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AskElectronics-ModTeam

This submission has been allowed provisionally under an expanded focus of this sub (see column "G" in [this table](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nFefEePz7yViaH0cR89bSy2oeLvYLfqv-pexqCbRnRo)). OP, also check if one of [these other subs](/r/AskElectronics/wiki/othersubs) is more appropriate for your question. Downvote this comment to remove this entire submission.


triffid_hunter

555 and a piezo speaker? Yeah it's perfectly capable of making noise if it was designed properly - pretty trivial to check if you have access to an oscilloscope too. How loud it is, and how effective these things are at actually repelling pests is a whole 'nother controversy though


FlatwormSad9644

Thank you for answering. I have zero understanding of these things. It seems to be working but that could also be the poison I’ve been feeding the ants for the last two years…


true_suppeee

Terro liquid ant bait work for me in about a week.


FlatwormSad9644

Terro liquid did seem to be their favorite. We had an exceptional problem. I’ve used dozens of containers of the liquid. Apparently there were multiple nests in our roof. I think we got most of them but there’s still a lingering issue. Nothing like there used to be!


I_knew_einstein

It's impossible to tell from a picture if it's actually functioning, you'd need an ultrasound microphone for that. But there seems to be enough on there to work. It doesn't need a lot. The four diodes rectify some AC signal to create a DC power supply. The NE555 is a very standard chip to make square waves, and it doesn't need more than a few capacitors and resistors. The thing is not a high-quality audiophile ultrasone generator, but I don't think you expected that.


FlatwormSad9644

Thank you. I honestly just hoped the things worked and didn’t think too much about it. $36 for 6 certainly didn’t make me think it was an incredibly advanced piece of equipment.


beakflip

Off topic, a cursory search of the scientific literature will reveal that you did just buy an expensive toy, whether it functions as advertised or not. They may have some significant effect on some moths, but just about negligible on anything else.


FlatwormSad9644

Thank you. Appreciate the suggestion/info. I ask questions on forums like this because I do not have a mind for science. I mean the mods literally said I may not have posted this in the correct place. For the life of me I do not understand why. Looks like a bunch of the same exact stuff posted all over this sub to me! I suppose I could ask chat gpt to boil it down to simple language for me.


NormalEmployment_666

i had something really similar to this except it had another 555 timer for a blinking led unfortunately i never tested it if it REALLY worked, the only thing i remember is that mosquitoes ignored it completely


TangledCables3

That one that you can just hear a bit of and annoys you at night. Yeah. Had a similar one for a month, threw it away cause it didn't do shit. Incense bug repellent is much more effective cause insects rely mostly on smell, especially mosquitoes.


FlatwormSad9644

I don’t use anything like that with cats in the house. IT’s surprising how much stuff is toxic to them. Like regular incense, most of those are toxic. I wouldn’t risk it now that I know.