Flowtron Outdoor Products Insect Control Equipment MT-350 User manual

WARRANTY
MT-350
Flowtron warrants your Mosquito PowerTrap to be free from defects in materials or workmanship under normal use and service for one year from date of original purchase. All parts
which are defective will be replaced free of charge. Any implied warranties, including the implied warranty of merchantability are also limited in duration to the one year period from the
original purchase date.
The provisions of this warranty shall not apply to any product which as been subject to misuse, neglect or accident, nor which is used for a purpose for which it is not designed, or
which shall have been repaired or altered in any way so as to adversely affect its performance and reliability. Service by unauthorized parties voids your warranty. Warranty covers
only the original purchaser. Commercial and/or professional use is excluded from warranty coverage.
Flowtron neither assumes nor authorizes any person to assume for it any other liability in connection with its product. No responsibility is assumed for any consequential damages
that may result from the use of a Flowtron product, nor for damages due to accident, abuse, lack of responsible care, the affixing of any unauthorized attachment, loss of parts or
subjecting this unit to any but the specified voltage.
If the unit fails to operate during the warranty period, send the product, along with purchase receipt showing purchase date and description of the problem to: Flowtron Service
Center, 15 Highland Avenue, Malden, MA 02148. Transportation costs for returning any defective product are the responsibility of the consumer.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.
Flowtron Outdoor Products, 15 Highland Ave, Malden, MA 02148
1-800-343-3280
Trouble Shooting Chart
Symptom
Probable Cause
Remedy
Mode lights on control panel do
not light when “MODE” switch is
depressed.
No power at outlet
Green lights on control panel
are flashing.
Lack of propane.
Refill propane tank.
Propane tank valve closed.
Open tank valve.
Regulator coupling not properly attached.
Check propane regulator coupling for proper engagement and/or leaks.
The fan does not run
continuously after the unit has
been on for at least 10 minutes.
Lack of propane
Same as for “green lights flashing”.
Start cycle malfunction.
Press “Reset” and restart in 24/7 mode.
The unit does not start up at
dusk when in an automatic
mode.
Unit has not sensed dusk or night for a
full 10 minutes.
Wait for 10 minutes of darkness.
Ambient temperature is below
55-60ºF.
Unit will start automatically if temperature rises above 55º F
within 2 hours of dusk.
Ambient light level is too high.
Shield unit from extraneous light.
Funnel end is not over catch tray
nozzle opening.
Engage the funnel end with the catch tray nozzle opening.
Funnel clogged with insect debris.
Clean funnel. See page 7.
Trap is not located in a productive site.
Move trap to a new site. See placement guidelines in the owner’s manual.
Windy, cool or stormy weather.
Wait for conditions more to the mosquito’s liking.
Current mosquito population not readily
attracted to CO2 + Octenol.
Notably the day flying Asian tiger Mosquito. Operate the trap with the
octenol cartridge removed.
Not catching mosquitoes when
the fan is running, the valve is
pulsing and the green lights on
the control panel are not
flashing.
Check for electrical power at outlet.
Unit not properly connected to its power pack. Check plug connections between unit and power pack low voltage cord.
Any problems you encounter that are not corrected by the action recommended in this chart should be referred to the Flowtron Service Department
Accessories
Accessories are available at your local retail outlet or by calling
Flowtron Parts Department at 1-800-343-3280.
Mosquito Attractant:
Octenol Cartridge – MA 1000
Makes your Mosquito PowerTrap
more effective in attracting mosquitoes
and biting flies.
Extension Cord – EC-50
50 foot low voltage extension cord.
Allows placement of the Mosquito
PowerTrap an additional 50 feet away
from the power source.
Flowtron Outdoor Products, 15 Highland Avenue, Malden, MA 02148 • 1-800-343-3280
www.flowtron.com
557-9657
OWNER’S MANUAL
IMPORTANT
Look for this
symbol to point
out important safety precautions.
Read this manual completely before
installing or operating your new
Mosquito PowerTrap™.
Octenol Cartridge
Table of Contents
U.S. Government and university researchers have
demonstrated that octenol combined with c a r b o n
dioxide (both components of respiration) are the most
irresistible attractants to mosquitoes.
Page
Carton Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Your Enemy – the Mosquito. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
How Your Mosquito PowerTrap Works . . . . . . 3
Mosquito
PowerTrap
Rules for Safe Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Placement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Catch
Tray
Maintenance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Troubleshooting Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Power Pack
and Low
Voltage Wire
Post
The Flowtron Mosquito PowerTrap uses a specially designed time release cartridge containing octenol (1OCTEN-3-OL).
Switch unit off and allow it to cool. Remove catch tray.
1. Remove the octenol cartridge from the sealed
pouch and peel the protective cover from the face
of the cartridge. Avoid touching the openings in the
cartridge and always wash hands thoroughly after
contact.
