My very old and large Flowtron (two separate bulbs one UV and the other a darker black light bulb) grid stopped working and I fund it's plastic grid insulator mounting tabs had rotted away. Made up replacements using a cheap nylon cutting board for material et-voila back up and running for the second year since repair. My neighbours tell me that when they're sleeping with their windows open they can hear the thing from across the street. They ae quite happy it's attracting bugs from their yards to mne and killing them.
I just ordered my Flowtron BK-40D and I'mhoping it's as wonderful as my former Stingers I use to have. The stingers were LOUD, and that's what I prefer about a Bug zapper. Loud noise, and bright sparks.
The two small bulbs are starters and you can replace them with $3 starters from Flowtron or you can get others from a hardware store for about 1/2 that price. I don't think the grid works if the bulb is out because I just converted 2 over to use CFL bulbs and it didn't work, the grid does seem to want to work without a bulb in there.
Well I ended up buying a new Flowtron bug zapper on Amazon. The BK-40D which is the same as my old one. Got it all hooked up now just need warm weather at night and let the zapping begin.
Does the bulb have to work for the zapper grid to work? I am asking because Mine completely stopped working. I took out the bulb which came apart from being so old and tried to get the zapper grid to zap by touching inner and outer grid with a screwdriver, but nothing happened. So I am wondering does it have to have a functioning bulb for the zapper part to work? I don't want to buy a new bulb for it if the zapper part is not going to work.
I think I have the same problem. I can try cleaning the contacts, but suspect something else. I was hoping you had some insight on those two small devices, one going to each bulb. I suspect they are some simple starter switches, or something like that.
I have same problem and it is called a florescent bulb starter. If its black like old tv tube it is bad. I am going to call flowtron today and see how much a replacement is.
I am getting ready to take apart a BK-40D. Bulb works (its new) but I am not getting any zap action. Is there any way to test the electrical grid? How much voltage goes through the wires since they are attached to the grid? I had to reattach one of the wires and just picked another spot. It doesn't appear that there are discrete + or - points on the grid.
Aaron, I’ve got an old bug zapper, I plugged it in yesterday, after not using it in years, when plugged in, some of the grid towards the top was constantly sparking, I don’t remember if this was the way it operated in the past, thanks for any input you can provide
Howdy! Unless it's in a cloud of gnats I wouldn't expect it to constantly spark. That said, dust and crud buildup can cause it to short unnecessarily. Can you blow it out with compressed air to clean the grid? That may help. If you want to physically knock the crud off it, remember to remove the lamps first so you don't damage them. Best of luck.
You have to replace your bulbs every six months??? Did I hear that right? Wow, we've had our flotrons for over two years. We have two on our rear deck and they are left on 24/7 and they are still working great with the original bulbs 💡! But,yeah the best way I've found to clean them out is with compressed air. I guess I should consider myself lucky as there are a lot of comments here about people having to replace bulbs constantly and it not "zapping " like it should. Weird!!!
Love my flowtron, but one bulb went out during storm. Left it on under tent and forgot to turn off. One of the bulbs turned red at top and then burnt out. Does the bulbs have to work in order to zap?
A warning!!!!!! You are dealing with 5600 volts at maybe 10mA which could kill you. Please be careful. I have the Flowtron BK-40D which lights up but doesn't zap. I've put in a new transformer but I will have to leave in the old one as it's part of the ballast circuit for the bulb. I had to remove the old secondary (high voltage) side coil since it didn't work anyway. Hopefully I can use my zapper this way.
Help,,,, After only one season my Flowtron has stopped zapping.......I have taken good care of it too!!!! Light works but not zap,,, Bugs crawling all over it where they would normally be killed!
Sorry to hear that. I've not had that happen to mine to be able to troubleshoot the zap failing specifically. I might start checking the connections in the lid, especially around the transformer. Good luck!
Those little bulbs are the starters. I don't know how that one fluorescent tube lit up after you removed the starter for it and left the bare wires hanging there. WTF
@@aaronsrose Fluorescent tubes can sometimes start with a bad starter. Old shop lights can sometimes be started if you repeatedly turn the wall light switch on and off until they light up! ... I imagine the initial pulse of 120 volts started this bug zapper ... but I feel sure it will still give problems down the road. I just bought four starters from Flowtron ($2.32 each + shipping ... part # 505-10544) ... two for the 2 year old zapper and two for the 9 month old unit as spares for when they go bad. I run these bug zappers on timers during the season for about 14 hrs/day. Both zappers are 80 watt units and each tube requires its own starter.
Хобби
My very old and large Flowtron (two separate bulbs one UV and the other a darker black light bulb) grid stopped working and I fund it's plastic grid insulator mounting tabs had rotted away. Made up replacements using a cheap nylon cutting board for material et-voila back up and running for the second year since repair. My neighbours tell me that when they're sleeping with their windows open they can hear the thing from across the street. They ae quite happy it's attracting bugs from their yards to mne and killing them.
I just ordered my Flowtron BK-40D and I'mhoping it's as wonderful as my former Stingers I use to have. The stingers were LOUD, and that's what I prefer about a Bug zapper. Loud noise, and bright sparks.
My redneck TV 😜
The two small bulbs are starters and you can replace them with $3 starters from Flowtron or you can get others from a hardware store for about 1/2 that price.
I don't think the grid works if the bulb is out because I just converted 2 over to use CFL bulbs and it didn't work, the grid does seem to want to work without a bulb in there.
on mine the ballasts run in series, through the bulb, probably acting as some kind of choke.
