Joule Thief

[jeanna]

Hi Gadget,

I would like a very specific set of instructions for this jt cap collector.
I seem to frequently get the direction of diodes reversed, and it terrifies me to think I could explode a cap, or even hurt one, by putting a diode in wrong.

I COULD just reverse what ever I thought it should be, but I do not like that idea either.

So, please help by making very specific directions.
I cannot remember if you do not like to make the drawings or the pics. I think the former, but either way, I will appreciating SEEING which way those diode stripes should go.

Well, maybe I can help here:

The led is a diode.
Is the diode in parallel with the led? and then is it going the same direction?
Then where in relation to the negative on the led and the diode do I put the pos and neg of the cap. I am assuming that this big cap is supposed to be parallel with the led and the extra diode.

Thank you,

jeanna

[jadaro2600]

...

Could you post a picture of your setup, or do you have a video?

[kooler]

@jeanna

that 3.25'' toroid ... have you tried more than 400 turns on it
my little transformer burned up so i am looking for a better replacement...
i saw were lidmotor lit that 10 watt cfl... but my little transformer done that well also
so i was wondering if more turns on it helped or hurt...
cuz my whole mission is do as much damage as possible with as low input as possible

[jeanna]

@jeanna

that 3.25'' toroid ... have you tried more than 400 turns on it
my little transformer burned up so i am looking for a better replacement...
i saw were lidmotor lit that 10 watt cfl... but my little transformer done that well also
so i was wondering if more turns on it helped or hurt...

I only used 240 turns on mine. And I lit a 15 watt 18 inch grow light tube.
I was using the MK1 design which required me to determine ahead of time how many turns I would end up with or I would have added more.

As it turned out I got very little voltage until I hit the ring which was at 90 ohms for me.
Lidmotor has more turns and is using the 22 ohms and 50 ohms rheostat.
I do not remember him telling us how many volts. I should ask.

I really like that rheostat part.
(My purpose was in fact, to light a fluoro tube using a hand wound toroid. And while others did this before me, I am getting to be the star. We take turns with this part. )

So, in the end, my answer is: go ahead, put on 500 turns.
Then later you can add another secondary with 500 more.
I have been playing with the way to have both secondaries stay lit at the same time, and I am sure lidmotor will be looking more at this too.
It is not really new, but it is very new for us at this time, and as you can see from his replications, it is very useful.

So... go for it.

I doubt if you will melt anything, so just do it.

jeanna

[gadgetmall]

Hi Gadget,

I would like a very specific set of instructions for this jt cap collector.
I seem to frequently get the direction of diodes reversed, and it terrifies me to think I could explode a cap, or even hurt one, by putting a diode in wrong.

I COULD just reverse what ever I thought it should be, but I do not like that idea either.

So, please help by making very specific directions.
I cannot remember if you do not like to make the drawings or the pics. I think the former, but either way, I will appreciating SEEING which way those diode stripes should go.

Well, maybe I can help here:

The led is a diode.
Is the diode in parallel with the led? and then is it going the same direction?
Then where in relation to the negative on the led and the diode do I put the pos and neg of the cap. I am assuming that this big cap is supposed to be parallel with the led and the extra diode.

Thank you,

jeanna

Hi jeanna . your another i Appreciate  and admire VERY much ! 

The Strip Is the Anode or positive . Its easy to remember if you think of an A in school is positive ! If you wind an 11 turn two wire jt on a goldmine 1 inch toroid and use a 2n2222a i and then wind a 22 turn secondary on the other side. i spread the windings after to cover the diameter .

I put the cathode side of my diode (no stripe) on the collector which is  + power and so the stripe goes directly to the positive of the cap . the negative or emitter then goes to the negative of the cap . no led here .. the led is placed directly on the secondary . you might have to flip it the way i wound was straight forward do its polarized and no diode on the sec.  I also use a 2 k resistor in series with a 10 k mini pot on the base and a 102 cap across the resistor . that's it  . same this to remember which way power is applied to an led . the long leg is always positive and the short leg is negative . easy to remember . 
Gadget