Joule Thief

[NickZ]

  Here is a Joule Thief circuit that runs on a single AA battery. It can light two white leds super bright, and has a small red led, and a on/off switch, also. 
  Remember when we were working to improve the JT circuits? Well now all you got to do is buy them for a couple of bucks. You can't even make one for this cheap or this well made yourself.
  I took this one apart to re-solder a loose wire, so I thought I'd take a picture to show you what's inside, not much, but it works great. The transistor is on the other side.
This one was out of one of those head lamps.

[Pirate88179]

Nick:

Yes, it would be hard to compete with what the Chinese make and sell over here.  I just bought 2 led lanterns that have 15 bright leds each and are in a very nice housing for $2.99 each US.  I am going to modify them as they require 3 AA batteries.

My new circuit will output around 400 volts and can light a lot more stuff than any of the Chinese goods I have yet seen. (except for the flash circuits) 

I am still amazed by the solar led garden lights as they have to contain a JT type circuit for the 1.2 volt battery but, when taken apart, the only thing I can't identify on the little circuit board is a small gray blob.  So, somehow, they have made a JT type circuit that fits under a small blob.  Amazing.

Bill

[NickZ]

  I have recycled about 50 discarded garden lights, that have 5 golden or flame colored LED bulbs each unit, and that will light from just a single rechargeable AA battery. Also 50 of those rechargeable AAs.  But, I took out all their little solar panels to make my own bigger panel, with much higher output using all those little panels from the garden lights.
So, now I've got lots of spare parts left over that I may never use.
Or I may, who knows...  It's all fun.

[4Lynx4]

Hi all,

Awesome thread, there's some really interesting schematics in here

[Pirate88179]

Hi all,

Awesome thread, there's some really interesting schematics in here

Hello and welcome.  There is also a schematics topic, which is locked, and I have not kept up with adding all of the past 2 years worth, but check it out, there are a lot of cool things in there from the early days.

Bill