Joule Thief

[xee2]

@ Pirate88179

Nice video. Is the transistor case connected to the collector? If so (maybe even if not), you might try adding a small capacitor (100 pF) from collector to emitter and see if LED stays lit longer. That does sometimes increase brightness since it stores part of energy in short pulses.

[xee2]

@ all

The base resistor in my last circuit was actually 100 ohms, not 500 ohms.

[Pirate88179]

@ Pirate88179

Nice video. Is the transistor case connected to the collector? If so (maybe even if not), you might try adding a small capacitor (100 pF) from collector to emitter and see if LED stays lit longer. That does sometimes increase brightness since it stores part of energy in short pulses.

Xee2:

Thank you.  Not that I know of.  I just stuck the 2N3904 into the breadboard along with the other components you saw.  I just figured, with my lack of real knowledge, that my body might somehow be drawing the last of the supers cap energy out.  As you saw, I found this quite by accident.  (as always seems to happen with me)
I can try adding the cap you mentioned to see what happens.  This was a while ago and I have lit more leds for a longer time with the same set-up. (Pre-earth battery tests)  I am always willing to try anything if it might give more light longer.

Thanks for your input on this.

Bill

[jeanna]

Xee2,
I kind of follow having the second transistor in your circuit. It is an amplifier circuit, I think? But I just cannot get why the other one.
Is it protection?
I do not understand the purpose. Would you please explain it?

thank you,

jeanna

BTW,
You might lower the bifilar turns.
I found with that medium that between 6 and 7 turns gave me the best results.

j

[innovation_station]

im trying to find the good spark gap material ...

for hot gaps ... 

not much luck this gap must be close if not touching ....  errr what a pain

i have tryed a few diffrent materials ...

best is carbon ...  but ... it sticks in time   so im thinking of rotateing the damm thing with a fan and the fan motor ...  if i spinn the carbon rod .. like it was in a drill ... it will likely work better ...

but now thats a bunch more junk and will probally melt down ....

hummmmmm

anyone ever use nano crystal dust ..  on the gaps ... 

i have not tryed it but ...  i think some in the past have played with it ....

i tryed bronze welding rod ...  wow for a spark ...  tryed mig welding wire copper coated ....

red hot in seconds

where can a dude find some tunston ....  cheep like free...  and it needs to be thicker than light bulb filiment ...

have not tryed alum yet ... 

might try that next

ist!