Joule Thief

[Pirate88179]

MK1:

Great post.  Did you notice that Texas Instruments had the "TM" labeled after the word "Joule thief"?  This is great. (not really)  How can they trademark a name that has been in the public domain for so many years here on OU dot com as well as other sites?  the answer is...they can't.  but, they did.  I do not believe this would ever stand up to a challenge in court.  you can not trademark a name that has already been in the public domain.  I am not an attorney but this is my understanding.

Other than that....nice to see mainstream folks are finally using a technology that has been around for a while.  Thank you for posting this.

Bill

[jeanna]

What happened?  I was really hoping to build a circuit for the kids in my Science class to show them how they could light-up a florescent bulb with a 1.5v battery.   Wilby's posts seem to have been deleted.   Sorry I missed them.   Was it done with a Joule Thief?  Anyone have something like that replicated?

Bill

I don't know about a fluorescent light but I have made 2 of these cuties. They are great. A bit small. Probably good for little fingers.

I got the design from makezine weekend projects called "make a joule thief" I will try to post a pic here, but whoknows?? with all the newest changes here if it will go. If not try makezine archives. I think the newer one is more complicated.

here goes...

jeanna

[Goat]

@ All

I have got a fluorescent bulb to light but it was a $4 bug zapper and it used 2 AA batteries not 1 AA battery but....just hook up the inside wire to one side of the fluorescent bulb and the outside wire screen to the other side of the bulb and press the button and that's it!

It's a resonating circuit and will light the bulb for awhile until the circuit melts down if you keep it on too long or charge a Cap to hundreds of volts in my experience 

Regards,
Paul

[Pirate88179]

@ Jeanna:

Yes, I believe that circuit is very similar if not the same I used in my Joule Thief of which I showed in my pictures a few pages back.  I also used the 3904 transistor.  Nice to see you here.

I remember you experimenting with the Jule Thief about a year ago in our earth batteries topics.  I should have paid more attention back then.  Well, better late than never right?

Bill

[Freezer]

Haven't tried this circuit out yet, but maybe people might give it a try.

http://www.josepino.com/circuits/?fluorescent_light.jpc