Chinese Insect Zapper (Mosquito Killer) - crazy circuit and burning resistors.

This is a teardown of a Chinese insect zapper (or mosquito killer). It has a completely mad circuit that makes no sense - probably a totally botched up conversion from a fluorescent tube to a UV LED). After a few seconds, two resistors started to burn inside. It also has no discharge resistors, so the grid and the plug can give you a shock after it's unplugged. The picture in the listing says it also kills rats, although I really can't imagine how the rodents could get through the grid into the machine (which, at the top of it, is meant to hang from a ceiling). Warning - dangerous voltages. There's a high voltage in the grid with no mains isolation. Capacitors do stay charged after turned off / unplugged.
UPDATE: I've got a full refund for this rubbish.
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[@fran_flor]

cant stop laughing when I saw the sketch for the mouse. 😂😂😂

[@ACOnetwork]

Similar here 🤣🤣😂😂. Drawing was perfect 😁

[@BICIeCOMPUTERconGabriele]

me too!!!!

[@JonathanGameHD]

Hello, Little reminder for you to come check this mouse 😁

[@ats89117]

It kills mice by burning your house down! :-D

[@livelove2030]

KilroyNBC year you cook and eat.

[@brandonspicer2482]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😅 Good one bro.

[@zakiahmad4024]

😂

[@hexagonist23]

It also kills you and everyone in your house, and possibly, everyone in your neighbourhood!

[@davesbusstuffandmore]

LOL 😅

[@sameer26121980]

It is not insect killer, it killed itself before killing anything else.

[@KasparOnTube]

maybe its vegan

[@oniruddhoalam2039]

It is a suicider.

[@redpheonix1000]

It's an insect killer killer

[@marx875]

Chinese mouse fly.

[@pokemon3742]

LOL

[@theshankman8682]

from the amount of chemicals they produce the eventually will

[@yourcreed104]

Władca Niczego They eventually will fly due to chemicals ?....can these devices produce spells that transforms mouses to fly and than later kill them ?

[@bob-ii8oe]

it only kills communist flys

[@BillAnt]

@@bob-ii8oe < Kill a commie for mommy! ;)

[@KoffeeBear]

The review was conducted in a hilarious manner. I was laughing away at it was funny. Yes, the Chinese from China have very poor Command of English, so there's a lot of information that get lost in translation. At times, I do not understand what the product description and instruction is trying to put across. This reviewer made my day. The picture illustration was funny with the mouse part.

[@doriandragon914]

I like the way of showing problems. They will always criticize you. This is an invaluable help because you yourself will not notice the mistakes you make. Do not be angry with critics. Correct what you can. You have a big talent.

[@peckelhaze6934]

It's a greater risk to the user than a mosquito. Great video, keep em coming.

[@moiquiregardevideo]

If you just unsolder these two diodes and simply short circuit the 2 burned resistors, the ultraviolet LED may work. Then you can start zapping a few flying rats.

[@listerdave1240]

I recently repaired one of my mosquito lamps and it had a very similar circuit. It had a real UV fluorescent tube though, not an LED. It seems like just what you said - they had a lamp designed for a tube and they put a low voltage LED 'tube' instead of the real high voltage tube. The LED tube is probably meant to run off a 12V AC transformer like used for low voltage halogen fixtures.

[@maverickalvaro3706]

That 1.5 v ~ 3 vdc uv led

[@jsterinschy4229]

Love a product tear review/teardown that goes into the actual operation. The mouse diagram was a laugh bonus.

[@ZENERVOLTAGE]

0:35 I ask every viewer to pause and read. It's hilarious! "No smelly cleanliness and HEATH!" 😂

[@andymouse]

I did..your right !

[@Purple431]

Also says: "make use of special lisht frow special light tube to lure the Insent, sueh as mosuito" :'D

[@semspiri789]

That was a funiest reverse engenering ive seen. Thanks a lot. Rotfl!!! You make very interesting electronic videos! Keep going. God bless your family

[@shovonsfunhouse8070]

Man...you are too good.. I just kept on laughing watching how you are calculating staffs... I subscribed only for the way u presented the things and did the calculation and made the video in another level. Keep on...

