Bug Zapper

[jonhirsh]

Normaly i am good at these special efx rigs but here is a problem i can not seem to solve.


A bug zaper ie. this thingy http://www.mosquitozapper.com/bk25.jpg


I have one in full veiw of the audiance and i need it to "zap" on cue what is the best way of acomplishing this?


my ideas on the subject:

1- a pice of meat on a pully that can be pulled in to the contact on commmand

2- a well timmed sound effect combined with a well placed and geld birdy behind it.


other then that i have no other ideas and this is a crucial part of the design of the show.


What are your sugestions.

JH

[vguard420]

maybe using a peice of meat and a little servo and using the reciver and controler from an r/c car or something could work. as long as the arm you use to connect the meat to the servo is insulated you should have no problem

[jonhirsh]

Good idea but i think that might be to noisey, but is definitly worth a try.

JH

[vguard420]

if your using a tiny little servo you should be able to zap the meat quite fast and be able to pull it away fast with little to no noise from the servo

[CHScrew]

Have someone stand offstage and throw a rasin into it. OR if it's too far away get a slingshot and shoot one in. Go to Wal-Mart and buy a RistRocket for like $5.00. They are very accurate.

[moojoe]

Originally Posted by CHScrew

Have someone stand offstage and throw a rasin into it. OR if it's too far away get a slingshot and shoot one in. Go to Wal-Mart and buy a RistRocket for like $5.00. They are very accurate.

the problem with that is what if you miss? not only will you mess up the cue, but you may hit someone.

[avkid]

It's just a raisin, a flying projectile disclaimer on the back of the ticket should cover it.

[moojoe]

and im sure people will be saying that when someone sues for being attacked by an audience member or some cast member.

not to mention, chances are, youll miss your target at least one time.

[Mayhem]

Why not run a small wire (via a switch), between the grids so that it creates a small enough gap between the grids to allow an arc when activated (thus simulating a bug being zapped)?

I would use a relay to control it, so as to isolate the switch from the actual wire being used to create the short. This way, you protect the person using the switch.

It shouldn’t be too difficult to set up but will take a bit of adjustment in positioning the wires as you would need a small gap between one end of the wire and the grid would to get the zap. Otherwise, it would just be a dead short.

[jonhirsh]

Sory the sling shot is out plus it wouldnt conduct enought electricity to work as it has little to no water content.


The wire sounds intresting what would the schematic look like?

JH