Joule Thief

[amigo]

To further help everyone's education on the subject I submit two eBooks, please find the links below:

Light-emitting Diodes : http://www.mediafire.com/?z2i4niwyf2y

Power Supplies for LED Drivers : http://www.mediafire.com/?md0itlk5dgj

[WilbyInebriated]

@All

I was thinking(dangerous, I know) about how to improve our standard JT. Since we have a design that works(i.e. lights multiple LED's), I want to gather a list of what our more experienced posters think is wrong with the design and what would be the ideal to counter that flaw and how we might go about it. I know, you're probably saying "That's what this thread IS." Yeah, I know that, but after 77 pages and a camera circuit thrown into the mix, it's quite hard to keep it straight. But, creating a small summary like this every now and then, should help some of us that are organizationally challenged and don't have an extensive electrical background. The method where everyone blindly experiments when others have made improvements is recreating the wheel many times. Listing problems with the design and solutions that we have found should benefit everyone. This way we will not waste resources rediscovering improvements and can work on further improvements.

So, here is what I remember people saying so far(not necessarily from this thread):
1. The two-wire-at-a-time coil winding isn't the most efficient. What is the most energy efficient method and wire gauge? Is stranded or solid best?
2. Multiple ways energy is wasted. We could use a list of ways from the more experienced among us.I've heard complaints about the resistor, transistor, and other things.
3. Transistor selection. Apparently, some are more efficient for this purpose than others. Which are more efficient?


I am sooooo not trying to be bossy, pretentious, or anything. I'm just trying to help and this is one thing I think would help. I'm not trying to be communist about this either. So, I hope I'm not projecting the wrong idea. 

you're not projecting the wrong idea at all.
i might come at it a little sideways though. before you go listing the problems and what doesn't work, a purpose or goal should be stated. ie: a goal of 80% efficiency or lighting 100 leds, etc.
it's hard to say what is 'wrong', when 'right' hasn't been defined, but i like where you are going with organization.

here's my rundown of your list.
1. depends on your goal. if your goal is a cheap and easy 'mac guyver' emergency light hack, then cat5 or twisted pair phone cable wrapped around a rusty nail or paperclip is great. if you're shooting for 90% efficiency, probably not so great.
2. most of the losses are going to come from the base drive and magnetic components, ie: transformer.
3. the low supply voltage of the JT circuit make selection of a transistor with low saturation voltage critical in obtaining higher efficiencies.

hope that helps

[Mk1]

@All

I was thinking(dangerous, I know) about how to improve our standard JT. Since we have a design that works(i.e. lights multiple LED's), I want to gather a list of what our more experienced posters think is wrong with the design and what would be the ideal to counter that flaw and how we might go about it. I know, you're probably saying "That's what this thread IS." Yeah, I know that, but after 77 pages and a camera circuit thrown into the mix, it's quite hard to keep it straight. But, creating a small summary like this every now and then, should help some of us that are organizationally challenged and don't have an extensive electrical background. The method where everyone blindly experiments when others have made improvements is recreating the wheel many times. Listing problems with the design and solutions that we have found should benefit everyone. This way we will not waste resources rediscovering improvements and can work on further improvements.

So, here is what I remember people saying so far(not necessarily from this thread):
1. The two-wire-at-a-time coil winding isn't the most efficient. What is the most energy efficient method and wire gauge? Is stranded or solid best?
2. Multiple ways energy is wasted. We could use a list of ways from the more experienced among us.I've heard complaints about the resistor, transistor, and other things.
3. Transistor selection. Apparently, some are more efficient for this purpose than others. Which are more efficient?


I am sooooo not trying to be bossy, pretentious, or anything. I'm just trying to help and this is one thing I think would help. I'm not trying to be communist about this either. So, I hope I'm not projecting the wrong idea. 

@ All and timmy

First thing i think we must focus on is how to recycle the charge sent in the coil.
Like feeding it to opposite side of dual jt At both ends of the coils feeding again to opposite side to increase voltage or sent to a cap for help on initial pulse.

Also finding the best transistor to get saturated at the lowest amps and volt possible ,or taking a 555 timer for switching making sure that the coil are timed , and leave the transistor for amplifying.

Improvement on pickup coil , design or material get more voltage out, in a set space.

Make it self oscillate on caps, creating a self-oscillate transformer, and go to the moon. lol

To do that the circuit needs to work both ways like your lungs , that are filing them self because there empty.

Yes it sounds impossible , but is it? Or at least go back a 100 years when electricity was free as the air.

[innovation_station]

ist's ss mac switch ....     whistleing free engery 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBjN0wO05-w



ist!

[WilbyInebriated]

ist's ss mac switch ....     whistleing free engery 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBjN0wO05-w



ist!

where's the 'free energy'? the video was a relay making noise.
where are your measurements? where is the meter?
no scope, no ammeter, no voltmeter = free energy?  come on, please.