[@harrymartin1661]

You are the best! Thanks for your explanations.

[@1marcelfilms]

I hope you got a refund for these.

[@DiodeGoneWild]

Yes I've got :)

[@kennano2732]

I like how you explained the circuitry, I understood them and made me intrested even though I know nothing about electronics.

[@hoggif]

I think the smaller caps give about 1.5kV in total. When it gets loaded, small caps are discharged and 390nF caps are effectively in series ie. only 600V or so for the larger current zap from the large caps. That may have to do with not overloading the circuit with large current pulse like you'd get if all caps were large.

[@1talha686]

Is there any rated voltage mentioned on the box? They put an adapter to box bot i dont think they thought about voltage values.

[@Falco45able]

Thanks fella for showing the deadly garbage sold on the internet 👍

[@aldebaranflash2663]

Hej man your videos are the best!

[@TekWhizz]

I thought I got it cheap on eBay because they had an error in their production and many units were made with a 1/4 Watt resistor when really it should have been at least a 2 Watt. But as you are saying, it was probably meant for a florescent tube! I wanted to map out my schematic but didn't so far. Interesting that it works fine now when I replace the resistor with a 5 Watt. However it's still a mediocre unit because I also found out that the "kill power" of this thing is very low. While you do get a nice big spark if you short the grid, it hardly kills bugs that land on it. It's most effective in killing what looks like little moths, they are attracted to the light and just stick to the grid and don't burn up in any way. But I tried to kill some fruit flies, and had to trick them by putting the unit on top of a little container with fruit peels. So I found two on the grid. One of them was dead, and the other was alive basically jumping between the two wires, like saying hahaha, it can't kill me. So I took a matchstick and moved the fly so its body, not just wing, made contact with the two wires and then it started burning it with smoke emanating and it STUNK! I understand that the more "legit" bug zappers are strong enough to pretty much blow the bug apart as it hits the grid, and the bug gets partially burned and falls right off the grid to the bottom. Somehow this unit's HV circuit produces a few thousand volts but very little current, so it's not enough to really travel effectively through the bugs that end up on it. Either way I understand that in order to attract mosquitoes you need a source of carbon dioxide, and some movement. They are not attracted to UV light...

[@eDoc2020]

I have one of these which is physically identical but with different construction. If I recall correctly the light is in series with a dropper capacitor across the power input and the grid is a single stage multiplier. And this is for 120v. I might need to check it again because I don't think 340v is enough to zap insects.

[@chichihlin454]

Can someone advice what is the part number for the light tube used in this bug zapper ? thanks

[@user-vk7fd2st8j]

"The corners of the box are slightly compressed." - the most polite accusation of a delivery company.

[@taxik007]

Flying mouse omg... You made me laugh, thanks :DDD love the painting

[@mrbutcher3930]

One way: The mice eat the live wires and get grilled. The other way: The mice eat the live wires and get poisoned to death by cheap chinese plastic even faster than the mains voltage would kill them.

[@zx8401ztv]

i just cant get the image of a mouse/rat flying through the sky to get to the zapper, is it possible they ment a bat LOL :-D :-D. Nice drawing he he :-D. And still they never use anyone that slightly understands english to write the box discription. How can they be so utterly bad in this day and age?

[@siux94]

I've never heared funnier english accent

[@simontay4851]

His accent sounds like a cross between welsh, French, polish, Iranian.

[@Volvex007]

He's from Czech Republic

[@userPrehistoricman]

the* Czech Republic

[@Capt_Killingfield]

I've never heard a "funny" English accent. What's funny is people that only speak one language that laugh at someone who probably speaks four.

