Joule Thief 101

[tinman]

Magluvin:

I actually alluded to another interesting "what's next."

Supposing there is a very common super-bright white LED that most Joule Thief experimenters use and it turns out that the decaying voltage/current waveform from the discharging coil does indeed show that the inductor's energy output is not being used very efficiently.





MileHigh

So that begs the question:  Can you do an improved Joule Thief design where the extra power required to support the presumably increased circuit complexity to improve the efficiency of the inductor's energy output still manages to give you better overall performance?  Heck, even if the performance is not significantly improved it's a new challenge to get your minds out of the same-old-same-old Joule Thief rut and get some juices flowing.It means that you actually have to apply your knowledge and try to design something new instead of painting by numbers all the time.  That would inject some life into a static subject that has not really changed in years.

Im beginning to think that you do not read all of what is posted in threads MH.
I have told you ,and explained to you why and how !your! JT circuit is an inefficient circuit. I also posted a circuit,shot a video of the circuit running,and also the fact that replications have been made and posted here on that very simple circuit--the one below. Results are far more light output(measured with Lux meter)for less input energy. The ability to drain a battery down far more than !your! standard JT circuit. Due to the fact that it was just a quick throw together circuit,it could be made far more efficient than what i presented.


Brad.

[Pirate88179]

Where were you at Christmas

Well, back a few years ago, (2008) I lit my tree using 300 leds and a JT circuit and a single AA battery.  This past Christmas, I did not even bother to put up a tree.

Bill

[Magluvin]

Magluvin:

I actually alluded to another interesting "what's next."

Supposing there is a very common super-bright white LED that most Joule Thief experimenters use and it turns out that the decaying voltage/current waveform from the discharging coil does indeed show that the inductor's energy output is not being used very efficiently.

So that begs the question:  Can you do an improved Joule Thief design where the extra power required to support the presumably increased circuit complexity to improve the efficiency of the inductor's energy output still manages to give you better overall performance?  Heck, even if the performance is not significantly improved it's a new challenge to get your minds out of the same-old-same-old Joule Thief rut and get some juices flowing.

It means that you actually have to apply your knowledge and try to design something new instead of painting by numbers all the time.  That would inject some life into a static subject that has not really changed in years.

MileHigh

Can I? Im Hoping I can. No time machine available in my area.    Like I said. Lets see where it goes here and skip the supposing and assumptions, because thats all they are, assumptions. Lets just 'do' and 'try' before any guessing.   It would be nice to just do some peaceful experimenting. If it doesnt pan out, then it doesnt. Then thats on me. And Im willing to put the time in. So lets let it happen. If anything it will be a learning experience.

Where Im at here is a little sloppy. I want to shorten leads and solidify a circuit to a nice soldered board, etc.  This was my first JT and just getting used to it and what variances affect the circuit like changing the resistor values, different input voltages, and which value changes affect the freq and so on. Whether I read it some where or someone tells me those things, its always better to experience it. Like martial arts. I could have 205 books on all the arts and practice in my room for years. But going out and using it in a real fight turns out to almost as difficult as not knowing any of the arts at all.  lol, been there done 'that'. When I started boxing at the gym I learned that fact. Then I continued to go to the gym for 6 yrs. Now I can fight. 9 amateur fights won 7.

Mags

[TinselKoala]

Is it a JT if it doesn't use LEDs? Or can work wirelessly with no battery at all? And drives a pulse motor?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPt7xbmHXfY

[Pirate88179]

Is it a JT if it doesn't use LEDs? Or can work wirelessly with no battery at all? And drives a pulse motor?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPt7xbmHXfY

I am not sure...is there any cheese involved in the circuit?

Ha ha...I have always liked that circuit of yours.  It would probably fry leds unless you used a lot of them.

Bill