Selfrunning cold electricity circuit from Dr.Stiffler

[DrStiffler]

@ALL
Some boards were shipped today and if yours was shipped and you are in the US you should receive an email with the tracking number, out side the US, you will still receive an email.

They are going out, but good old USPS can't seem to supply Priority boxes anymore, PO is out of them and we have them orders from the USPS but, no have yet. Good old gov helping out where they can


Oh! Yes if you have not paid yet, they will not be shipped and there is only a few left, not sure yet if there will be any more.

[Loki67671]

@Loki
To get you started.

Specific Heat Capacity of Copper and some good basic info
http://www.chm.davidson.edu/ChemistryApplets/Calorimetry/SpecificHeatCapacityOfCopper.html

http://www.chem.latech.edu/~deddy/chem104/L5Calorie.htm

then there are many goo links that cover it all, but this is a good example

@Dr. Stiffler,
Thanks Doc, I'm working on it.

Jim

[Loki67671]

@All,
I don't build these for a living but give me about a week with subject. 

@Dr. Stiffler,
Do you think this is a likely candidate? Or perhaps just the old 3.00 white foam coolers from the 5 and dime?
Thanks for the links, I'll be busy for a little while. The copper vessel, any ideas? Something common, can large dia.
copper pipe be used successfully? What are we talking 500ml of water? All suggestions on RF shielding for sensors
welcome.  Very good project for the lab.

Best regards,

Jim

[nickle989]

@the Dr. or if somone remembers ... which page had the test points on the circuit showing.

@the Dr. if I don't have a 400pf cap in place but a 390pf could this cause the SEC to fail ?

I am not using the coil cores to make the coil but I have found a similar core to wind on and have the one coil ranging from 2.3uH to 9.8uH and the other one ranging from 7.3uH to 23uH for tuning. For power I am using a 18volt battery from a cordless drill. On a large breadboard with an alluminium backing plate.

Power at the collector is 19.33 volts at the emittor is 11.46 volts just before the 390pf cap. 

I know I am missing something just not sure on what it is.

Thanks for the help if you can.

[Loki67671]

@the Dr. or if somone remembers ... which page had the test points on the circuit showing.

@the Dr. if I don't have a 400pf cap in place but a 390pf could this cause the SEC to fail ?

I am not using the coil cores to make the coil but I have found a similar core to wind on and have the one coil ranging from 2.3uH to 9.8uH and the other one ranging from 7.3uH to 23uH for tuning. For power I am using a 18volt battery from a cordless drill. On a large breadboard with an alluminium backing plate.

Power at the collector is 19.33 volts at the emittor is 11.46 volts just before the 390pf cap. 

I know I am missing something just not sure on what it is.

Thanks for the help if you can.

@Nickle989
Lets work on getting the circuit running first. It's not a good idea to attempt any direct measurements on the transistor at all unless you have some relatively high end, I believe Dr. Stiffler states 100:1 scope probes, gear. Don't do it. Better to keep the meter back at the supply input to the circuit two of them actually. Build the decoupling board and use it also, two or three for that matter. Oscillators hate having test gear hung on them. Use 1 meter for input current measurement and the other for input voltage measurement.

Please tell me you have typo above. There is no capacitor in the EMITTER leg of this circuit. There is a series tank circuit in the BASE ( 1 lead of the 400pF capacitor connected to the base, the other lead connects to the variable coil you wound, and the other lead of the coil to ground ) . Then of course the 1meg resistor from BASE to COLLECTOR. The transistor, (this transistor) pinout will be, flat side facing towards you and leads down starting at the left, Emitter, Base, Collector. EBC is one of the very common lead configurations used on transistors. The EMITTER ties directly to circuit ground. Break out the schematic or better yet print it out and identify all of the components leads on the paper. Draw a picture of the components if you have to and run through the connections (without power) until you are sure of the build, matches Dr Stiffler's schematic exactly, then breadboard it. I happen to know for a fact that this device runs on a 390pF capacitor, what I don't know is if it operates in conventional mode or in SEC. A good 390pF should work but Dr. Stiffler has stated 400pF for a reason I think.

Nickle, please order a board from Dr. Stiffler, like I did, so you can have a running example on your bench. From there you can breadboard all day long, and possibly smoke some components, I have and I'll bet Dr. Stiffler has too  , but still have your baseline starting point or reference running. For such a simple looking circuit there is really a lot going on and you have to wire it exactly as in the diagram. No meters on the transistor or it may not run at all and even if it does it will change operation when the meter leads are taken away. 

Good job on those coils. You now have plenty of tuning range once the wiring is correct. Don't worry about test points yet. They will hurt you more than help at this point. TRUST me on this one. Make the 1/4 inch copper tube heat sinks for your transistor(s), sounds like your going to need them.  I mean no offence to you or anyone else here, but how much building experience do you have? It will give me an idea of how to try and help you.  That is if you don't mind me asking. Slow but steady forward! Order parts!


Best regards,

Jim