Joule Thief

[Pirate88179]

Gary, yes, I do have Christmas tree lights, which I do plan to try as soon as possible. 
Now, I am speaking of that red neon in the camera circuit...just to clarify things.  That is the neon I lit up.  Would that take 90V too?  I have some larger neons I plan to check out later tonight.

Some of those boards have a small neon, some of the others I have seen use an led.

One thing we have found with the Fuji, if you can light the small tube, lighting a larger one is easier and brighter.  That is one thing I believe Josepino missed in his design.  That and not cutting the end of the diode to get the full wave.  I was not happy with the light of the little tube but then tried the same JT on a 48" tube and was very pleased.  You might try one if you get the chance.

Bill

[protonmom]

Bill, I think it is a neon because it normally does not light.  I could be wrong, though.  How do I test?  Gary mentioned the ac dc thing.  I have a few other neons that are not from any camera board, so  will try those, too.
Have you or anyone else ever tried lighting a DEAD fluorescent tube?  I have some I might try, but I did read somewhere that someone used dead ones and got light.

[Pirate88179]

Yes, I have lit "burned out" tubes i got from the dumpster.  With the JT, we are lighting them differently than they were designed to be lit.  If one electrode has burned through, just use the other set.

The only way I would know to tell the difference of a small led vs neon is to try to light it with 3 volts...if it lights it is an led.

Gary is correct about the ac/dc thing and both sides of the neon being lighted if it is ac.  I believe the Fuji is outputting pulsed dc as far as I know.

Bill

[resonanceman]

Some of those boards have a small neon, some of the others I have seen use an led.

One thing we have found with the Fuji, if you can light the small tube, lighting a larger one is easier and brighter.  That is one thing I believe Josepino missed in his design.  That and not cutting the end of the diode to get the full wave.  I was not happy with the light of the little tube but then tried the same JT on a 48" tube and was very pleased.  You might try one if you get the chance.

Bill

I have not played with camera circuits much.........but it seems to me the circuits with the neons are better than the circuits with the LED.

I just remembered something.  I think someone said the best way to modify camera boards is also the easiest.
Just remove the capacitor and bridge across the diode going to the capacitor ...........then give it a try.


gary

[protonmom]

Boy oh boy, there is nothing like getting shot down!  LOL, I think you were right, Bill.  I took a closer look at that red light and it appears to be made just like a led light.  Oh well.  But why does that particular bulb light up with only one wire?  Is that normal? 
Well, if it is NOT a neon, then by golly, I will try and try until I finally succeed!  I will go look for a neon, and remove all leds from the circuit and try out my known neon  bulbs. 
Back to the old drawing board.