Joule Thief

[Pirate88179]

@ xee2:

Thanks for the clarification.  This is great news for me I think.  I am a little low on the mA side on my earth battery as it now sits so this may work without any modifications.  Thank you.

Bill

[Freezer]

@ Freezer:
Did you make your LED bulbs or buy them?  I know Ccrane Company has some but they are very high.  I believe we could make out own using a small/simple ac to dc inverter and a number of super bright 100 mm LEDS. If you did make your own, could you share with us how you did it?  I know these are the lights of the future and maybe even the present.  My Christmas tree (very small one) has 2 100 led stings on it. (200 LEDs total)  They cost almost nothing to run, don't get hot....last forever....what more could we want?
Bill

You can get led bulbs online, many stores sell them now.  You don't need lots of leds, they sell higher power leds where you only need 1 or a few to get the brightness of a 100w bulb.  The cree leds are pretty good.

I haven't ordered from here, but was thinking I'd get a few of these. 
http://www.ledwholesalers.com/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=197

They also sell cft replacement led modules here.  They are pretty expensive though.
http://www.luxeonstar.com/fluorescent-tube-leds-c-15.php

I bought one of these a while ago and its a great light.  The power is fed through the actual hinges so no wire to loosen and break off when adjusting the lamp position.
http://www.konceptech.com/zbar.html

[Pirate88179]

@ Freezer:

Thanks, great links.  Yes, a little pricey on the tube replacement ones but hey, I wonder if we could power one of them with our circuit and a single AA even brighter due to their lower power requirements?  A lot of money to find out though.
I will buy some of the other style but I am still going to make a few on my own if I can.  I can see it now...."Fire Marshall traces origin of fire to strange contraption stuck in light socket."  Hopefully not.

Bill

[Cap-Z-ro]

" They also sell cft replacement led modules here.  They are pretty expensive though.
http://www.luxeonstar.com/fluorescent-tube-leds-c-15.php "

Thank you Freezer...I have been searching for alternative lighting for my office for about a year now.

That link is among my best christmas presents ever...and sadly, yes I have led a cloistered and meager existence.

Regards...

[Thaelin]

   You have to admit, the light from Pirates big tube was impressive for the watt draw. That would be great for background lighting and really effecient too. Where you need point lights, use the high power Led's and save a bunch.
   Has anyone here tried to light up a tube that was removed from service due to the blackened ends? Just wondering if they would still be usable as well. We used to do that to them for fun on the dance floor. Via transformer to the output of the amps, would light to the music.

thaelin