Description
The Plasma Ball is a 14cm tall novelty lamp priced at $32.99 with an 8cm glass globe full of coloured filaments of light. Touch the glass and the lightning bends toward your fingertip. It runs from any USB port using the included 1 metre cable, or from 4 AAA batteries if you want it cordless.
Novelty lamps usually get looked at once and then ignored. A plasma ball is different because it does something when you interact with it, which is why it holds attention on a desk, a bar or a bedroom shelf far longer than a colour-changing block of plastic. The physics is genuinely interesting too, so it doubles as a talking point rather than just decoration.
Specifications
| Overall height |
14cm |
| Glass globe diameter |
8cm |
| Power options |
USB, or 4 x AAA batteries (not included) |
| Cable length |
1 metre |
| Plug type |
USB |
| Light |
Multi-colour filaments |
| Base colour |
Black |
| Globe |
Clear glass |
| Pack sizes |
Single, or bulk pack of 10 |
What's in the Box
| Plasma ball |
1 (or 10 in the bulk pack) |
| USB power cable |
1 per ball, 1 metre |
| Instructions |
1 per ball |
| Batteries |
Not included - 4 x AAA if running cordless |
Why a Plasma Ball Beats a Static Novelty Lamp
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It reacts to you - the filaments chase your fingertip across the glass instead of sitting still
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Two power options - USB off a laptop, powerbank or phone charger, or batteries when there is no port nearby
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Genuinely small - at 14cm tall it fits on a crowded desk, a shelf or a car dashboard
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Works as a science demo - a visible, hands-on illustration of how electricity finds a path to earth
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Bulk pack available - ten at a time for party favours, classroom sets or resale
What Makes the Lightning Follow Your Finger?
Inside the globe there is a small electrode surrounded by a low-pressure gas mix. High-frequency voltage makes the gas glow along the paths where current is flowing, which is what you see as coloured filaments. Your body is a better conductor than the air inside the globe, so when you put a finger on the glass the current preferentially routes toward that point and the filaments visibly bunch under your fingertip. Move your hand and they follow. Use two hands and you get two bright anchor points.
Does a Plasma Ball Need to Be Plugged In?
Not necessarily. The included 1 metre USB cable will run it from a laptop, a wall charger, a powerbank or a car USB socket. If you would rather not have a cable at all, 4 AAA batteries in the base do the same job, which makes it practical for a party table, a market stall or a spot with no power point. Batteries are not included.
Is a Plasma Ball Suitable for a Child's Room?
It is popular with older children who are old enough to understand it is glass and not a toy. The globe is thin glass and will break if dropped or knocked off a shelf, so it belongs on a stable surface out of reach of toddlers and pets. Supervise younger children the first few times. It runs warm on the base after long periods, which is normal, but switch it off overnight rather than leaving it running unattended.
Buyers are usually setting up a desk, a teenager's bedroom, a games room or a bar. Teachers buy the ten pack for science lessons. It also shows up regularly as a gift for someone who is hard to buy for, because it is unusual without being expensive.
Pair it with the rest of our Gift Ideas, or see Gifts for Kids if it is for a birthday. The Trending collection has more of the novelty pieces people are buying right now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it come with batteries?
No. The USB cable is included; the 4 AAA batteries for cordless use are not.
Is the globe glass or plastic?
Glass. It is genuinely fragile and should be treated as such.
Why does the base get warm?
The circuit that generates the high-frequency voltage produces heat. Mild warmth is normal. Do not cover the base or run it inside an enclosed cabinet.
Can I leave it on all night as a night light?
We would not recommend it. Switch it off when you are not in the room.
Will it interfere with a phone or a laptop touchscreen?
Keep it a hand's width away from touchscreens and cards with magnetic strips. Close up, the field can make a touchscreen behave oddly while it is running.
What is in the bulk pack?
Ten complete units, each with its own cable and instructions.
Does the colour change?
The filaments are multi-coloured by design. There is no colour selector - the effect shifts as the discharge paths move.
Fast Australian Shipping
Dispatched from Australia to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra and Darwin, with regional and remote addresses served through the standard Australia Post network. Glass items are packed with extra padding.
Measurements are approximate. Screen colours vary between devices, so the light effect may look different in person to the photographs. Contains glass. Batteries are not included.
