Phantom Power Q's

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libbybapa

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I have a Mackie board that can supply phantom power to individual mics. A drummer I play with has an overhead mic that requires phantom power to work. He told me that that the phantom power should be turned off before the board was powered off/on and that if the phantom power was turned on for the mic when the board was powered off/on it could destroy the mic. Is that correct?
 
It can damage the input tranny sometimes. Mostly if it's done repeatedly.
Also ....... if the phantom is on when you plug or unplug a mic you'll often get a loud pop thru the PA.
So I always make a point to have the phantom off until everything is hooked up and the first thing I do before unhooking anything is turn the phantom off.
 
For years and years I've wired up the stage with all the microphones once that is completed I then turn on FOH (noting which channels to have phantom turned on) then the PA system and go straight into sound check with never with a problem. Then just the opposite at the end of the night.
But I've heard that a hot unplug/plug in of a condenser mic can cause problems. For sure with a tube mic!







:cool:
 
Lt. Bob said:
It can damage the input tranny sometimes. Mostly if it's done repeatedly.
Also ....... if the phantom is on when you plug or unplug a mic you'll often get a loud pop thru the PA.
So I always make a point to have the phantom off until everything is hooked up and the first thing I do before unhooking anything is turn the phantom off.
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Ya as Lt. states ..... I'd be more worried about the PA speakers!







:cool:
 
moresound said:
But I've heard that a hot unplug/plug in of a condenser mic can cause problems. For sure with a tube mic! :cool:
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With one or two exceptions, tube mics don't work on phantom power. They have power supplies that will block any phantom sent to them.

Most studios with big consoles have the phantom power on all the time. The biggest concern is the POP you get when you plug and unplug, but if you mute the channel, you will be fine.
 
I always turn off the phantom in the studio when plugging in or unplugging mics to prevent loud pops and to avoid blowing a fuse on the phantom circuit if I accidentally short the connections.

Alan.
 
Hotpatching phantom power will destroy neither a phantom-powered mic nor a console. It can, as others have pointed out, do nasty things to your speakers & ears.
 
Farview said:
With one or two exceptions, tube mics don't work on phantom power. They have power supplies that will block any phantom sent to them.

Most studios with big consoles have the phantom power on all the time. The biggest concern is the POP you get when you plug and unplug, but if you mute the channel, you will be fine.
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I guess that is what I meant Farview ..... Never hot patch a tube microphone either. :D thou it does have nothing to do with phantom power from the console. I just make a point to never have phantom on until I know that I need it.

I've been told to not send phantom to the power supply of a tube microphone, period! It can hurt it. Is that true?









:cool:
 
mshilarious said:
Hotpatching phantom power will destroy neither a phantom-powered mic nor a console. It can, as others have pointed out, do nasty things to your speakers & ears.
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HA HA HA HA ..... All that I can picture is someone sitting in front of their set up spitting out pieces of their monitor cones after being sprayed by them on a hot patch condenser unplug. ..... Pa-toowie! :laughings:

You only have to make that mistake once. Blown speakers or not. What a noise! A real underwear changer. :D








:cool:
 
moresound said:
I've been told to not send phantom to the power supply of a tube microphone, period! It can hurt it. Is that true?
Click to expand...

I would hope not. If so, that's a colossally bad design. Normally, most tube mics have a transformer on the output, so as long as you aren't getting a transient from hot plugging, the DC voltage should cancel itself out.

Regarding hot plugging, there is one other reason people suggest not doing that: some studios use 1/4" TRS patch bays for microphones. If you use such a setup and hot plug with phantom on, you almost certainly will either short your phantom power to ground (bad) or have a 48VDC voltage differential between only one signal pin and ground (also bad) or both at some point during the hot plugging process. Don't do this. :spank:
 
A lot of modern gear at least on the higher end are wired against letting you shoot your own foot. Phantom power through XLR only. And some circuitry to render it harmless on a mic that doesn't need it. But not all gear is that way, especially some of the vintage stuff. And some gear has been modded beyond factory specs, so it's always better to be safe, than not. And of course disable the monitors when turning phantom power on/off. Gotta love a good mute button.
 
moresound said:
HA HA HA HA ..... All that I can picture is someone sitting in front of their set up spitting out pieces of their monitor cones after being sprayed by them on a hot patch condenser unplug. ..... Pa-toowie! :laughings:
Click to expand...

Sissies. I hotpatch sometimes a hundred times a day with headphones on. 'Course my hearing isn't so good anymore . . . :(
 
mshilarious said:
Sissies. I hotpatch sometimes a hundred times a day with headphones on. 'Course my hearing isn't so good anymore . . . :(
Click to expand...

What? Can't hear you MSH, speak up! I've been standing to close to the drummer.








:cool:
 
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