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T O P I C    R E V I E W
closetguy Posted - 06/24/2012 : 4:57:00 PM
Hi All
It's been a while for posting any kind of project, but I've been fortunate to see a major increase in business and modeling has been second over the last 4 months.
I did however last Sunday get a bug up my butt to build my own static grass applicator. I have a buddy who owns the Noch unit and like others have said , It's just too much money.
I bought my wife one of those bug zappers last year and she never uses it. So I confiscated it.
I read everything here on the forums and scoured all the articles on the net and decided to attempt my own.
This was the first try.




I used a 4 1/2" diameter all metal sheave. The flyswatter used 2 "d" size batteries, so there is a good amount of current available to charge the grass. The biggest complaint I read was that it took a long time to charge the grass and get it to stand up. That was what happened with this first attempt. It took 5 to 10 seconds to get the grass to stand up completely and I had to hold the screen less than 1" away from the surface.

Not that happy with the results and decided to refine this to a better operating unit.

Mike M
15   L A T E S T    R E P L I E S    (Newest First)
closetguy Posted - 07/03/2012 : 5:04:30 PM
Hi All
So Harbor Freight has a sale on these flyswatters. I bought 3 for $3.99 each. Such a deal. I than stopped at All electronics and bought the negative ion unit on sale for $4.99. Man the deals were aplenty this weekend.
Mike M
closetguy Posted - 06/29/2012 : 7:39:08 PM
The Z article in PDF
http://div8-mcr-nmra.org/site/clinic/Static_Grass_Clinic.pdf
Mike M
vamodeler Posted - 06/28/2012 : 6:50:54 PM
Thanks guys this is great! I've been putting off building one based on the idea that some components were not available! Looks like I'm running out of excuses.

Brian
closetguy Posted - 06/28/2012 : 6:37:07 PM
A few suppliers in the States
http://www.imagesco.com/kits/negative-ion-generator.html
http://www.goldmine-elec.com/
Goldmine has the same unit as All Electronics. I just don'y need to pay for shipping since its 5 miles from my home.
Mike M
closetguy Posted - 06/28/2012 : 6:21:22 PM
The shipping to the USA will make it very expensive. Not worth it. There are 12 volt units available locally.Just more expensive. Since the 120volt was so cheap, I thought it would be good to try. It's not the voltage that will kill you its the amperage.
I will isolate it properly in the plastic handle. Use insulated connectors, so it should be very safe.
jschumaker Posted - 06/28/2012 : 1:13:26 PM
The 120v unit runs on AC current. Personally, I don't want to mess with that. The other unit is a "cheap" plug-in car ionizer. Not very robust. There is a 12v generator sold by Oatley Electronics in Oz that is the recommended replacement.

http://secure.oatleyelectronics.com//product_info.php?products_id=915

Jeff S.
mabloodhound Posted - 06/28/2012 : 09:12:27 AM
The original 12VDC neg. ion gen. isn't listed but they still have the 120V unit and there's a newer 12 volt unit that might be worth spending $13 on.
http://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/products.asp?dept=1221

Brian, send me your e-mail address and I'll send a PDF copy of 2 articles. I cannot attach PDFs to the forum e-mail.
Ken got his already.
jschumaker Posted - 06/28/2012 : 08:38:24 AM
quote:
Aren't some of the required parts for the z trains unit no longer available? I thought I read that on the list or a list somewhere.



The original negative ion generator is no longer available. If you look at the article in the Sept 2011 MRH, you'll find a better replacement.

Jeff S.
closetguy Posted - 06/28/2012 : 08:01:55 AM
Hi All
I'm going to stop by All Electronics today and pick up on of the 120volt Ionizers they sell. It's only $10.00. I'll use the carcass from this dead unit and try building the "grassinator" over the week end.
Looks easy enough.
Mike M
vamodeler Posted - 06/27/2012 : 8:17:01 PM
quote:
Originally posted by mabloodhound

I have the Z trains instructions as a PDF if anyone wants a copy. Drop me your e-mail with your e-mail address and I'll send it.
This is a very good article.



Dave,

Aren't some of the required parts for the z trains unit no longer available? I thought I read that on the list or a list somewhere.

Could you send it to me?


Thanks!

Brian
mabloodhound Posted - 06/27/2012 : 09:32:41 AM
I have the Z trains instructions as a PDF if anyone wants a copy. Drop me your e-mail with your e-mail address and I'll send it.
This is a very good article.
jschumaker Posted - 06/27/2012 : 09:05:01 AM
I have found that the units are not very robust. I've built three, two have died in a short time. I have built a number of applicators based on the instructions I found at ztrains.com. Unfortunately, the instructions are no longer on the site. Your best bet is to look at the articles in MRH.

Jeff S.
closetguy Posted - 06/27/2012 : 08:14:34 AM
Hi Mark
Yes , removed the parallel and series resistors. Replaced the parallel with a wire. Listen, these are cheap. Soldering and desoldering could have screwed something else up. The boards are layed out so badly, they use globed solder to connect up the resistor, capacitor and feed wires to jump over the missing tracings. I'm driving near a Harbor Freight Saturday. At $3.99 i'm going to buy a few and try again. It's part of the fun.
Mike M
milocomarty Posted - 06/27/2012 : 03:41:43 AM
Well luckily theire cheap ! I know there's aa guy in our modeling group working on these things to. Shall see if I can find the info...
Mark R. Posted - 06/26/2012 : 11:08:00 PM
Killed it ! Really ?

Did you remove both resistors and replace ONE of them with a jumper ?
You didn't put a jumper on both did you ?


Mark.

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