Joule Lamp

[Lynxsteam]

Nick,

In another thread you asked if a primary/secondary coil could light simple LED strings with no transistor.  Probably not without something to setup the oscillation.  That particular Phillips 3 w 120 volt bulb I used evidently has some kind of circuit that includes a transistor.  Tesla was able to oscillate his coils without the benefit of solid state transistors, but I can think of no simpler way than to use a single transistor and the Joule Lamp circuit or Joule Ringer to oscillate.  Something has to switch the primary on and off rapidly.  A simple LED wont.
Tesla coils and SEC exciters are good for really high frequency, high voltage, wireless transmission, but not so good for amperage.  If you are trying to light gutted CFL bulbs, OUBrads earlier in this thread did a really good video replication of the small Joule Lamp showing how to place the primary along the secondary and light CFLs.

Keep asking questions and keep experimenting!

[TinselKoala]

You don't need thousands of dollars worth of test equipment. You need a simple analog oscilloscope, 20 or 40 MHz bandwidth, that you can get used for 100-150 dollars, and you need a signal generator/frequency counter, that you can buy brand new, modern digital tech, for about 200, or get used analog for 50, or even build yourself. These two instruments are absolutely vital and form the basis for any electronic experimentation involving oscillators, resonance, or measurements of power in circuits.

The oscilloscope is truly the King of test equipment. Digital, high-bandwidth scopes are nice... but unnecessary for the kind of work that we do  here. Do yourself a giant favor: spend 150 dollars on a good used analog scope and a couple of probes, and spend some time learning just what the scope can do. You will not regret it.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/Oscilloscopes-/104247/i.html?Channels=2&Bandwidth=Less%2520than%252060MHz&LH_ItemCondition=3000&Type=Analog&_pppn=r1&_dmpt=BI_Oscilloscopes&_mPrRngCbx=1&_udlo&_udhi=200

[NickZ]

   LynxSteam and All:
   I'm still working on the Exciter Joule lamps. These circuits still have me captivated.
   Here is a video that I just made tonight showing a one inch Exciter coil circuit, using a ferrite core, with a comparable output to much bigger Exciters L3 coils.
  Bigger is better, but smaller is better yet, as it's much easier to wind, and costs almost nothing.

   Video:
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GUS_P5aejI&feature=youtu.be

[Pirate88179]

Nick::

I really like those smaller coils.  Great video.

Bill

[NickZ]

  I just bought a new 24watt CFL bulb for about $3.50, which is equivalent of a 100 watt incandescent bulb. It works great on my Exciter Joule Lamp and puts out more light than  the 13 watt ones I been using. The input power draw does go up a bit, and the transistor also gets hotter when using it, but other than that, it works fine. I hope to find an even bigger bulb to try, as soon as I can find them.
  Soon there will be a 100 watt led bulb out on the market, here is the link to that:
http://www.gizmag.com/worlds-first-100-watt-equivalent-led-replacement-bulb/18659/

  Here's a picture of the 24watt CFL, it is probably 10 times cheaper than the 100 led bulb above.