Simple to build isolation transformer that consumes less power than it gives out

[wattsup]

@JouleSeeker

I also just ordered two isolation transformers (IT) that have two primaries and two secondaries. The company that makes them is in Montreal.

http://www.marcustransformer.com
Model: MO350B
Voltage: Primary 120/240 Secondary 120/240

I could order them locally. To get a single to single IT, I would have to make a special order so more bucks. The one I chose is 350VA. Hope that is not to high.lololololol

When you do your connections, you should identify each wire with a letter then do tests and measure outputs but log the connections and results and this will give you a base for when connecting both ITs together.

Also consider using the two primaries in one IT as the primary and secondary and just forget about the other secondary for now. It worked very well with my toroid transformer. Seems like the two primaries are closer to the core.

Additional to the outputs I am getting, I am also getting output on the secondaries and will work out a way to measure them all at once (if possible) to get a complete output level that will be more them the 97% I am getting now. That's with these regular toroids.

It is a real vacation for me when just using the mains since no mosfets to blow up. lol

wattsup

[JouleSeeker]

Good ideas, thanks. 

Meanwhile I've gone ahead with the straightforward 2-trafo build initially suggested by Jack N.
Results this evening, sorry the vid is hurried and imperfect:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1Y4J4VQ2JI&feature=youtu.be

Here's the text with my vid tonight:
At ou.com, inventor "Jack Noskills" has open-source presented a clever little circuit, shown at the start of this vid.  Jack presented a few variations, one without the cap C, and that is the one I replicated here.

I used two 1:1 isolation transformers as recommended by Jack, and connected them as shown in his schematic.  My load is one 40-watt bulb, which glows dimly in my light-box (previously described) and I monitor the output lux.  I also record the input and output voltages, and especially the input power and output power (using Kill-a-Watt meters) as I vary the input voltage.

Here's what I observed:  the efficiency = Pout/Pin improves as I lower the input voltage with this system, while the light output decreases.  It's interesting that a single trafo running on the mains gives me an efficiency of about 84-85%.  With this circuit, I get about that overall efficiency at 90 V input, but as I lower the voltage the efficiency ratio appears to increase, taking the Pout/Pin ratio as displayed on the watt-meters. 

At 70V in, Vout = 47.9V; Pin = 9.6W and Pout = 11.4 so the ratio is 119% (already a surprise...).

At 67V in, Vout stays the same notably, at 47.9V.   Pin drops to 8.9 W while Pout INcreases to 11.8W so the ratio is 133!  strange IMHO.

BEFORE we get all excited, I must note that I have another way of checking on Pout -- this is the light output of the incandescent bulb.  At 70V input, the lux meter reads 38 lux.  At 67V input, supposedly the output power goes up some (although Vout stays the same), yet the lux meter reads 31 lux; down.

I don't know how to explain all this, but in the spirit of open-source sharing, I share my latest results with Jack's circuit (sans C, but not sans souci).

In any case -- fun!  thanks, Jack N.

Happy experimenting!

[T-1000]

Results this evening, sorry the vid is hurried and imperfect:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1Y4J4VQ2JI&feature=youtu.be

Very good!

Now we need to take it into physics laboratories and find out what really is cause of effect 

Many people failed to understand where exactly we have power amplification and in result we get complex OU circuits while it is enough to have very simple one..

Cheers!

[Lynxsteam]

Joule Seeker - Your experimental results are encouraging and surprising. 
Congratulations Jack - at this point we can't rule this out.  And that is a big step in the right direction!

I am continuing my avenue with your circuit as well.  My thought was that a Bedini motor is so close already to self running when tuned, that your circuit could possibly get it over the "hump".  I know it is farfetched, but that is what I am trying.

This morning I was making some headway.  I now have your circuit fed by the flyback off the collector and outputting through a bridge rectifier.  I did something and blew my last 3055 so I have to go get some more.  I had the output up to 11 volts DC and need to get to 13 volts.  I have changed the drive coil, changed distance, resistance to 33-58 ohms, deleted the isolated secondary.

[JouleSeeker]

    Sounds like you're making progress, Lynx -- and that's great!  I'd admire your tenacity and clever ideas. 

    Now don't put too much weight on my result from last night...  I warned that while the output power indicated by the Kill-A-Watt P3 meter was high, yet the bulb was DIMMING as I lowered the input (and output) voltage.

   I followed up today with a number of tests.  The most telling was putting just the 40W bulb on the output from the Variac, with just a P3 meter in between.  Plot below shows results. 

Interpretation:   The response of light-lux versus watts in is nice and linear from about 70 V (on the P3 meter) on up to mains voltage, using the P3 Kill-a-watt meter to measure Pin. Below about 70V, the P3 watt-meter is NOT reliable for measuring power.   Looks good for V > 70V on the P3 meter.

I have another watt-meter, by WANF, and it won't even give a power reading when the voltage is that low. 

THIS does not mean that Jack's circuit won't show ou with some work or tuning, but yesterday evening the output power to the second P3 meter was sitting at about 50V when I was getting "interesting" results -- and the METER IS NOT TO BE TRUSTED AT SUCH LOW OPERATING VOLTAGE; as my results today demonstrate, and as the dimming bulb last night was warning me.

It's good to have independent ways to monitor the power, such as light-output and a watt-meter.