[@Fareke2]

Kam1kadze Official but he was scammed :D

[@jeeplvr2000]

These zappers are a fire hazard. The resistors burn within 1 hour. It is a voltage amplifier circuit that barely works. The LED circuit is being fed about 40 volts off the R2 resistor and that is why it gets so hot. I initially replaced the R2 resistors with 10 watt resistors and they still get super hot. I bought 2 of these and both burned R2 resistor almost immediately. I replaced the LED circuit with a 120v to 3.5 volt buck converter from ebay and the led's work great now. The grid side has never failed.

[@jeeplvr2000]

The voltage to the led is supplied by a 7.5k ohm resistor (R2) off the main board. The 5k resistor is for the grid only.

[@jeeplvr2000]

The burnt resistor R2 is the resistor for the LED power supply. And you burned the two LED resistors when you plugged it into the mains with a light socket which bypassed the resistor R2 on the main board.

[@jeeplvr2000]

You will never achieve the 600 volts with the components on the board because of the voltage drop. The most I got out of the main board was 460 volts which is only slightly over the rating of the caps. The reason they did this is to save money. It's the same reason there are two different values for the capacitors. The lower value capacitors are just adequate at the position they are in and are cheaper than the higher value caps.

[@DiodeGoneWild]

There should have been a proper capacitive dropper for the LED. Not a resistor as the only thing that drops the voltage. Seems like the circuit originally was a doubler for CCFL. With a proper capacitive dropper for LED, well rated capacitors in the multiplier and with a fuse, it would be a good device.

[@redpheonix1000]

"Can use for long-term without break" Suuuure.

[@videomaker811]

Haha.. I cant stop laugh.. you are funny.. Rat Can Fly..??

[@mrmoon7484]

indeed he is very funny

[@atiqit7318]

Sabahan KZbinr me too brother

[@19Edurne]

I am slightly puzzled... How do you even turn the thing on when it is suspended from the ceiling?... Are you supposed to climb on a chair each time you want it on or off, since the switch is located on the top?... Nice touch! How clever! BTW, I think it shows everything it CANNOT kill on the package. You'll notice human beings are not represented... mmh. ;)

[@brucenguyen2033]

Well, Mr you won the Nobel prize in physics

[@mrryencoke]

Did it state the voltage on the package, instructions or sale listing? I think that Chinese plug is actually North American! Same plug but 100V difference! Instead of that plug adapter, they should have sent a plug converter! I bet the math works better at 120V!

[@mettju_csky3105]

Miluju ty hodiny v pozadí :D/ I love clocks in background :D

[@CassetteMaster]

I can't even believe my eyes!

[@packingten]

Thats "Be reive"

[@ondraczsk]

1:29 sírijúsly

[@tuxrandom]

If we neglect the 220nF capacitor and the two diodes in the lamp circuitry, the burned Non-47Ω resistor would have dissipated around 15 Watts. The value could be something like 3.3kΩ.

[@RODALCO2007]

Love the mouse drawing, Brilliant ! 110 Volt plug put on 220/240V supply with the Chinesium adaptor. You Popped it. Great reverse engineering. Piece of dangerous plastic rubbish.

[@puckcat22679]

Actually, that's a Chinese ungrounded plug, not a US one. They're similar, and will physically interchange, but not identical, and the Chinese plug doesn't comply with US code. China uses 240v. The quickest way to distinguish the two is that the Chinese plug lacks the holes in the blades. Also, most of them have a much smaller grip, too small to comply with our electrical code.

[@vincentrobinette1507]

The capacitors actually only charge to the peak of mains voltage each. 400 volt capacitors will allow operation up to 283 volts AC safely. The capacitors closer to the mains handle more current, therefore, need to be larger values. All in all, the series capacitance needs to be appropriate for the desired discharge energy. It's nicely designed. The 5.1K resistor is too low a value. In a fault condition, like the grid wires shorting, or a bug bridging the grid wires, that resistor could dissipate as much as 11.3 watts!! it won't take much to smoke that! one can only hope that the capacitor values are low enough, to reduce the dissipation of that resistor in a fault condition. It almost looks like the voltage multiplier was designed for 240 V AC, and the light was designed for 120 V AC. Anyway, it looks like a passable design, but with the wrong resistor values.

