Joulethief SEC exciter and variants

[xee2]

I think something is still wrong. It will not light a neon at all. And the LED on the AV plug is dim.

Yes. Something is wrong. Post a photo of your coil.

Have you tried reversing the L2 leads? If you are still using a 2N2222 you should eventually try to get a bigger transistor and use a heat sink. I suggest using a cell phone charger to do your tuning, that will limit the current going into the transistor.

EDIT: This is video of a 900 turn coil. You should be about the same.
YouTube - Slayer exciter circuit - 1 AA battery

[altrez]

Your L2 coil needs more turns.

It seems that this circuit is really picky about the coils. I have rewound a coil and it will light an LED with one wire it will not however light a tube. It gets really hot with anything less then a 100komh resistor and 18 windings on the secondary.

I am close, The circuit LED is a great addition as it allows you to know that the circuit is at least working and then allows you to focus on the coil. I think something is still wrong. It will not light a neon at all. And the LED on the AV plug is dim.

What could be the cause of the high current pull from the power source. Even with 1 AA its super hot.

Coil Primary is .672mH
Coil Secondary is .014mH
Resistor is 100komh
Transistor is 2n2222
Power is 1.2v -> 9v

Ideas?

Thank you!!!!!
-Altrez

[altrez]

Your L2 coil needs more turns.

Humm I have added 6 more to make it 12 I will add another 6 and see what happens.

Thank you!

[altrez]

I put together a guide for jonnydavros Simple SEC build for a friend and I am sharing it here by permission. It is very detailed.

If you are new to this topic, download the PDF guide, and watch the video! It's a great lead in to SEC Exciter projects and very inexpensive. Good fun.

PDF Guide

Video


Thanks jonny!

You need to allow people to download it from that link. Add me altrez

[kcarring]

Free PDF Guide For jonnydavros Simple SEC Build

I put together a guide for jonnydavros Simple SEC build for a friend and I am sharing it here by permission. It is very detailed.

If you are new to this topic, download the PDF guide, and watch the video! It's a great lead in to SEC Exciter projects and very inexpensive. Good fun.

PDF Guide

Video


Thanks jonny!

* changed the link to Scribd - you'll need to login for a download, otherwise you can read it online

[xee2]

However the Tran gets so hot it burns even with a 100k omh resistor

Your L2 coil needs more turns.

[altrez]

Your LED is backwards. It should go the other way.

Ok I got the LED working an in the correct position. I plug in th power and I get the one wire AV plug thats attached to the end to light up! However the Tran gets so hot it burns even with a 100k omh resistor at 5v. The LED does run while there is power but the tran lasts only a few moments?

Thank you

[xee2]

@ altrez

Try 6 turns for L2 about 10% of the length of L1 from the powered end.

[xee2]

If I pull the transistor the led comes on.

Your LED is backwards. It should go the other way.

[altrez]

@ altrez

Reducing the resistor value may help. I have gone down to 200 ohms on some circuits. Make sure LED is as shown in schematic.

Another thing that's odd is if I move the LED to the base and collector it lights up really bright then goes dim and I can turn it off with the pot or back on. If I put it back to the emitter and base it will not light?

I really want to thank you for all the help!

-Altrez

[altrez]

@ altrez

Reducing the resistor value may help. I have gone down to 200 ohms on some circuits. Make sure LED is as shown in schematic.

I took the resistor down to 100 omh and the transistor gets too hot. I added a pot so I could sweep yet the led never lights up.

If I pull the transistor the led comes on. I have tried lots of different ones as well.

I am so lost. I cant see how this is not working can the coil make it not work?

[xee2]

@ altrez

Reducing the resistor value may help. I have gone down to 200 ohms on some circuits. Make sure LED is as shown in schematic.

[altrez]

@ altrez

My 390 turn coil inductance = 0.854 mH

Think that's whats wrong? Why is 1200 turns less mH then yours? I am using the 2n2222 I have switched it out with a few different ones as well. The LED will not light at all. It will is I go from Emitter to Collector but that's it.

I have no idea why this is not working. Any ideas?

Thanks!

-Altrez

[xee2]

@ altrez

My 390 turn coil inductance = 0.854 mH

[xee2]

Should the LED light up? Its not.

Yes. What transistor are you using? The 2N2219 is the same as a 2N2222 but in biger package.