Magic Forcefield Pest Repeller Test and Teardown

A device which claims to create a forcefield using your home's electrical wiring to repel insects and vermin.
It doesn't.
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[@ChrisCowley1]

"Our research strongly indicates that rodents and insects find flashing red LEDs very annoying." - Marketing Dept., Cheap Chinese Crap Co.

[@robbieaussievic]

...... I spoke to the Rat on the package front, They didn't even have permission to use his image ! (He was really pissed).

[@shemp308]

so do mostly when behind and on a patrol unit!

[@andrewkantanga1131]

He made me laugh when he said,coming from our usual suspects

[@Peter_S_]

Those devices are effective at exterminating money from your wallet.

[@edward_grabczewski]

And polluting the Earth with crap!

[@trinityadam]

@@edward_grabczewski You Do totally get Junk from the likes of China. especially that Peace of Junk in the video...

[@franc3048]

😂😂😂

[@shadow-Sun]

Mr Ward I salute you ..love your no nonsense uploads if only my teachers had your style of presentation ..I would have paid way more attention in class . Keep up the good work .

[@Equiluxe1]

I had a couple of electronic pest control devices some years ago, they had rather more circuitry inside, well they were lable rentokill. They did produce a high frequency pulse onto the power lines that could be switched in frequency depending on what sort of pests you wanted to deter,except they did not or at least the pests got used to the noise if that is what it was Not sure that the power lines would vibrate from like that. In the end I had to take down all the climbing plants against the house and use poison in the loft, the resulting smell from decomposing rodents stuck in the loft insulation meant that the roof had to be stripped of all insulation the membrane replaced along with the battens and insulation.I now use 100% mint oil as that seems to repel the rodents which all start trying to come in as soon as the crops are off the fields,just another one of the joys of living in the countryside.

[@Mike_5]

This is very disappointing as i was planning to use this device to repel unwanted electoral candidates cold calling at my front door but now i will have to go back to the old school method of using a bucket full of freezing cold water on the pests ...

[@Markus0021]

I vote by absentee ballot as soon as I'm allowed. Then when they come to the door I just say "I already voted." It's an effective conversation-stopper in my experience.

[@oldbatwit5102]

Tell them you have already decided not to vote for any party that sends someone to knock at your door.

[@cfytcf]

Lukewarm "yellow" water has a stronger effect.

[@laraoneal7284]

Mike5. Hilarious 😂

[@laraoneal7284]

I quit voting all together.

[@bdf2718]

"As seen on TV." That's not false advertising. Somebody at the factory took one home and stuck it on the top of his TV. He saw it on his TV. The claim is true.

[@gabest4]

Isn't it great that in China, just finishing high school and learning about electronics, you can start your own business? Shop for parts, have a 5 min talk with a plastic case manufacturer, order the PCB and you are already on aliexpress.

[@rancidbeef582]

I "inherited" a pest repeller that is supposed to be ultrasonic. While I can't speak to its ability to repel pests, it does apparently make an ultrasonic sound. When I plug it in, all my cats perk their ears up and look at it. I keep it unplugged so as to not annoy my cats.

[@twig3288]

The cats should be deterrent enough for rodents.

[@jamesmauer7398]

Good call about the built in flashing feature in the red LED. I was confused when you first opened it that there were apparently only passives.

[@MrWontstopthefunk]

So I just bought one recently. Date code says it’s from about 2009/2010. I just opened mine right after opening it out of the package because of your video and I was interested to see it myself but my unit has a whole lot more inside of it than the one you show

[@runnerwannabe90]

John's initial face expression of the video, said it all

[@Bodragon]

(7:02) - I don't know whose idea it was to change the standard depiction of a resistor from the traditional zig-zag to a rectangular box but when drawing a circuit diagram in a hurry, doing it the old zig-zag way meant you could steam ahead without even taking your pencil from the paper. I much prefer the old style and continue to use it in all my work. Darn tootin' I'm a rebel. >

[@DrQuadrivium]

Bodragon ... It's the European way! We are supposed to be 'harmonised' even though we don't have the EU standard 230v mains voltage _(in my house it's 249v)._

[@Bodragon]

@@DrQuadrivium This is why I love the EU so much and why I voted to remain. Yes, I can overlook these little differences. They're hardly differences at all... But you do sound like a Little Englander / Brexiteer Oh well... At least it wasn't *_me_* that brought politics into this exchange. >

[@DrQuadrivium]

@@Bodragon ... *:-)*

[@UberAlphaSirus]

I am going to vote again for wrigly resistors.

