Joule Thief

[jeanna]

Yeay!

I got this latest new LITTLE toroid to light a fluoro.
I couldn't get the tube warm enough to light the 18 inch one, but since the 4w fits in my hand, it warmed right up and lit as soon as I touched the other end.

I had to hold the left side and touch the right connection. I could get a glow under my hand on the 18 inch one, but it just would not spread. This was a cinch.

I had 350 volts max with the 2N3904 but when I put in the 2N3055, it too said 356v across the secondary, but I could tune it higher and I got it up to 411v well, 105-411v waving backNforth.

2N3055
4T,4T,306T back and forth 4 times, I think
68pF cap across base resistor
65R
3 more battery caps
47uF across the battery
2 more 47uF caps in series then parallel to the battery.
These perhaps need to be changed. I was trying things the other day and never changed these battcaps since then.

yeay!

jeanna

[dllabarre]

Yeay!

I got this latest new LITTLE toroid to light a fluoro.
I couldn't get the tube warm enough to light the 18 inch one, but since the 4w fits in my hand, it warmed right up and lit as soon as I touched the other end.

I had to hold the left side and touch the right connection. I could get a glow under my hand on the 18 inch one, but it just would not spread. This was a cinch.

I had 350 volts max with the 2N3904 but when I put in the 2N3055, it too said 356v across the secondary, but I could tune it higher and I got it up to 411v well, 105-411v waving backNforth.
jeanna

AWESOME!  WTG!

Can't wait to see the schematic when you get it finalized!
I want to repro. one.

DonL

[jeanna]

Hi DonL
The schematic is the same. Just the toroid changed.
I guess I could make one for the record... oK I will.

jeanna
edit here it is...

[Pirate88179]

Jeanna:

Nice job!  On the larger tube, try using a neo (a very strong one) to "drag" the light down the tube.  I have done that and it seems to work.  I have no idea why.  Once the entire tube is lit, remove the mag. and it stays lit.

Great going.

Bill

[the_big_m_in_ok]

jeanna said:

The schematic is the same. Just the toroid changed.
I guess I could make one for the record... oK I will.

Hi Jeanna,
Glad you uploaded the file picture that went with this quotation(Reply #9450).  Simple and powerful.

But it occurs to me:  Have you thought of tapping some the power coming off your pickup coil, rectifying it, and bringing it back to the positive side of the battery?
I anticipate problems?  1) Other researchers find it hard to power anything, and especially, self-recharge a battery from the generating circuit.  And, 2) It would dim your output lamp, possibly seriously?

BTW, do we celebrate when the Joule Thief thread records 10,000 posts?  I'm not much of a party-goer.      

--Lee