Joule Thief

[TinselKoala]

Wow, a mosfet with a 1v max gate threshold voltage. That's pretty cool. I just wish it was big enough for me to see without magnifiers!

[magpwr]

Here is the schematic, and an alternate variation that is more efficient.  The original circuit produces sine waves.  The alternate circuit is trapezoidal with fast edges.

hi MarkE,

That's the way man.

Research and development faster than a bullet train.

This is the way how i love to get things done.

To sit and rest and watch our bio-clock tick away is not the way.

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I was merely thinking earlier on in the day to connect to a 1n4148 diode to 22222 transistor collector and use a 1uf capacitor at diode output to act as a voltage doubler for my programmable pic12f675 chip which can run as low as 2volts.

I have attached a tiny video of my quick programmed pic12f675 doing 2 led flip-flop running of from 1 x AAA battery.

I'm sure the improved version of yours can power up even more components in a assembled circuit using 1 battery.Nice

[MarkE]

hi MarkE,

That's the way man.

Research and development faster than a bullet train.

This is the way how i love to get things done.

To sit and rest and watch our bio-clock tick away is not the way.

-------------------------------
I was merely thinking earlier on in the day to connect to a 1n4148 diode to 22222 transistor collector and use a 1uf capacitor at diode output to act as a voltage doubler for my programmable pic12f675 chip which can run as low as 2volts.

I have attached a tiny video of my quick programmed pic12f675 doing 2 led flip-flop running of from 1 x AAA battery.

I'm sure the improved version of yours can power up even more components in a assembled circuit using 1 battery.Nice

If you want something really compact and efficient for that type of application then I recommend an NCP1400.  You can more or less name your output voltage:  2.5V, 3.0V, 3.3V etc.  SparkFun sells an NCP1402 board for $6.  The only downside to that is that if you have a very light load the voltage will float up on you.  That's a potential problem for A/D work, but may be fine for many applications.  You can buy the SparkFun board and remove the NCP1402 and replace it with an NCP1400.  The standby current on the NCP1400 is very low.  So you can use this for things that need to run on a battery for months at a time.

[magpwr]

If you want something really compact and efficient for that type of application then I recommend an NCP1400.  You can more or less name your output voltage:  2.5V, 3.0V, 3.3V etc.  SparkFun sells an NCP1402 board for $6.  The only downside to that is that if you have a very light load the voltage will float up on you.  That's a potential problem for A/D work, but may be fine for many applications.  You can buy the SparkFun board and remove the NCP1402 and replace it with an NCP1400.  The standby current on the NCP1400 is very low.  So you can use this for things that need to run on a battery for months at a time.

hi MarkE,
This is a interesting component which you recommended.
I did spot a seller in China is selling 10 pieces which output 5volts at $3.22USD with free shipment.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/10PCS-NCP1402SN50T1G-ON-IC-REG-BOOST-5V-0-2A-5TSOP-NEW-R5-/291114101279?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43c7c0aa1f
Taking cost of other supporting smd components it would be around $1 to diy.

[Pirate88179]

I have not as of yet fired up the 1402's but, I think I like the specs better than the 1400's.  At least, for what i am attempting to do.

I can't believe the price (cheap) on those sparkfun 1402 breakout boards.  It does not really say but do the components shown actually come with the pc board?  Or, is it just a board?  When I get paid, I will order a few of them.  (Thanks Mark E.)

All I am trying to do is have a small circuit that lights several leds and will run a battery down to .3 volts.  According to what I think I have read on their site, the sparkfun boards as shipped will not do that.  But, as mark suggested, I can manipulate my components onto the board and that would be a great, cheap, and easy way of prototyping.

Farmhand:

Thank you for your explanation of the 1402 hook-up.  You just saved me hours of work over here and I appreciate that.

Bill