Joule Lamp

[JouleSeeker]

JouleSeeker,

Great work on the Lightbox.  There is a lot of ambiguity when experimenters are quoting brightness.  Words like "fairly bright with just 600 ma" is pretty loose science.   I always start with loose science to get in the ballpark quickly and then circuits and methods need to be tuned.  I will be happy to send you a 25 watt DC converter as I have built.  It would be great if you would test it for efficiency.  You have spent the money on the Lightbox, no need for us to both duplicate.

This is very kind of you, Lynxsteam!  much appreciated and YES, I will test it out.  Glad to do it.

At the same time, I'm hoping some researchers will join in the measurement of light output using the light-box technique -- or some OTHER method that can likewise be calibrated.  I think that such measurements will help us progress more rapidly.

[Lynxsteam]

Awesome!  and a much prettier build too.  Your help in discovering the best setup is much appreciated.

Here is a video showing the LJL with 45 watts of LED warm light bulbs off the larger air-core setup.  I thought this would max at 25 watt output but here its putting out 30 watts (consuming 30 watts).  Next up is to evaluate the light output off 30 watts consumption.  I am excited about this circuit because I know two church groups that install "rain catchers" in the Carribean and bringing some light for these people would be huge.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yftaQD-hsPY

[NerzhDishual]

Hi Joules  Burglars,

Thanks a lot for all to all of you and specially to Lynxsteam.
This is real Open Source:
clair explanations;
successfull replications;
witty suggestions;
a lot of very informative vids;
no exotic components or parts...

For my part, and for the moment, I would like to ask a question.
Is this LJL CCT interpretation/re-sketching right?
Or I am mixing the wires?  My electronic abilities are not too good.
This CCT (CirCuiT) is not conventional. Is it?

Very Best

[Lynxsteam]

Very nice drawing.  Yes, you have it right. 

I have reversed a few wires on accident and it wont work, but thankfully it doesn't fry the transistor.
I am not sure that the reverse winding of primary from secondary matters, maybe someone here knows.  I just don't modify because it works.  I wind the secondary CW and primary CCW.

If you want to run CFL bulbs you need to have a turn ratio of about 20:1.  For the LED bulbs about 10:1.

[conradelektro]

First tests with CoilZilla:

CFLs (tube only) work nicely at 12 Volts (2 x 40 turns primary).

CFLs (tube only) also work at 6 Volt (20 + 30 turns primary).

Some LED-Lamps (as bought for 220 Volt) work at 6 Volt  (2 x 40 turns primary).

In order to run 220 V LED-Lamps at 12 Volt, one needs more turns for the primary (may be 2 x 80 turns).

Also the CFLs at 12 Volt could need a few more turns (may be 2 x 50 turns primary).

A 10K resistor between the base of the transistor and the positive rail is not really necessary but the circuit starts swinging more reliably when it is present.

The MJE17004 transistor worked better than the 2N3055, which often did not start to swing when power was switched on (also a resistor at the base did not help with the 2N3055).

It is possible to light LED-lamps with this coil at 2 to 3 Volt (2 x 30 turn primary), CFLs started at 3 Volt.

I bought some 220 Volt LED-lamps which did not work at all (they blinked). So, not all 220 Volt LED-lamp types will work, it depends on the internal circuit of these lamps. May be they will work with a 2 x 80 turn primary.

I will put a new primary on CoilZilla (2 x 80 turns, taps at 40, 50, 60, 70), but it will take time.

Remember, CoilZilla has opposing coil halves. I do not know whether opposing coil halves are really necessary, because I would have to wind a similar coil without opposing coil halves for comparison.

The power consumption was a bit less than the Wattage specified on the lamps. But for optimal power transfer between primary and secondary the coil probably needs more turns for the primary. Eventually the coil has to be adapted for a specific lamp and a specific supply voltage (I aim for a 12 Volt power supply and a 5 Watt LED lamp or two 2.5 Watt LED lamps).

Greetings, Conrad