Joule Thief

[jeanna]

@Gary,
hmm,

Maybe it is time to make this new one into feedback.
I see that it is having that kind of effect anyway because some of the inductors which are really higher value than I was using seem to make the other lights get brighter while the ones directly involved are not gaining much if any brightness.

Thanks.

Even when it is frustrating, this is very interesting.

jeanna

[resonanceman]

@ resonanceman

If you have put a 2000 ohm resistor in series with your pot and you are still blowing out transistors then you have a lot more than 12 volts coming in. I can run a 2N3055 from 9 volts with a 1000 ohm base resistor with no problems. You should easily  be able to run from 12 volts using a 2000 ohm base resistor.

Thanks  Xee

I  have  been experimenting  ...... I  guess  I  have been using  quite a bit less than  2000  ohms 
I have been   pushing  the  limits  a  little ........trying to light  my  LED array .


At  least  I have a good idea  of  a baseline  now .
Thanks


gary

[resonanceman]

@Gary,
hmm,

Maybe it is time to make this new one into feedback.
I see that it is having that kind of effect anyway because some of the inductors which are really higher value than I was using seem to make the other lights get brighter while the ones directly involved are not gaining much if any brightness.

Thanks.

Even when it is frustrating, this is very interesting.

jeanna

Jeanna

I remember  running into that kind of thing .
At  some point  an inductor  tends to choke the  circuit .
Try a smaller inductor unless  you want  to choke  the circuit a little .
A while  back I  made a circuit  that lit my 90 LED array  and a  CFL .
At the moment  I can't remember  which one lit  easier  .......but I was able to bounce  most of the power to the other one  just by changing  1 wire .......and choking  the  brighter  circuit  a little .

Are some of your inductors  JT coils?
If they  have secondarys .......try connecting  all the  unused  windings   to a bridge  ..........or  the cap on  a Jesus charger . 
I  also   found  that  making  a few coils   with  equal  windings   is helpful  for feedback .
I  have not  decided  the best design for a splitter ......they seem to work  with just a few wraps ........and with 2 whole  radio  shack  spools

I  quite often  used 2 splitters in my  circuits .

gary 

[jeanna]

Jeanna

I remember  running into that kind of thing .
....
... .

Oh good.
I thought maybe you had.

I saw a really odd thing today.
I took scope then dmm measurements across the led.
I figured and was right that the dmm could read in that place.
BUT
The results were exactly the opposite of the lights.
The voltage difference across the brightest leds showed the lowest amount and the voltage difference across the 4 dim ones at the right end were the highest and matched the battery voltage. (which could be coincidence).
I have not touched this circuit for a couple of days. I just walk around it and poke at things.

Are some of your inductors  JT coils?

Many of the ones I am using now are.

If they  have secondarys .......try connecting  all the  unused  windings   to a bridge  ..........or  the cap on  a Jesus charger . 

OK I will.
I thought of that, but I cannot get any reading from the scope or now the dmm. It would tell me if the meters are correct, and even if nothing more, that will help.

I  also   found  that  making  a few coils   with  equal  windings   is helpful  for feedback .

In a way this recent set of efforts started with that.
The filter with its unused other side kept staring at me.
I got next to nothing from it until I added the inductor toroid beyond - to the right- of it.

I  have not  decided  the best design for a splitter ......they seem to work  with just a few wraps ........and with 2 whole  radio  shack  spools

What's a splitter?
I tried my red full spool to no greater advantage also.



Thanks for all the good experience and ideas.

jeanna

ADD
Actually, what I think I want to do is make an addition that is similar to the top end of the camera circuit.
I keep forgetting to study it when I am fresh...(which is not now  )

[freepow]

Hi anyone,  Can you light a 4watt 240VAC fluoro with high pulsed DC