[@muzikman2008]

Lol...totally agree :-)

[@Petertronic]

The packaging would have likely cost more than the product.

[@peckelhaze6934]

The blister pack is of more danger to insects than the device.

[@RaithUK]

I had one that actually came from the UK and did indeed put out varying frequency sounds and seemed to change the mains some how enough to interfere with one of those home-plug network systems.

[@samuelfellows6923]

RaithUK - when it dies, send it to Big Clive/J.W to have it desecrated to see if what you have is the genuine thing and not the fraud that John has.

[@RaithUK]

@@samuelfellows6923 Unfortunately it died after 6 years operation before i got to know their channels. it's a shame really. i still have the circuit board but the shell & speakers are long gone. the board is intact but it think its probably meaningless as just a board without the case/speakers. I could be wrong.

[@samuelfellows6923]

RaithUK - ☹️

[@boomshakalaka2275]

Hi john, i have a British one that has a selector for different pests and im almost certain it will emit some sort of frequencies. I will be happy to donate it to you for research purposes

[@thecrazysomething]

I have one that definitely works. When turned on the dog immediately looked at it. I get rats in the ceiling constantly through winter and while buy yet more poison I saw some and decided to try it. The rats immediately started running around (more than normal) and after 2 days I haven't had them back for 2 years now. I'll open it up to see if its any better. Though I'm not sure how to post photos on KZbin, we'll see.

[@NOWThatsRichy]

Maybe yours has got an ultrasonic emitter Inside.

[@michaelgraham3396]

@@NOWThatsRichy Or maybe it's the placebo effect, which surprisingly can work on pets - and presumably pests too.

[@ben2e0omr]

KZbin needs a lmao button for this type of device.

[@djbare9]

I picked a device up that looks exactly like that one, the major difference is internal, larger circuit board covering almost full length of enclosure and fitted with a coil that must be 1000s of turns wrapped around a metal rod that puts out quite a strong alternating magnetic field which turns on and off in step with the red led, the coil is driven by an NPN transistor, there is an unidentified 8 pin chip with only pins 1, 3, 4, 7 and 8 connected, 7 and 8 are tied together, the remaining pins don't even have solder pads, it's notable that the red led does not flash constantly, there appears to be pauses in operation. Edited to add, oh yeah, I picked it up out of curiosity from the local flea market for 50p.

[@muzikman2008]

No Mr Ward...the heat from the resistors attracts the vermin towards it, gives them a nice cozy nest in which to make next to, and breed as intended, thus keeping the rodents away from other areas in your property. I just thought I would clarify that... love from Mr Chung (ACME pest control PRC)

[@e5Group]

It’s the greatest non device ever. I can’t wait to buy the plug in capture waste electric device and send it you.

[@bostedtap8399]

Anyone remember those carbon rubber strips that dangle from cars touching the ground to prevent car sickness 🤔. Apparently the four rubber round things weren't good enough, wasn't it also sold to protect you from a lightening strike. Excellent expose John. Thanks for sharing.

[@puckcat22679]

They are meant to dissipate the static electricity that builds up as you drive down the road, particularly in the winter. Ever get out of your car on a cold day, then get a little zap when you go to close the door? That's what those are for. And they do work, however, they don't last very long, and it's just as easy to either place your hand on a metal part of the car as you put your feet on the ground, or touch the door real quick with your key before closing it. Years ago, fuel trucks would have a bunch of chains dragging along the ground for the same reason. Now, they just attach a ground wire that is connected to the truck's chassis to an electrode on the fill port of the fuel tank they're going to fill before opening it. Far safer and much less annoying than the sound of dragging chains.

