Joule Thief

[xee2]

@ jeanna 


Yes, those are the steps I took. Also comments about twisting wire on diode lead and using cap lead instead of negative battery clip. Nothing needs to be removed from board except large cap. Only requires cutting one lead (other than cutting cap leads to remove it).  No soldering is required - all connections can be made with clip leads.

I am still on my first battery. I only use it to make tests and take photos.

EDIT: replacing 220 ohm resistor with a larger value will make battery last longer and should still light your LEDs (but wait until you get things working before you try that).

[timmy1729]

@Bill,
My torroid has as many turns as yours. which is 1/2 of Timmy's

Maybe it is the core that is making the difference, .I csnnot even light a red led with a 3904. Jesus says he thinks it is resonance. I don't know, maybe. My torroid core is not one inch, though. It is maybe 1/2 inch with the same number of turns.

jeanna

Well, this is interesting. I've used 3904's on both and both light up really bright. So, in that sense, they work beautifully. They won't even do anything connected to a AA on their own. But on my two JT's using the 3904's, the light is very bright. Here are pics of the new JT. Again, I may just be doing something incorrectly because they obviously work and work well. 

[WilbyInebriated]

this kodak board seems to have some sort of 'continuous charging' thing also. cap was discharged and i got zapped as soon as i put the battery in it. anyways, big cap removed, fluoro in place of it wouldn't light but a neon would. i moved the positive connection back to behind the diode or off the transformer pin and the tube lit fine.

positive lead to tube can be attached at either red box, ground lead to tube can be attached at any black box.

[timmy1729]

this kodak board seems to have some sort of 'continuous charging' thing also. cap was discharged and i got zapped as soon as i put the battery in it. anyways, big cap removed, fluoro in place of it wouldn't light but a neon would. i moved the positive connection back to behind the diode or off the transformer pin and the tube lit fine.

positive lead to tube can be attached at either red box, ground lead to tube can be attached at any black box.

@Wilby
You totally rock! 
Is that really all I have to do? Just remove the big cap, hook positive to a red box and negative to a black box? How do I "turn it on" or will it light automatically if the battery is in there?

[WilbyInebriated]

@Wilby
You totally rock! 
Is that really all I have to do? Just remove the big cap, hook positive to a red box and negative to a black box? How do I "turn it on" or will it light automatically if the battery is in there?

thanks, yup thats it. sometimes it just lit as soon as i put the battery in, sometimes i had to push the button.