Inside the USB biting insect deterrent units with unusual heaters

Note that these pyrethrin vaporizers are not recommended for long term use in rooms where cats are present.

Also note that some of these units may come with chemicals that are banned in your country, due to regulations of suspicious validity.

I made a previous video about these, but ended up rambling about pyrethrins (a natural plant chemical that affects bugs) and completely failed to take any of them apart.

Since taking things apart is what this channel is all about, here's the video where I take them ALL apart and smash open one of the heaters.

I thought it was just going to be a simple resistor for heating, but it seems to be a self regulating type with an odd characteristic.

Because mosquitos and other biting insects are a huge issue around the world, there is a high availability of devices like this from online sellers. Most seem to use a very refined oil as the carrier with just 1% or less of the pyrethrin (usually prallethrin). The units heat a wick like an Airwick aroma plug and put enough into the air to deactivate bugs, while being well within safe limits for humans. Don't leave the oil bottles where kids or pets can play with them (the same applies to aroma plug bottles).

The oil atomising units usually have a 3W heater in them and the bottles of oil are very cheap when bought online. Much cheaper than the locally branded ones.

If you have an insect issue or just want to play with some of these then here are some random AliExpress links (not a sponsor). These are affiliate links, but that will not affect the price you pay.

Bottles of the oil with integrated wick:-
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3E0h5r3

One of the USB powered oil heaters:-
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c4aJQmrB

Various style mains heater plugs:-
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3fuT53F

A more advanced USB unit with timing functions:-
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c4oEQ1Qt
(I took one of these apart in another video.)

A "designer" unit with an unusually high price for AliExpress:-
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3e4Y9sl

If these links don't work then suitable keywords are:-
usb mosquito oil heater

When you start searching for them they should appear as bundle deal items.

Ignore the chemical-free light and fan based ones - they don't work for biting insects.
Also ignore the ultrasonic deterrent devices as I've seen no proof that they work.



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