Joule Thief

[xee2]

@ jeanna

Will your meter read 1400 volts without damage? If so, then take one of you other new AA boards and remove only the large capacitor. Then use your clip leads to short the little traces each side of hole. Then connect the battery. Then measure the volatge between the neagative batter clip and the end of the diode with the line. You should measure at least 700 volts AC. If you do everything is working.

[Pirate88179]

@ Jeanna:

Yes, I got plenty of juice prior to cutting the diode.  I got (subjective here) about a 25% increase in brightness after doing so.  Wow, 45 watts is huge for a soldering gun for these little boards.  Mine is 24 watt and if I am not careful, things fry real fast.  Why did you clip to the - battery terminal?  Unless you are not trying to replicate what I have.  I know some have suggested that but...well, you saw my diagrams.

I never took apart my soldering iron but, there might be a fuse in there somewhere.  Usually, my large one just blows the breaker if something is wrong.  Did you know it is not a good idea to solder under water?  (Just kidding)

Bill

[xee2]

@ jeanna

If you do not cut the diode lead, you can connect the tube to the two leads that where going to the large cap. The only thing you need to do to the board is remove the large cap and short out the little traces from one side of hole to the other.

[maw2432]

@ Pirate

Bill,   I went to Krogers today.   The 100 LED lights are now $3.00.   I should have waited a few days.... sale prices are now even better for the extra LEDs.  I purchased a 100 set of the clear white.  Each box comes with 2 spare bulbs.   I tried one of single spares with a 1.5V battery and it did not light....  It lit brightly with two AA - 3V.   It blew at 6V with 4AA.   I wonder how we have not blown any of the bulbs with the Fuji circuit.??
   
Bill

[jeanna]

@ jeanna

If you do not cut the diode lead, you can connect the tube to the two leads that where going to the large cap. The only thing you need to do to the board is remove the large cap and short out the little traces from one side of hole to the other.

I will answer this first because it is closest to the config I'm using.
I have not yet cut the diode.
The only think I took out was the large cap.

now,
I have both alig clips/leads on the cap leads.
the other end of each of them is attached to the leads on each end of the bulb.

The neon is blinking - yes this one has real neon.
It is pretty cold in here and fluros need warmth to make light. The neon flashed faster when I wrapped the bulb ends in my (cold) hands to warm it up. So, it did warm it a little, I guess.

jeanna