Joule Thief

[jeanna]

@ jeanna

Great! Try using your 2N3055 transistor. Also, the base resistor caps are to lower the current not to increase the voltage.

Thank you.
I have been wondering what you were knowing about those base resistor caps.

Whatever their intent, they often put a damper on the voltage If I remember correctly.

EDIT: If you increase your collector coil to 10 turns you should be able to light a fluorescent tube.

OK I will give it a try.

There are more factors I think like the diode you use for testing voltage probably gives a boost. You also always use a cap at the light if I remember right.? I just received the 4007's with this biggo and I can add that, but I only have those fuji caps. I expect they will do fine?

jeanna

[jeanna]

@ jeanna

Almost all silicon transistors turn on at 0.5 to 0.7 volts.

Hi xee,
I missed this reply to my question earlier. Thank you.
Here is part of what the data sheet  info says on the 2N3055:

• DC Current Gain â€" hFE = 20â€"70 @ IC = 4 Adc
• Collectorâ€"Emitter Saturation Voltage â€"
VCE(sat) = 1.1 Vdc (Max) @ IC = 4 Adc
• Excellent Safe Operating Area15 AMPERE
POWER TRANSISTORS

which is the reason I have not used it. It looks sturdy but not as useful, but you and others have certainly made it useful.

Thank you.

I will try again. First I need to make one ready for the breadboard or powerstrip. Thank you,

jeanna

[Pirate88179]

Jeanna:

Great job on lighting the neon!!!!!!  That means about 120 volts if I am not mistaken.  I have 3 neons here and they each take 120 to fire up. (I use them in my Bedini replications)  Great work.

Bill

[xee2]

@ jeanna

"VCE(sat) = 1.1 Vdc (Max) @ IC = 4 Adc "

Means that it takes less than 1.1 volts between base and emitter to turn transistor on as much as it can go (called saturation).

You should only need a 100 ohm base resistor to light the fluorescent tube. No caps or diodes should be required. If by some chance that doesn't work use a 50 ohm base resistor.

[Artic_Knight]

here is some work on the tesla coil. its a fairly large paragraph bigger than previously posted so i put it in txt format for everyone to download and read at their pleasure.

i think everyone should read this as i think it will show you the direction the joule thief needs to move.  i myself forgot about teslas resonance in electricity and it appears dispite my previous beliefs that a couple members here are right, resonance is good. but the current configurations will not allow us to reach that easily if at all.