LEDs in Neon Powerball suddenly shut down above 5500RPM!?

[jeff127]

I have had my powerball since October '04 and it has always run smoothly with no problems but I have recently noticed the LEDs do not always emit light- even at well over 10000 RPM!

I found that the light increases normally up until what I guess to be roughly 5500 RPM and then they just suddenly turn off and then when I decrease the speed to below this value they turn back on. I could make a short video to explain how this happens if I needed to.

Has anyone else had this problem before?

Thanks,
Jeff

(Edited to remove typos)

[The Force]

Without having seen this before I do have a scientific explanation.

In a few words it is like:

A partially loose connecting wire + centrifugal forces.

More elaborately:
There is a loose connecting wire on the printed circuit board in the rotor. At 5500RPM the centrigual forces get so large (larger than the elastic forces) that the connecting is pulled loose (on one side), breaking the electrical contact switching off the LED's. Then if you reduce to a speed below 5500RPM the elastic forces push the wire back, et voila, restoring electrical contact, turning the LEDs turn on.

The solution is obviously a replacement of the rotor. RPM sports will take care off that, I am sure

Best regards,

The Force

[Enda]

Yes Jeff,

It sounds, as The Force indicated that the rotor needs to be replaced.

Please email liz@powerballs.com with details of what is written on the grip-band to ensure that the correct part can be dispatched.

Regards

Enda
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