[@Xclub40X]

Those sneaky pests are onto something. By pests, I mean the ones who make these hilarious products

[@zoragun]

Hey John, after i saw this video i opened mine RIDDEX(as i recall it was found in my place, probably bought by the previous housekeeper), and it is totally different inside! Looks like thgere is a serious circuit! I 'll send you a photo to your Fb page, if you like! Cheers!😉

[@elonmask50]

Hehehehehe, another fabulous video JW.

[@MarshallEvans]

Saving this to send to my aunt who has one of these (of some type) in every room. I've taken one apart and it was even simpler (and a fire hazard)

[@CliffordAJB2013]

John, please could you do a video on SELV/PELV and FELV circuits? Thank you.

[@milos_radovanovic]

I don't think the capacitor influences the rhythm, but instead it limits the voltage while the LED is off, preventing its damage. Adjusting the capacitance would not change the rhythm, but reducing it beyond a certain limit would cause damage to the diodes internal switching/blinking circuit.

[@richardwash6678]

Nice one 👍

[@electromechanicalpaul4448]

Hi John, I think Clive had the same one earlier this year I think, basically it does naff all but looks kind a pretty!

[@westinthewest]

This is the Bigclive analysis: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6SbcqmkoJt-gaM

[@jeffkardosjr.3825]

Reminds me of Airplane II with William Shatner going on about the blinking lights.

[@SeanBZA]

Over designed that is, you can save 0.5c by combining the 3 rectifier diodes into a single one, which would reduce the component cost by half. Even more put the LED's in series, and have the switch simply bypass the blue one, cutting another 0.5c off the BOM cost for those expensive resistors.

[@reggiebacci]

Does this work on senior management?

[@jimbaker2152]

It does work for me, but it work not work overnight, the thing is the worst your situation is the longer it will take it to work. If your situation is really bad it will not help.

[@hammeys1]

got a ringing noise in my head now haha

[@gazyounglive]

That's as bad as the cat scare things shaped like a bird box a former neighbour bought, a speaker emitting intermittent loud ultrasonic frequency noise via a ceramic speaker... used to give me a headache listening to it when my bedroom windows were open during summer... 2 of my cat's went right up to it, sound never bothered them, they both turned round with a shake of the tail in the air, one sprayed the front & the other gave a long soray right into the speaker & it started making a strange sound & the whole neighbourhood started complaining about this cat scare bird box he paid around £75 for through some newspaper ad.

[@Madness832]

As soon as I saw the "As Seen on TV" logo, I knew that this was American. Often from late-night TV ads claiming, "order right now & we'll double your order/you'll get one free." The kicker is that the "free" second one usually requires the buyer to, "just pay separate shipping & handling (i.e. double, again, the S/H on the "paid" one). One break, however, is that these items often just end up in local stores.

[@Zaine22]

How John I'm new to your channel sorry for the unrelated question but is it possible for you to do a video for the wiring diagram for a nest thermostat/ heat link to a combi boiler thank you so much

[@gile849]

Very nice device. Work very well. Special diods make magic field. Its radioactive be careful

[@alpachino468]

As a pest repeller, is this "forcefield" effective against Mother-In-Laws?

[@kay110]

I once had my doubts on something (a water purity meter) which was made very cheaply in China. When I opened the unit up, all it was, was a meter with a series variable resistor connected to two probes. No active components at all. Sometimes, a nice project housing can be bought cheaper this way, but it's generally a waste of resources and deception of the general public.

[@wffj-tv2652]

Well done. Now I don't have to buy one of those plastic nightlights and tear it apart.

[@ourfamilyoutdoors7331]

Can diodes or resistors make noise? I have a few power blocks and surge protectors that make an irritating high pitch sound and I don’t think they have speakers or anything special inside of them.

[@jwflame]

No, but inductors can, and most power supplies and filters contain those.

[@python360]

That looks like my GCSE CDT project in 1988 - I vacuum formed a white acrylic box and ran twin core and earth straight through it and glued the back on so the teacher couldn't see there was nothing inside. I got a "B"

[@lemmykilmister450]

Great, where can I get one?

[@twig3288]

The CE marking is the manufacturer's declaration that the product meets the requirements of the applicable EC directives. Presumably those directives don't include the requirement that the device does what it is supposed to do?

[@frankowalker4662]

Chinese extortion.

