3.5 to 5 volts Plug-in Power

Felipe Henao

Felipe Henao

Well-known member
Was wondering, what to consider when connecting battery operated microphones to mixers and recorders, that provide 3.5 to 5 volts Plug-in Power.
Example Beachtek XLR Converters providind the voltage thrue the 3.5 plugs and microphones like Shure VP83 or Rode video mic pro.
Also wireless receivers like those from sony connected to a 3.5 mm plug from a DSLR.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.
 
Felipe Henao said:
I mean could the voltage demage this microphones?
Click to expand...
I have never heard of damage from Plug-in Power (aka, bias voltage). OTOH, Phantom Power can be deadly to unbalanced mics and such.
If your getting audible noise from bias current, a blocking capacitor can be soldered into a connector. I don't recall the value off-hand.
 
Thank you Rick, My question comes from the fact that on a Tascam recorder Manual says, Microphones shoul not be plugged to the 3.5 mm providing Plug-in Power. In the case of the Tacam exists the option of disabling the Plug-in Power
But en the case of the Beachtek does not, it always provides that power, How ever also contacted Beachtek, and they say as well as you this:
You don’t need to worry about disabling the plug-in power on the DXA-MICRO PRO. We do not know of any mics or wireless that are affected by this - if the mic does not need power, it is simply ignored.
So !!
 
I think Tascam is just being cautious. I would not be worried. Plugin power is a low voltage with a low current and just about any decent mic that doesn't need it will block it, either specifically or the output just won't care.
Phantom power is generally a lot higher voltage and some supplies can put out a fair amount of current (relatively speaking). But I have never seen phantom power on a 1/8" connector.
 
Thank you Noiz2, Decent mics will not be affected as you say, however I'll be running a test with different unbalanced mics and will comment again, stay tuned.
 
Ok, I runned the test with 3 microphones, The Azden SGM-1X, which is a battery powered Microphone, balanced but with the option to use a 3.5 plug, The Saramonic SR-M3, and the
sE Electronics Laser DSLR Microphone, The Azden was able to take the Plug-in power without any problem as well as the sE Electronics BUT the Saramonic Instantly stop working.
Then I thought, well I lost my $ 60 so opened the Saramonic mic and is made of very very cheap components (According to the price of course), soldering points are very weak
and even some internal cables were cracked, like used or old cables, For a little more the sE electronics Laser microphone delivers a Fantastic sound and a very good build!
 
I seriously doubt that plugin power had anything to do with the problem since that mic is designed for a DSLR and should be expecting to see plugin power. The build quality though...

If nothing is actually broken I would try a new battery since a battery powered mic won't as a rule use plugin power it's battery must be installed and charged.
Next I would look at bad solder joints and any wiring that looks not well attached.
 
oK Noiz2, Battery was well charged and tested with the other mics, Possibly some wires had bad solder joints, at the end I decided to put it in the trash can, since returning things from here would cost more than the product.
You are possibly right! Thank you
 
Thinking about your latest opinion; Possibly right, However, consider that cameras provide 2.5 v plug-in power, The mixer gave 3.5v.
and that differnce on a very cheaply made mic could cause demaged, For some reason Tascam warns about that possibility on their products providing Plug-in power.
 
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