Push rear of bottom funnel
ring up into the unit’s housing until front tabs become
disengaged from housing.
See figure A.
2. Place the cartridge in the rectangle slot located at
the bottom of the plenum. Insert the cartridge with
the openings facing inward. See Illustration 5.
Qty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Description
Tank Stand
Assembly
1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Catch Tray
Wheels (MT-300 series only)
Plenum
1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Post
1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tank Support Strap *
Tank Cap, Tank Wrap, Tank Strap, Octenol Cartridge
and Owner’s Manual are not shown
1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tank Stand Assembly
1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Owners Manual
*
MT-200 series only
** MT-300 series only
Insert
Cartridge
Illustration 5
Maintenance
1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tank Cap
1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tank Strap **
Cartridge
Shown in
Place
Slot
Octenol
Cartridge
1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tank Wrap
Unpacking Instructions
Your Mosquito PowerTrap has been carefully packed
at the factory to prevent damage during shipment.
Carefully open the carton and:
1. Remove contents from carton.
2. Check parts against carton content list.
Pull funnel down and forward releasing rear section of upper funnel ring
and remove funnel from
unit. See figure B.
Remove insect debris
from screen surrounding
funnel. Wash screen with
water and shake off excess water before re-installing.
1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Power Pack and Wi r e
1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Octenol Cartridge
4. Remove and clean the screen-lined funnel each
time the propane tank is refilled or more often during periods of heavy infestation. To remove funnel,
proceed as follows:
To Install the Octenol Cartridge:
Carton Contents
1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mosquito PowerTrap
Empty the catch tray periodically to ensure proper
air flow through the trap. To remove the catch tray
push in on the latch at the front of the catch tray
and pull tray down.
1. Refill your propane tank as required. The green
timed mode lights on the control panel will flash
when a new supply of propane is needed.
2. Replace the octenol cartridge after 450 hours of
operation.
NOTE: The following table may be used as a
general guide to determine approximate propane
refill times.
Operating Mode
Hours per Day
3 . . . hours
3 + 2 . . . hours
4 + 3 . . . hours
24 . . . . hours
Refill Times
(20 lb propane tank)
6
3
2
3
–
–
–
–
7
4
3
4
Re-install funnel by holding funnel at a slight angle and insert the front
edge of the upper funnel
ring inside of unit’s housing. See figure C.
Push funnel upwards and
with the rear section of
the bottom funnel ring at a
slight angle compress funnel until front tabs of bottom funnel ring are up inside of the housing. See
figure D.
Figure A
Housing
Up
Bottom
Funnel
Ring
Front
Tab
Push Up Here
Figure B
Down
Forward
Upper
Funnel
Ring
Tabs
Figure C
Front
Edge
of Upper
Funnel Ring
Up
Figure D
Up
Release funnel and it will
spring into place.
Replace catch tray and re-start unit.
months
months
months
weeks
3.
Page 2
Page 7
Rules for Safe Use
1. Use outdoors only. Install the unit a
minimum of ten feet from
buildings and other structures.
2. Never place fingers or insert any object into the unit while it is operating.
3. Always disconnect unit from its power source and wait for unit to cool
before handling, moving or servicing.
4. This device was designed for use
with propane gas. Never attempt to
use any other fuel, including liquid
fuels or natural gas. Fire or damage
to your Flowtron PowerTrap could
result.
5. Always operate the unit in an upright position to prevent damage to
the CO2 generator.
6. Do not abuse the power pack.
Never carry the power pack by its
cord or yank it to disconnect it from
a receptacle. Keep power cord away
from heat, oil and sharp edges.
7. Never connect the unit to a
battery or other D.C. voltage. Such
an attempt will damage your unit.
8. Store indoors when not in use.
Remove propane tank from unit before storing and store tank outdoors
in a well ventilated space.
Page 4
Placement
Assembly
Your Mosquito PowerTrap is site specific and placement is critical for successful results. To properly locate your unit in your yard, read the accompanying
booklet “the Fine Art of Trapping Mosquitoes”
and follow its guidelines regarding trap placement,
(MT-300 series only)
Your Flowrtron Mosquito PowerTrap emits a plume of
octenol-enhanced carbon dioxide which mosquitoes
follow in their search for a blood meal. Mosquitoes fly
up-wind toward the source of the plume in their attempt to locate a host. Since the direction of the
plume is dependent upon the direction of the wind,
your unit should be positioned so it’s
attractant outlet faces downwind.
Female mosquitoes also feed on moisture laden nectar and fruit juices when not in search of a blood
meal. They are usually found in shade; around flowers, trees, bushes and other vegetation; and adjacent
to standing water.
