Joule Thief

[Pirate88179]

Merv:

Thank you.  Yes, I bought a decent power supply last year.  It is very handy to have around when testing these circuits.

Bill

[Pirate88179]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Fo99iQndW0


This is my Electronic Scarecrow I made from a solar garden light JT circuit.  I added two red leds and a CD.  I made it for my friend who has chickens.  It is supposed to keep the nocturnal predators at bay by making them think there is a larger predator in the area.  (You can buy expensive commercial models)

You hang it from a tree and it charges by day, and runs all night long.  Just a simple, hopefully useful (Otherwise I won't get any more free eggs) and cheap project.

Bill

***EDITED TO ADD PHOTOS*** (Now that we can do that again.)

[Pirate88179]

http://www.instructables.com/id/Resistor-Color-Wheel/

I made this neat little resistor color wheel designed by a fellow named Robives on Instructables.  The PDF files are at the above link.  I increased the size by 10% and used a 10-32 screw and nut for the axle and added a drop of superglue to the threads once I adjusted the drag.  I also added a small neo to the back so it can hang on my wire holder bracket where it will be very handy.

I found this to be a really nice, fast, and simple way to translate the resistor color codes.

Bill

[TinselKoala]

Thumbs way up! Useful items all and very clever too.

I put one of your flashcameraboards and a gutted CFL tube into a plastic mayo jar.... it's a PirateRight!  er, PilotLite....er... Pirate Light! A little red theaterlighting gel wrapped around inside and it's a very nice dark-adaptation saving nightlight for the observa-yurt.


Double thumbs up for the Simpson multimeter, a real classic and very reliable.

[Pirate88179]

Thumbs way up! Useful items all and very clever too.

I put one of your flashcameraboards and a gutted CFL tube into a plastic mayo jar.... it's a PirateRight!  er, PilotLite....er... Pirate Light! A little red theaterlighting gel wrapped around inside and it's a very nice dark-adaptation saving nightlight for the observa-yurt.


Double thumbs up for the Simpson multimeter, a real classic and very reliable.

Thank you.  Yes, the gel is a good idea.  I did that when I modified my friends Coleman lantern. (Using the flash circuit and Cree bulb)  I used an inverted peanut butter jar (plastic) with the gel on the outside so he could have red light, or unscrew the jar and have white light.

Actually, that is a 1955 Triplett Model 630 meter that used to belong to my Dad.  I restored it and did a battery hack to make the 30 volt bat that you can no longer get.  Video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QR5yf4jMNPM


You should post a video on your flash circuit light.  Those surplus flash circuits are still available...man, they must have made millions of those things.

Thanks for the nice comments.

Bill

PS: Added photo of the meter.  Believe it or not, those are the original test leads.  A little WD-40 made them look new.  I did have to replace the probes as one was missing but, I had another meter with similar probes so I soldered them on.