Well I ended up buying a new Flowtron bug zapper on Amazon. The BK-40D which is the same as my old one. Got it all hooked up now just need warm weather at night and let the zapping begin.
I like the workbench. Truck tailgate on rubber tires testing electrical parts. If the device isn't grounded, the whole truck goes hot.
Mine worked great. Then yellow color light and buzzing. It killed heaps of bugs, but a little worried about firing it up.
Leaf blower works for me for cleaning really quick, when I'm in a hurry.
Does the bulb have to work for the zapper grid to work? I am asking because Mine completely stopped working. I took out the bulb which came apart from being so old and tried to get the zapper grid to zap by touching inner and outer grid with a screwdriver, but nothing happened. So I am wondering does it have to have a functioning bulb for the zapper part to work? I don't want to buy a new bulb for it if the zapper part is not going to work.
I believe the bulb is part of the actual zapping circuit so if that isn't right, nothing else can function. Thanks!
I think I have the same problem. I can try cleaning the contacts, but suspect something else. I was hoping you had some insight on those two small devices, one going to each bulb. I suspect they are some simple starter switches, or something like that.
I have same problem and it is called a florescent bulb starter. If its black like old tv tube it is bad. I am going to call flowtron today and see how much a replacement is.
I am getting ready to take apart a BK-40D. Bulb works (its new) but I am not getting any zap action. Is there any way to test the electrical grid? How much voltage goes through the wires since they are attached to the grid? I had to reattach one of the wires and just picked another spot. It doesn't appear that there are discrete + or - points on the grid.
Aaron, I’ve got an old bug zapper, I plugged it in yesterday, after not using it in years, when plugged in, some of the grid towards the top was constantly sparking, I don’t remember if this was the way it operated in the past, thanks for any input you can provide
Howdy! Unless it's in a cloud of gnats I wouldn't expect it to constantly spark. That said, dust and crud buildup can cause it to short unnecessarily. Can you blow it out with compressed air to clean the grid? That may help. If you want to physically knock the crud off it, remember to remove the lamps first so you don't damage them. Best of luck.
Did anyone figure out why even with light on Grid not zapping?
You have to replace your bulbs every six months??? Did I hear that right? Wow, we've had our flotrons for over two years. We have two on our rear deck and they are left on 24/7 and they are still working great with the original bulbs 💡! But,yeah the best way I've found to clean them out is with compressed air. I guess I should consider myself lucky as there are a lot of comments here about people having to replace bulbs constantly and it not "zapping " like it should. Weird!!!
Used mine for a total of about 10
Hours so far and one bulb is already out and it’s no longer zapping.
Love my flowtron, but one bulb went out during storm. Left it on under tent and forgot to turn off. One of the bulbs turned red at top and then burnt out. Does the bulbs have to work in order to zap?
In my experience, yes the bulbs need to be working out it doesn't do much. Not sure why, but that's how it seems to work. Thanks!
@@aaronsrose I just ordered the starter and new bulb. The fuse starter looked burnt.
A warning!!!!!! You are dealing with 5600 volts at maybe 10mA which could kill you. Please be careful.
I have the Flowtron BK-40D which lights up but doesn't zap. I've put in a new transformer but I will have to leave in the old one as it's part of the ballast circuit for the bulb. I had to remove the old secondary (high voltage) side coil since it didn't work anyway. Hopefully I can use my zapper this way.
Hi. Just cleaned my Flo Tron zapper today. Now it seems the wire mesh is not energized. any thoughts on this matter would be appreciated.
Howdy! If the connections are still good, could be bad bulbs or maybe a power supply.
This guy looks like a frummer...
Ty for the educational post.
Help,,,, After only one season my Flowtron has stopped zapping.......I have taken good care of it too!!!! Light works but not zap,,, Bugs crawling all over it where they would normally be killed!
Sorry to hear that. I've not had that happen to mine to be able to troubleshoot the zap failing specifically. I might start checking the connections in the lid, especially around the transformer. Good luck!
I'm working on troubleshooting mine right now, I'll have it working by tonight
@@FreakinKatGaming Well if you find time, please let me know what you find. I haven't started taking it apart yet.
@@FreakinKatGaming let me know if you found a solution. My lights work but no zapping. Bugs crawling all over the grid.
I was wondering how to undo the bottom to get the lights out.
Mine has a couple clips that you squeeze and they disengage from the plastic housing.
Those lampy things are starters
Those little bulbs are the starters. I don't know how that one fluorescent tube lit up after you removed the starter for it and left the bare wires hanging there. WTF
Not sure. It's still running today for what it's worth.
@@aaronsrose Fluorescent tubes can sometimes start with a bad starter. Old shop lights can sometimes be started if you repeatedly turn the wall light switch on and off until they light up! ... I imagine the initial pulse of 120 volts started this bug zapper ... but I feel sure it will still give problems down the road. I just bought four starters from Flowtron ($2.32 each + shipping ... part # 505-10544) ... two for the 2 year old zapper and two for the 9 month old unit as spares for when they go bad. I run these bug zappers on timers during the season for about 14 hrs/day. Both zappers are 80 watt units and each tube requires its own starter.
Nice.
I think you need to to a disclaimer that there is 9000 volt on that grille
Doubt it's that much
I seen nothing. Thanks
limpiar no es reparar
I use your video on my blog: pestsgonenow.com/best-outdoor-mosquito-killer/. Hope you don't mind. If you do, please let me know and I will remove it.