Joule Thief 101

[MileHigh]

You are out of your element, you don't really know what you are talking about, and as a result it adds up to more trolling.

The attached graphic shows the four-quadrant output of a voltage source that is constrained by how much voltage it can output and how much current it can source or sink.  As long as the output voltage and current remain within the "working envelope" of the square, then it is able to act like an ideal voltage source.  Car audio amplifiers act the same way.

[Magneticitist]

MH

As to the difference between ideal and non ideal coils.. is the difference not obvious?
When you remove the possibility of a coil having 0 resistance, and therefore creating some
time paradox involving unlimited values, which imo do not belong in the realm of real world
applications.. (if you can agree a super duper wuper trooper amount of current is not actually anywhere near inifinity), it then becomes just a regular coil. so I'm not arguing why this thought model was created, I'm asking why are you using it in these scenarios when you could just, quite easily, take the values of the circuit in question, work your mathematical magic and explain to use exactly what's happening since you do indeed possess the experience to provide that answer. you don't actually have to bypass that with some rationalization that spoon feeding inductor 101 basics is an absolute pre requisite.

[MileHigh]

There is no "time paradox involving unlimited values."  You are talking crazy stuff.

It doesn't matter if you discuss inductor basics with ideal coils or with real-world coils.  It's essentially the same discussion but you omit the resistive effects of the wire.  That's it.  There is no reason to object to discussing ideal coils.

Why did I use 5 Henrys as an example coil?  The answer is because it's easier, it makes the discussion easier as compared to using 2 milli-Henries, that's all.

There is no special "mind bending" required to discuss ideal coils or ideal capacitors or ideal voltage sources.  It does not detract from the real-world applications for coils.  And in a way you are in a Catch-22.  If you understood how coils work then you would agree with me.

The entire question could be restated and you say that the coil is 5 Henrys with a wire resistance of 0.0001 ohms.  Then the results would be nearly identical, but much more complicated to pin down precisely.

This reminds me of setting up my neighbour, who is an older lady, with a computer for the first time last year.  She never touched a computer in her life.  She could not understand why she needed a junk email, a personal email, and a gmail for her Android phone.  She wanted one email only to keep things "simpler."  Six months later and she finally has a vague understanding for why she needs three emails.

[Magneticitist]

No MH, there isn't some time paradox with unlimited values.. not in a regular real world coil and source.

the unlimited values exist when an ideal voltage source connects to an ideal conductor.
then we are talking unlimited, and infinity.
simply using Ohms law makes it clear the closer to 0 resistance you get.

[MileHigh]

What you should do is wipe the slate clean of whatever preconceptions you have, and brainstorm with Brad.