Power Supply For A Home Made Static Grass Dispenser

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I watched a video today on U Tube on how to make a Static Grass Dispenser out of a electronic flyswatter and it sure seemed easy. From what I have here at the site I read they eat batteries. With the cost or rechargeable batteries and there chargers I would like to use a wall wart.

Any idea as to the out put I will need so I don’t cook the flyswatter? If harbor freight has them, I will pick one up Thursday.

Cuda Ken

2

Ken, I don’t know, sorry but your post had things like power supplies and fly swatters just cracked me up. [(-D][(-D][(-D]

3

How many batteries does it take? That will determine the voltage. If it’s like 2 AA’s, then you need 3 volts. If it works at all on AA batteries than it has to be less than an amp. A 3 volt 1/2 to 1 amp wall wart should power it fine.

–Randy

4

Ken,

I have tried both - this one works even better:

http://www.ztrains.com/pages/tech/grassinator/grassinator.html

Sure beats that over-priced Noch unit!

Jim Bernier

5

Randy, it uses two D batteries. I have nothing that uses D’s so 3 volts?

Micheal, glad you got a giggle out of it. Here is a link to the flyswatter. You will have to do a copy and paste so the link will work.

http://www.harborfreight.com/electronic-fly-swatter-40122.html

Jim after looking at the parts list, looks like the main items have to be shipped. Cost with out shipping was $35.00, what did the parts cost with shipping? How much better did it work, was it just faster or did the grass look better?

Cuda Ken

6

Yeah 3V if they go in head to tail, or side by side but in opposite directions.

–Randy

7

Ken,

I used a 9 volt battery instead of the 12 volt power supply - Seems to work just fine and I have no cord to get in the way.

Jim

8

I used a 12 volt wall wart for my dispenser. It’s rated at 500mA and works great with the ion generator from Electronic Gold Mine. Total cost for mine was under $15.00.

Wayne

9

Ken,

I’ve built the flyswatter version, and have only had to change the batteries once in the past two years. It works pretty well, believe it or not.

10

Really Robert, how big of a area did you work?

Cuda Ken

11

Let’s see…I’d guess about 30-40 square feet before changing the batteries. I should probably add that that was after having the device sit idle for a couple of months in between uses though. I also have one of the flyswatters that is still in its original form that I bought at the same time that I’ve never had to change the batteries on at all. Granted, adding in a power supply would completely eliminate the need for batteries, but even with batteries, it doesn’t eat them up all that fast.

Oh, and they suggest removing the resistor to make a higher-powered version. It makes a difference in the operation of the device. You don’t have to hold the screen as close to the surface to get the strands to stick up.

12

Did you do that to yours? If so, could you post a picture of it open so I can see what to remove and some details? Any tips on glue, I am hopping to uses Elmer’s with a 50 / 50 mix of water.

I did get mine today, I bought 2 (1 is for killing fly’s) of them for $2.99 each. Spent $2.00 on batteries and alligator clips and another $1.97 on the strainer. So for $7.00 I am in business, I hope.

Now where are the Fly’s! [%-)]

Cuda Ken

13

I have used the electronic fly swatter version, with the mentioned resistor still in place, with good results. However, I have found that diluted white glue tends to climb up the static grass strands making them stiff when the glue dries. I got much better results, and color, when I used acrylic paint as the mounting medium. The wet paint does not climb the grass strands and leaves a much more velvet-like result when dry, a difference you can actually feel. Lush lawns can be created using green paint while thinning lawns can be created using brown and tan paints.

14

It was the resistor right between the two output leads. I’ll try and get a pic in the next day or so.

I’ve had good luck as far as glue by using plain old hair spray. Spray the area down and immediately apply the grass.

15

The people at ztrains saw they were going to offer a premade Grassinator, did they ever do it??

16

Thanks for all the answers, I am going to try getting one up and running today.

I just got my first kill with the one that is staying a swatter, worked be good.

Cuda Ken

17

I see electronic goldmine has an Ion generator on sale right now.for 6 bucks. Its AC so im not sure if thats a what is needed or if its DC thats required.