Joule Thief

[TheNOP]

The rate of the change of the frequency, if I understand what you are saying, would be how fast the pulse goes from zero on the Y axis to its highest point.

yes

So, a slow moving 60 hz pure sinewave (according to the man), is not as useful as a fast spark would be.

It could be. I am still not sure, however the skinny spikes do have a strength of a sort that the smooth ones do not have.

a good example is induction.

take a magnet and move it over a wire at 90 degrees.

that movement can be view as 2 componants, independant of each other.
-the number of time per second that you cross the wire.(frequency)
-the speed at whitch you cross the wire.(Tesla called it rate in your book)

from my experience.
the faster you cross the wire, the more current is induce.
the frequency can be as low as you want, once per minute if you like, it will not make a difference to the above.

the strenght of the magnet and the speed of the mag field changes are key factors in inducing the current.
the frequency is the repetition of that induction.

i know caps are not inductors, but believe me, this example apply to both.
the charge/discharge cycles of a cap is the frequency.
the faster a cap discharge the more current it give you.(time relative)

The capacitor's discharge is not necessarily a single event. If it discharges into a suitable resistance, there is a rush of current outward, then back again, as if it were bouncing off the resistance, then out, and back and so forth until it peters out. The discharge is oscillatory, a vibration. The vibration can be sustained by recharging the capacitor at appropriate intervals. When Tesla talks of the capacitor's discharge causing "commotion in the medium," he means a vibration or mix of vibrations. The character of this vibration is determined in part by the capacity of the capacitor, that is, how much charge it will hold. This is a function of it size, the distance between plates, and the composition of the dielectric. Upon discharge there would be, typically, a fundamental vibration, some harmonics, and perhaps other commotion, maybe musical, maybe not. Additional circuitry can tame the vibration to a "pure" tone.

when i am looking at various capacitor charge/discharge curve pictures, i see no such vibrations.

you are forgetting the spark gap.
it take both, the spark gap and a capacitor to create the oscillations.

[TheNOP]

the capacitor increasing frequency in any curcuit was way back in the day.

can you give an example of what you are saying ?
said this way, it is not what i learned or experienced
a diode bridge is a frequency doubler.
else then RC/LC/RLC circuit, i can see how.
RC/LC/RLC circuits does not increase the frequency they create one.

also does anyone know about "eddy currents" ? have you ever considered on a DC generator bridging a cap accross the generators output terminals? you should, it will greatly increase efficiency. why?  eddy currents is a term to define electrical resistance. EVERYTHING that controls a current is creating resistance. the cap is the one thing that will not create a resistance (well it does but no more than copper wire itself really) this means that the torque needed to drive the generator is reduced because friction is reduced. 

i suggest you read more about eddy currents.
a cap across the output terminals of a DC generator does not have anything to do with eddy currents.
eddy currents are not at the output, it is a losses in motors/generators structure, like in the core of transformers.

[xee2]

I have found another transistor that works in my circuits - 2N3772. It is not a direct replacement for the 2N3055 so circuits will not have same component values. 2N3055 seems to work better so far.

[Artic_Knight]

when i am looking at various capacitor charge/discharge curve pictures, i see no such vibrations.

you are forgetting the spark gap.
it take both, the spark gap and a capacitor to create the oscillations.

funny i thought the spark gap WAS a resistance? the equivalent in todays day as a Diode. forwards or backwards the diode has a point of threashold where it breaks down and allows the current to pass same as spark gap and this can be read as a resistance which falls under teslas "suitable resistance"

[jeanna]

I must say, xee,
That is a nice bright light for 120mA.

I have been forgetting to ask you about the start up voltage requirement on the 2N3055 and the other high voltage transistors. How is it you are able to even turn on these transistors with 1.34 volts? I thought the start up voltage on these was 1.5V?

Nice job again.

jeanna