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Solid States Devices => Joule Thief => Topic started by: rushi95 on February 19, 2018, 07:36:23 AM
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Hi,
I have failed to understand how a joule thief and a joule ringer works.
JOULE THIEF:
Basically there are 2 reasons for the transistor to turn off:
1. saturation of the transistor
2. Saturation of the core.
Do both work? Which is better? How do I know my joule thief is working on which of the above effects?
JOULE RINGER:
I completely fail to understand a joule ringer. The schematic is http://laserhacker.com/?p=59. I have not seen any explanation regarding a joule ringer. Can someone please help me to understand how the transistor is turning on and off and how is it oscillating.
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I'll take a poke at this
In lasersaber's schematic at first C -> E is not conducting and the current passes through the lamp (resistance) and coil to the BJT base. When enough current gets to the Base the C- > E path will open. This path has less resistance than though the lamp and the current return through this path to the battery negative. Currnto the base will stop and the C -> E will close. Rinse & repeat
All this creates an on&off pulse at the toroid so you get a voltage spike and inducted power through the coils. So next round you get more current coming towards the collector from the battery positive side. The switching is so fast you see the LED on all the time.
Oh and joule thief and ringer are the same in my book. Give or take a few resistors or diodes they are usually the same. You have a resistance at the base (lamp or an actual resistor) so the C -> E will become the preferred route for the current to go and that is how it switches
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Hi Belfior,
Thanks for your reply. I have still some doubts.
1. The bulb has to be resistive? Lets say we have 1.5V at the input. Can a 2V LED be used in this setup?
2. The battery will take the path of the bulb and then through the base emitter to the negative. Is the bulb lit during this time? The current through the secondary will support the current in the primary and that will in turn increase the current in the secondary. This will happen till enough base current flows to allow the transistor to conduct. Once the transistor conducts - the current starts reducing in the secondary and base and will eventually block the CE path of transistor. That will create a voltage spike in the primary coil. What happens next? What is the polarity of spike?
This is what I think - the current due to the spike will flow through the bulb and base again. Which will again increase the base current and whole process repeats. Is it correct?
According to this working:
1. Bulb is lit in both the phases of working?
2. Transistor is ON only for a very short duration. So, less heating compared to conventional JT where transistor is ON for almost the entire period.
Am I understanding all this correctly?
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Sorry, I have to state my objection here.
(at the risk of starting yet another heated JT discussion)
I agree with Belfor’s statement that JT and JR are basically the same.
My understanding is that the ringer oscillations are in the audible spectrum,
where-as the JT generally operates at higher frequencies.
But both names are used interchangeably, and the device does not really have
a set specification.
However: the “path of least resistance” concept cannot be the principal that
answers the question.
Simply because the transistor will switch without a load or LED in the circuit.
The LED/lamp/etc. is basically an indicator.
TK is probably the most able to give a better description
I have seen this device in too many variations, that any attempt to describe the
behavior, would cause argument. The most common form (found in “how to’s”)
is what most people discuss. But this is neither the simplest nor the most advanced.
So, in my opinion, it causes a lot of confusion for beginners. But I’ll give it a try::
If you ask me, I will tell you that while the inductor is charging (prior to saturation)
there is a current to the base. This opens the c-e gate
(or closes it, npn/pnp)
Once saturated, there is no more base current and the gate closes (or opens)
That might not be the best way to put it.
So, for a better understanding, maybe we should wait for TK to chime in.
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Thanks sm0ky2,
You are right. I am just a beginner to joule thief circuits and its getting confusing to understand the right working of its variants like joule ringer.
Can you please help me know where joule thief circuits are used?
If I have low voltage input, I can use a boost converter to light up the LEDs. And even the joule thief does the same job of boosting the voltage. Which is more efficient and practical to use for lighting applications? Any thoughts?
I got interested in joule ringer circuits because I see LED bulbs can be lit easily with 1.5V AA batteries. I could see them being used in villages to lit homes of poor people for 3-4 hours on a single charge. They could be recharged either through solar panels or hand crank generators or bicycles (10-15 minutes of human power can recharge a single AA battery). Would they work as I have described? Or am I missing something?
And will wait for TK to help in understanding the working of a joule ringer.
Thanks,
Rushi
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They are used by self-experimenters for “dead-battery” recycling
and tinkering around, with whatever “use” the person sees fit
Taught in some colleges as a novelty
But as far as I know, the only place they have shown up commercially
is in some Chinese LED light bulb circuits.
And I remember someone finding it hidden in a Chinese solar light.
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Thanks sm0ky2,
You are right. I am just a beginner to joule thief circuits and its getting confusing to understand the right working of its variants like joule ringer.
Can you please help me know where joule thief circuits are used?
If I have low voltage input, I can use a boost converter to light up the LEDs. And even the joule thief does the same job of boosting the voltage. Which is more efficient and practical to use for lighting applications? Any thoughts?
