Electronic Spider Killer First Test

[1969912 0]

I just killed a big spider with my hacked electronic fly swatter/killer. It was my first chance to test it on a spider of that size.

Originally, my fly zapper (see pic) was unable to kill large spiders with one zap. So I took the thing apart and replaced the storage capacitor that holds the kill charge with one ~7.5 times larger. The energy released into bugs is now ~7.5 times more than before. Fly's now EXPLODE, with a crack WAY louder than before, into a little puff of smoke, leaving no unpleasant carcass on the floor (good idea to hold your breath till the smoke dissipates though). The flash produced is much brighter as well. The noise/flash scares the cats.

Anyway, the big spider died instantly, but didn't blow up. There's no room left in the zapper for bigger capacitors, so I will have to add it/them externally next. The lack of an explosion may not be due entirely to the size of the spider though. It could be that spiders are less conductive internally or externally than fly's are.

If anyone knows anything about the conductivity of bugs and can help me, please do.

thanks

"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG

[popsjumper 2]

I wonder how it works on those pesky tennis balls.

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[Squeak 17]

the spider will have way more liquid in it than the fly, the moisture in the spider will create a hight resistance. but also the surface area to volume ratio will effect the explosive capacity of the spider and fly.

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[turtlespeed 226]

pictures? video?

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[1969912 0]

Squeak, so it sounds like the current is just not high enough to heat the spider to the point of flash-boiling it's moist innards. Adding more capacitance (energy capacity) to the circuit might be the answer. There was barely a spark when I nailed the spider, so I still have reason to believe spiders might have high resistance skin as compared to that of a fly. Bits of moist hamburger meat and wet kernels of corn flash brightly when tossed onto the grid just like fly's. More research will be necessary.


I don't have a video camera, but if I'm ever able to make spiders explode, it might be worth buying one.

"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG

[Squeak 17]

you might also need to consider the elastic nature of each organisms body, aswell as the turgidity. small inscest tend to resipire through small holes intheir carapace (spiricules), lager organisms use lungs or some form or other. this will also influence their respective explosivities

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[porpoishead 8]

Quote

you might also need to consider the elastic nature of each organisms body, aswell as the turgidity. small inscest tend to resipire through small holes intheir carapace (spiricules), lager organisms use lungs or some form or other. this will also influence their respective explosivities

fucking A!!! squeak LMFAO!!!!!

if you want a friend feed any animal
Perry Farrell

[1969912 0]

Quote

you might also need to consider the elastic nature of each organisms body, aswell as the turgidity. small inscest tend to resipire through small holes intheir carapace (spiricules), lager organisms use lungs or some form or other. this will also influence their respective explosivities

Interesting point about skin elasticity. Perhaps rapid internal boiling did take place with the spider, but the skin stretched and/or resisted the pressure well enough to prevent rupture. In the case of a fly, its body may rupture in one or more places, and the jets of moist goop that shoot from ruptures allow even more current flow, and eventually enough heat is generated that everything is burned. If this is the case, adding capacitors to the zapper may help.

Good point about respiration also. It's something I had never considered. I did a little reading on the subject. An insect's spiracles provide a more direct path for oxygen to its tissues than on a spider, which has lungs. So it's possible that the spiracles provide a path for the current to enter the low-resistance internals of a fly, but in the case of a spider, the resistance of the lungs prevent high-current internal heating. If this is the case, it may be necessary to increase the voltage of the zapper in order to overcome the high resistance respiratory path of spiders. BTW, even small spiders don't typically explode, so this may be the real problem.

Thanks Squeak. Since I don't know FA about bugs, your help is invaluable.

"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG

[lawrocket 3]

Have you thought about rigging wire leads to the device? With that you can experiment by using the contact points in strategic locations on the spider. For example, you can attempt direct contact with the spider's head. If the head explodes then you know you've got enough juice for that volume.

Then you can move on to other experiments. How long must current be applied to the abdomen until such rupture occurs? Or, you may want to find a way to immobilize the spider and detrermine at what current the spider will generate silk.

Also, you may wish to experiment with a feeding spider. Let's say the spider is eating a fly. Would application of the large current to the fly cause explosive rupture of the arachnid?

Publish your results and you may receive an Ignobel prize for your efforts.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[1969912 0]

Quote

Have you thought about rigging wire leads to the device? With that you can experiment by using the contact points in strategic locations on the spider. For example, you can attempt direct contact with the spider's head. If the head explodes then you know you've got enough juice for that volume.

Then you can move on to other experiments. How long must current be applied to the abdomen until such rupture occurs? Or, you may want to find a way to immobilize the spider and detrermine at what current the spider will generate silk.

Also, you may wish to experiment with a feeding spider. Let's say the spider is eating a fly. Would application of the large current to the fly cause explosive rupture of the arachnid?

Publish your results and you may receive an Ignobel prize for your efforts.

I'm scared of spiders and refuse to get that close to one.

Cool idea about the silk. With enough spiders and a way to make them generate the silk at will, it might be possible to make spiders-silk clothing. Think there'd be a market for spiders silk panties? Spider silk is strong, so they should resist tears and punctures caused by rough use better than any other panties.

"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG

[diablopilot 2]

Is it sick that I wondered how it would work on the cat for a moment?

----------------------------------------------
You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[MikeJD 0]

Quote

I'm scared of spiders

I don't suppose they feel too comfortable around you!

[BillyVance 35]

Quote

Is it sick that I wondered how it would work on the cat for a moment?

Nowhere near as sick as the experiments I was told by a friend what his sicko brother did with the family's microwave oven. First in was a spider, then a roach, then a frog, then a cat. Each died differently. All while their father was napping in the recliner in the living room. The stupid ass boys went outside looking for another animal to nuke, when he woke up wondering what smells good in the kitchen, took a look inside the microwave (boys hadn't cleaned up the exploded cat's carcass), and promptly passed out!

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[riddler 0]

I'm sure you already guessed this, but:

It's been done

And they aren't using it on spiders

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD