# How Does A Trap Work? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Ghostbusters Discussion\ **Created:** [April 24, 2017, 2:04am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/how-does-a-trap-work/26565 "2017-04-24T02:04:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JuanB](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/f04885/32.png) [@JuanB](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/JuanB)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 2:04am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/how-does-a-trap-work/26565/1 "2017-04-24T02:04:14Z")
did they ever explain this? what is it made of? what are the mechanics? how does it contain ghost? how many can it contain? can somebody elaborate for me? 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![zeta-otaku](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/zeta-otaku/32/186411_2.png) [@zeta-otaku](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/zeta-otaku)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 5:38am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/how-does-a-trap-work/26565/2 "2017-04-24T05:38:18Z")
They never go into details on the mechanics. You kind of just need to go off assumptions with certain things. For instance, we can assume the traps use a similar containment system as the larger [containment unit](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/equipment/containment-unit), just smaller and not suited for long term storage. As for numbers, it depends on the continuity. In the movies (and the IDW ongoing comics), a trap can handle one or two with little problem, but things get kind of… explosive if you cram too many in there. The cartoons made the traps fit the need of the script, but couple hold way more standard ghosts than the movie versions, but there were instances of very powerful entities breaking free of the trap. ---
**Author:** ![kingpin](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/kingpin/32/187259_2.png) [@kingpin](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/kingpin)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 10:05am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/how-does-a-trap-work/26565/3 "2017-04-24T10:05:59Z")
The reboot went into a bit of detail as to how their [Ghost Trap](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/equipment/ghost-trap) worked: > [@](#): > > Then we add the reversible psychokinetic energy sink plus Holtzy’s hollow beam to this baby, and voilá. We got a ghost in there. -suggesting that the psychokinetic sink attracts the ghost, and the hollow beam pulls it in (with either the hollow beam, or something in the reboot Trap’s casing preventing it from getting out if the lid is sealed). ---
**Author:** ![demon-vice-commander](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/demon-vice-commander/32/186000_2.png) [@demon-vice-commander](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/demon-vice-commander)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 5:57pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/how-does-a-trap-work/26565/4 "2017-04-24T17:57:00Z")
It’s really just a simple matter of reversing the polarity of the neutron flow. ---
**Author:** ![troy](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/troy/32/186036_2.png) [@troy](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/troy)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 6:15pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/how-does-a-trap-work/26565/5 "2017-04-24T18:15:27Z")
If only there were some sort of [technical manual](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/equipment/proton-pack/manual)… ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_Brewin](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/96bed5/32.png) [@Chris\_Brewin](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Chris_Brewin)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 6:48pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/how-does-a-trap-work/26565/6 "2017-04-24T18:48:49Z")
> [@Demon Vice Commander](#): > > It’s really just a simple matter of reversing the polarity of the neutron flow. Well played, sir. Well played! ---
**Author:** ![mrmichaelt](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/mrmichaelt/32/187196_2.png) [@mrmichaelt](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/mrmichaelt)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 1:15am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/how-does-a-trap-work/26565/8 "2017-04-25T01:15:46Z")
I agree it’s a portable and compact version of the [Containment Unit](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/equipment/containment-unit). So some sort of dampening effect on the a ghost’s P.K.E. that keeps them in a state of rigid stasis like removing one battery from a TV remote. > [@Troy](#): > > If only there were some sort of technical manual… If only the guy writing the manual wasn’t blocked by NDA and could talk about it. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![sav-c](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/sav-c/32/137819_2.png) [@sav-c](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/sav-c)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 3:09pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/how-does-a-trap-work/26565/9 "2017-04-25T15:09:37Z")
Lasers. Probably a lot like the proton stream, only straighter. That’s my guess at least. ---
**Author:** ![Havoc0213](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/57b2e6/32.png) [@Havoc0213](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Havoc0213)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 5:20am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/how-does-a-trap-work/26565/10 "2017-04-28T05:20:18Z")
I always thought it was an explosion of energy (trap open) followed by an implosion (trap close) which pulls the ghost in. ---