I got interested in joule ringer circuits because I see LED bulbs can be lit easily with 1.5V AA batteries. I could see them being used in villages to lit homes of poor people for 3-4 hours on a single charge. They could be recharged either through solar panels or hand crank generators or bicycles (10-15 minutes of human power can recharge a single AA battery). Would they work as I have described? Or am I missing something?
And will wait for TK to help in understanding the working of a joule ringer.
Thanks,
Rushi
I think you could use something like Tesla radiant energy patent https://patents.google.com/patent/US685957 and a joule thief to get an LED to light up. Insulated copper plate as the antenna you can pick up enough EM from space even during night time. Not much power, but that light will make a big difference in a pitch black outhouse in the middle of woods...
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you can use pretty much any low voltage source
here is one I did with an “earth battery”
https://youtu.be/1v0ik0MyhZ0 (https://youtu.be/1v0ik0MyhZ0)
mine sucks
Here’s Bills
https://youtu.be/5kL8ys8m0-4 (https://youtu.be/5kL8ys8m0-4)
my older brother makes JT’s in Altoid tins
using tiny (1/4”) ferrites, he got one to light up
from his metal computer desk, which he had discovered
was gaining a potential, when the pc was on.
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First i will explain how the JT work's,as the Joule ringer works a bit different,and will explain that in the next post.
Below we have the most common JT circuit .
When the battery is connected to the circuit,there is enough current flow to the transistors base(via L2 and the 1k ohm resistor)to start the transistor conducting.
Once the transistor starts to conduct, a small current starts to flow through L1.
When this happens,the current flow through L2 starts to increase via the transformer action between L1 and L2.
Because the current flow through L2 increases,it continues to pull the transistor on harder,and again increases the current flow through L1.
So you have this cascade effect,where the current continues to rise through both L1 and L2 until the rate of change of the magnetic field reaches it's limit.
Once there is no longer any rate of change of the magnetic field(maximum available current from the battery has been reached,the transistor switches off.
When the transistor switches of,the voltage across both L1 and L2 inverts.
Because the voltage has inverted,L2 now pulls the transistor hard off.
The voltage has also inverted across L1,and so you now have the correct polarity for the LED to light.
Remember,in both cases,the current continues to flow in the same direction through L1 and L2--only the voltage inverts.
Hope that helps
Brad
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Ok,now the Joule ringer--V3 in this case.
This works a little different to that of the JT.
You will note that some have already stated that both work(oscillate) without the LED(in case of the JT),or a bulb of any description in the case of the joule ringer.
If we look at the joule ringer circuit below,you may ask--well how dose the transistor switch on if the bulb is not in place,and there is no closed path for the current to flow to the base of the transistor ???
Well,you will see i have added a capacitor across the L1 and L2 winding,and this represents the capacitive coupling between L1 and L2.
So now we have a path for the current to flow through,that path being by way of displacement current due to the capacitive coupling between L1 and L2.
So,this is how the joule ringer will keep oscillating even when the bulb is removed.
You will find however,that once the bulb is in place,the power draw of the system will also go up.
Hope that helps.
Brad
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Hi Brad,
It seems the capacitive coupling is creating an unnecessary amp draw. Any way to avoid that?
I am just wondering what happens at the primary side in a basic JT schematic during the inductive kickback phase? Is the inductive kickback reflected to the primary also?
Rushi
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Hi Brad,
Rushi
I am just wondering what happens at the primary side in a basic JT schematic during the inductive kickback phase? Is the inductive kickback reflected to the primary also?
Ok,not sure what you mean there,as you have !primary side! twice.
Perhaps you meant-what happens to L2 (secondary coil) during the inductive kickback cycle.
If so,then as i stated in my first JT post,L2 also inverts,and pulls the transistor off cleanly.
If you place two small LEDs across the 1k resistor as shown in the pic below,and a good 1.5v battery,both LEDs will light up when the JT is running.
This shows you that the L2 coil dose invert during the inductive kickback part of the cycle.
You now have a JT that runs 3 LEDs. :)
It seems the capacitive coupling is creating an unnecessary amp draw. Any way to avoid that?
Nine times out of ten,you have a bulb in there,and so the capacitive coupling dose not play much of a part-as with all bifi transformers.
In some cases,the capacitive coupling is needed,as some bulbs will not allow current to flow in both directions--E.G ,LEDs.
Brad
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If you want to get fancy, you can wrap a 3rd coil around the toroid
and draw power for a secondary device
https://youtu.be/h9RgjAgSQOg (https://youtu.be/h9RgjAgSQOg)
But whatever you do, do NOT put 2 forward facing diodes
into a capacitor!
