Fixing a Broken Switch on the Volcano

After 6+ years of loyal service, my Volcano finally broke. The green air switch snapped, and became very difficult to operate. Thankfully, it’s an easy and relatively inexpensive fix and works for the heat switch as well.

UPDATE: New video now available – click here to watch the Volcano switch replacement video.

What you’ll need:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to replace the heat or air switch on your Volcano vaporizer:

  1. Unplug your Volcano and put it on a sturdy work surface.
  2. Use the Torx T8 security screwdriver to remove the small screws securing the cone to the plastic base. Once the screws are free, tip the cone towards the heat control to remove it. You must keep it nearby as a grounding wire keeps it tethered to the base.
    volcano-switch-replacement-5 volcano-switch-replacement-6 volcano-switch-replacement-7
  3. Push out the broken or defective rocker switch from the back. You will need to depress the retaining clips to get it through the hole. Remove the wire connectors by pulling and slowly rocking side to side. You can also use a small flat head screw driver to push the connectors off. Keep the connectors in order so you can replace them in the same sequence.
    volcano-switch-replacement-9 volcano-switch-replacement-10
  4. Prepare the new switch by orienting it correctly. Each blade connector on the back has a number, 1-3. Contact 1 belongs at the top. Also the ‘O’ on the front of the switch will be at top. Push the new switch through the opening, attaching the wire connectors as you go. Once connected use your thumb to press the switch firmly into position.
    volcano-switch-replacement-11 volcano-switch-replacement-15 volcano-switch-replacement-14
  5. Return to vaping as normal.

If you have a Volcano Digit – see this guide for helpful hints.

57 Comments

  1. George Gumble on February 12, 2017 at 5:23 pm

    What temperature on classic volcano should be used for Keef?



  2. Jip on January 5, 2017 at 4:28 pm

    Hi, I just changed my red switch on a classic volcano. But the light won’t shut ever. I even tried to switch the leads to no avail.

    Anybody have an idea about this?



  3. Michael on August 12, 2016 at 8:24 am

    While this is a useful guide, the article never explains how to replace a blown fuse. My green button stopped working, and as I was fiddling with it the stupid thing exploded a bunch of sparks everywhere. How can I fix this!?



    • Vapormaster on August 12, 2016 at 8:58 am

      Can you post a link to a picture? I’ve not experienced this issue honestly.



  4. Suga J on February 20, 2016 at 9:39 pm

    Hi. My classic volcano has been acting up for several months. First, the orange light in the middle was having trouble staying on. When I pressed the red button it flickered. I would have to flick it on 40 or 50 times before it stayed on and heated up (finally). At one point it just stopped working altogether. I replaced the red button like the video shows and it came back to life but I still have to flick the red button 40 or 50 times to get it to start. Is it possible to replace or fix that orange light in the middle? Because I think that must be what is wrong.



  5. Jip on July 25, 2015 at 7:42 pm

    I broke my green switch, after only maybe 6 months. Should I replace it myself or send it to repair ?



    • Vapormaster on July 26, 2015 at 9:55 pm

      If you are reasonably handy, I would just replace it. Will be cheaper than shipping in for repair and take less time.



  6. B. Something on June 24, 2015 at 7:35 pm

    Anybody know where to find switches that light up when active? I can’t be the only person who finds it’s difficult to know if the Volcano is shut off when loud music or a loud movie is on. If the switches lit up when active, that’d be great.



    • Vapormaster on June 25, 2015 at 6:27 am

      The switches from DepotEco do light up. One is red (heat) and one is green (air). Did your original switches not light up? Or just your replacements? If not wired properly the switch will work but not light up.



      • Matt on June 25, 2015 at 11:38 am

        “The switches from DepotEco do light up. One is red (heat) and one is green (air). Did your original switches not light up? Or just your replacements? If not wired properly the switch will work but not light up”

        That is almost correct. The Classic Switch’s have a Light inside of them that does light up when the switch is properly wired. The Volcano Digit Switches only have a Colored Cap ( Red / Green) and have no light inside.

        To to Clarify the Volcano Classic OEM Rocker Switch lights up.. The Volcano Digit OEM Momentary Switch does not light up.



        • Vapormaster on June 25, 2015 at 4:17 pm

          Thanks Matt!



        • B. Something on January 6, 2017 at 2:45 pm

          I got a Volcano Digital, and no, the switches have never lit up. I was looking at some metal ones with a ring around the momentary pushbutton portion, and they’d make my digit look quite ooh-la-la and serve the purpose I was originally shooting for.

