Joule Thief

[sparks]

    This thread is neat because it shows you how to get high frequency high voltage out of a chemical reaction.  The next challange is to magnify this effect.
This will require resonance.  This allows you to take something that is happening very quickly on a small system and have it happen slower on a large system.  So it's like when you want to topple something over that is very heavy.  You push on it just at the right time fast at a little spot on the mass. It gets swinging back and forth until someone on top is getting a heck of a ride.  Now the observer on top will get the ride less any damping or resistance to the resonance and some energy will be needed to have the oberver have some fun.   A loaded electric motor can be an inductor in a resonant circuit  with proper capacitance in series or paralllel.  Your input once the system is swaying if everything is tuned will be to overcome just conductor and electrolytic losses.   You of course now need feedback so that your oscillations don't  topple the tree the kid is having fun on. 

[Artic_Knight]

Here is a good site that should help with regard to capacitor capacities:

http://www.powerstream.com/battery-capacity-calculations.htm

Even a 400F low-voltage cap still comes nowhere near alkaline/nimh battery storage.  Also note the additional 'drawbacks':

Also, there is no danger from touching low-voltage cap. leads, irrespective of their capacities, as the resistance-path through the human body is far too high for significant current to flow - grab the terminals of a 12v car battery to prove it to yourself!  Shorting them together is another matter however!

well that sites interesting, but i think he got his math confused either that or google is wrong. according to a quick search done by google it determined 1f was 1amp and of course batteries are rated in mah, but usually have 2.7 amps of rated charge, now granted a capacitors voltage drops with the energy stored at a relatively calculated rate so its 5v 5a then 4v 4a but lets face it with a nickel metal hydride battery being at the best ive seen 3.6a and bill finding a cap for 400f or 400 amp according to google. theres no competition,.

[Artic_Knight]

@ bill,
Some time ago (I think it was you) mentioned on the JT thread about using a wind generator, anyway, I went out to the Dalby wreckers and bought a kids Raser electric scooter, 24v setup, for $5.
This has a chain drive on it so it will be easier to setup, I have a tower in the back yard so its a matter of relocating the tower as the tree grew around it, and fit a prop to the wheel. I believe these small motors can put out quite a few amps.

you will also want to eliminate eddy currents, that motor may not be the most effecient to use but a capacitor or capacitor array linked accross the motor (make sure its a one way trip from motor use diods) the capacitor will charge with no resistance and then be able to power the charger curcuit. if there is ANY resistance in copper then it becomes eddy currents, the more resistance the more the eddy and the harder it is to turn your generator!  for best results air core picup coils should be used with a strong neodeium magnet.

[Artic_Knight]

@IST
Unfortunately there is  patents on the Joule thief technology currently used by the government  They have a piezo generator that uses the slightest movement to produce 3.5 volts and higher for the military soldier to power stuff take a look !! http://www.rlpenergy.com/ they are building these things on clothes and stuff .. Also i would love to claim the overunity prize but i can't because of Patents .. hers a link you can BUY there Joule thief copywrited module http://www.rlpenergy.com/energy_harv/index.html they Beat us to it  Joule-Thiefâ,,¢ Click on the Technology Link . Interesting grafts and schematics .
Al

that technology i would venture to guess is nothing like what ist has been playing with, they are using quarts to generate electricity in a curcuit and they are using sophisticated electronic curcuits to do all this with. the juoule theif we know and love isnt even in that curcuit.

[gadgetmall]

@Artic_Knight
Nothing Beats the fun we are having with this little circuit and again i only posted the site after looking for more projects i happed to run across it they say and i quote:technology to scavenge energy from ambient sources and convert it to usable electrical power to be stored in batteries or capacitors for further use.  The energy harvesting system consists of a Joule-Thiefâ,,¢ Smart Energy Beamâ,,¢ and Energy Keyâ,,¢ collection and storage electronics.  In the recent past, energy harvesting from the environment, including human movement, has generated a lot of research interest and many available ambient energy sources such as thermal, optical, mechanical, fluidic, etc. have been investigated.

and i know they probably have a much more sophisticated joule thievs using micro SMT and stuff unlike large torroids . I saw a tiny circuit of a joule thief that fits ina screw in bulb to convert a maglight .using a tiny ferrite bead . Cool ..  Also hers a circuit i found that boost the current