Joule Thief

[Pirate88179]

@ ist:

Nice video.  I also have that same flashlight.  I am going to have to try that.

@ xee2:

Thanks for the info on the battery mA's.  Not too much higher so I guess it shouldn't (hopefully) fry anything.  Also thanks for the info on testing with my meter.  I have learned to be cautious ever since I blew a few of the amp side fuses.  Those are very hard to find around here.

Before I buy more 48" tubes, I may try what Freezer did and just add my 18" to the 2 long tubes.  I am almost sure I will have to use a magnet on both the 18" tube and the second 48" tube....even then, it may not light up.  If I can get my work done today, I may give it a go later on.

Bill

[Cap-Z-ro]

"  the 330volt caps make nice tazer projectiles when they are fully charged. they fly nicely with a tube of paper attached to end opposite the leads. would be perfect for those swoopers. Grin  "


I know somebody who can do that completely silently using man made gas.

[Pirate88179]

@ All:

Well, I gave it a try with the 2 48" tubes and the 18" tube connected together......nothing.  Then, just to check if I burned the poor little unit up, I tried the small 4 watt tube.....nothing!  Upon closer inspection under a magnifying glass, it seems my one connection became unsoldered.  So, I just followed the path (pattern) on the pc board and then soldered it to the next connection up, which is a pin on the transformer.  All is well again...it works.  So now, later I hope to repeat my try with the three tubes.  My main problem is that I ran out of jumper wires.  I need to get some alligator clips and make some more. (I used several of them for my color organ running the lights on my tree)  I just don't have any good way of connecting the tubes together at this point.  I expanded some connector tubes to slip over the pins on the florescent tubes and I thought it would work but, a continuity check revealed that is does not.  I will figure out something.

Bill

[Cap-Z-ro]

A few turns of wire around the jaw of a clothes pin makes a good temporary alligator clip, and provides a solid connection.

Regards...

[Pirate88179]

@ Cap:

Great idea.  Unfortunately, I don't have any clothes pins.  I tried small paper clips but they kept popping off.  I tried making a small loop of copper wire but it wiggled around too much, not a solid connection.  I was thinking of soldering them together but, I might damage what is inside and, I have no place to store 8 feet of light tubes.  Oh well, we all run into these little obstacles.  I will come up with something or go out and buy some more clips after the stores open again.
Thanks for the idea though.


Bill