Circuit not working

[wysiwyg]

Hi all! I've been tinkering with the circuit outlined by dodoshlodo in the youtube video at YouTube - Radiant CFL Oscillator 01 - How to make your own

I've used the same parts as mentioned, however, I can't seem to connect the wire from the cap to the transistor where the earth ground is connected (thus completing the circuit). Instead of "full energy" being produced, I'm left with arching and everything stopping. Would anyone know what might be causing this? I'm also having a problem just getting the light to light up when the circuit is not completed and the earth ground is attached to an electrical outlet ground (in the US). All the equipment is sitting on the removable side of a computer (which is made of aluminum). Currently the only way I can get the light to light up, is by randomly touching the earth ground wire to the aluminum case and thats even sketchy. I have no clue what to try to do to fix the problem. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Dave

PS.
Is there a better circuit design than the one I'm trying to build? Both in terms of power production and ease of construction?

[Ted Ewert]

I would first take it off the aluminum panel and put it on something non conductive. That may even solve your problem.
As far as your circuit goes, it sounds like you may have the polarity of the cap reversed. Double check all your connections too.

Ted

[wysiwyg]

I would first take it off the aluminum panel and put it on something non conductive. That may even solve your problem.
As far as your circuit goes, it sounds like you may have the polarity of the cap reversed. Double check all your connections too.

Ted

I will try those suggestions once I get back home and let you know what happens. Thanks for the help!

Dave

[wysiwyg]

I will try those suggestions once I get back home and let you know what happens. Thanks for the help!

Dave

Well I removed the aluminum tray from the equation, double checked my connections, and even tried reversing the connections on the capacitor, but I still am running into the same problem. The one thing I am noticing is that the transistors are heating up to high temperatures very quick with no cfl's lighting up. I've also made sure that the connections on the transistors are not touch the collector at all, but just the emitter or base "polls". I'm at a loss. Any help is appreciated.

Dave

[wysiwyg]

Well I removed the aluminum tray from the equation, double checked my connections, and even tried reversing the connections on the capacitor, but I still am running into the same problem. The one thing I am noticing is that the transistors are heating up to high temperatures very quick with no cfl's lighting up. I've also made sure that the connections on the transistors are not touch the collector at all, but just the emitter or base "polls". I'm at a loss. Any help is appreciated.

Dave

Performing more tests, it appears that two of the transistors was damaged (out of four that were being used - two at a time). As soon as the damaged transistors were replaced, the circuit worked just fine with dim light. However, I'm still having a problem completing the circuit by connecting the (ground) wire from the capacitor to the base "poll" on the appropriate transistor. As soon as the connection is made, the ark happens again and damages the transistor. Any thoughts?

Dave

[sucahyo]

Suppress the ark with neon bulb.

[wysiwyg]

Suppress the ark with neon bulb.

As in a neon light bulb? What ramifications will that have on power consumption? Also, I don't understand why the original design would not specify that addition.

[wysiwyg]

Also, I think I might be using the wrong capacitor. The OP had the link to the original youtube posting that specified a 47uf 200v cap, but the cap used on Imotep's projects appear to the 4.7uf 200v caps. Does this sound like something that should be switched even though the circuit I working on is a modified version of Imoteps?

Dave

[sucahyo]

As in a neon light bulb? What ramifications will that have on power consumption? Also, I don't understand why the original design would not specify that addition.

It reduce power, but better than having your transistor fried. I think CFL would beat the neon bulb when in paralel.

I don't think capacitor value is that important. I think the important feature is your gound should switch your transistor. try replacing transistor connected to ground with 2n2222 or other good small npn.

[wysiwyg]

It reduce power, but better than having your transistor fried. I think CFL would beat the neon bulb when in paralel.

I don't think capacitor value is that important. I think the important feature is your gound should switch your transistor. try replacing transistor connected to ground with 2n2222 or other good small npn.

If that transistor is smaller than the 2n3055, wouldn't it fry for sure? Also, why wouldn't the capacitor values matter? I would say they should or there would only be one capacitor for all applications.

[sucahyo]

If that transistor is smaller than the 2n3055, wouldn't it fry for sure? Also, why wouldn't the capacitor values matter? I would say they should or there would only be one capacitor for all applications.

The important part is to make the circuit oscillate first. capacitor can be tweaked only after the circuit work. Aromaz use 2n2222 to drive his 2n3055 that drive his CFL circuit.

[wysiwyg]

The important part is to make the circuit oscillate first. capacitor can be tweaked only after the circuit work. Aromaz use 2n2222 to drive his 2n3055 that drive his CFL circuit.

I believe I've already achieved the oscillation because the cfl will light up (although dim) when the ground wire is plugged into the wall outlet. If it wasn't oscillating, the cfl wouldn't work at all correct?

Forgive my ignorance, but why would one transistor make the circuit oscillate while the other wouldn't? Shouldn't a transistor work just like another transistor just with different power ratings?

Thanks,
Dave

[Schpankme]

Hi all! I've been tinkering with the circuit outlined by dodoshlodo

What happen to shlodo ?

Schpankme

[wysiwyg]

What happen to shlodo ?

Schpankme

No clue. I tried to email him, but I never received a response.

[sucahyo]

I believe I've already achieved the oscillation because the cfl will light up (although dim) when the ground wire is plugged into the wall outlet. If it wasn't oscillating, the cfl wouldn't work at all correct?

Yes, I think. aybe you just need to keep changing the cap value until you get brightest light. If you can't try with difference transistor for the one that connected to the coil.

Forgive my ignorance, but why would one transistor make the circuit oscillate while the other wouldn't? Shouldn't a transistor work just like another transistor just with different power ratings?

I don't know. But Aromaz circuit can only work with only some type of transistor. I think working voltage and saturation voltage can change transistor behaviour. Maybe anyone with better knowledge can explain.