**Author:** ![cpu64](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/cpu64/32/104792_2.png) [@cpu64](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/cpu64)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2017, 4:26am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/how-does-a-trap-work/26565/11 "2017-04-29T04:26:51Z")
It’s all about the constant ionization rate for ectoplasmic entities. ---
**Author:** ![pferreira1983](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/2acd7d/32.png) [@pferreira1983](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/pferreira1983)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2017, 1:59pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/how-does-a-trap-work/26565/12 "2017-04-30T13:59:19Z")
The trap and [proton packs](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/equipment/proton-pack) are what give Ghostbusters that sci-fi element. I love that. ---
**Author:** ![Razor-11](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/aeb1de/32.png) [@Razor-11](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Razor-11)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 11:18am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/how-does-a-trap-work/26565/13 "2017-05-01T11:18:47Z")
I always imagined it was a sort of powerful electromagnetic field that neutralized and pulled the ghost in. The trap was a smaller version of the containment grid. ---
**Author:** ![GBfan\_CH](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/gbfan_ch/32/4046_2.png) [@GBfan\_CH](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/GBfan_CH)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2017, 9:28pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/how-does-a-trap-work/26565/14 "2017-05-01T21:28:05Z")
Sci-fi pseudo particle physics, my friend. Picture this: In the GB universe, the majority of spectral phenomena are negatively charged. A beam of protons (with adjustable strength) holds them in place like a fishing line. A trap, one assumes, is therefore either a stronger positive charge than a proton beam, or an earthing point. Or a thing. All we know for sure is it gets bright, so don’t look directly at it. ---
**Author:** ![spaceballz](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/spaceballz/32/187389_2.png) [@spaceballz](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/spaceballz)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2017, 12:53am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/how-does-a-trap-work/26565/15 "2017-05-02T00:53:17Z")
> [@GBfan\_CH](#): > > Sci-fi pseudo particle physics, my friend. Picture this: In the GB universe, the majority of spectral phenomena are negatively charged. > > A beam of protons (with adjustable strength) holds them in place like a fishing line. > > A trap, one assumes, is therefore either a stronger positive charge than a proton beam, or an earthing point. Or a thing. > > All we know for sure is it gets bright, so don’t look directly at it. Also, don’t cross the streams. It would be bad. ---
**Author:** ![pferreira1983](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/2acd7d/32.png) [@pferreira1983](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/pferreira1983)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2017, 12:16pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/how-does-a-trap-work/26565/16 "2017-05-07T12:16:40Z")
> [@Razorgeist](#): > > I always imagined it was a sort of powerful electromagnetic field that neutralized and pulled the ghost in. The trap was a smaller version of the containment grid. The trap is like a mini world inside, I’m assuming the ghost’s particles are shrunk to allow more than one ghost to fit inside the trap. ---
**Author:** ![EddieSpenser](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/7c8e57/32.png) [@EddieSpenser](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/EddieSpenser)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2017, 11:51pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/how-does-a-trap-work/26565/17 "2017-06-18T23:51:09Z")
I’ve always imagined the trap as a slime condenser. The laser vacuums the ghost inside and melts it in its slime state until it gets stored in the ECU. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Y33TER](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/9de0a6/32.png) [@The\_Y33TER](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/The_Y33TER)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 3:25pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/how-does-a-trap-work/26565/18 "2023-03-28T15:25:36Z")
None of this is correct. Watch GBNW’s video on the trap. ---
**Author:** ![guyx](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/guyx/32/125533_2.png) [@guyx](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/guyx)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 4:30pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/how-does-a-trap-work/26565/19 "2023-03-28T16:30:00Z")
Magnets ---
**Author:** ![The\_Y33TER](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/9de0a6/32.png) [@The\_Y33TER](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/The_Y33TER)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2023, 4:46pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/how-does-a-trap-work/26565/20 "2023-03-29T16:46:19Z")
[quote=GuyX post\_id=4980658 time=1680021000 user\_id=44443]Magnets [/quote] wrong again ---
**Author:** ![guyx](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/guyx/32/125533_2.png) [@guyx](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/guyx)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2023, 8:07pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/how-does-a-trap-work/26565/21 "2023-03-29T20:07:09Z")
> [@The\_Y33TER post\_id=4980690 time=1680108379 user\_id=62467](#): > > [quote=GuyX post\_id=4980658 time=1680021000 user\_id=44443]Magnets wrong again [/quote] ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/c/f/cfc65da9ff96571b163ede108a7486b1d4b5e8dc.gif) [Next page](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/how-does-a-trap-work/26565.md?page=2)