          Anybody know what the voltage is on the factory volcano digital switches? The switches I’m looking at require four wires, and I was just wondering if I’d have to add some additional hardware in the digit to make it play nice with these switches.



          • Matt Williams on January 6, 2017 at 7:51 pm

            The Volcano uses 3 wire Rocker switch.. You must have a Volcano Knock off.. The Volcano classic uses 3 pole Rocker switches. :SR-06NR-R 16 Amp at 125 VAC, 8 Amps at 250 VAC



          • Matt Williams on January 6, 2017 at 7:56 pm

            “I got a Volcano Digital, and no, the switches have never lit up. I was looking at some metal ones with a ring around the momentary push button portion, and they’d make my digit look quite ooh-la-la and serve the purpose I was originally shooting for.
            Anybody know what the voltage is on the factory volcano digital switches? The switches I’m looking at require four wires, and I was just wondering if I’d have to add some additional hardware in the digit to make it play nice with these switches.”

            The digit does not have Light up Switches.. But the Display tells you if its on our not. And the volcano Digit uses 3 wires.
            Specs : R13-527 10 Amp at 125 VAC, 6 Amp at 250 VAC



  7. Brian on February 19, 2015 at 2:13 pm

    HELPPP i order a t8 torx screw driver to unscrew my Digital model of the volcano and the screw driver doesnt fit.the screws are the secruity pin ones but when i called storz and bickel they just gave me the run around and said those screws have to “vibrate” out….There must be a way to remove the screws.



    • Vapormaster on February 19, 2015 at 4:01 pm

      I’d be curious to see a picture of the screw head. The last Digital I saw had t8 torx screws. vapormaster [at] volcanotips.com



    • matt on February 19, 2015 at 4:19 pm

      Make sure you get a T8 Security Driver. that means it has a hole for the pin in the middle of the screw. And Standard T8 will not. Also You can try to use an Eraser head from a pencil to back the screw out.

      http://i01.i.aliimg.com/wsphoto/v2/1115347375_2/High-Quality-3-5-in-9-cm-Torx-T8-Security-Screwdriver-with-Hole-for-Xbox-360.jpg



    • Adam on February 19, 2015 at 11:53 pm

      You can “fake” this by using a wide rubber band and a small philips screwdriver that fits into 2 of the torx fins and saddles the pin. Press through the rubber band and turn slowly, they come right out and snug right back in when finished.



  8. Adam on November 29, 2014 at 10:28 pm

    My air pump switch was dirty. You had to press very hard and move around the button to get her to turn off and on. I took it apart, snapping photos as I went. I put it back together after using some isopropyl alcohol to clean off the connectors in my switch. Problem I have now is that the current temp display now reads -5E- Anyone seen this? I am testing before screwing the lid back on. The air pump switch works like a champ again, unfortunately the temp sensor now appears borked. I double checked the connections and they match my photos, is there some sort of button combination you need to use after opening the digital?
    Hope it’s easy and flame away if so, I’m sober and not thinking clearly…



    • Adam on November 30, 2014 at 12:14 am

      Update – Solved. The green connector on the far left, when facing the display with the case cracked, had been tugged out as I fidgeted to remove the green pump switch and clean the gunk out of it. Impossible to find information about the display code that came up. If you have anyone ask in the future, -5E- on you display, it means your thermostat connector has slid off its pins on the circuit board. The clip could be stronger or perhaps it was never seated properly from the factory.

      Great site and excellent information! A vape toast in your honor is being filled as I type.



      • Vapormaster on November 30, 2014 at 12:57 pm

        Thanks for sharing your info!



  9. J.Forlin on October 23, 2014 at 6:40 pm

    This walkthough worked great for power switch replacement. I looked at your photos for proper wiring as mine where disorderly placed. These switches are available @ most any electronics supplies stores. I phyisicaly bought mine in Vancouver, BC. We cannot ship these vaporizors across borders, or deal with storz & bickel’s arrogance. Thanks to sites and forums we can vape on.



  10. gerard on October 12, 2014 at 7:49 am

    Thanks a lot for your infos here, had my volcano for more than 10 years and this broke one time, bickel changed it for cheap, found your site because i want “make” my volcano…silenced… 🙂 dunno… get mad about this noise when i want a balloon in the middle of the night…argh make me crasy for years, lots of procrastination and weed later, I decided to take my destiny in hands and go ckeck the world out how TO STOP THAT NOOYING NOIIIIISEEEEE 🙂



  11. Cris on September 21, 2014 at 12:00 pm

    Hello, the orange control light on my volcano recently stopped lighting up. Is there a part for sale to replace the yellow light? Thanks.



