Customer Reviews
Equal to the best of them 
2007-06-20
I was given a racquet zapper that used 2 AA batteries. It worked great on mosquitoes and was fun to use because you could hear the mosquito sizzle, see it emit smoke, and then audibly pop. I broke it when trying to swat a moth (you mustn't swat against a hard surface--just place the zapper over the insect). It worked best on mosquitoes but did a good job on daddy-long-legs too.
I ordered a similar zapper but it was weaker and no fun at all.
This zapper uses 2 D batteries and is heavier and sturdier. It's as good as the original one.
Works great for me 2007-05-27
I bought mine locally from a harbor freight store. You can get it online from their website harborfreight dot com when it's on sale for three ninety nine or seven ninety nine regular price. Mine is a 2 D batteries unit and I have been using it off and on for over 3 years and still haven't had to replace the batteries yet. I think alkaline batteries are best as oppose to rechargeable batteries because they are 1.5 volts each compare to 1.2 or 1.25 volts for rechargeable. The extra small fraction of voltage makes a big difference. I live close to the lake and there are a lot of mosquitos in my neighborhood. They like to hang out by the shrubs and vines, especially ivy. Mosquitos are attracted to living mammnals because we exhale carbon dioxide. There are times when I see up to 20 mosquitos cirling me especially around my leg. I just slowly swing the zapper and they just get caught in the grill of the unit. Sometimes you hear the pop right away but other times they only get stuck. Their body has to be in between the negative and positive part of the grill for it to work. Sometimes I have to shake the zapper so they fall into right place while holding down the zap button. After they explode, you know that they can't get up and fly away. I think this zapper works better for mosquitos than flies. With flies, their body is plumper and they fly much quicker so you have to give harder swing. If you find one landed on a flat object like a counter or table, simply move slowly to him and "trap" him. They don't stick to the grill easily so I usually sweep them onto the zapper with a newspaper or something. They don't die right away so it might require you to see him explode or flare up to make sure he no longer be a nuissance. Again, you might have to shake the zapper a little bit to get him in the right place.
They have a deceptive ad 
2006-12-22
The Flyswatter with the 2 aa batteries works great. This one can't kill larger bugs as the cover on the electric plate doesn't give the space needed to get the bug onto the charge plate.
So do get the "cheap one with the 2 aa batteries" as this one is actually that too, except with the cover plate causing it only to work with bugs which are very small like a mosquito.
Flys are too big for it .......
Snap, Crackle, Pop --- no more flies =D 2006-11-16
I absolutely LOVE this thing.. broke one by dropping it off the fridge so had to order another one. Do not in any way waste your time on that crappy AA powered one, it doesn't work at all.
I can't stand flies and being a fruit eating family we often get fruit flies in the house. a couple of swings with this thing and some snaps and crackles and they are all gone.
PATRICIA NEEDS SOME TRAINING HERSELF INSTEAD. 2006-10-03
Wrong, Patricia -- you need some basic electronic training. You're forgetting that there are three interrelated factors in electric power: voltage, amperage and wattage. Watt = Volt x Amp
A transformer ups the voltage to 1500 volts, but at the cost of amperage. The amperage of these devices is extremely low (as is the wattage). It's the same principle used in Tasers and stun guns. If you need a lesson on how these work, go here: [...]
In particular, go to this page: [...]
To quote the page, the transformer "generate a high-voltage, low-amperage electrical charge. In simple terms, this means that the charge has a lot of pressure behind it, but not that much intensity."
While a stun gun converts 9 volts to 150,000 volts, these swatters transforms 3v to 2500v. But the principle is the same. A transformer is one of the most basic components in electronics. In fact, all your electronic equiqment have one because most components (i.e. IC chips) run at about 5 volts while US outlets have 110 volts. So the transformer downconverts the voltage (and other circuitry change AC current to DC). You can easily see the transformer if you open your electronic item. It's that squarish metal thing with lots of copper wires wound in a coil. The hot power supply that you plug into a laptop is a transformer.
Fly Tennis! The next summer olympic sport! 2008-07-05
Works great, and it's fun for me. I might be slightly nutty, but hearing that "zap" when I get a fly can be so rewarding. The only downside is it's battery operated, I have seen them that can be plugged into the wall to be charged, I would have preferred that one but this is still a great product.
Received "AA" NOT "D" AS AD STATES 2008-06-04
They advertised 'THIS IS NOT your regular WEAK "AA" powered Electronic swatter. Our Electronic swatter uses 2 "D" batteries which gives off a POWERFUL 1,500 bug exploding volts!
What was sent does not use D cells but instead uses 2 'AA' cells in direct contradiction to what they said.
I think that the advertisement should clearly state what actually would ship.
I have used it and it does work very well so I'll keep it.
But in the future I would be reluctant to order from that vendor since I can't be sure that what is advertised would be what they send you.
Great Product 2007-08-13
This swatter comes in handy and is very useful. I have killed many bugs in my apartment. It is actually a fun product to use.
Effective use of Electric Fly Swatter 
2007-07-29
This thing is fun to use but for a single fly it is not as effective as a skillfully used standard fly swatter.
However if you have a bunch of flies and they buzz up from a surface this can be swept rapidly back and forth through the buzzing swarm quite effectively and it will get a number of them at a time. However if you only stun the fly - somtimes they recover so you should be prepared to step on stunned ones that are still moving if they are on the floor.
If a fly is on a flat surface and you can slowly sneak up on it, then you can often get it because the fly will leap up into the grid.
I would like to see one that had a longer handle for more rapid movement.
I have my best success if the swarm of flies is in a corner.
Dissappointed in this one 2007-07-27
First I tried NiMh batteries.. don't bother, they seemed to be hit and miss as to whether it worked.
Then I went with Alkaline as recommeded, but many bugs just bounce off as the outer metal "protective" grids must be hitting them, then after using it for about 5 minutes, it seemed to not work at all until you give it a rest?
Maybe mine is defective... as cheap as its made, its entirely possible QA is limited!
When I first turn it on, I get about 1250 Volts, then after about a minute, it drops to 950 or so, then after several minutes, it won't even zap.. then when I test it, it's only getting 50 - 75 volts or so.... maybe dampness shorts it out after frying spiders at night with the dew?
