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THE ALS WHAT BULB GUIDE?

This guide covers a selection of the most widely used bulbs in moth traps. High powered MV bulbs (250w and above) and metal halide lamps are not discussed. We stock all of these lamps and electrical components and can also provide components for high power applications (250 and 400W) systems upon request. Check our price list for more details.

125w MV bulb.
This is the standard moth trappers bulb, used by most enthusiasts. It is a bright, high intensity lamp that will give good catches. It does run hot and will need protection from cold spring and autumn rain or summer downpours. Typically this is achieved by putting a caffatierre pot over the bulb to protect from the elements.

Key Features:

80w MV bulb.
Like the 125w bulb, but less often used. Some argument recently has centred on these bulbs attracting more moths inside the trap as opposed to outside the trap, which may be the case in enclosed trapping areas such as woodland. Typically these bulbs are used in traps being run off generators, as their lower current consumption means that more traps can be run simultaneously.

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160w Blended bulb.
This is another lamp that is not widely used but which does have its advantages. Blended bulbs consist of both a tungsten filament and a mercury vapour MV bulb. The major advantage is that they do not need a choke, unlike the two previously mentioned lamps. This also makes them an ideal choice if you are venturing abroad; you will not need that heavy choke. The disadvantages are that they will not catch as much as the 125w MV bulbs and will run even hotter and are consequently more prone to damage by rain.

Key Features:

125w Black bulb. Note this bulb is no longer available
Black bulbs are very expensive pieces of equipment. The price is probably only justified in very special situations. They are similar to MV bulbs but contain an internal coating that adsorbs much of the emitted visible light giving rise to a dim ghostly glow. Typically they will be used in built up areas where the low light emission will not disturb the neighbours. They are, in our experience, much less efficient at catching moths than MV bulbs. In addition they run much hotter than MV bulbs and therefore the likelihood of damage to the expensive bulb during rain is high. They can not be covered by glass rain shields as they only emit UV light and much of this will be removed by a glass cover.

Key Features:

15w actinic tube.
This type of tube has many advantages over MV type bulbs. They consist of a tube similar to standard lighting fluorescent tubes but designed to emit preferentially in the UV. They are similar to the type of fly zapper units used in chip shops and emit a dull blue glow. They run cool compared to MV lamps and therefore do not need protection from rain. They are ideal in built up areas (one of us uses one regularly in his garden in preference to an MV trap) because of low visible light emission. 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. They can also be operated, with suitable control gear, from a 12V power source such as a car battery. Hence portable operation can be achieved without the expense of purchasing a generator. This unit is rapidly growing in popularity.

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