Joule Thief

[dasimpson]

i will try this tomorrow. glad that you also answered. so i get a wide overview what can be done. please see also my post #14564 for dasimpson. i wonder how it can be seen from outside if it is a camera with aa or aaa.

can you please point right to this pdf for the aa circuit.

best
jerry

templer same info i put but he has removed all the parts that are not needed
but i ant sure how a pot will help when you have a 15k resister there anyway

[gadgetmall]

templer same info i put but he has removed all the parts that are not needed
but i ant sure how a pot will help when you have a 15k resister there anyway

Replacing r2 with a 5k pot allows you to control the Bias(v+) of the transistor . This allows you to get the unit to oscillate at a lower volts thus the unit runs longer .This is also the Brightness Control .A small Disk capacitor across the Pot outer legs Creates a resonance tank circuit to further increase the "steadiness" of the oscillator frequency . You have to try different values for the cap.This helps on clf bulbs becuase they are not all the same and some are harder to ionize the gas to make it light up brighter. You can also warm the cfl bulb up first with a hair dryer and it will fire them more quickly and brighter starts .you can also put a momentary push switch across the pot to quickly start the circuit but do not hold it closed .just a quick tap . Thats about it for a normal mod of mine . there are others things you can do like replace the transistor with a more powerful gain and also you can replace it with a darlington transistor for extream mods .On almost all the transformers the outside is the primary for this JT.it is usually 6 to 8 turns around the transformer with # 26 wire.you can add more turns to this and further increase the gain of that little transformer secondary coil . And there are a few more mods and that involves using the trigger transformer and a second stage . This Involves feeding back to the trigger transformer and nees some board cuts and parts . this is where you get 2000+ . Have Fun with it and experiment with them . they are very useful and i guess i have a little Mexican in me cause i love lights . Light Is good.You all have a Great 2011 . HNY and God Bless
Albert
A.K.A.
Gadget.

[dasimpson]

Replacing r2 with a 5k pot allows you to control the Bias(v+) of the transistor . This allows you to get the unit to oscillate at a lower volts thus the unit runs longer .This is also the Brightness Control .A small Disk capacitor across the Pot outer legs Creates a resonance tank circuit to further increase the "steadiness" of the oscillator frequency . You have to try different values for the cap.This helps on clf bulbs becuase they are not all the same and some are harder to ionize the gas to make it light up brighter. You can also warm the cfl bulb up first with a hair dryer and it will fire them more quickly and brighter starts .you can also put a momentary push switch across the pot to quickly start the circuit but do not hold it closed .just a quick tap . Thats about it for a normal mod of mine . there are others things you can do like replace the transistor with a more powerful gain and also you can replace it with a darlington transistor for extream mods .On almost all the transformers the outside is the primary for this JT.it is usually 6 to 8 turns around the transformer with # 26 wire.you can add more turns to this and further increase the gain of that little transformer secondary coil . And there are a few more mods and that involves using the trigger transformer and a second stage . This Involves feeding back to the trigger transformer and nees some board cuts and parts . this is where you get 2000+ . Have Fun with it and experiment with them . they are very useful and i guess i have a little Mexican in me cause i love lights . Light Is good.You all have a Great 2011 . HNY and God Bless
Albert
A.K.A.
Gadget.

ty that has just filled a large gap in missing knowledge about the cap on the resistor and how to drop the voltage usesge.
i only work with home made one's at moment i can not wind alot of winds.
bike accident limited how long i can do fiddly things for befor my hands hurt to much
i have many tourches made out of jt now but looking to build units to light my house with in expencive solar panels maybe earth battery when the weather improves somewhat

[WilbyInebriated]

anyone heard from jim (electricme) lately? big flooding in queensland north of his place. just wondering if anyone has talked to him lately and if he's ok...

[Pirate88179]

anyone heard from jim (electricme) lately? big flooding in queensland north of his place. just wondering if anyone has talked to him lately and if he's ok...

No I have not.  Read about the flooding as well.  he usually calls me about once/month but it has been a while now.  He had been posting over in the Stubblefield topic area but have not seen him there either.  I do hope he is ok.

Bill