Big Joule Theif

[jeanna]

Winn

Jeanna might have a better handy hint but I find that nothing beats just throwing a few winds of transformer wire on it (the toroid) to test the permeability. The better the perm, the fewer the turns it should take to reach resonance.

...
(for instance, the little dark grey ones in cfl that need to boost power are usually hi perm....

That is a good suggestion TP.
----
Winn, I do not usually get parts from taking things apart. (my scientific bent makes me get items that can be found again and with some way to know what I have.
but that is my thing.)
The tiny orange toroid that came from the 10w cfl is a winner and I bet the tiny dark green ones from the 20w are too.


jeanna

[winn1971]

thanks TP & jeanna. will head off to do ur suggestions. it's exploration time...

[FrozenWaterLab]

Hi Jeanna & All.
That's a good ideal is there any way to use a low cost solar panel with your setup ?It would work very well in some of the sunnier countries around the world.where they cant easily find or afford the batteries.Just a few humble thought's Tec
PS I Am looking forward to seeing the picture's when you get the chance. Thank's.Tec

How bout sticking two rods in the ground - constant free power

http://www.energeticforum.com/renewa...attery-sg.html

FrznWtr

[anonymussle]

Simple CFL Joule Thief

Hi all...

I'm new here and I've spent the past couple of weeks perusing this forum and youtube trying to understand how to make a CFL light up on one AA battery.

So I spent about three days winding a 1450 turn coil and building a tiny circuit that would do it.

After a bit of hair-pulling I finally managed it. I'v attach a schematic of what I built. My workbench is a mess and I've a terrible camera so no youtube vid right now.

Wanted to thank Slayer007, Lidmotor, Jeanna and a number of others for their research. You guys make some amazing stuff!

Take Care,
Anonymussle

[anonymussle]

Simple CFL Joule Thief - YouTube

Hi folks...

I made a quick video so you can see the results.

YouTube - anonymussle's Channel: Simple CFL Joule Thief

Take Care,
Anonymussle

[xee2]

I made a quick video so you can see the results.

Thanks for sharing your results. I did some tests a while ago that indicated that after 100 to 200 turns, the extra turns on the C coil do not increase performance very much. However, this could depend on the toroid material.

[anonymussle]

Thanks for sharing your results. I did some tests a while ago that indicated that after 100 to 200 turns, the extra turns on the C coil do not increase performance very much. However, this could depend on the toroid material.

Well, I did an exact same coil with some 200+ turns on the secondary and could not get the CFL to light. So I figured "heck with it" and wound the bigger one. I'm pretty happy with the results (not to mention getting a pretty hefty shock from the coil).

I don't think I'll be doing anymore with this circuit. I built a simple SEC and managed to light three CFLs on three AA batteries. I think I'll be moving on to the SEC now.

AM

[SkyWatcher]

Hi folks, i think this thread has some very good information within it, so I thought I'd ask a question here. I picked up a few various ferrite toroids and I was wondering what jeanna or lidmotor or anyone else used to cover the toroids to protect the magnet wire. As shown in my pic, i used masking tape since it's fairly thin. Reason i ask is, because i unwound a small toroid yesterday and found that the insulation was scraped off at every point where the wire made the sharp turns on the toroid. I plan to use a 30 gauge secondary on the one shown with masking tape and try something with those larger bead type cores, going to try and light a fluorescent, though might not happen with such small cores. Anyway, thanks for all the experiments you've shared jeanna and lidmotor and all the others.
peace love light
Tyson


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[xee2]

I picked up a few various ferrite toroids and I was wondering what jeanna or lidmotor or anyone else used to cover the toroids to protect the magnet wire.
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I spray mine with clear plastic.

[SkyWatcher]

Hi xee2, thanks for the information, i assume thats something like shellac maybe. Anyway, the masking tape seems to working ok on this 1" dia. toroid. Here is a pic of it with the first secondary layer of 30 gauge at around 120 turns so far. Not sure how many turns it will take to light a fluoro if at all, will see.
peace love light
Tyson


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[pentiger]

Hello I am new here, and just recently I discovered the joule thief circuit.
I tried to duplicate it from this video

YouTube - Make a Joule Thief

I had no luck thou. The voltage measured on the collector/emitter is exactly the same as the input voltage.

Does anyone have any idea what could be wrong.

transistor 2n3904
1k resistor
torrid from a cfl lamp
telephone wire 10 turns
input voltage 2.4 v from two AAA batteries.

Thanks in advance.

[Tectalabyss]

Sometime less is better : )

Hello I am new here, and just recently I discovered the joule thief circuit.
I tried to duplicate it from this video

YouTube - Make a Joule Thief

I had no luck thou. The voltage measured on the collector/emitter is exactly the same as the input voltage.

Does anyone have any idea what could be wrong.

transistor 2n3904
1k resistor
torrid from a cfl lamp
telephone wire 10 turns
input voltage 2.4 v from two AAA batteries.

Thanks in advance.

Hi PenTiger. And
You may have to many turns on your coil,Try about half or less and see.Also you should only need one AA battery for this to work.Don't Give up !I have included Two picture's one to show almost any coil will work the one I used is out of a 70's or 80's am/FM radio the coil inside is wound like a JT with three leg's.I also included a warning about led's Harming your eye's I keep it on my PC has a screen saver to remind me. Just remember Don't give up. Tec

[pentiger]

Thank you Tectalabyss,

I did try different number of turns, and still the same result.
I will try again in the evening. Maybe I connect the transistor wrong.

By the way, I read trough the forum and found many diagrams for the JT but I am not sure which will be the best to run a CFL light.

I don't have any light on my backyard and I would like to put something bright on the table or hang above to illuminate the seating area for couple hours straight.

Thanks.

[Tectalabyss]

Oh a cfl light

Thank you Tectalabyss,

I did try different number of turns, and still the same result.
I will try again in the evening. Maybe I connect the transistor wrong.

By the way, I read trough the forum and found many diagrams for the JT but I am not sure which will be the best to run a CFL light.

I don't have any light on my backyard and I would like to put something bright on the table or hang above to illuminate the seating area for couple hours straight.

Thanks.

Hi Pentiger.
If It's a cfl you are trying to run than you will need a secondary winding. This will give you enough volts to run the cfl.Has for myself I've never tried this project.but others here have, Slayer/Lidmotor/& Others. Sorry I cant be of any more help in this matter. Tec

[pentiger]

Thanks Tec,

I will have to try again but still don't get how it can work



When you look at the image + is in both cases the same except that it runs trough a longer wire.

That's why I get the same voltage both from the battery direct and trough the coil.

pentiger