1. Explanation of the circuit Price breakdown Construction notes
Introduction
Explanation of the circuit
Price breakdown
Construction notes
Distribute kits
Build time

2. Giving old batteries a new life
The Battery Eater
Giving old batteries a new life
DEADERCELL
NEVERREADY
NEVERLAST

3. Battery Eater Joule Thief LED Flasher
The Battery Eater is really two Circuits in one
LED Flasher

4. The Joule Thief
The Joule Thief uses a hand wound transformer to increase voltage

5. How it Works: Joule Thief
Voltage flows through the left coil, the resistor limits current E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E-
OFF E- E- E- E- E-

6. How it Works: Joule Thief
The transistor turns on allowing a large current to flow through the right coil E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- ON E- E- E- E- E-

7. How it Works: Joule Thief
The current in the right coil induces a current in the left coil which opposes its existing current flow, shutting
off the transistor. E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E-
OFF E- E- E- E- E-

8. How it Works: Joule Thief
Current in the right coil cannot shut off immediately leading to a bump in voltage
as the field in the left
coil breaks down
Small Voltage rise E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E-
Field breaks down E- E- E- E- E-
OFF E- E- E- E- E-

9. How it Works: Joule Thief
This process repeats, and the voltage rises
Small Voltage rise E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E-
Field breaks down E- E- E- E- E-
OFF E- E- E- E- E-

10. How it Works: Joule Thief
Once the voltage reaches the breakdown voltage of the LED electricity can flow
Small Voltage rise E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E-
Field breaks down E- E- E- E-
OFF E- E- E- E- E-

11. Turning the Joule Thief on
Making the joule thief turn on at night and off in the morning adds just one extra component
A voltage divider is created by the addition of the LDR keeping the transistor off when exposed to light

12. LED Flasher
Two PNP transistors act as switches to turn on LEDs

13. How it Works: LED Flasher
An RC circuit triggers the transistors
Changing the resistor and capacitor will determine the LED flash rate

14. Materials and Kit Cost
14 components, 1 single sided PCB

15. PCB/Parts Layout