Consists of a high-voltage power supply, a high-voltage capacitor that discharges through a spark gap and a high-frequency tesla transformer. The transformer has a primary winding of a few turns of copper bar.  The secondary winding consists of many turns of fine copper wire with end connections that support curved rods and discharge balls.

When the potential across the capacitor reaches the breakdown potential of the spark gap, breakdown across the gap occurs. The spark gap then becomes a conducting part of the RLC circuit, which resonates at a frequency of about 200 kilohertz. The large coil in the resonant circuit is the primary of the final transformer and the very fine coil is the secondary, producing about 200,000 volts at 200 kilohertz

Arcs can be created between the balls, or with the balls separated, they will light a fluorescent tube.