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Post by Khalid Fadil on Jun 26, 2011 20:45:31 GMT -8
Since the best weather for moths is misty and drizzling, I've been wondering how collectors have been successful with their light traps without having their MV Bulbs explode. There's obviously a lot of water around during such weather.
Can anybody provide useful tips? Unlike most collectors I only own one single MV Bulb and if I lose it, well it would be tragic. I can't find any in Malaysia and they are always too expensive for me to afford online. I was lucky enough to get mine from a fellow collector who obviously had too many, but even he has disappeared without a trace and I can't seem to contact him.
So... How do I waterproof my MV Bulb for perfect moth weather?
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Post by Adam Cotton on Jun 27, 2011 11:31:24 GMT -8
I used to hang mine under a hawker's umbrella (the large type used in markets) in the days when I used to catch moths for study (many years ago). I had a net bag made that fitted over the umbrella and down to the floor so the moths would sit on the net and never actually reach the bulb. This also gave 360 degrees attraction, rather than the 180 degrees of a sheet. Note it is important to put heavy stones on the base of the umbrella stand and all around the base of the net otherwise it will blow over in strong wind and the bulb will break!
Adam.
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Jun 27, 2011 13:18:42 GMT -8
If you mount your bulb upside down, rain water cannot enter the socket and cause the bulb to crack and burst.
Should not not trust this advice, purchase a plastic trash can lid, mount your bulb socket to the underside with a 1/4 - 20 threaded "EYE" bolt. The bottom of your mogul socket should be threaded, drill a hole through the Plastic Top and thread your "EYE" bolt from the top and secure with a nut. Suspend it over your sheet. The cheapest and easiest fix.
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Post by Khalid Fadil on Jun 27, 2011 14:10:33 GMT -8
I used to hang mine under a hawker's umbrella (the large type used in markets) in the days when I used to catch moths for study (many years ago). I had a net bag made that fitted over the umbrella and down to the floor so the moths would sit on the net and never actually reach the bulb. This also gave 360 degrees attraction, rather than the 180 degrees of a sheet. Note it is important to put heavy stones on the base of the umbrella stand and all around the base of the net otherwise it will blow over in strong wind and the bulb will break! Adam. Where on Earth could I get a hawker's umbrella... -___-' |
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Post by Khalid Fadil on Jun 27, 2011 14:13:42 GMT -8
If you mount your bulb upside down, rain water cannot enter the socket and cause the bulb to crack and burst. Should not not trust this advice, purchase a plastic trash can lid, mount your bulb socket to the underside with a 1/4 - 20 threaded "EYE" bolt. The bottom of your mogul socket should be threaded, drill a hole through the Plastic Top and thread your "EYE" bolt from the top and secure with a nut. Suspend it over your sheet. The cheapest and easiest fix. Won't the plastic melt from the intense heat of the bulb? What's a 1/4-20 threaded ''EYE'' Bolt? Mogul socket? Secure with a nut? |
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Post by Chris Grinter on Jun 27, 2011 14:50:42 GMT -8
I'll second Leptrap's advice- putting the bulb upside down or pointing down at an angle will prevent water building up in the socket and the bulb will not break. I've seen two 400w bulbs survive a torrential downpour for 30 minutes, eventually the wind made us shut things down.
But I've also seen a 400w bulb pointing up survive rain showers over the course of an entire night. My buddy Dave never protects his bulbs and they get wet all the time.
Although, this may be true for standard bulbs and not the self-ballasted variety. Those may burn hotter and be more sensitive to water shock - never tried it myself. They are also more expensive and lead me to believe these are what you're using since you said you only have one.
But rule number 1) always bring a backup!! even if it's a small black light.
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Post by saturniidave on Jun 27, 2011 17:34:15 GMT -8
What I have seen done here is have the bulb upright but hang a Pyrex bowl of about 6 inches diameter upside down over it so that the bulb is just below and out of any rain. You can suspend the bowl with some strong wire hooked over the rim.
Dave
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Post by prillbug2 on Jun 27, 2011 17:55:37 GMT -8
I don't collect during the rains here in Illinois, because the rains tend to kill the collecting. I place the lights in the woods on a hot, humid night with a new moon, or a crescent, between two trees. I have four security mvl lights which I've added a plug so that I can plug it into the generator. These lights have plastic rain guards, already. I've also got two self-ballasted lights which I screw into a pot light base, and they have aluminum rain guards, which protect the lights. Using two trees, I string a twenty foot long rope between them twice, doubling the rope so that I can hang the security lights. The self-ballasted mvl require one pass, in which case, I simply clip the lights to the rope with the provided clamp, and they hang downward. When I was down in Belize, we collected under a pavilion, and I would move the self- ballasted lights upward to get them out of the rain. Alot of times, just getting some canvass and some tent poles and stakes, you can construct a lean too, which will shield the lights. If you do it right, you can angle the canvass in such a way that the light can be visible 360 degrees.
It's just a matter of using your brain.
Jeff Prill
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Post by Chris Grinter on Jun 27, 2011 18:12:27 GMT -8
How many watts are you using there Jeff? I guess it depends what you're looking for - or you make the effort to cycle your bright lights off every hour or two. I don't go over 400w since it leaves most of the smaller things sitting out in the bushes. Some of the best micro collecting is done with an 8w black light!
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Post by Adam Cotton on Jun 27, 2011 23:56:23 GMT -8
[quote
Where on Earth could I get a hawker's umbrella... -___-'[/quote]
You can buy them at any market in Thailand, so I would have thought that they are also available anywhere in Malaysia too. It's just a large umbrella with an iron stand. They are rather heavy though, so it's better if you don't have to lug them far from the road to set up the trap.
Adam.
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Post by Khalid Fadil on Jun 28, 2011 2:24:01 GMT -8
Just so all of you know, my MV Bulb is a 250-watt un-ballasted. Is it the kind that survives water or not?
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Post by prillbug2 on Jun 28, 2011 6:44:37 GMT -8
My security lights are 175 watts. The self-ballasted lights are 160watts. That's why you beat or sweep the nearby foliage to jar all the insects loose, Chris. It's work. I have three black lights, and I don't have any problems, escpecially when I'm collecting on a hot humid night, and besides, you still have to go out and beat the foliage.
Jeff Prill
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Post by Chris Grinter on Jun 28, 2011 11:04:38 GMT -8
Just so all of you know, my MV Bulb is a 250-watt un-ballasted. Is it the kind that survives water or not? Well in that case you should just buy more of them. Aren't they inexpensive even over there? The only way to know for sure is trial and error - but there would be no harm in propping up some sort of rain guard if you know it's going to pour. Some of the best collecting is on a rainy night! |
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Post by prillbug2 on Jun 28, 2011 17:24:12 GMT -8
Not in Illinois. Rains kill collecting here.
Jeff Prill
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Post by 58chevy on Jun 28, 2011 17:58:21 GMT -8
Rains kill collecting in TX also, from my experience. The bugs come out a couple of days after the rain. I have a 400w MV (separate ballast) that has gotten wet without exploding.
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