Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Useful circuit for DIY LED lights

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geo8rge
11-14-07, 08:23 PM
This circuit will suck every last bit of energy out of a battery and send it through a 3v LED.

http://www.evilmadscientist.com/article.php/joulethief

http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2007/11/make_a_joule_thief_weeken_1.html

twobikes
11-15-07, 07:26 AM
Thank you for this. Would the Joule thief work with a 3 LED 3 volt flashlight head for a Maglite? I made a headlight for my bike with one of these.

I have a small box full of "dead" AA batteries I wanted to recycle, but no one here takes them any longer. Many of them still have about 1 volt left. I do have an LCD desk clock I power with them, but a set of three to make 3 volts lasts a long, long time and I would never be able to use all of them this way.
geo8rge
11-15-07, 02:02 PM
It should work with any 3v circuit. I am curious as to the amps it puts out, and how long it takes to build up to 3v and discharge.