For best results locate your unit 20 to 40 feet away
from areas of human activity in a location near (but
not in) bushes, wooded areas, or adjacent to standing
water (other than swimming pools). Select a location
which will result in the carbon dioxide plume blowing
toward the area where mosquitoes are likely to hide
and emerge. A proper location will ensure that
mosquitoes encounter the plume and follow it upwind to the Flow t ron Mosquito PowerTrap before
they detect the presence of humans.
See Illustration 1.
Prevailing wind direction
Illustration 1
Plume
Attractant
Outlet
HOUSE
PATIO
20 – 40 ft.
SOURCE OF
INSECTS
1. Insert tank support strap
into openings in tank
stand as shown.
See Figure A.
On the underside of the
tank stand, loosen the
two hex nuts located on
the screws which extend
from the sides of the
base plate. Place the
slots at the ends of the
tank support strap over
the screws and secure
by tightening the two
nuts. See Figure B.
Tank Support
Strap
Tank Stand
Connect Propane Regulator
1. Remove the plastic dust cover from your propane
tank valve.
Openings
Figure A
2. Screw the propane regulator coupling located on
the end of the propane hose onto the tank valve by
turning the black threaded coupling clockwise until
tight. Hand tighten only. See Illustration 4.
Note: Gas will not flow unless connection is tight.
Tighten by hand only.
Using a wrench or
other tool could
damage the regulator
coupling and could
cause a gas leak.
Base Plate
Illustration. 4
Screw & Nut
(2 places)
Tank
Strap
Figure B
2. Insert one end of the
post into the post opening at the front of the tank
stand. Insert opposite end of post into the post
opening located at the bottom of the Flowtron
Mosquito PowerTrap®. Align unit in relation to the
tank stand. See Illustration 2.
WARNING
Check for gas leaks by wetting the connections with a solution of soap and water and
watching for bubbles. If bubbles form or if a
bubble grows larger, there is a leak and
connection must be tightened.
WARNING
Place a 20 lb. tank on the tank stand and install
tank wrap around the tank.
3. Install catch tray by first
inserting the rear of the
tray into the housing.
Then push in upper part
of the latch and raise
front of catch tray into
place. See Illustration 3.
4. Position and screw power pack to either an outside or inside wall adjacent to a electrical outlet
(screws not provided).
Run the low voltage wire
either above or below
ground from the power
pack to the unit. plug the
low voltage wire into the
power cord connector located at the bottom of
the Flowtron Mosquito
PowerTrap®. Plug the
power pack into the electrical outlet.
See Illustration 5.
Check for gas leaks every time you disconnect and
reconnect a gas fitting.
Be sure there are no sparks or open flame in the
area when you check for leaks.
Tank
Cap
Only use regulator supplied with your Flowtron
PowerTrap.
Tank
Strap
Post
Install
screw
and
washer
Do not use a liquid propane tank with a damaged
valve. Have dented or rusty propane tanks checked
by your propane supplier.
Tank
Wrap
Tank
Stand
Tank
Stand
Cover
Illustration 2
3. Place tank cap on top of tank.
4 . Move your unit to the
desired location in your
yard. Remove catch tray
and grasp housing as
shown.
See trap “Placement” instructions on pg. 4.
(MT-300 series only)
Push
illustration 3
Page 5
Operation
Your Mosquito PowerTrap is fully automatic. It is
equipped with a photocell, temperature sensors and a
computer microprocessor.
The control panel is located on the top of the unit and
has the following operating modes:
•
24/7 (on 24 hours, 7
days/week)
•
3 Hours (on at dusk,
off 3 hours later)
•
3 + 2 Hours (on at dusk,
off 3 hours later; on again at dawn, off 2 hours later).
•
4 + 3 Hours (on at dusk, off 4 hours later;
on again at dawn, off 3 hours later)
•
Off/Reset (manual off)
To select the desired mode, first push the button labeled “Off/Reset” to clear the computer memory.
Then push the button labeled “Mode”.
For continuous operation press the “Mode” button
once. The green light labeled “24/7” will light and the
unit will operate continuously 24 hours per day until
the “Off/Reset” button is pressed.
For timed operation, press and hold the “Mode” button. When the desired mode is selected as indicated
by its green light, release the button. No further control is necessary and your unit will function in the
mode selected every day until the “Off/Reset” button
is depressed or an interruption occurs in the electrical
power source.
Note:
To resume operation following an electrical disturbance or a loss of electrical
power, press the “Off/Reset” button to
clear the computer memory then reset
the unit to the desired operating mode.
In the event the PowerTrap fails to respond
to its controls (mode selection) unplug the
unit for a few seconds, reattach plug and
then reset to the desired mode.
When the 24/7 mode is selected, the unit will begin
its start cycle and approximately three minutes later,
the fan and LED lights located in the entrance to the
trap will come on intermittently. Once the catalyst
has reached operating temperature, which will take
five to ten minutes, the fan and LED lights will remain
on and the start cycle will be complete.
