Things You'll Need
Screwdriver
Soldering iron with narrow tip
Multimeter
The Mosquito Magnet company manufactures several electric mosquito traps. Placed correctly in your yard, the traps attract mosquitoes and other biting insects. The traps work with an attractant scent and by creating heat and moisture similar to the human body, this draws in the mosquitoes which are then trapped inside a net mesh within the machine. One component of the unit's temperature control is the thermistor - a small semiconductor that uses measurements of resistance to control temperature. If your Mosquito Magnet is overheating, test the thermistor to identify if it is the source of the problem.
Step 1
Unplug your Mosquito Magnet. Locate the electronic control buttons of the unit. The location varies on each model, but the box the buttons are on houses the electronics and the thermistor.
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Step 2
Unscrew the screws holding the box cover to open the electronic control box. Set the screws and cover aside.
Step 3
Locate the thermistor. Again, this varies on different models, but look for a plastic or ceramic piece with two wires protruding from it. To see pictures of thermistors see the Resources section.
Step 4
Plug in the soldering iron and allow it to heat.
Step 5
Set the multimeter to read resistance (ohms). Connect one probe of the multimeter to one of the thermistor's wires and the other probe to the other wire.
Step 6
Watch the reading of the multimeter as you touch the tip of the soldering iron to the thermistor. If the thermistor is functioning properly, the reading will increase or decrease. If the thermistor is not working, the reading will not change.
Warning
Handle the soldering iron carefully to avoid burning yourself.
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