Uploaded June 2013 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Demonstrations and testing of a joule thief circuit powering a compact fluorescent light (CFL) as requested by many who watched my "How to Make Joule Thief Light a CFL - Jeanna's Light" video. I show:
- how the light brightens using more batteries, including a 9 volt battery
- what effect the potentiometer/variable resistor has
- voltage and frequency measurements made using an oscilloscope at various points in the circuit
- using a solar cell to observe the light from the CFL, along with any flicker
- how to use a PNP transistor in the joule thief circuit instead of the NPN transistor
- testing how long the batteries last i.e. testing battery life, including mounting the transistor on a heatsink to solve a heating problem
- measuring current
- testing for interference with AM, shortwave and FM radio, analog TV signals and an LCD screen
More of my Joule Thief videos:
How to Make Joule Thief Light a CFL - Jeanna's Light
youtu.be/FkLET8MhRbU
How a Joule Thief Works
youtu.be/0GVLnyTdqkg
Make a Joule Thief for Zombie Batteries to light an LED
youtu.be/B61DU7yEsPM
To watch the "How to mount/attach transistor to heatsink (2N3055)" video:
youtu.be/hNRacVQRgBc
To watch the "How to take Piezoelectric Igniter from Lighter for Spud Gun":
youtu.be/DAyM8Iet1O8
And for my webpage about joule thiefs, go to:
rimstar.org/sdenergy/joule_thief.htm
For Todd Harrison's fun electronics, DIY and more channel, go to:
youtube.com/user/toddrharrison
To follow me on Twitter:
twitter.com/#!/RimStarz
rimstar.org
5 Cents Back - music by audionautix.com
Demonstrations and testing of a joule thief circuit powering a compact fluorescent light (CFL) as requested by many who watched my "How to Make Joule Thief Light a CFL - Jeanna's Light" video. I show:
- how the light brightens using more batteries, including a 9 volt battery
- what effect the potentiometer/variable resistor has
- voltage and frequency measurements made using an oscilloscope at various points in the circuit
- using a solar cell to observe the light from the CFL, along with any flicker
- how to use a PNP transistor in the joule thief circuit instead of the NPN transistor
- testing how long the batteries last i.e. testing battery life, including mounting the transistor on a heatsink to solve a heating problem
- measuring current
- testing for interference with AM, shortwave and FM radio, analog TV signals and an LCD screen
More of my Joule Thief videos:
How to Make Joule Thief Light a CFL - Jeanna's Light
youtu.be/FkLET8MhRbU
How a Joule Thief Works
youtu.be/0GVLnyTdqkg
Make a Joule Thief for Zombie Batteries to light an LED
youtu.be/B61DU7yEsPM
To watch the "How to mount/attach transistor to heatsink (2N3055)" video:
youtu.be/hNRacVQRgBc
To watch the "How to take Piezoelectric Igniter from Lighter for Spud Gun":
youtu.be/DAyM8Iet1O8
And for my webpage about joule thiefs, go to:
rimstar.org/sdenergy/joule_thief.htm
For Todd Harrison's fun electronics, DIY and more channel, go to:
youtube.com/user/toddrharrison
To follow me on Twitter:
twitter.com/#!/RimStarz
rimstar.org
5 Cents Back - music by audionautix.com
