Sennheiser ME66 - Backwards battery issue (does it damage the mic?)

DanielRutter

DanielRutter

Active member
I recently got a Sennheiser ME66 from a friend, and I chucked the battery in (as you do)... but it didn't want to turn on. I realised afterwards that the battery was in the wrong way (the spring is for the positive end of the battery, not the negative... as it usually is on other mics/electronics). I seem to recall reading that it can damage the mic and power module itself... but I cannot find that article.

I just want a clear and cut response. Can putting the battery in backwards actually damage the mic? My mic still works (sort of)... but I cannot get a clear signal without pumping up gain on my DR-40.

Help?
 
If the mic is still working than I think it will be OK as the voltages and current involved are very small so damage is rare in battery operated mics and sennheisers tend to build to last all sorts of bad plugging, I have hot plugged mics with phantom power which is far stronger for numerous years and never had one fry or blow up.

You may need a new battery though as it may have shorted out and lost its volts.

I seem to recall that the gain on most of the palm recorders has to be cranked up quite a bit when using pro spec mics so I doubt it is anything to worry about.
 
Putting a battery in backwards normally does no damage.
The low gain issue is typical of most budget recorders. A higher sensitivity mic would help some. A high quality external preamp or mixer is usually recommended. The DR-40 works very well with a good front end and accepts a (true) +4dB nominal line level input.
 
Thanks guys. I think I have a dodgy ME66/K6 then... because I haven't been able to get it to work properly with anything I've tried.

Thanks for the help!
 
Also that mic can be phantom powered and the DR40 can deliver phantom so I would try that.

Have you checked that batt.? They last a LONG time but they do eventually die.

Is it just low or do you get noise and garbage also. If it's noisy then it may well be a bad contact either at the power to capsule connection or the mic to cable connection. Clean them all with a good contact cleaner.
 
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