  12. Aaron on July 7, 2014 at 4:31 am

    I can’t get the top off, I tilted it toward the control, but it still will not come off. Is there a video of this or something; not sure what to do?
    Thanks



  13. Blah on June 23, 2014 at 5:52 am

    The green switches and red are sold out on amazon. Is there another place to buy these? Will they be back in stock?



    • Vapormaster on July 20, 2014 at 4:48 pm

      The links are working now.



      • Matt on July 22, 2014 at 1:41 am

        WE are not Sold out.. WE keep about 200 in Stock at all times.. WE did have a Power Outage here so that pulled our Amazon Inventory down.. But its back.
        DepotEco



  14. Darren on May 24, 2014 at 3:03 pm

    Will this switch also fit in a Volcano Digital? I realize it’s a different switch but cannot locate a switch for the digital.

    Please email me directly if this or other switch you have will fit.

    Thanks



    • Vapormaster on July 20, 2014 at 4:49 pm

      Yes, yes it will fit.



  15. Trowser on March 14, 2014 at 12:39 pm

    I followed these steps and it worked great! However, the replacement red switch stays illuminated when turned off. Is this common?



    • Vapormaster on March 15, 2014 at 10:09 am

      Glad you got back up and running! Are you saying the red switch is illuminated in both positions or only when off? I would suspect that you may have the connections reversed – or a faulty switch. Please let us know how you make out.



      • Matt on July 22, 2014 at 1:41 am

        You have the Power to the Light and the Common Reversed.. Just move the Leads and it will work correctly.



      • Matt on July 23, 2014 at 5:31 pm

        The Red and Green Switch should only light up when on. IF yours is Light when the unit is Off? then you have the Leads Reversed on the 3 poles on the Switch..



  16. justsomeguyinco on February 22, 2014 at 3:23 pm

    Hey Brah way to go! Was about to pack and send back to Bickel and wait for eons to get it back. Now I only have to wait 2 days for it to ship from Amazon. Thanks a mill!



  17. Heather Morris on February 15, 2014 at 1:59 pm

    Awesome! I’ve had my volcano since 2007 and the air switch broke last week. Got it all fixed up myself, thanks to your post!



  18. Lexi on November 17, 2013 at 10:13 am

    Hi I have broken the temp dial on mine please tell me it’s fixable It fell off my side (I no clumsy) and the dial has lodged in can I fix it buy taking the top off its brand new



    • george on December 30, 2014 at 5:55 pm

      Same thing happend to me can u just take the top off and UN jam the dial? It’s bin broke forever can someone plz help



      • Vapormaster on December 30, 2014 at 5:58 pm

        hey george, I’d give Storz and Bickel a call. i don’t think the dial is user replaceable. Not sure I fully understand how it’s broken?



        • george on December 30, 2014 at 6:01 pm

          It’s just pushed in it blows air and what not but doesn’t create vampire I’m tempted to try and UN jam it but I don’t know if it’s worth loosening my warrenty



          • Vapormaster on December 31, 2014 at 9:13 am

            Assuming you’re in the US… call them – 510-451-1553 – California time.



  19. Zavier on November 8, 2013 at 9:54 pm

    Thank you so much for this, I just recently got my replacement button, followed your steps, only took me a week from button break, to fix. The button seems a little higher quality than the base one Volcano gives you also.



    • Zavier on November 8, 2013 at 9:59 pm

      clarifying most of week spent waiting for the switch to get here. Which they shipped very fast. So all in all this is the greatest article ever written for Volcano owners.



  20. Osama on May 29, 2013 at 9:10 pm

    Any tips on replacing the *button* of the digit model?



    • waze on December 17, 2013 at 12:14 am

      did you hear from him on how to fix the digital model “+and- buttons”



      • Matt on July 22, 2014 at 1:43 am

        WE are sourcing the Digit Switch.. You can use the Classic but its wired differently and the Digit uses a momentary 2 wire and not a on-off 3 wire switch.. I have helped several Digit owners get the classic switch to work.. But we will be offering the Digit Switch very soon.
        DepotEco



        • howard on October 14, 2014 at 2:05 pm

          Can you point me to where to buy the Digit Switch, or instructions to wire the Classic switch in place of the 2 wire push button Digit switch?



        • Sam on November 16, 2014 at 4:36 pm

          I need to replace the green/fan switch in my Digit. Do you have those switches in stock now?
          Thanks,
          Sam



  21. JCParodi on March 8, 2013 at 12:43 am

    I’ve had my Volcano for about 7 years, twice the switches have had to be replaced, great info, I won’t have to send it back to Bickel.