Built some electronics today....

[SKYWLKR]

I started with an IC Oscillator circuit

I set it up to oscillate a LED at about 75 Hz (so it was not visibly flashing) using a 555 IC. I started at lower rates to make sure it did work.It was really cool to see I could get it to work :-) on my first try. I'm guessing this might gain a bit of run time over DD or with a resistor? Or is the circuit not efficient enough?

I also built an Adjustable Voltage regulator (only steps down voltage) using a LM317T transistor (and the schematic on the back of the package) again I have no idea of the efficiency of it, but it works :-)

I'm going to try and build a DC-DC step up next. I just need to find a schematic.

Maybe Lambda Ill Pill kit's will be ready soon :-) and I can try with that.

Any idea of how efficient the circuits I built are? Or some way to check (run time tests?)

This PDF http://www1.jaycar.com.au/images_uploaded/dcdcconv.pdf helped a bit and this page help alot as well http://www.electronics-tutorials.com/

along with a couple books from the libray I got.

after that I just spent a couple hours chasing parts at the Rat Shacks around town.

 

[WildRice]

you can use an external oscilator to run a step up. But there are several descrete component setups that will oscilate themselves. One I have is about 80% eff at 1.5v running a Nichia at 30mA.
Jeff