Instantvap Lite - Oxalic Acid Vaporizer

The InstantVap Lite is the most affordable way into the InstantVap lineup, and for most hobby apiaries it's all the oxalic acid vaporizer you need. Many beekeepers assume they have to buy a big 5Ah battery to run a vaporizer. With the Lite, you actually don't — it runs on a 3Ah pack, the size that ships with most drill kits, so there's a good chance you already own one. It uses the same stainless steel, aluminum, and brass construction as the larger Original and Compact units, and handles up to about 20 hives comfortably.

The tradeoff is speed. The Lite has a smaller heating chamber, so each 2 g dose takes a little longer to vaporize than on the Compact or Original, and a 4 g dose takes noticeably longer. If you're treating a big yard, the extra seconds add up — see How It Compares below before you buy.

Every Lite carries a 2-year parts warranty, with all repair service done in-house in the USA. 

Key Features

• Runs on batteries you own — slide-in 3Ah or larger packs on DeWalt 20V, Milwaukee M18, Makita 18V LXT, or Ridgid 18V. Smaller packs will run it, but they sag under load and slow the cycle down.
• Plug-and-play heating — no power switch to fumble with. The unit starts heating as soon as you connect the battery and reaches operating temperature in about 50–60 seconds.
• Dial in your dose — the Lite's adjustable dispenser covers 1–4 g per hive. Most beekeepers run 2 g or 4 g.
• Protects your battery — built-in deep discharge protection keeps the vaporizer from draining your pack to the point of damage.
• Know when it's ready — an LED status indicator (the same system used on the Compact) shows the unit's status while you work.
• Easy to carry — the unit weighs just 1.54 lb (0.7 kg) before the battery goes on.
• Backed for two years — stainless steel, aluminum, and brass construction, covered by a 2-year parts warranty with service in the USA.

Compatibility

Works With

• DeWalt 20V slide-in batteries
• Milwaukee M18 slide-in batteries
• Makita 18V LXT slide-in batteries
• Ridgid 18V slide-in batteries
• Ryobi batteries, using the Ryobi Battery Adapter on the DeWalt version

Order the version that matches your battery brand. Any capacity on the same platform works — 3Ah is the recommended minimum, and 4Ah, 5Ah, and 6Ah packs have all been tested and run fine. A bigger pack adds some weight, but it treats more hives per charge and can shorten the wait between treatments.

Does Not Work With

• Post-style (stick) batteries — slide-in style only
• Dispensers, silicone caps, or brass outlet tubes from the InstantVap Original or Compact — the Lite uses its own parts, and they don't interchange

Note: Battery and charger are not included.

How It Compares

Compared to the InstantVap 18V Compact, the Lite costs less and runs on a smaller battery. The Compact vaporizes faster — about 25 seconds per 2 g dose and 45 seconds at 4 g — but it wants a 5Ah or larger pack. The Lite suits smaller operations willing to trade some speed for cost savings.

The InstantVap Original matches the Compact's speed and suits more consistent use in larger apiaries. It's also a bit heavier and more durable, with a boxier design, and it too wants 5Ah or larger.

For commercial yards, the InstantVap 18V Turbo treats a 2 g dose in about 10 seconds (20 seconds at 4 g).

Seasonal Use

Oxalic acid vapor reaches nearly every mite riding on adult bees, but it can't penetrate wax cappings — so it works best when the colony has little or no capped brood. Plan your treatments for late fall into the broodless winter cluster, early spring before brood rearing ramps up, after you hive a swarm, or during a natural brood break after requeening.

How to Use

1. Put on your respirator before you start (see Safety below).
2. Connect a charged battery. The Lite begins heating on its own and reaches operating temperature in about 50–60 seconds — watch the LED indicator.
3. Load oxalic acid into the dispenser and set your dose (2 g is the standard treatment).
4. Insert the brass outlet into the hive entrance or a drilled ¼-inch hole.
5. Dispense the dose. A 2 g dose vaporizes in about 25–30 seconds; a 4 g dose takes about 1 minute 30 seconds.
6. Give the unit a brief reheat before moving to the next hive.

Safety

Oxalic acid vapor is an acid gas, and you should never breathe it. A dust mask won't stop it — you need a respirator fitted with acid gas cartridges, like our Half-Face Respirator with Oxalic Acid Respirator Cartridges. A half-face mask protects your lungs but leaves your eyes exposed, so add eye protection or use a full-face respirator. Stand upwind of the hive while you treat, and use only EPA-registered oxalic acid.

Product Details

Related Reading

• Oxalic Acid Vaporization
• Survey of Varroa Mite Treatments

You May Also Need

• EZ-OX Oxalic Acid (Powder & Tablets)
• InstantVap Lite Plunger (spare or replacement)
• Half-Face Respirator
• Oxalic Acid Respirator Cartridge

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