[@michaeltempsch5282]

The CE Mark the Chinese typically use on tat is spaced a little different than the proper Conformité Européenne one. Sometimes called Chinese Export.

[@derekt7606]

Take off my Christmas list 🤔

[@David_11111]

well at least the resistors looked big enough LOL I think the cap kept some kind of dc level.

[@michaeltempsch5282]

It's across the flashing LED to keep it from resetting at the mains zero-crossing. And yes, by keeping a bit of voltage continuously across the LED

[@Natepwnsu]

Cheers

[@l3onoxid396]

the magic of packaging

[@TzOk]

There are identical looking devices, which have a piezo speaker inside.

[@dreddwailing6395]

Another customer gullibility tester, it's a shame it doesn't have a 12V DC jack so it could be sold for reducing car fuel consumption as well.

[@user-yg4kj2mf1p]

I plugged one of these "fuel doctor" devices on a Tesla Model S once, my fuel consumption turned negative and the damn thing started dripping gasoline. Would not by again. The "fuel doctor" devices supposedly work by "normalizing" the DC current in your cars electrical network. Needless to say it doesn't work because most cars already filter out DC anomalies to not cause any noise in the audio system and because the capacitor these "fuel doctor" devices have is too small to do jack squat anyway (and sometimes it's wired completely wrong).

[@Killerspieler0815]

@John Ward - Put the LEDs to a good use , these are the only useful stuff in it

[@mihaiachim5299]

I have a friend who bought a big bag full of these "magical" devices and I can't convince him to throw them away and he didn't get rid of the mice either, but he has the impression that there are fewer of them :)))))))) but what I can say is that the LEDs are very reliable on them: they have been shining continuously for about 2 years 😂

[@jamesbakker7749]

I've had my Pest Offense units since 2000 and have no ants or mice here in Ohio

[@rigobertomona4504]

Cuanta esla duracion del aparato

[@edward_grabczewski]

Shocking! Once again, how do products get past trading standards?

[@jwflame]

Direct imports, where items are purchased from websites and sent individually.

[@hyperion8008]

Is that not a Hamster on the front cover?

[@ats89117]

If the blue LED was a UVC emitting diode, it could certainly kill things in the immediate vicinity...

[@robertgaines-tulsa]

I've got one of those things. It's old. It never did anything. They still advertise them on TV. They sell us a lot of weird crap here in America. You can actually buy a device with an coax cable connector that plugs into a wall receptacle for your TV. It grounds your coax cable center conductor. **cough** I never bought one.

[@Madness832]

Think there was also one that claimed to turn the wiring into a super TV antenna (unless this is the same).

[@simonruszczak5563]

If the circuit was designed so the LEDs were in series instead of parallel, and the switch in parallel across the blue LED, it would have only have needed to use one resistor and one diode. Maybe in the next improved model (mark 2) they will, (lol).

[@dogastus]

Unbelievable!

[@frank7353]

I personally never seen such devices in China. The most useless pest control device I tried is fan assisted insect killer which also uses a blue led to attract mosquitoes.

[@samuelfellows6923]

Frank Wang - if the room is dark I think it would attract flies (these do work) 😐

[@gravydavie]

It’s got a hamster on the packaging 😂

[@ShelliLoop]

Why do you apply 246volts to a US appliance that requires 120 volts. Bad idea

[@tinytonymaloney7832]

I had given to me an electronic pest repelling plug in gadget recently. Brand new, never been opened. It said it was safe to use with pets an not audible to humans. However when I plugged it in I experienced pain in my eardrums, the cat scarpered and the dogs kept barking until I turned it off. Weird. I don't recall the name but it was a household name, like Rentokil I threw it away.,

[@smarttee2072]

A friend of mine got one for her NY apartment and it worked! You have to plug it in your wall not on a extension cord!

[@KevinCoop1]

John, What do you do for a living when your not making KZbin videos? Just so you know, you can also buy deer whistles for your car from over here. It is guaranteed to repel deer from hitting your car or your money back. Respectfully, Kevin

[@Ivorbiggin]

He’s a Sparky

[@KevinCoop1]

Steve Installer or designer? Thanks.