[@mihailsaltirov5333]

On the picture its on and looks better :D u think they can hold it on power for photo ?

[@amaanqureshi1286]

Dude I love you so much.

[@mikerama4724]

Interesting video, thank you

[@theirisheditor]

By looking at the circuit before the 'Tube', I can't quite work out how that would power the tube without blowing. Apart from the burned resister (which I assume is an inrush current limiter), there's nothing limiting the current flowing through the two diodes for half the AC cycle through the tube. Even the 220nf capacity doesn't make sense. I reckon if this 220nf capacitor was inline like the top-left 47nf capacitor, the current would be limited enough to drive the UV 'Tube'. But if that was a real tube, the DC current would result in a very short life, like some battery operated fluorescent lights that ran the tube on DC.

[@DiodeGoneWild]

I think it originally worked with some UV CCFL tube. It's voltage drop was higher than the mains peak voltage, so it didn't blow up. It worked as a current limited multiplier. As long as the tube's voltage drop was less than 1x mains peak, it limited the current thanks to the 220nF capacitor reactance. And yes, it is DC current that shortens the life of tubes, but chinese never care about this.

[@theirisheditor]

I didn't realise how high the voltage drop is on CCFL's. Indeed the reliability of the non LED version is poor, I found it on Amazon UK and about half the reviews mention that it failed within days of purchase. I love your diagram of the mouse 🐭 I'd also like to see a mouse trap that catches mosquitoes... 😊

[@DiodeGoneWild]

A proper UV fluorescent tube can last about 5000 - 10 000 hours with a proper magnetic ballast (AC) or a high frequency electronic ballast. LED's could do even better, but they have to have a proper power supply and they shouldn't run at 4x their maximum current (as Chinese designs usually do). The light output also has to be enough to replace the fluorescent tube (one 5mm LED is not enough). And the wavelenght has to be suitable - 365nm or even better 350nm. The cheap 395 or 405nm LED's suck in those zappers. I still stick to my old fluorescent zapper with a heavy iron ballast.

[@jeeplvr2000]

The R2 resistor that burns on the main board supplies about 40 volts to the LED board, which then reduces it down even further and rectifies it so the LED doesn't burn out. The R2 resistor is a 1/4 or 1/2 watt resistor and needs to be at least a 10 watt resistor. Like he said in the video, there are two completely separate circuits.

[@squish200]

if u can make it china will fake it

[@DjResR]

I also guess the circuit was designed to use custom fluorescent tube, not LED.

[@tudomerda]

thank you for testing these products from countries with low safety standards.

[@zilog357]

Lol, the "kill" and "zap" part in the Ad was referring to the resistors. By the way, the 1500v will still be too low for most insects at that electrodes separation of the grid. The one I have uses 3600v (from a switching inverter) and that one works just fine. Unfortunately, does not kill mice either... Oh, and you are right about the doubler going to the light bulb. Originally, those units had a fluorescent UV-A bulb with a screw base just like that, but I guess that other Chinese seller scammed this Chinese seller into buying LED lamps that work "exactly" the same as replacements, lol

[@nejp.3942]

Mouse are you kidding me?! Lmao at his reactions

[@subigirlawd_7307]

Is it rated for 120 volts only maybe... Ain't it 240 volts where you're from?

[@Killerspieler0815]

@DiodeGoneWild - They might retrofitted this thing from tube (voltage doubler) to LED the extra chep way (even for Chinese junk) , because they might had much of this boards catching dust ^^

[@teksatan4699]

u sure this was meant to run on 220 and not 120? that may bring some of these components back into specs.

[@koushiroizumi0]

The mouse dies because of the ozone made by the UV lamp.

[@thomas930409]

Very nice vid.

