Thinking of buying a mobile trap for next year. (1 Viewer)

[Andy1979]

Hello fellow Lepidopterists.

I am very keen to get out and about next season and as such am hoping to buy a mobile trap. I can't afford a generator, and so am left with a 12v battery-operated trap as my only option.

I have bought all my moth-ing stuff from ALS in the past, but have discovered that Watkins and Doncaster offer a considerably cheaper Heath Trap.

The difference seems to be that ALS offers a 15w Heath Trap (with light sensor), 14ah battery and charger for £240.

Watkins and Doncaster offer a 6w Heath Trap (bucket design with light sensor), 12ah battery and charger for £160.

So, for a saving of £80 or £60 (for the 24ah battery) I get a 6w bulb rather than a 15w. Does anyone have experience using these or know how big-a-difference the extra 9w would make to a catch?

To date, I have only used my 125w MV Skinner trap.

 

[honeym]

Hi Andy

I've used a good range of traps/bulbs/tubes over the years. A 'standard' Heath with a 6 or 8 watt bulb is often a pretty poor catch unless you have optimal conditions, although it does ddo well for Geos and micros.

Have you considered wemlights?

I know of several people that have used them and they have the advantage of being low wattage but still giving a superior light output. The main one seems to be a 20w (energy-saving type bulb) that can be used direct from a 12v battery, or via the cigar lighter, with an inverter. I'm thinking about getting a set-up for my next Mallorcan visit (next week).

Martin

 

[rob lee]

Hi Andy
I`ve got various mobile set-ups, mostly DIY jobs & have tried other options too so feel I can also offer some advice here. As Martin alluded, to the low wattage actinics give a fairly poor return, especially for the financial outlay you`re talking about. You say you cant afford a generator but have you considered a 2nd hand one. I recently bought a Honda EX650 on ebay for £150, an older suitcase model, not quite so light, but just as reliable & quiet as the modern day ones. After the initial outlay you would`nt really need anything else other than petrol, so it could well be your cheapest option ! You have all winter to look for one or a similar model.
Aside from my mains 125MV the other set-ups I have are the 20w Wemlite that Martin mentioned, this is handy as you can plug it straight into the mains & is good for taking abroad as all you need is the appropriate mains adapter & you can just hang it out of your accommodation window & see what comes on to the usually white painted walls.
I also have a 12v leisure battery, that via an inverter will run my 40w actinic, or, my preferred choice, a 50W MV bulb. I love this set-up, as it is silent & I feel safe in leaving it unattended all night (obviously in the right setting) + it gives good returns. The total outlay for this was c £180, which included DIY MV kit, battery, battery charger & inverter. I already had a tub to fit it in & plastic for vanes. If you go down this route do not be tempted to buy a cheaper car battery, it will not last, they are not designed to be discharged the way a leisure battery is & will soon die. I can testify to this ! The attached photos show my 40W actinic (with attendant T.alternalla) & the prototype of my 50W MV (note the car battery !), this has now been fitted into the tub in the previous photo.

 

[Andy1979]

Thanks Rob. I have had a look on ebay and there are a few generators on there. I like your set-ups, but you are obviously very handy, unlike me! I might try for a generator and then get a wemlight set up to mess around with. I didn't realise that you could run an MV from a battery, I thought it needed the mains to get going?

 

[Andy1979]

Sorry, one other question. How long will a Honda EX650 generator run a 125w MV trap for?

Andy M.

 

[rob lee]

Hi Andy
To use an MV from a battery you would need an inverter, I forgot to mention this originally. These are available for between £20-£30. I`ve not tried my 125 on the battery yet but the 50 watt runs comfortably all night no problems.
I cant answer your second question as I`ve not run my genny that long yet, but I would have thought 5-6 hours on a full tank would be a good guess. Its a simple enough operation to top a genny up with petrol after a few hours in though.

 

[Andy1979]

Thanks Rob.