[@blancsteve4819]

Those insects that were repelled by LEDs are all extinct now. QED Quite effective device : )

[@galrod64]

I am just a housewife and have no clue about electricity and all this stuff. I just wanted to know if it is this particular manufacturer product that is not good. Or is it in general that these things are not good ?

[@jwflame]

This one is useless because it doesn't contain anything other than some coloured lights. The proper ones may contain other things and emit sound waves or similar - whether that actually works to repel vermin is unknown.

[@Pentti_Hilkuri]

May the forcefield be with you.

[@uK8cvPAq]

The people who trust in these things are the sorts of people who'd bury a cat in their walls during olden times.

[@samuelfellows6923]

uK8cvPAq - 😂

[@simonruszczak5563]

The cats were probably trapped in the walls by accident.

[@uK8cvPAq]

@@simonruszczak5563 Nope, people used to think "dried cats" warded off evil spirits.

[@uK8cvPAq]

@Mr Brightside Mother in law might do the trick.

[@bobbylopez9681]

Lawsuit?

[@cliveramsbotty6077]

how many people have you force feeled in that shed of yours eh john...?

[@tyronenelson9124]

A device that is meant to create a so called force field around your home, and then says pest repellant aid on the packaging seems a little conterfit to me.

[@Xclub40X]

As it so happened . . I needed 3 separate LEDs, three resistors and a couple of diodes, but I also needed a plastic enclosure for another project. . . .so I brought one of these stupid devices, because it was cheaper than buying the parts all separate

[@shemp308]

well it will not stop working.

[@matthewday7565]

Surprised it got such a high power factor... doesn't it measure asymmetry?

[@jwflame]

Most of the load is the resistors, there is only a single capacitor and no inductive elements.

[@matthewday7565]

@@jwflame But isn't half wave rectifying a truly awful power factor? Creating a DC offset

[@psychotempest]

If it's not Riddex, it's not real... Riddex brand does actually work.

[@Bodragon]

(4:43) - *_"...raunch the thing open..."_* Is this, ("raunch"), colloquial vernacular, or did you mean *_"wrench" ?_* It's just that I couldn't find your particular usage of this word anywhere, despite an extensive searching effort on my part. I know I must appear both pedantic and quarrelsome but linguistics is a hobby of mine. Soz. >

[@noakeswalker]

I think John said "graunch" - uk slang for 'use excessive force and no finesse' :o)

[@Bodragon]

@@noakeswalker *_Graunch !_* That's it ! Thank you @noakeswalker. "Graunch" is perfect ! Now I feel like a turd. >

[@imtrue2132]

Hi Tech RGB Nightlight, that it is.

[@petehiggins33]

Seems a bit over-designed, they could have eliminated two of the diodes and two of the resistors by rearranging the circuit and surely they don't need a 100V rated capacitor. Every jiao counts. Edit - And this would reduce the power consumption by a factor of three at the same time, a greeny bonus.

[@benbaselet2026]

That would require hiring an actual engineer to design the thing for an hour or so, which comes to a cost of tens of dollars.. thousands of units would have to be built and sold to make up for the loss! Those extra parts cost them maybe 1-2 cents more per unit.

[@alexvidakovic]

Were they sued for the scam?

[@frankowalker4662]

Could put a home made PSU in the case. But I bet the cost of this item would'nt make it worth it.

[@benbaselet2026]

You can buy these fake things for 2-3 dollars, just getting an empty enclosure from local supplies would cost more.

[@jeffkardosjr.3825]

Would be a nice space to make a surge protector with some filtering.

[@123tinhat123]

It was advertised on TV at 3:15am on the Babestation channel......so my friend told me 🙄

[@grotekleum]

You are not looking at it right JW. The lights are just 'all is well' indicators. The real gubbins that makes this work is the quantum-micronics-pathway (TM) Simpsons discombobulator. Sigh, everyone knows that, but I accept you don't have a micron-path-phase exciter in your bag, which would have shown clearly the force field emanating from the flux-capacitor, which incidentally, to protect company secrets masquerades as a plain old electrolitic capacitor. I have several of these excellent devices and so far no Tyrannosaurus's have invaded my home. These Chinese are clever.

[@DrQuadrivium]

Maybe vermin hate flashing red lights.

