Wtf?

  • Thread starter Thread starter moresound
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moresound

Loud Sun Studios
Guess I'll post this here in the microphone forum.

Maybe someone can help answer this for me.

I was testing out some old EV microphones but before I could - I was holding an EV RE10 and the microphone cable to plug it into when I felt a buzz in my hand much like a cell phone on vibrate then I noticed that the phantom power light on the console had gone out and I couldn't get it to come back on!

I broke out an other console and did my testings leaving the other console still on after about a half an hour I noticed that the phantom light was back on the original console that I was going to test on. Works fine.

Strange! Any guesses here?
 
For coming back! Usually when I break something it STAYS broke.
 
Seemed as though the phantom power drained out then slowly recharged - I don't know how to explain it.
 
I'm not sure, but...

...if the mic buzzed, and you had the phantom power on, we can safely say the mic short cirquited the phantom power, right?

If the phantom power supply on your desk has some kind of overheating-prevention-mechanism, that might have saved it. And that's not unlikely. I'm sure you're not using a Behringer desk and these overheating prevention mechanisms can be found in the cheapest vacuum cleaners (the bag's to full, motor overheats, vacuum cleaners stops > replace the bag, let it cool down, continue cleaning).

The mic might be "fooked" :D though.

Have you tried if the desk's ok?
 
Yes phantom power came back and is powering condenser microphones now.

I didn't even have the EV microphone plugged in when this happened - just had the microphone and the XLR cord end in my hand to start the project when it happened.
 
Could the microphone have had a static electric build up from being in my fleece hoodie pocket? Then while holding onto the microphone and the live XLR cord in my hand, create *through the air* about an inch - a short? Making the 48Volt phantom power to go down?
 
Is it possible that the pins inside the XLR cable itself could have shorted? Depending on the type of mixer, it could have a 'crowbar' type of circuit to protect the PS during shorts.

I've had to repair a number of poorly made (not necessarily inexpensive) mic cables where the wiring was stripped too far back and not covered with heat shrink, allowing the conductors inside the connector to occasionally touch.

[semi-rant] And I'm using the therm 'short' in it's actual, real meaning - two things touching that shouldn't; not the way most people use it - to describe an intermittent connection of two things touching that should.[/semi-rant]
 
moresound said:
Could the microphone have had a static electric build up from being in my fleece hoodie pocket? Then while holding onto the microphone and the live XLR cord in my hand, create *through the air* about an inch - a short? Making the 48Volt phantom power to go down?
Click to expand...

It's possible. Maybe the electricity travelled through you. Electricity wants to go into the ground, and a mic cable is grounded.

I few weeks ago I got shocked when holding a electrictity wire with a pair of shock-proof plyers (in one hand) and a grounded lamp, in the other. Strange.
 
chrisghost said:
I few weeks ago I got shocked when holding a electrictity wire with a pair of shock-proof plyers (in one hand) and a grounded lamp, in the other. Strange.
Click to expand...

:eek: Sure made you stand up and take notice though didn't it! :eek:
 
moresound said:
:eek: Sure made you stand up and take notice though didn't it! :eek:
Click to expand...

Well I noticed allright. :D

But luckely I didn't...
moresound said:
stand
Click to expand...
... I fell over, thus disconnecting myself, which was a lucky escape... although I did nearly fall into the stairwell. :facepalm:

Anyway, the mic might indeed have been static, and the electrical current may have traveled through you into the cable. Was the metal of the plug connected to ground and were you wearing shoes with rubber soles?
 
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