Joule Thief

[xee2]

@ jeanna

I agree. If it is a new diode that is not the problem. I added a note about trying a neon to my last post. You might try that. I would like to find out what is happening so that we can all share our measurements.

[xee2]

@ jeanna

This is my results with neon.

[Pirate88179]

XEE2:

Wow, that neon is pretty bight there.  Nice circuit.

Bill

[Artic_Knight]

this i dont understand, there is the "old rule" electronics and the "new rule" electronics, the old rule is that electricity flows from + to -, the new rule is just the opposite. the reason for this is that atoms have electrons that travel down a wire and a electron has a - charge. well thats fine but how does a cap with a + charge do any work then? does it obsorb a - charge from the vacume? and why does it draw power from a battery to put that + charge on the cap when the + charge of a cap symbolizes the absence of charge?  the more i hear EE's talk about electronics the more i think the industry has no F*'n clue!  if someone has a explenation for this and wants to try to educate me please feel free.

[xee2]

@ Artic_Knight

A positive charge in a capacitor is just a lack of electrons. Electrons flowing in a wire is similar to air flowing through tubes. A large negative charge is like a high air pressure (excess of electrons = excess of air). A high positive charge is like a vacuum (shortage of electrons = shortage of air). The electrons want to flow from where there is a high negative charge (excess of electrons) to where there is a high positive charge (shortage of electrons). Just like air wants to flow from where there is a high air pressure (excess of air) to where there is a vacuum (shortage of air).