[@Bodragon]

(1:05) - Wot, not sonic ? >

[@AzKat69]

My dad after seeing this video: - "Okay I won't buy this white one, but there's a similar looking one that has a GREEN light in the middle, that's clearly different and it's real. Prove it's not real, why do you accuse it of being fake? You think I'm stupid?"

[@alinili5569]

It comes from usual suspect. It was good but for rats best I experienced was Air Rifle took me couple of months after night work between 5:30 till 6:30 7:00 evry morning more or less and killed 14. Wry big sizes and I didn’t see after apparently they are clever and if they know they aren’t safe they will tell their borough and that’s why they don’t take bate after 2-3rd times

[@dasy2k1]

The real ones of these emit an ultrasonic racket (work the same way as the yob repeller sirens many shops now have) Don't think they do much for insects but they are actually fairly effective against rodents (makes a noise that annoys them so much they move elsewhere)

[@muzikman2008]

Yes these are the more common repellents I have seen. Do they work though?..I dunno, no rat has ever came back to let me know lol..

[@anthonysmith394]

Plugging one in now and hopefully it repels the rodent TRUMP in 2024! 😋

[@SaraYah33]

Thank you God bless your heart in the name of Jesus.

[@forevercomputing]

JW - my brother is a JW plus middle name

[@sergiu234nfs]

It actually misses the speaker for the ultrasounds (that would come where the round shape on the inside of the front panel is) and its respective circuit board. It's just a scam product.

[@rayc5079]

Question is, does it work ??

[@benbaselet2026]

Yes. It lights up the LEDs via the power it draws from the socket.

[@rayc5079]

@@benbaselet2026 I meant, does it repel ?

[@benbaselet2026]

@@rayc5079 Of course not. Why would a couple of ordinary led lights do anything like that?

[@westinthewest]

@@benbaselet2026 I didn't notice any rodents loitering anywhere throughout the whole video. The device works even when it isn't plugged in.

[@georgeprout42]

@@rayc5079 seemed to me that the absence of ants, cockroaches and other vermin in the video proves that it successfully repelled them 🤔

[@powernumpty]

It repelled me.

[@giornogiovanna729]

Saw one on "Shawn woods" At least that one was localized bullshit, but this one? One hell of a Jedi trick. Btw the other one was just a capacitive dropper, diode bridge, a led, and a chippie to drive the piezoelectric transducer/sensor. Shockingly easy to scam people tbh.

[@alexandruc5968]

bruh, u bought a fake one. the riddex ones have it written on the device.

[@psychotempest]

That's what I was thinking...

[@YouTubeSupportTeams]

0:31 "patented digital pulse technology"

[@lzh3131]

Upside down! Not a true test. I live in S.Tx, USA - using them for 10+ yrs. I know when they’ve outlived their life…I start seeing flying insects. My attic has no bugs or spiders, since 2007. Just bought 5 more, garage, attic, front door, back door, & kitchen! Had mosquitos…new ones…not a problem! You’re test wasn’t scientific or tested. My mom lives in Kansas, she’s 82, big house, 3200 sq.ft., she lives alone, started seeing spiders, and she’s “deathly afraid of mice”! I just purchased 5 for my house ( 1876 sq. ft), and 7 for lake house, Johnson Co., KS. Used @ rural 88 acre farm house. You have an opinion …I worked in Engineering/ MFG for 20+ yrs., my husband built Coal Fired power plants & wind farms, ( major utility), he said the electric use was minimal! Show decimeters, RVs values. You apply an input at different frequencies and power levels using the synthesizer, and use the spectrum analyzer to measure the power in the output fundamental and harmonics, use an ohm meter…. at the very least.That ratty meter..$10😢👎👎👎👎

[@jwflame]

The product in the video has 3 coloured LEDs in it. That is all. There are no active components. There is nothing to test, and you didn't watch the video.

[@TheKetsa]

Placebo pest control

[@sarkybugger5009]

Works on all types of imaginary pests. ;o)

[@jagardina]

It has a strong placebo effect if you would just show some enthusiasm about it. Did you see the pictures of a hamster on the cover? The horror! I need that to protect me from killer hamsters!