Earth Electrical Energy Datalogging Experiments

[Pirate88179]

Excellent tutorial Jeanna! 

The only thing I would add is that I have always used insulated, stranded 22 ga. wire and have had no problems.  Other wires obviously work but yes, any kind of mag wire might be too thin and also have a break in the thin coating causing a short like you said.  It took me about 3 tries to get my first one to finally work, but once it did, I have had no problems since.  I messed up on the twisted pair going to the positive side of the bat.  I took 2 wires from the same side of the toroid and twisted them.......didn't work.  I needed one from the inside and one from the outside.

Bill

[jeanna]

'bell wire' is what we call it..

i appreciate the concern, but im a computer engineer, i can do this blindfolded in my sleep....

Oh good.
I thought you had a lot of this kind of experience. You will get it.
Oh so that is what bell wire is. !!
Bill used stranded, mine is 24gauge single. both have thick plastic. It works fine.

You'll get it.

You will have to hide from some of us, because we love when people make joule thiefs and we love to help them!

jeanna

[sm0ky2]

You'll get it.

You will have to hide from some of us, because we love when people make joule thiefs and we love to help them!

jeanna

im glad to have the help, this is my first attempt at 'thiefing' any joules..  the theory they teach us doesnt allow for this sort of thing

of course, now that im using larger wire, im going to need to find a larger core.. 

[Pirate88179]

i appreciate the concern, but im a computer engineer, i can do this blindfolded in my sleep....

Evidently not.  At least not yet.

So I guess you don't need any help then.  That's cool.

Bill

[jeanna]

of course, now that im using larger wire, im going to need to find a larger core..

I was just thinking about the core.
I had a lot of trouble with high as well as low permeability cores.
See if you can just get something regular.
I think I already suggested the tor-23 from allelectronics 10/$1.- the frequency can go really high on this one yet it is large enough to fit 11 turns each side of bell  wire.
(It is the one that just did the radiant energy for me)

Goldmine has the medium 5/$1 that people like.

jeanna