Joule Thief

[nievesoliveras]

@ Nievesoliveras

Hmmm tricky one this, If you have tried a voltage booster and it still won't get brighter suggests something else is wonky.
I'm no expert at this, but mabe the following suggestions may help.

If the HV unit works on a different JT, then try changing the tube itself, just mabe the tube is wonky or reached its end of life.
or, mabe the HV windings have a internal breakdown under load.

jim

I do have a circuit from a CFL spiral bulb that the bulb got broken. I will use that one connected to the house AC to test the tube.
By the way is there any way to use that circuit with an AA battery?

Jesus

[nievesoliveras]

The tube is good.
Then must be the transformer, or I just dont know.

Jesus

[xee2]

@ Nievesoliveras

These circuits will never bring the tube to full brightness because they are only delivering a fraction of the power required for full brightness. Brightness depends on power delivered, which in turn depends on input power and transformer. The following is a photo using the Kodak transformer (open circuit output voltage is about 300 volts). The Fuji transformer seems to work better but I have not tried it.

[nievesoliveras]

@ Nievesoliveras

These circuits will never bring the tube to full brightness because they are only delivering a fraction of the power required for full brightness. Brightness depends on power delivered, which in turn depends on input power and transformer. The following is a photo using the Kodak transformer (open circuit output voltage is about 300 volts). The Fuji transformer seems to work better but I have not tried it.

You are right! That one you did is as bright as mine.
Nice work!

Jesus

[WilbyInebriated]

if you want to run the fluoro circuits off of 3V for a sustained amount of time you can change the 220R to something like 1K or higher to keep the transistor from overheating.

i took the kk05a6 circuit pictured below and removed everything but the transistor, transformer and 220R (which i replaced with a 7.5K ohm) resistor. it runs happily at 3V for extended periods with much better brightness.