Differences in Actinic traps (3 Viewers)

[Steve Babbs]

Hi

I presently use am Actinic Heath trap. Before I moved house I used a MV trap, but it would be too intrusive where we live now, not just to the neighbours it shines in our house rather a lot. I think my present Heath trap is about 8W. I am thinking of upgrading to a 40W actinic, in the hope of a better catch without disturbing anyone.

http://www.pwbelg.clara.net/mercury/electrics_sets_actinic/index.html

Has anyone compared catches between different power actinics? Is it likely to be worth the £75.

Cheers

 

[rob lee]

Hi Steve, cant really answer your question but as no one else has responded I thought i`d at least chip something in. Knowing nothing about UV light my simple understanding is, more wattage = more UV but i think its probably not that simple as some lamps are better at producing UV than others. I`ve recently put a 40 watt actinic together myself (which you can see on the "my moth trap setup" thread) but have not had the chance to use it as yet. When i do i`ll let you know how it performs compared to my MV. If you were to buy the components yourself & could put them together & fit them in your existing trap then you could probably get the cost down to around £30

 

[Steve Babbs]

Hi Steve, cant really answer your question but as no one else has responded I thought i`d at least chip something in. Knowing nothing about UV light my simple understanding is, more wattage = more UV but i think its probably not that simple as some lamps are better at producing UV than others. I`ve recently put a 40 watt actinic together myself (which you can see on the "my moth trap setup" thread) but have not had the chance to use it as yet. When i do i`ll let you know how it performs compared to my MV. If you were to buy the components yourself & could put them together & fit them in your existing trap then you could probably get the cost down to around £30

Thanks Rob

I've seen the photos of your trap on the trap thread; it looks very impressive. Unfortunately my DIY skills are close to non-existent.

 

[Galeus]

Steve,
Don't forget you could use a Blacklight Blue bulb of the same wattage in your MV trap using the same control gear. It has the same UV output but not the same "visible light" output.
See here .. http://www.cp-lighting.co.uk/Sylvania-HSW125-125W-E27-Blacklight-Blue
It catches about 70% of the individual species compared to the MV and about 70% of the species compared to the MV so worth thinking about perhaps ?
G

 

[Steve Babbs]

Steve,
Don't forget you could use a Blacklight Blue bulb of the same wattage in your MV trap using the same control gear. It has the same UV output but not the same "visible light" output.
See here .. http://www.cp-lighting.co.uk/Sylvania-HSW125-125W-E27-Blacklight-Blue
It catches about 70% of the individual species compared to the MV and about 70% of the species compared to the MV so worth thinking about perhaps ?
G

The reason I've rejected a black bulb, in the past, is because I've been told that catches were very poor - worse than actinic. Have I been wrongly informed?

 

[Andy1979]

I have always found the chap at Anglian Lepidopterist Supplies to be very helpful and knowledgeable around these things. Might be worth giving him a call...

 

[Steve Babbs]

Just looked at ALS site. This is what they say about a 15W actinic:
'Although they will not catch as much as MV bulbs they will, in our experience, catch as much and often more than 125w black bulbs.' Looking at their site reminded me of the other thing that put me off a black MV, they run very hot - even hotter than ordinary MV - and are so prone to breaking in rain.

 

[STS]

I had a 6 (?) W Actinic but up-graded to a 40W, with new electrics bought from Paul Batty. Lots more moths, so a good bet I'd say.

Cheers, Thomas

 

[Galeus]

The reason I've rejected a black bulb, in the past, is because I've been told that catches were very poor - worse than actinic. Have I been wrongly informed?

Steve, Those figures were quoted from "A GUIDE TO MOTH TRAPS AND THEIR USE" by
R.Fry and P.Waring and these boys really know their stuff.
If the bulb has the same UV output as the MV equivalent I would definitely give it a try myself - I'm getting plenty of moths to my 25w BLB Compact Bulb used on the garden patio light at the moment ! http://www.cp-lighting.co.uk/Compact-240V-25W-E27-BLB
Haven't even switched the MV on yet this year !

 

[Oenanthe]

Hi Steve,
I've run black 125w mv bulbs for many years now and in all weathers and never had one break. In my opinion they catch more than 40w actinics.

The actual position of the trap is more important . I've found with black lights and actinics that they catch more in enclosed spaces rather than say out in the middle of a lawn. They are best sighted by french doors or a greenhouse if available but also do well by brick walls or fences.Often the least likely position will produce the best results !

Regards
Damian

 

[Steve Babbs]

With my garden it'll have to be fairly close to a wall anyway.

I've decided to go with the 40W actinic, not least because my MV didn't actually work last time I tried it. Of course that may just be because the present bulb has gone.

What I might do, eventually, is go for a black MV, as well.

 

[Twite]

Steve.

My thoughts on 6w actinic. They work well in confined areas where they throw little light onto nearby surfaces, so most moths end up in the trap rather than on walls etc. Works particularly well under tree canopy, for same reason. Re. 125w blacklight. I did have one until it stopped working, handled really carefully, no knocks, just stopped. Couldn't risk another £40 or so (inc p&p) to buy and have sent from UK. Anyway, brilliant, loved it. Make sure you get safety glasses if you use one.