No matter the size, it Will explode
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If you want to get fancy, you can wrap a 3rd coil around the toroid
and draw power for a secondary device
https://youtu.be/h9RgjAgSQOg (https://youtu.be/h9RgjAgSQOg)
But whatever you do, do NOT put 2 forward facing diodes
into a capacitor!
No matter the size, it Will explode
Hmm what if you use a spark gap to get the extra energy out?
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you can use pretty much any low voltage source
here is one I did with an “earth battery”
Hi Smoky,
Since last 2-3 days I have been studying about earth batteries, air batteries, water batteries, crystal cells, etc and I do not see any potential in lighting up the bulbs better than AA batteries. Let me know if I am wrong.
What I am looking for is a cheap solution (under 20$ and even less) to light bulbs in homes of poor people. I want to avoid solar panels and big batteries because the cost increases. Joule ringer seemed a good option. What I think is 10-15 minutes of human power would be capable of lighting bulbs for 3-4 hours.
It would be interesting if earth batteries were capable of doing that.
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If you place two small LEDs across the 1k resistor as shown in the pic below,and a good 1.5v battery,both LEDs will light up when the JT is running.
This shows you that the L2 coil dose invert during the inductive kickback part of the cycle.
Hi Brad,
Thanks for answering my question. Yes, I was talking about L2 coil in your diagram.
As you showed that we can light LEDs with the inductive kickback effect in L2 coil also. But does that come at the cost of less power in the main LED (lit through L1 coil)? Or is it the extra energy available?
Or in other words can same energy be extracted through L2 coil also? (during inductive kickback of L1)
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Hi Brad,
Thanks for answering my question. Yes, I was talking about L2 coil in your diagram.
As you showed that we can light LEDs with the inductive kickback effect in L2 coil also. But does that come at the cost of less power in the main LED (lit through L1 coil)? Or is it the extra energy available?
Or in other words can same energy be extracted through L2 coil also? (during inductive kickback of L1)
Yes it dose. The inductive energy is shared between L1 and L2--!BUT! you also reduce the waste heat energy being dissipated by the 1k ohm resistor.
So,you gain a little in way of converting available energy into light--but not much.
Brad
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Hi you guys :); can I just be a pain in the arse here and say I'm not sure all jewel thieves are the same,
I say this from experiments with Akula, and Ruslans Tesla Katcher coils, they are almost the same circuit.
Have a look on youtube 'Patric kelly' > perpetual light clip < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf7aNQD2GPA
What I'm getting at is this, some generate a sine wave some an envelope and some a square wave.
if it's gain you want you need to make sure the transistor switches off a while in it's cycle in order to get the back EMF.
Happy days fellers
Allen
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Hi you guys :); can I just be a pain in the arse here and say I'm not sure all jewel thieves are the same,
I say this from experiments with Akula, and Ruslans Tesla Katcher coils, they are almost the same circuit.
Have a look on youtube 'Patric kelly' > perpetual light clip < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf7aNQD2GPA
What I'm getting at is this, some generate a sine wave some an envelope and some a square wave.
if it's gain you want you need to make sure the transistor switches off a while in it's cycle in order to get the back EMF.
Happy days fellers
Allen
Are you refering to this Allen?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewel_Thief
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Hi Smoky,
Since last 2-3 days I have been studying about earth batteries, air batteries, water batteries, crystal cells, etc and I do not see any potential in lighting up the bulbs better than AA batteries. Let me know if I am wrong.
What I am looking for is a cheap solution (under 20$ and even less) to light bulbs in homes of poor people. I want to avoid solar panels and big batteries because the cost increases. Joule ringer seemed a good option. What I think is 10-15 minutes of human power would be capable of lighting bulbs for 3-4 hours.
It would be interesting if earth batteries were capable of doing that.
This is always a subject of interest for those who do not have access to an electrical grid.
As to date, the best solution I have found is a clockworks unit, used for baby grandfather clocks.
The small ones that sit on a table
You connect them to a pulley weight,mount it up high
and attach a small D.C. Motor to the smaller gear in the back
30-seconds of winding can power a light source for a few days.
I'm sure someone could engineer a gearbox specifically for this but
clocks have already been through the commercial process, and
are mass produced.
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Hi sm0ky2,
I am aware of Gravity Light Foundation that uses a similar concept of clock. But they are only able to produce light constantly for 20-30 minutes. That is the best run-time I am aware of.
And you mentioned that its possible to power a light source for a few days? Any experiments or sources that you are aware of and that you can share?
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The mechanism sold for use in baby grandfather clocks works the best.
and the weight pulley controls run-time by length of pulley cable.
This is a controllable variable, that can be adjusted for any desired length
of runtime. Put it on a mountain, it can run for a month to light a tent in the
valley below.
Of course it may take you an hour to wind it up, it’s all relative.
The size of the motor/generator also affects things.
If you use the generator current to power a joule thief,
You can light more lights with it than direct drive.