Joule Thief

[xee2]

@ jeanna

I think you should just try reducing the number of turns. I do not think you will be able to correctly move them farther apart. The most interesting voltage would be the AC voltage between the secondary coil leads with nothing attached. The low value DC voltages you got were because you were measuring AC voltage using a DC setting on the meter.Adding a bridge rectifier might be interesting, but I think not having one is not your problem because all of you LEDs seem to be able to light up, just not at the same time.

EDIT: You can keep removing turns until the AC voltage between the leads of the secondary is 4 VAC when nothing is connected to them.

[Mk1]

@gaggetmail

Ferrite is mostly iron and easily magnetize just sending current , then become magnets them self, Soft iron in any shapes exhibit really good because they get magnetize easily but don't stay magnetize and also conduct polarity real easy.Harder steel will do the same but tend to stay magnetize a bit , reducing efficient,  long answer but yes it will attract magnet but only when under voltage, so basically we are working with electromagnet. But the way polarity works with magnet the same can be said of the jt. The reason why the jt use 2 coil connected in opposite wound direction , because magnets give out more energy when in opposite directions.


But Ferrite magnet are possible.

[gadgetmall]

I@Mk1 . I know about electromagnets Ive been in electronics for 30 years . I built an inverter from a multi vibrator in the 8th grade back in the 60's to power a black and white tv in my dads car when we went on long trips . . My neos stick to a bare toroid . any shape ,tiny or large ,like they are made of steel . I was just wondering if your toroids stick to magnets . Forgive me if i didn't catch the answer..

[Mk1]

@gadgetmall

Sorry, did not mean to show you off , but most on this forum don't know that , and yes it is iron, it is sticking to it like glue as all my toroids do.


And happy to see someone that has a better knowledge of the magnetic than me.

Welcome , your help will be needed.

[gadgetmall]

Ok thanks for the answer . I was told ferrite was non magnetic as in the old am radio ferrite rods . they are non magnetic and wont stick .Somewhere i heard that iron wouldn't make a good Jt but that Blows that out of the water . i guess I'm getting touchy at my age . even thought I'm  a single dad with a 6 year old Daughter i still am Young looking and young at heart , but  touchy ..I'm A musician too . Guitar and in a band for 12 Yrs.. So is every electronics person have a musical talent?