Page 6
When a timed mode is selected, the fan and LED
lights will come on immediately and remain on. The
unit, however, waits for dusk and then checks the outside air temperature to determine if it is sufficiently
warm for insect activity (above 55º – 60ºF). This is an
important feature to conserve propane fuel. The unit
will automatically begin its start cycle when the light
level reaches dusk and remains at the level of dusk
for ten minutes (thus avoiding the effects of transient
light sources) and if the outside air temperature is
above the 55º – 60ºF range.
The start cycle is also repeated at dawn when the 3 +
2 hr or the 4 + 3 hr mode is selected.
During start cycles, which are from five to ten
minutes in duration, the fan and LED lights operate
intermittently.
Ten to fifteen minutes after the unit detects a lack of
propane fuel (either due to an empty tank or due to
improper installation of the propane regulator to the
tank valve) the three green timed mode lights on the
control panel will flash. Simply switch the PowerTrap
off and refuel. If the unit is not out of propane and the
lights are flashing check that the tank valve is fully
open and that the regulator is properly attached to the
tank valve.
Mosquitoes and biting flies are generally most active
shortly after dusk and again at dawn. Therefore, the 3
+ 2, or 4 + 3 timed modes are usually the most economical settings.
The 24/7 mode is desirable if day flying mosquitoes
are present or to operate at temperatures below 55º
F.
Note:
As mosquitoes and biting flies pass through
the fan, most are killed and thrown against
the side of the internal screen-lined funnel.
Those that escape the fan’s killing action
end up in the catch tray where they quickly
dehydrate and die. See page 7 for instructions for removing the screen-lined funnel
and cleaning the screen.
Your Enemy – the Mosquito
There are some 2,700 species (different kinds of
mosquitoes) in the world with about 170 species in
North America alone.
Most mosquitoes live and die close to where they
hatch, although some can travel miles in search of a
host. Only the female mosquito bites as she requires
a blood meal to produce eggs.
Mosquitoes require standing water in aquatic habitats
including fresh water, salt water marshes, brackish
water or in water found in containers, old tires, tree
holes, even flower pots. The female mosquito lays
her eggs on the surface of the water and if conditions
are right the eggs hatch and become larvae, then pupae and finally adult mosquitoes; all in 10 to 14 days.
Both male and female mosquitoes feed regularly on
nectar obtained from flowers, but females require
blood to produce fertile eggs. Therefore, she must
find a human or animal host to blood feed before she
can lay her eggs.
Most mosquitoes that emerge in the wild never come
in contact with humans but obtain blood from birds
and other animals. Mosquito species that breed
around the home remain close to where they hatched
and are regarded as pests and carriers of disease.
Mosquitoes in search of a blood meal use visual,
thermal and olfactory (odor) stimuli to locate a host.
Of these, olfactory cues are the most important.
Out of the more than 100 compounds detected in human breath only two have been isolated and identified as significant mosquito and biting fly attractants;
carbon dioxide (CO2) and octenol (1-OCTEN-3OL). These attractants serve as long-range airborne
attractants and can be detected by mosquitoes and
biting flies at distances of 100 feet to 125 feet.
How Your Flowtron
Mosquito PowerTrap Works
The revolutionary new Flowtron Mosquito PowerTrap
replicates the attractants mosquitoes use to locate, bite
and annoy humans. It does this by producing carbon
dioxide, heat and moisture and combining these stimuli
with octenol to create an attractant to mosquitoes.
Your Flowtron Mosquito PowerTrap:
•
Replicates the human attractants of respiration,
odor, body heat.
•
Converts readily available propane gas into heat,
moisture and carbon dioxide, the acknowledged
leading mosquito and attractants emitted by humans.
•
Produces a powerful vacuum to draw mosquitoes
into a convenient, removable catch tray where
they quickly dehydrate and die for safe, clean disposal.
•
Contains state-of-the-art computer controlled electronics to operate automatically in one of four
modes selected by you.
Mosquito PowerTrap does away with ultraviolet lights
and high voltage killing grids. Most importantly, it kills
only female mosquitoe.
Flowtron Mosquito PowerTrap uses an exclusive platinum catalyst that converts air and propane gas into
heat, moisture and carbon dioxide. It does this in an
efficient, effective and economical manner. The catalyst converter is completely safe, flameless and never
needs to be replaced.
At close range, body heat, moisture and lactic acid
serve as terminal attractants. Certain species show
strong preferences for biting different parts of the human body. This is thought to be related to local skin
temperature and lactic acid output.
The attractiveness of different persons to mosquitoes
varies substantially. Men are bitten more readily than
women, adults more often than children and larger
persons attract more mosquitoes perhaps because of
their greater relative heat and carbon dioxide output.
Page 3