Global Free Energy Blog

Yesterday I tested gadgetmall (Albert) Joule Thief circuit. I used a AAA NiMH 700mAh battery as the source connected to Albert’s circuit, which in turn charges a BCAP0650 ultracapacitor (UC).  The UC started at 1.130 volts. The AA battery was charged. The experiment ended with the AAA at 0.491V, and the UC at 1.313V. This means the Joule Thief circuit charged the UC from 1.130V to 1.313V, for total energy of 134 joules. We know from the previous battery test that the same type of battery, fully charged, made by the same company, a AA 2000mAh NiMH has 6900 joules. Therefore the AAA 700mAh battery should have ~ 2400 joules. This comes to 100% * 134 J / 2400 J = 5.6 % efficient.

Today I adjusted the 10Kohm pot to try and improve the efficiency. This resulted 44% efficient, which is better than yesterdays 5.6% efficiency. I’m not sure if there’s much else to do here.

I finished my quick & dirty JT efficiency test, but it’s inconclusive. I already know what the skeptics will be thinking before hand. Yes, yes, yes, I know, it’s just a quick & dirty method that has flaws, but I could not resist since it’s so quick & easy.

Anyway, it showed 1.03% efficiency, which is far higher than I’d expect, but remember there’s a problem with my method. I’m not doubting that some people here might have found the right combination for cop>1. Lets find out.

What I did was placed two LED’s facing each other, and taped them together. One is the light source, the other is only a sensor. So had the JT light the LED till the sensor output was 50mV. Then I did the control experiment by replacing the JT with a DC voltage source from a power supply, and adjust the voltage till the LED sensor produced the same 50mV.

Here are the numbers,

JT circuit: 0.634V, 15.47mA = 9.81mW

Control: 1.887V, 5.35mA = 10.1mW

Efficiency is 103%

The problem with this method is that the LED efficiency varies with current. The JT circuit produces a pulse, and therefore the LED current is much higher as compared to the control experiment, which is DC current. I have no idea if the LED is more efficient above the control DC current of 5.35mV. It probably is.

Anyhow, this is fun testing, and I’ll try some more.

A user by the name of gadgetmall at overunity.com has made some huge claims. He claims his modified Joule Thief circuit can make a AA battery fully charge a 650F Maxwell boostcap, where the AA battery voltage only drops by some microvolts.

So I ordered one 650F Maxwell boostcap, $30 + $9 S&H. When the ultracapacitor arrives, I’ll build his circuit to see the results. I’m not holding my breath, but it’s all good because I’ve wanted to buy one of these capacitors anyways.