Joule Thief

[TheNOP]

@MK1
there is an amplification in the jt.

what i think you meant is:
it is not the amplification that does the job, it is the frequency of the kicks.

[jeanna]

@ Jeanna:

I think you just described the Darlington transistor arrangement.

HA!

What I always wondered about the Darlington, not the ones you buy but the ones you make from 2 transistors, is why could one not make 3,4 or five transistors hooked together like this?

I think they do in IC's and in computers. I think this is the main thing of the logic gates used in our computers.

Thanks for this info. I had been meaning to look up Darlington transistors for a while, but I kept forgetting.

jeanna

ADD EDIT

but switching in this jt circuit its not there to amplify anything.

I was trying to say that exact thing. We are using the transistor as a switch, not as an amplifier. but now that you mention it ... It really isn't a bad idea. Since a transistor does both things. hmm.

I am not in favor of complicating this, but I might want to let someone explore this complication.

Go for it. I am watching.

jeanna

[Pirate88179]

@All
I have to report some success! I got an LED to light using my small JT powered by my Earth Batteries. Notice I used the plural because I had to use two earth batteries in parallel. Right now I have two copper pipe and galvanized spike batteries and one copper pipe and magnesium battery. I had to hook one of the copper/spike batts and the copper/magnesium battery in parallel. The copper/mag produces 1.35vdc, but only like 2mA. The copper/spike would give only .3 or so vdc but approx 90mA. I seriously think I'm doing something wrong with my batteries, because there are others that have gotten way better results with just the copper/spike setup. The small JT made the LED light, although not very bright. It was just a regular red LED from a big multi-pack. I need to wait until the ground dries a little to play around with the position of the magnesium. I need to try this with my big JT with the Darlington on it before I put the TIP3055 on it.

@Bill
What material wire did you use to come from your magnesium? All I had available was copper wire. I used it bare so it would make contact. What do you use to come from the carbon rod? I need to just suck it up and buy mine so I can get some juice 
Then I will have your setup. Carbon rod & 3 magnesium fire starters, correct?

@ Timmy:

I had posted this photo before back somewhere.  I simply made a ring of stranded copper wire and tinned it with my soldering iron.  I made it so the ID of the ring fit tightly to the OD of the carbon rods.  Then I soldered on a small connector ring on each one to make it easy for alligator clip attachment .For the mag. blocks I simply tied them together with plastic wire ties and then clipped onto one of the blocks (using the hole) with the alligator clip on one of my test leads.  I have seen no indication of damage to any of the connections due to dissimilar wire contact.  I was worried about that with the copper but perhaps the coating of solder prevent this...I don't really know.  With a little more thought, you or someone else can come up with a better system I am sure but this has worked well for me.  when I get back outside experimenting, if I come up with any improvements, I will let you know.  sorry for the delay in responding to your post but it got buried a few pages back.

Bill

[gadgetmall]

Pirate where did you get carbon rods from . and how big are they . The only ones i can find are in d cells old carbon zinc ones  My earth battery is Jukin now i found a big copper pipe and drove it today . almost full bright with 25 turn jt the normal way one led . I have one negitive and two positive stakes now . 1.25 volts .02ma

[gadgetmall]

@all

I found something interesting for kubikop http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=zfuShlR8-pI

It runs a 555 timer circuit from the jt, We could use the idea !

First jt runs the 555 circuit, than we use that 555 to switch the second jt toroid , if we do this the freq will not be affected by the change in voltage,

Why is this important ?

Well , the major problem is that the freq is the key to everything,

ex : if the battery is to low the led will flash , not because there is not enough power but because its not switching fast enough, then you adjust the resistor to base to get it going again. (not a problem in 555 circuit)

ex:If the excess energy is feed back in the input(feed to source, or exponential experiment) the raise in voltage will kill the output power!
the jt works it best a 1.5 volt, but only because the switching is in range, using a 555 circuit would permit the same speed of switching (freq) at different voltage maybe exponential .

Thank you all , and to kubikop!



Mark

Mark i cant find that circuit anywhere as stated by kubikop  in his comments ..Do you have it i want to rplicate this . all i can find is 555 blinker circuit . TIA

Al