3volts

Depends on how it works. On a big one, when a bug goes in, you can smell its flesh burning. If its got a setup like a camera flash in which the grid is powered by charging a capacitor, it could do a serious burn to your tongue.

The capacitor in disposable camera holds enough charge to melt through a soda can, yet its powered by a AAA or a AA cell.

so there could be smoke as well as a giant spark???

I am defintiely sold now.