Fault: The rotor on your Neon or Techno Powerball has been subjected to a severe shock or drop which has resulted in the failure of the LEDs on the rotor

Solution: Open the ball and replace the rotor

Detailed Explanation: The LEDs which create the fantastic light effects on both the Neon and Techno Powerball models are powered by a pair of induction coils built into a circuit board on the body of the rotor. The support band on which the rotor is suspended contains a magnetic disc in front of which the two coils are rotated while spinning the Powerball this is what generates the current to power the LEDs.

If the Powerball is dropped or subjected to a severe shock, then the coils can go open circuit and their ability to generate electricity is lost.

In the case of the Techno, there is a small micro switch inside the rotor assembly which may also be otherwise affected in the event of a drop, once again causing a general failure of the 7 LEDs built into the rotor surface.

There is no cure for either of these fault conditions other than for us to supply you with a new rotor.

Please refer to the following information which details how to open your Powerball in order to replace the damaged rotor.

Note: Powerball rotors are extremely durable it is very rare that the LEDs will fail like this.

Reason: Poor wrist rotation / starting technique

Solution: Follow the correct technique as outlined below.

Detailed Explanation: Once you have initially jump started the rotor with the cord (please click on the following video for a visual solution or review the written instructions here) it is important that you synchronise your wrist rotation speed so that it fully aligns with the rotor speed.

From experience, you will see that a good, sharp pull on the cord will leave the rotor spinning at around 2500/3000rpm.

From that point, unless you begin to ‘agitate’ the rotor by rotating your wrist, the rotor speed will begin to die (natural laws of physics!

You therefore must begin rotating your wrist at a slow, steady pace so that it manages to sync perfectly with the spinning rotor in the sphere and helps to both sustain and build its speed.

This is easier to do than it sounds;

If you are a beginner with Powerball, we recommend wide, lazy wrist turns, such as if you were stirring a pot, whisking eggs or waxing a car - about 5/6" in diameter, about 1 or 2 turns each second.

It is all about ‘feel’ - you will immediately know that you are at the correct speed as you will begin to feel a resistance to your wrist rotation efforts (when you are out of sync, there will be no resistance, the rotor may ‘slap’ around noisily inside the sphere and it will feel as if you are just turning your hand around the wrist joint - when in sync however, there will be a pleasant, soothing resistance to your efforts and the Powerball will suddenly feel much heavier in your hand!)

Once you feel this resistance (otherwise known as Gyroscopic Inertia), slowly begin to increase the speed of your wrist rotations (NOTE: it is important that only the wrist rotates - your arm must remain steady and in the one position) - this will serve to increase the actual speed at which the rotor is spinning which, in turn, will increase the resistance being inflicted on your hand/wrist/arm.

Once again, if you are trying to turn your wrist too fast while at these slow starting speeds or, if your turning circles are too small, you will hear (and feel!) the rotor slapping noisily inside the sphere - if this happens, simply slow the speed of your turns or increase the size of the turn (dimensionally) - this will immediately help to bring you back in sync with the spinning rotor and the speed will build proportionally once again.

So remember, if it hits 2000rpm from the pull start and then dies, you are doing it wrong!

For a useful reference, look at the video clip below which will clearly demonstrate the required action.

Reason: The rotor support band had become worn or the rotor itself is somewhat off balance

Solution: Open the ball and replace either component

Detailed Explanation: The rotor is attached to the sphere by means of the rotor support band - a polycarbonate ring onto which the rotor axle is anchored at the 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock points (see fig. a)

In a new Powerball, or one which has been operated correctly during its lifetime, the steel rotor axle will fit snugly into the rotor support band at both points and there is no play or movement between these two components.

In a powerball which has been allowed to operate without being firmly gripped by the user as the rotor spins however, the inertia created by the fast spinning rotor will cause a subtle resonation within the entire sphere and cause wear at both points in the rotor support band where the axle is seated as a result. Instead of a perfect, tightly fitting circle, the hole into which the axle sits will now be oval in shape and certainly enlarged to some degree, allowing for significant play between the rotor axle and the band and causing those dreadful vibrations in the ball during operation.

There is no cure for this other than replacing the band.

With regards to the rotor integrity - it has happened, but is extremely rare, that the rotor itself can become off balance.

Given that each rotor is built around a solid steel axle and is precisely balanced during the manufacturing process, the most likely reason for one to run off balance will be as a result of a severe fall onto a solid surface where the sheer deadweight of the rotor mass will end up warping the axle and cause it to spin erratically.

Again, there is no cure for this other than replacement.

Finally, if you have examined the rotor and it appears to be spinning correctly, please take a closer look at the plastic vanes on the rotor body - it may be that one of these has cracked and is upsetting the perfect balance of the rotor as a result. Once again, replacement will be the necessary solution.

Reason: This is a natural characteristic of the Powerball and is not a fault condition

Solution: N/A

Detailed Explanation: Your new Powerball is a precision instrument which has been manufactured to the highest standards and fully hand assembled to ensure superlative quality.

The principle of its design lies in a perfectly balanced rotor supported on a circular band which in turn is suspended in a cavity created by a 'lip' on the top and bottom halves of the outer sphere. The Cavity is about 4mm in height while the thickness of the rotor support band is only 2mm, leaving an up/down 'play' in the rotor of about 2mm.

When the rotor is sitting stationary, you can feel this "play" by gently pushing the rotor up into the ball and letting it go again - it will rattle gently in sympathy with each push and give the impression that there is a fault in your beloved Powerball.

Not so!

There may be play while the rotor sits stationary, but put it in motion and it will tighten up into a perfectly smooth and creamy movement that almost defies belief...the play that exists when the unit is sitting idle disappears completely as the rotor becomes suspended by the principle of precession as faster and faster it spins in your hand!

That internal cavity has been designed to allow just the right amount of friction between the smooth inner surface of the sphere and the rotor support band as you rotate your wrist to pull on speed.

If that inner cavity was too narrow, it wouldn't be possible to build speed in the ball, if it was too wide then the same would occur - no friction between the polycarbonate rotor support band the inner surface of your gyro...therefore no speed in the rotor itself (same reason why you should never oil your Powerball - all the friction would instantly disappear and the rotor would go nowhere!)

Please click here to take a closer look at the inner components referred to above - it will give you a better idea of how your Powerball works.

The moral of this particular story therefore is that if your Powerball shakes, rattles or rolls while stationary in your hand...and you haven't dropped or generally abused him, all is well and there is no reason to worry.