Joule Thief

[resonanceman]

----
My conclusion is if I could get a uv or maybe just a bright white light to shine up into a cfl tube, perhaps the phosphors would light up just like the regular bulb in the socket.

So then a jt with a led would light up a cfl.

Jeanna

I  have  a  48  UV LED light 
I tried shining  it on some florescent tubes and a CFL
They glowed  a little ........but not  as  much as other things .
Even white paper looked  brighter  than the  tubes
It  could be that the glass   of the tubes   is  absorbing the UV .
Or  my UV LEDs are not  the right  wavelength.




.
gary

Edit

here is the light I  used

http://www.besthongkong.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=&products_id=128

[electricme]

@all
I just made a successful series earth battery

I made 2 separate EB cells, I will make more and add to this setup, but need more material.

I used an aluminium tube 1 inch wide, 7 inches long

I wrapped insulation tape half an inch, from the top, wound it all the way to the bottom and allowed the bottom of the tape to over run and pushed this back up and under the inside of the ally tube.

I did the same with the second tube.

I hammered them both in the ground
I filled them both with dirt.

Then got a 1/2" copper tube, and pushed it inside the ally tube, (Don't let it touch the inside of the ally tube)

Both cells are 2 inches away from each other

Each cell is putting out (with dry dirt) 0.5volt

I connected them in series and the voltage doubled to 1v

I got to fly into town and get some zinc coated bolts and milk. (100klm round trip but worth it)


hooroo
jim

[Pirate88179]

Way to go Jim!!!!!  That is fantastic!

I wonder if we can get a magnesium tube and ram a carbon rod inside it and have a whole bunch of them?  you may have just taken this to an entire new level.

Nice work!

Bill

[sm0ky2]

@Jeanna
Strange you mentioned this, I didnt see anyone reply so I will throw in my opinion.
I have 2 of these SC, same voltage and Farad, I noticed my caps would seem to charge directly off a DC supply, but not off my JT.

I don't seem to have this problem with larger value SC, only this type above.
jim

This is why i rectified the output of the JT, it seems the A/C both charges and UN-charges the cap. or rather charges it oppositely half the cycle, which is an UN-charging...
diode (i used LEDs) going in one side and out the other should fix that problem.

[jeanna]

Jeanna

I  have  a  48  UV LED light 
I tried shining  it on some florescent tubes and a CFL
They glowed  a little ........but not  as  much as other things
Or  my UV LEDs are not  the right  wavelength.

here is the light I  used

http://www.besthongkong.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=&products_id=128

hmm
I guess my reply got lost.

Anyway, I saw this on that page or one just like it.

WARNING: Our MR16 LED Lamps cannot be used with switching regulators whose AC output has a sine frequency in the KHz range. They can be used with AC current from Transformers (both Toroidal and Steel cores, 50 or 60Hz) or with any DC source (Regulated 12V)

I think that is the joule thief they are talking about, don't you?

I also seem to remember someone coming to add the comment when I thought of this uv thing a while ago. Maybe it is the wrong wavelength. It just seemed that sticking the led in the end of the tube the way Bill did with the plastic tube would excite the phosphors directly. And if this guy is right, and he seems to have experimented with it personally, the newer paint or powders are much better than regular fluorescent tube paint anyway. So, they would glow brighter while being turned on with a uv light, and then continue to glow like gadget's glow tiles.

btw,
I have one stuck to each of 2 lights and they are so bright for the first 10 minutes the glow streams to the ceiling and the light comes out through the lampshade. If I charge them with leds they get even brighter- but in spots.

====
Well, still no EB light. I added the 47uF parallel to the supercap and battery leads. It worked fine inside and it did seem to add to the on time of the light after I pulled the plug (inside) , so it is a good idea.

@Sm0ky2,
I agree. the cap empties and fills from the secondary. It is useless to just stick it there unless rectified.

I am intrigued that you got the lights to go in different directions as diodes yes, but I usually see no light or extremely dim light in one direction.

Are they equally bright in both directions?

I think you are doing great work. I am glad you got your jt to work.

jeanna