Joule Lamp

[Lynxsteam]

That "wiki" writeup explains a lot and very well.  The setup I am using is very much like a tesla coil and acts like it.  Its kind of a Hybrid borrowing from the JouleRinger 2.0 in that it is oscillating with the help of reverse biasing.  However, the fact that the CFL will light with the AV plug off a single wire and not connected at all shows that indeed frequency is very high.  It also shows that the circuit will oscillate without any direct connection back to the base.  In this configuration I am sure the radio interference may be a problem.
I am hoping more people will explore this circuit and shed more light and possibly make some break through improvements.  An air core coil has advantages and disadvantages over a ferrite transformer.
This circuit will light LEDs but to do it well is going to take some experimenting.
I don't have an oscilloscope or a meter that will register the output accurately.  I'll see what I can do.

[JouleSeeker]

That "wiki" writeup explains a lot and very well.  The setup I am using is very much like a tesla coil and acts like it.  Its kind of a Hybrid borrowing from the JouleRinger 2.0 in that it is oscillating with the help of reverse biasing.  However, the fact that the CFL will light with the AV plug off a single wire and not connected at all shows that indeed frequency is very high.  It also shows that the circuit will oscillate without any direct connection back to the base. ...

  Yes, it was a good write-up, and you have a good point regarding the evidence for very high frequency, which implies Tesla-coil action.  Which is exciting to me -- and I congratulate your progress on this!

  I have now dis-assembled two CFL's, and have looked closely at the two wires on each end of the fluorescent tube.  Clearly, these were not Intended to be tied together, yet this works for your device -- to get them to light. 

You note that " the fact that the CFL will light with the AV plug off a single wire " -- makes me wonder if you just used one wire, if it would light up as brightly as your method (your how-to vid) of joining the outlet-wires together on each outlet-port of the bulb?  or perhaps better, join the "like wires" together in pairs, and see if this increases the light output.
- Steve

PS -- also, I'm pleased at the electronics parts in the guts of these CFL's -- all that for 50 cents!  (at a local store, on sale)

[SkyWatcher123]

Hi folks, Hi lynxsteam, I found a 2n3055 in my parts box and fired up my setup again, it lights the bulb at a decent brightness, though I am using a 1-1/2" diameter secondary tube 30awg and 52 turns of speaker wire, i think its 20 gauge.
I have no way of telling the amp draw or the voltage on the battery under load, because the circuit must be interfering with both meters.
When I place volt dmm across 12 volt battery, even at 500 volt setting it doesn't read anything except to say HV.
peace love light
tyson

[JouleSeeker]

   Great to learn more about Tesla coils, and tuning them for resonance conditions.

This site has a straightforward method for tuning:
http://www.frontiernet.net/~tesla/html/tuneacoil.htm

Note that the primary coil should be at one end, which is at a node on the secondary.   Attachment quotes from the above, to explain why resonance-finding is important. 
One can move the tap on the primary coil to find A resonance, but this might not be the best = the fundamental or primary resonance.   It seems this is basically what you did, lynx -- moving the tap on the primary coil to get the best lighting.   I'm thinking that a bare copper wire would facilitate this, making it easy to move the tap with a small alligator clip for instance.  Again, you may miss the primary resonance...   

Hmmmm... lots to think about here.

Basically, I understand the secondary is an antenna, receiving signal from the primary winding.  As in a radio, one has to do some tuning to maximize the pick-up signal.  A 1/4-wave antenna for the secondary appears to be best.

[SkyWatcher123]

Hi folks, here is my replication of LynxSteams joule lamp.
It is 11" tall 30awg wire secondary tower coil, 1-1/2" diameter pvc.
with 48 primary turns of I think 20 gauge speaker wire.
13 watt gutted warm white cfl.
12 volt battery input.
2n3055 transistor with heatsink.
No resistors or diodes are used.
Transistor/heatsink does get rather warm, though that can be adjusted by moving primary up or down.
I do not know amperage or even voltage on battery under load, as meters become non-functional.
Though I can get an idea of battery load by observing battery voltage recovery after disconnecting circuit.

Here is a video clip showing cfl lighting up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAyAUUAyR70
peace love light
tyson