[@candrasniper3404]

So many strange circuit in chinese products. I had an emergency lamp that burned when it was charging. The resistor to red LED indicator was burned and the elco from bridge rectifier was blowed into pieces. The elco only 50v, and the resistor power clasification is only 1/4 watt with a mysterious value too. It's clearly a 800mA current is running on the circuit. The main light contains 40pcs smd LED 3.2v in a paralel. And because of two component were blowed, the rotary resistancy switch and the transistor are become broken. I analyzed that they use negative path to controlling the transistor. The other emergency lamp has a solar panel which using negative path through the switch. And amazingly the solar panel is directly connected to 3pcs paralel 3.7v li-on battery. The circuit board was burned included all component on it. I tested the solar panel's voltage output and it could reach 15volt under the light of lamp. Buahaha...

[@GabrielKozsar]

Czenglish ! :D ok bratu , subscribed :D

[@markiangooley]

My first instinct when it failed was "designed for 120V or less"... which may be true, but I don't see how it would work properly at lower voltages either.

[@DiodeGoneWild]

Maybe, but those resistors would burn even at 110V~. The capacitors are rated for 400V, this is usual for 220V~ products. In 110V~ products there are usualy 250V capacitors. The desing seems to be originally for some fluorescent tube or CCFL, that had a higher operating or ignition voltage. The LED tube was put into it without even testing it. Or they tested it for like 1s, so that the resistor didn't have time to overheat.

[@akaishi1583]

markiangooley It might be 230v, the Chinese use the N American plug for that voltage.

[@jeeplvr2000]

The circuit is made exactly the same for 110 or 220, they just change the plug. It is a fire hazard at best. The values on the components in this video are exactly the same as the zappers I bought here in the states for 110 volts.

[@dan2800]

proč si ten rezistor nezměřil a proč si to nepřipojil to na ten tvůj watt meter já bych řekl že to byl 47ohm rezistor

[@sarammageorge602]

From where did we get the tubes

[@siriusleto3758]

After this video the product even gained new features: Child Killer, Fog machine and House burner.

[@arunhg1285]

I like the way you speek..,

[@rogerd4559]

OMG the bug zapper died just out of the BOX! Priceless! hahaha

[@JohnsVlog]

can this be charge with cellphone charger? is there portal?

[@rogerd4559]

Looks like that bug zapper the changed to an LED lamp from a flourescent lamp last minute without testing it perhaps

[@TechHowden]

the burned resistor is 5.1k.

[@TekWhizz]

Yeah, and that was the only one that burned at 120V. I replaced it with a 5W ceramic resistor and it works perfectly, just a bit warm.

[@TechHowden]

@@TekWhizz I just realize this is one of my first ever comments

[@tonyrowan4576]

If the 2 diodes before the light were cathode to cathode or were anode to anode you would get a significant voltage and current drop. So much of a drop it wouldn't matter if it was used in a 230v or 120v source. I can't tell by the video if the drawing and or silkscreen on the board was wrong, or if a diode was just put in backwards. This unit has none of the safety features required to be UL Approved and is probably available in the USA via the internet only. As with any product bought direct from the country of origin, buyer beware.

[@bitelaserkhalif]

Love engrish on packaging

[@zetsubou3704]

I like how the latest one is better and worse at the same time

[@Usagi98962]

High voltage power network intensive can escape in a small mosquito. + kills flying rats and mouses super interesting

[@NotSoCrazyNinja]

You know, I never thought about putting a bug zapper in my home. Might be useful during those times of years flying insects like to try to invade my castle. Seems to happen every spring. Been using fly paper, but a zapper might be more fun.

[@guavamax420]

and rats LOL

[@AaronKatrini41]

that desing of the mouse flying ... man i just pissed my self from laughing.... good one :)

[@TheWcjohnson]

Best channel this or big Clive

[@KuntalGhosh]

that mouse part killed me !! lol , I am laughing like stupid at 2:50am in the morning lol!!! hahahha thumbs up for that!

