Joule Thief

[Yucca]

@Jesus
I should have said I used 22 bifilar turns so thats 44 turns of copper in total.

@All
After looking at the posted pohto of the circuit I can't see the 1k res (its under the orange wire) and can only just see the tranny to the right of the LED. I am charging my batteries for my better camera as I type and will post a better photo tomorrow.

Yucca.

[WilbyInebriated]

you guys should check out amigo's joule thief post over a energeticforum.com
http://www.energeticforum.com/renewable-energy/1170-ssg-joule-thief-other.html
he showed a simple modification to the joule thief that runs at 14mA if i recall.
with the proper selection of components, it doesn't even budge my 0-500mA analog ammeter.

[Pirate88179]

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=gTAqGKt64WM


@ All:

Wow, thank you all for your responses.  Above is the video posted by Innovation Station on another topic that I am using for my thief.  I am using a .825" OD x .500" ID x .250" thick ferrite toroid salvaged from a computer monitor.  I wrapped the coil (bifilar) using 22 ga. solid wire (insulated) with 18 turns. (9 wraps).  I don't recall what the transistor is on the video but I will watch it again and write it down and try to get from Radio Shack. (Only local source here)

I am on my way to work but I will respond in more detail to as many of the posts as I can when I get back.

I really appreciate all of your posts.  For those not familiar with the joule thief, watch the above video as I believe it explains it really well.

Thanks again to all who answered me.

Bill

[Pirate88179]

@ All:

I am back now, having purchased a few 2N3904 transistors.  I was not sure if it called for stranded wire, or solid.  I wrapped the first one in solid as it was all I had.  I now bought some stranded 22 ga. and I will use that on one of my other ferrites.  I am building the first one per the video.  Then, I will try Groundloop's circuit.

@ Yucca:

Yes, that circuit looks pretty much like what I am building.  Thanks for the info and also for posting your scope shot. I am also glad to hear this will work with supercaps.  A while ago, when I first read about the joule thief, some said this only exploited a chemical cell battery due to the nature of their construction.  Now I see that it is pulsing the energy which I thought would work with supercaps, and you said it does, so that is good news.  I really appreciate your help.

@ Wilby:

Thanks, I will check that out also.

@ pesse:

Thank you also.  I found some electronic engineering classes online videos from MIT which I have been watching.  They are each an hour lecture by Dr. Walter Lewin and so far, I have watched 12 of them or so.  Almost like going to MIT for free.  In one of them, he says his one class costs his students over $20,000! (USD)  If you, or anyone else is interested, let me know and I will post some links.  I have learned more from the helpful folks on here, and from the video courses, than I have learned from reading (and re-reading) my 4 electronics textbooks.

If I have left anyone out, I am sorry.  I got a much larger response than I anticipated.  I will begin soldering my circuit in a few minutes.  If it works ok....meaning if I don't screw anything up, I will shoot some video and post it on youtube with a link posted here.

This stuff is so much fun and, like most things in my life, the more I learn, the more I realize there is to learn.

Bill

[Pirate88179]

So far so good.  I will have two joule thief's here in a bit.  One with stranded wire, one with solid.

Bill