The diode is a very poor substitute for the resistor because it does not limit the current. A fresh battery could push so much current through the diode and base that it could burn out the transistor. Nothing was said about the polarity of the diode, but one direction should block the base bias and nothing would happen. Cool video, though, The schematic is readable, not blurry like most iI've seen .
Is the cathode of your 12V Zener diode connected to the base of the transistor?
madamerotten 1 year ago
The zener does work but it works better with a potentiometer or a trimmer in series with it so it can be tuned, good video
MAGMOS13 2 years ago
The diode is a very poor substitute for the resistor because it does not limit the current. A fresh battery could push so much current through the diode and base that it could burn out the transistor. Nothing was said about the polarity of the diode, but one direction should block the base bias and nothing would happen. Cool video, though, The schematic is readable, not blurry like most iI've seen .
acmefixer1 2 years ago
Thanks. The next vid on joule thief will hopefully sport a big trifilar coil. First I gotta get my next plasma hho vid up.
Matt
lApEkv2l 3 years ago