[@environmentNow]

0:34 2. "Lure the insent"

[@danosdotnl]

4. Can use for long-term without break

[@autismuskaefer]

3:37 they made it for the mice. 😂😂🤣

[@TekWhizz]

Also it's funny, it has the red switch in the photo, and in this video, the switch is there, but the one I got, the box and everything is the same and the red button is pictured, but is not on the unit! I got 2 of them at the same time, unfortunately.

[@udhi_gn3893]

5:06 Boom! Mercury vapor escaping! (if it were a real fluorescent bulb but made of plastic)

[@puriap250]

Oh my god thank you 😂😂😂😂 I was having a terrible day and now I can't stop laughing and the mouse schematic OMG

[@scratchdog2216]

Nice review. Now I can make my conjugal room brilliant. Thanx.

[@Daar64]

You are really smart

[@InverhavonRailways]

It kills the mouse by burning down the house!!!!!!!

[@nejp.3942]

Lmao at the box instructions full of typos and lmao at the accent haha

[@Whimself48]

why does it say '470' on the resistors? do the maths and notice that it is 0.245 A and consequently 56W (no insanity there)

[@DiodeGoneWild]

The resistors marked 470 are 47 ohms, not 470 ohms. The 47 is the value in ohms and the 0 is how many zeros you have to add.

[@PepeCheb]

www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/susumu/RGH2012-2E-P-470-B/RGH20P47BCT-ND/1143271

[@ManofCulture]

Mosquito Killer gone wild and killed itself.

[@mrm99999]

They didnt lie about LED

[@ovidius2000]

omg.iReallyLaughedWithTears.

[@inclusionlabs6939]

excellent video from a technical perspective. plus your accent is awesome, you could be a great singer... i wonder what your mother tongue would be...

[@mmb-memyrapzandbeatz6603]

Lol. You are wicked

[@loganmacgyver2625]

FULL BRIDGE RECTIFIAH

[@vladimirmikulec]

Ja som presne túto istú kúpil zo slovenského online shopu pod značkou Esperanza, ale má skutočnú UV výbojku a zatiaľ nezhorela... Každopádne tiež sa jej dá prestrčiť prst cez ochrannú mriežku...

[@ImwillingtakeittothedeathU]

Mine is same but a lot dif, 3 big capacitors 2 small 5 diodes 2 resistors the bulb glass runs on 243 volts dc the wires put off 436.6 volt dc

[@leostechnikkanal]

Its not made for 240 volt i think

[@thgrofficial]

If it's not made for 240V then why did they include a European adapter in the package?

[@Okkie26]

If it was made for 240 volt, why wasn't there a european plug in the first place?

[@puckcat22679]

Oscar Hartman it has a Chinese plug. And China uses 240v as well. No, it's not a US plug. China uses a plug design for ungrounded equipment that is very similar to the US 2- prong plug, but not exactly the same. Note the absence of the holes in the blades. Also, the part you grip tends to be smaller than what is legally allowed in the US. They will fit a US outlet, but they're not compliant.

[@joecuevas6368]

yeap math makes more sense with 120V...

[@danprovo8509]

can it kill a humanized mouse ??

[@nejp.3942]

I subscribed so i'm updated to some electronic comedy show haha

[@hassanburrows8535]

Component crematorium. The components get zapped before any insect gets near it. Je je.

[@upravytdi]

ty vole, to je strašný... O_o

[@oliverlipka799]

ten prízvuk ? :D

[@silnicnivozraloteka5639]

zní jak čech :D

[@silnicnivozraloteka5639]

fajf handrt watts :D

[@kpomalproductions5254]

U should keep a MCB or ELCB besides u to protect.

[@demagab]

Seriouslaaaaay? Are you kiding miii?

[@Fareke2]

TOP quality product :D And i thik they have wireless option :D

[@creepershoriginals2360]

Haha, is it gonna crawl on the ceiling?

[@dabazik]

Cool video as always. However, the best one so far is...Even more salt... Even more salt 😂