Nice to know you don't have to be picky with the coil. It would be interesting to charge batteries up from say 12V with each method of charging and see which method gives the most return for the charge. I like the new Walmart solar panels I got, charging 3 semi batteries at the same time and running a 250 ma load at the same time. Can run this 24 hours now. This is fun!
Wheels are fun to watch and listen to. This one just sits there and makes a slight hissing sound to let you know it's running. It is simple to build with no moving parts to worry about.
OK. I totally agree. Now that this thing is so small I need a small ignition "type" coil to go with it. Any suggestions? I'm thinkig motorcycle coil or TV flyback transformer? Build a HV coil of my own???
The coil you have right now can light the CFL and also charge the charging battery so why not start with that? You might start unwinding it and see if a smaller coil still lights the CFL.
Permit me to switch to engineering mode: In theory a wide range of inductor values will be able to light up the coil. When the coil discharges, X number of Joules are dissipated through the CFL. Smaller coils with larger current going through them can supply the same amount of energy... cont'd.
...same amount of energy as larger coils with less current going through them. I am referring to the number of Henrys of inductance in the coil when I say "smaller" and "larger".
With some experimenting you may find a 'Goldilocks' coil value that fires the CFL and gives you the minimum battery current consumption.
You are a great candidate for a scope. Perhaps you have an old computer around and you could try the sound card based scope. You just have to protect the input with Zeneer diodes.
With a scope you could see if you are 'overcharging' the coil with too long a pulse width and wasting energy.
Smaller coils have less inductance and also lower wire resistance. Wire resistance is the enemy because it represents lost energy in the circuit. So perhaps a smaller coil with thicker wire would do the trick. At this point I have to bow out because I am 'not doing the experiments'. lol
Here is the thing to remember about the coil: When the transistor switches off, the coil will want the current to keep flowing. Like a raging bull, the coil will generate any required voltage to satiate it's need to keep the current flowing. So in theory any coil is capable of firing the CFL. Once the coil has ignited the CFL, the amount of 'oomph' it has is equal to 1/2 L i-squared. L = the number of Henrys, and you notice the coil energy is proportional to the square of the current.
Nice to know you don't have to be picky with the coil. It would be interesting to charge batteries up from say 12V with each method of charging and see which method gives the most return for the charge. I like the new Walmart solar panels I got, charging 3 semi batteries at the same time and running a 250 ma load at the same time. Can run this 24 hours now. This is fun!
marthale7 3 years ago
I'll check out the Walmart panels. I'm using solar energy mostly now with my experiments. You are right. This is fun!
Lidmotor 3 years ago
another nice vid... I can hear it being quiet..
jabrinka99 3 years ago
Silence is golden--at least around my house:)
Lidmotor 3 years ago
Nice one Lidmotor.
GBluer 3 years ago
Thanks. Your design and this one are very similar.
Lidmotor 3 years ago
that thing is cool. Nice that their is no wheel
webovisionca 3 years ago
Wheels are fun to watch and listen to. This one just sits there and makes a slight hissing sound to let you know it's running. It is simple to build with no moving parts to worry about.
Lidmotor 3 years ago
I think the big lesson here is that the ignition coil is overkill for lighting up the CFL. You could make Mini Box II, Stuart Little Edition.
I got zapped by an ignition wire in my car once and had a headache for 15 minutes.
Drevtoobe 3 years ago
OK. I totally agree. Now that this thing is so small I need a small ignition "type" coil to go with it. Any suggestions? I'm thinkig motorcycle coil or TV flyback transformer? Build a HV coil of my own???
Lidmotor 3 years ago
The coil you have right now can light the CFL and also charge the charging battery so why not start with that? You might start unwinding it and see if a smaller coil still lights the CFL.
Permit me to switch to engineering mode: In theory a wide range of inductor values will be able to light up the coil. When the coil discharges, X number of Joules are dissipated through the CFL. Smaller coils with larger current going through them can supply the same amount of energy... cont'd.
Drevtoobe 3 years ago
...same amount of energy as larger coils with less current going through them. I am referring to the number of Henrys of inductance in the coil when I say "smaller" and "larger".
With some experimenting you may find a 'Goldilocks' coil value that fires the CFL and gives you the minimum battery current consumption.
You are a great candidate for a scope. Perhaps you have an old computer around and you could try the sound card based scope. You just have to protect the input with Zeneer diodes.
Drevtoobe 3 years ago
With a scope you could see if you are 'overcharging' the coil with too long a pulse width and wasting energy.
Smaller coils have less inductance and also lower wire resistance. Wire resistance is the enemy because it represents lost energy in the circuit. So perhaps a smaller coil with thicker wire would do the trick. At this point I have to bow out because I am 'not doing the experiments'. lol
Drevtoobe 3 years ago
Here is the thing to remember about the coil: When the transistor switches off, the coil will want the current to keep flowing. Like a raging bull, the coil will generate any required voltage to satiate it's need to keep the current flowing. So in theory any coil is capable of firing the CFL. Once the coil has ignited the CFL, the amount of 'oomph' it has is equal to 1/2 L i-squared. L = the number of Henrys, and you notice the coil energy is proportional to the square of the current.
Drevtoobe 3 years ago
Thanks. I think I'll ask Santa Claus for an oscilloscope for Christmas.
Lidmotor 3 years ago