Plasma Ball Teardown

Written By: Payton Harty

Published: 07/11/16

Comments: 17

Plasma Ball Teardown

Published: 07/11/16

Teardown

Introduction

Tools

Phillips #0 Screwdriver

Step 1

Obtain your plasma ball and unplug the wire (If battery operated take out battery's).
Turn the Off/On/Sound switch to Off.

Step 2

Flip over the plasma ball ( Be careful if putting on a table, its glass its easily broken)
Unscrew the 4 screws, one in each corner of the mechanism.

Step 3

Carefully pull apart the base from the main body,
Now we have the base and the main panel.

Step 4

Unscrew the two screws that hold the base to the control center.

Why does the %#*@ thing have a microphone a mic on it up by the switch

Sweet Hart -

Step 5

Next pop out the control center by pushing on these two plastic holders.

Step 6

Pull the control center off the base and you are done with the teardown
To rebuild the Plasma Ball do all the steps in reverse order.

16 comments

Interesting teardown! Although, it might be noted that care should be taken when handling the circuit board, especially around the flyback transformer (big black cylinder), as plasma balls typically operate on high voltages and may pose a shock hazard.

nerdyphysicsguy - 16/11/16

does anyone know anything about troubleshooting electrical issues? I have a ball this is 20 years old and worked in 2016 when i packed it to move, but when i reopened it 8 months later i get nothing when i turn it on. Anyone have ideas?

Josh Pickles - 02/03/17

It could be a couple things leading to this. The wire could be faulty or the wire is not touching the steel wool are most likely the problem. You could try and tear down adjust it and see if it helps.

Payton Harty - 01/04/19

When I tried putting it back together it would not light the same way does anyone know how to fix this?

Cmolinar98 - 23/09/17

Need to ensure the wire touches the steel wool when reassembling.

Coen Stoltz - 15/03/18

Any suggestions as to get the arcs to use the whole globe? Unless I touch the globe the arcs all shoot along the base

Grant - 17/03/18

Thanks! Used to repair the plasma ball at local children's museum.

Calvin Stevens - 18/06/19

My plasma ball makes a high sound without touching . I can not let in work because of that noise , does anyone know how to fix this noise?

lacusta45 - 11/08/19

A high-voltage discharge from a Van De Graaff generator to the plasma ball globe killed the latter. What internal component is most likely damaged?

Eric Anderson - 17/10/19

I had one forabout 30 years.. sometimes people would put metal objects up to the glass 4 bigger spark effect. and then one day it just didn't work like it used to. after some fine scrutinizing I realized that the metal objects being held up to the glass creating amuch stronger Arkinside that the ark actually burned a tiny pinhole through the glass bulb no vacuum no spark. was able to pull a vacuum on the tube seal the hole and Wallah she worked again only to be burned up in house fireyears later

Rachel Maher - 10/03/20

my son just got a plasma ball for Christmas, it worked this morning but when I turned it on tonight it would only do a few arcs and only at the very very bottom.. any help?

Freya - 27/12/20

I totaly tore down illumina storm and cleaned and adjusted wool and wire im getting power to the point to where it plugs into slide bottons but wont even flicker when turned on NEED SOME HELP HERE???

Dave Williamson - 10/01/21

I need to but what happens if it electrocutes me

CAYDEN SOHNS - 13/01/21

Where can i get the replacement coils?

spacewranglers - 25/04/21

What Plasma Ball is this specifically? Like the brand name of it

Jack McCree -

Where can you order a new plastic housing for the 12v female hole? I have managed to take it apart but can’t find spares online?

Evan -