Help me out folks, I'm having a hard time understanding how transistors work, especially in this circuit
(which you can see in this video -

- from 0:56 - 1:32)
It's driving me crazy. I want to build this circuit but should obviously understand how it works first. I'm reading online about how joule thief works, and how transistors work but still need some help wrapping my head around it.

Thank you.

 

Basically a BJT (bipolar junction transistor) amplifies the current going into the base-emitter my a current-gain factor called either β (beta) or Hfe. The value for the current current is for a small BJT is typically in the 100-300 range.
Thus a 1mA current into the base-emitter will cause 100-300mA to flow from collector to emitter (assuming the collector is biased with a positive voltage from collector-emitter for a NPN type BJT).

So what do you want to know about that with respect to the circuit you want to build?
In that circuit there's a coil with two concentric wound wires that provide magnetic coupling between the two wires.
This generates a signal from the collector current winding to the base winding that generates an oscillation of the current in the two coils.
This provides a high frequency AC current that magnetically couples into an adjacent coil, as a transformer, generating a voltage in the adjacent coil the lights the LED.

 

The part that’s not obvious is why it oscillates. It has to, for that circuit to work. The role of the transistor is to act as an on/off switch for current in the coil.

I always lose my mind trying to understand oscillation instead of steady state.

 

I am working on putting together what is in this video:

But I can't get mine to work. I'm using these for the circuit:
The wire - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078YYLT5T/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The transistor - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018DMVGJU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The resistor - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011NAAYWO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have the pancake coil wrapped and tapped together to make sure it stays the way it should. I think I have all of the wiring correct so I'm not sure why it's not working. I'm using a DC power supply but it wont go above 1.4 volts.

Also, to see if it is working I have a simple coil of magnet wire attached to a voltmeter which I am holding just above the primary coil.

I know it looks like a dangerous messy, trust me I plan on making this a more clean organized circuit once I get it to work. See all of the pictures to help get an idea of what I am talking about.

Do you gentlemen see something I don't?

 

I'm using a DC power supply but it wont go above 1.4 volts.

That suggests your power supply can't supply enough current or your circuit is drawing more current than it should.
Or, another thought, if you are slowly ramping up the voltage that may prevent it from oscillating. Try setting the voltage and then connect to your circuit.

 

Hello,

For the others convenience, I have here the schematic from the video:



Bertus

 

It matters which way the coils go. Note that from the positive supply the two coils are wound in opposite directions.

 

Nothing is soldered. How many of the twisted wires do not connect? Please solder them all.