Joule Thief

[Pirate88179]

Here is something I found interesting.  A new type of rechargeable AA battery rated at 1.6 volts with a 1.8 volt terminal voltage after re-charge.  One of the comments on this said that the discharge curve is much flatter than with the 1.2 volt bats. This extra voltage should make a lot of our little circuits light some lights a little brighter.  I plan on testing these in my 1 watt Cree led flashlight that operates on two AA bats. (It is un modified)

http://www.amazon.com/PowerGenix-ZR-PGX1HRAA-4B-Charger-Rechargeable-Batteries/dp/B0029NZVZ0/ref=pd_sim_e_3

Bill

[xee2]

This is something for Christmas, a Joule thief that will light LED Christmas tree lights straight out of box (unmodified) using 1.5 volt AA battery.


video  >>>   http://www.youtube.com/user/xee2vids#p/u/0/LhyAcQzaleU


It uses a transformer and the base inductor suggested by Jonny Davro. This same circuit will light xenon tubes and fluorescent tubes as well as 120 VAC LED bulbs from a 1.5 volt AA battery also.

[rxpc]

Hello everyone,

  this is one amazing site! You guys are doing some great things here. I was wondering if anyone was using smd5050 led lights with the fuji AA mod?  I had purchased some of these leds a while ago to use for under cabinet lighting in the kitchen.  I thought maybe the fuji mod would be great for something like that.

thanks
Kevin

[NickZ]

      @ Pirate and All:
      I had mentioned that by the time we figure out how to make the best Joule Thief, we'll probably be able to buy one cheaper than we can make it. 

    For $10 you can buy a Joule Thief Kit, including shipping.   I don't know if this Joule Thief circuit is now available "ready made", or not,   but if not, it soon will be,  at least from China.
  You can already buy solar garden lights (Jtc) for a $1, at the Dollar Stores, in some places.

      Joule Thief Boost Circuit   ($10 kits free delivery)                                   
   
   
    Hopefully this year,  2012,  will be the best year yet,  for us all.
                 
    NickZ
 
 

[rxpc]

I finally found some toroids locally at a science surplus store. They're 1inch, not painted, grey in color. I made an attempt at a MK1 style toroid, 26 turns at 180 and 2 jt windings at 180. I only have a dmm, but priliminary testing shows 58volts ac, 35volts rectified on each pickup coil. I added a another secondary on one side, that also showed about 58volts ac, 33volts rectified. I put the two coils on one side in series and got 70volts ac, 50volts rectified.  I guess I was expecting the rectified voltage to be about the same as the ac voltage, but again, I only have a dmm to test with.