Joule Thief

[Pirate88179]

Pretty, I like it.

Now I'm wondering about JT Color Organs..... some of these color LEDs are very bright for very little current.....

I made one about 3 years ago using those strings of 100 leds each. (The first year I used those mini bulbs and had a color for each freq.) The circuit had an output for low, med. and high freq. and I put them on my Christmas tree.  It reminded me of our tree back in the 60's when my Dad made one. (It had tubes, ha ha)  I used a kit from goldmine not the arduino like you are using.  That thing fascinates me.

Bill

[SkyWatcher123]

Hi folks, thanks for the kind words.
This low input light definitely is practical.
It is seen in the photo lighting up the bathroom to usable light levels, though it is more like 3 times the brightness of what is shown, the leds are blinding the camera.
If the leds were cree, bet it would be twice as bright for same input.
Hmm, have two of the new 6 watt (40 watt equivalent) cree bulbs here, my curiosity might get the best of me and i may just gutt one of these and try it.
Also notice, neo magnets, so it can be placed just about anywhere one has metal corner bead in walls or metal door frames, etc.
Interesting thing is, this is about the same light output as the 16 warm white top hat leds we've been using for almost a year in the bathroom and using a wall wart to power straight dc into the leds, draws almost 2 watts, considering wall wart losses, etc.
peace love light
tyson

[SkyWatcher123]

Hi folks, could not stop meself from gutting one of the 6 watt (40watt equivalent) cree led bulbs.
Haven't tweaked it yet, though it is performing better than the gutted 2.5 watt feit bulb.
Cree bulb has 10 leds compared to 9 with feit bulb.
It is already equal or better brightness than the feit and using 1.2v AA nimh, it is drawing 130 milliamps or around 160 milliwatts, will tweak later to raise input amps to equal what the feit bulb was drawing for a better comparison.
peace love light
tyson

[Pirate88179]

Great job.  I have the 60 w version and I think this is the best LED light bulb out there at this time for the money.  I am using them on the mains for light in my home.  (no more cfl's!) The only mod I do to them is to remove that rubber diffusion coating on the bulb itself.  I use an exacto knife to do this.  I figure I am paying for all of the light I can get.  I have not gutted one as of yet nor tried to run it on any of my JT circuits.  You beat me to it.  Very nice.

Bill

[crowclaw]

Yes these LED lights are the way to go and becoming more popular over here in the UK. I recently replaced my bathroom halogen down lighter spots with just one single LED spot, there are six LED's encapsulated in a single spot light. Although the cost is quite high (£33.00 sterling) the light matches the old halogens a treat and of course far cheaper to use. I'm convinced LED's will continue to improve further with time. Good work SkyWatcher