In this study, a light-driving bug zapper is presented for well controlling the diseases brought by insects, such as mosquitoes. In order to have the device efficient to trap the insect pests in off-grid areas, pulse width modulated light emitting diodes (PWM-LED) combined with a solar power module are proposed and implemented. With specific PWM electric signals to drive the LED, it is found that no matter what the ability of catching insects or the consumed power efficiency can be enhanced thus. It is demonstrated that 40% of the UV LED consumed power and 25.9% of the total load power consumption can be saved, and the trapped mosquitoes are about 250% increased when the PWM method is applied in the bug zapper experiments.

About using ultraviolet LEDs instead of fluorescent tubes in a bug zapper. PWM’ing them saves power and catches more bugs. I figured it could be of interest here.

  • @[email protected]English
    5•1 year ago

    Super cool, thanks!

    Tldr for others: a 0.9W UV LED pulsed with PWM at 50% duty cycle, 64Hz frequency performed the best. Even better than a reference lamp running constantly at a greater total power.

    Efficacy was further increased with the use of a wide-angle lens on the LED, too.

    • @HerdatEnglish
      4•1 year ago

      And what is the opposite of that magic? Instead of luring them and catching I would love to let them be gone. Or does it not work that way?

  • @FiFoFreeEnglish
    3•1 year ago

    This is fascinating stuff! Now I kinda wanna see one of us build it…