Modding Plasma Ball Wiring

Discussion in 'Modding' started by thordiddy, 7 Jul 2004.

  1. thordiddy

    thordiddy What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    23 May 2004
    Posts:
    38
    Likes Received:
    0
    I just got a plasma ball and want to put it in my case. It says that the power adapter has an output of 12VDC @ 1200mA. Can I just wire it to the 12 volt wire of my psu? Thanks, I wanna be sure what I'm doin before I break it :wallbash:
     
    thordiddy, 7 Jul 2004
    #1
  2. D B

    D B What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    11 Apr 2004
    Posts:
    318
    Likes Received:
    1
    Yep ... Yellow is 12v and Black is ground ( 1000ma =1 Amp ... 1200 ma = 1.2 Amps )
    DB
     
    D B, 7 Jul 2004
    #2
  3. thordiddy

    thordiddy What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    23 May 2004
    Posts:
    38
    Likes Received:
    0
    How can I tell which wire is ground and which is power?
     
    thordiddy, 7 Jul 2004
    #3
  4. f U z ! o N

    f U z ! o N What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    1 Feb 2004
    Posts:
    593
    Likes Received:
    0
    he just told u up above :D
     
    f U z ! o N, 7 Jul 2004
    #4
  5. SilentDeath

    SilentDeath What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    28 Jun 2004
    Posts:
    221
    Likes Received:
    0
    I'm pretty sure he means on the plasma ball, not the molex.
     
    SilentDeath, 7 Jul 2004
    #5
  6. thordiddy

    thordiddy What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    23 May 2004
    Posts:
    38
    Likes Received:
    0
    I meant how do I tell which wire is ground and which is power on the circuit of the plasma ball. Any ideas?
     
    thordiddy, 7 Jul 2004
    #6
  7. Shadowspawn

    Shadowspawn Another hated American.

    Joined:
    1 Jul 2002
    Posts:
    1,867
    Likes Received:
    0
    What does the power adapter jack look like? I am assuming it looks like a hollow tube, with the plasma ball having the "male" center plug? If so, that male center plug will be the positive while the outer portion of the jack is the ground. You can verify this with a multimeter on the power adapters jack. Don't have a multimeter? Stop what you are doing and get one.
     
    Shadowspawn, 7 Jul 2004
    #7
  8. ErrOnReq

    ErrOnReq What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    7 Apr 2004
    Posts:
    169
    Likes Received:
    0
    Test it and whichever combination doesn't result in a shock or explosion is probably your best bet :p

    Have you taken the ball apart? If you open it up, there might be some labels on the PCB or something.

    EDIT: Shadowspawn posted right before I did! His informational post came before my slacka$$ed answer. My fun is ruined!
     
    ErrOnReq, 7 Jul 2004
    #8
  9. thordiddy

    thordiddy What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    23 May 2004
    Posts:
    38
    Likes Received:
    0
    thats what i needed, thanks!
     
    thordiddy, 7 Jul 2004
    #9
  10. ZapWizard

    ZapWizard Enter the Mod Matrix

    Joined:
    19 Sep 2002
    Posts:
    4,705
    Likes Received:
    5
    Don't forget to sheild the plasma ball from the rest of the PC

    Use a wire mesh, or foil connected to ground behind the plasma ball.
     
    ZapWizard, 7 Jul 2004
    #10
  11. AMD inside

    AMD inside What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    7 Jul 2004
    Posts:
    14
    Likes Received:
    0
    Check the polarity sign on the power supply.
     
    AMD inside, 7 Jul 2004
    #11
  12. khendar

    khendar What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    25 May 2004
    Posts:
    322
    Likes Received:
    0
    Dammit Zap you're no fun. I was waiting for the cries of "OOOH my plasma ball fried my hard drives :waah: " :D

    No seriously thats a good idea :p
     
    khendar, 7 Jul 2004
    #12
  13. Nexxo

    Nexxo * Prefab Sprout – The King of Rock 'n' Roll

    Joined:
    23 Oct 2001
    Posts:
    34,731
    Likes Received:
    2,210
    Depends. You have to make sure said mesh is a reasonable distance from the ball surface (say, about an inch), else all the pretty glowy tendrils emanating from the central bulb (anode) will make straight for the mesh. Sort of ruins the optical effect.
     
    Nexxo, 7 Jul 2004
    #13
  14. Zion

    Zion What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    11 Apr 2004
    Posts:
    91
    Likes Received:
    0
    ok a newbie moment whats a plasma ball?
     
    Zion, 7 Jul 2004
    #14
  15. SilentDeath

    SilentDeath What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    28 Jun 2004
    Posts:
    221
    Likes Received:
    0
    SilentDeath, 7 Jul 2004
    #15
  16. cpemma

    cpemma Ecky thump

    Joined:
    27 Nov 2001
    Posts:
    12,328
    Likes Received:
    55
    All the info you'll need. Right here at Bit-Tech. :dremel:
     
    cpemma, 8 Jul 2004
    #16
  17. Digitalblueshift

    Digitalblueshift What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    12 Feb 2002
    Posts:
    2,644
    Likes Received:
    1
    I still want to mount one of these in a plexi case, I wonder if a static charge will build up...
     
    Digitalblueshift, 8 Jul 2004
    #17
  18. Brandon_Bep

    Brandon_Bep What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    24 Jun 2004
    Posts:
    42
    Likes Received:
    0
    How much heat will these add to your case? <insert smilie that looks like a dumb noob>
     
    Brandon_Bep, 8 Jul 2004
    #18
  19. Atarax

    Atarax What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    13 Jul 2004
    Posts:
    85
    Likes Received:
    0
    Thanks cpemma, i had that same idea....workin on it now. not like so many others say and havent actually thought of it. I'll get to the point u absolutely ruined me, i thought i had such an original idea and when i saw that link not only is it the same idea but its the same friggin case! :wallbash: i couldnt believe it. anyways, i thought the yellow wire was 7volt? i hope i didnt juss wire my 6volt plasma ball to 12v. :jawdrop:
     
    Atarax, 25 Sep 2004
    #19
  20. AmmoCell

    AmmoCell What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    29 Jan 2005
    Posts:
    17
    Likes Received:
    0
    Hey, I have the high-voltage circuit that I ripped out of a 4" plasma ball. Its connector jack for the wall transformer has 3 pins -- one is ~12VDC, the other two are 0VDC. Does it matter which of the two 0VDC pins I use for ground? I'm an electronics n00b, so please be gentle! Thanks!

    Oh yeah: I'm in the US. But I don't think it really matters by the time you get to all that fantastic DC stuff from the computer's PSU. Ah, what do I know?! :)
     
    AmmoCell, 26 Feb 2005
    #20

Share This Page