Bob Cain wrote:
Ryan Mitchley wrote:

I've heard that if the diaphragm "bottoms out" for any reason on a phantom
powered condenser, there is the danger of minute spot welds forming.

I haven't attempted to verify this myself :-)

Unlikely because of the huge resistance in series and the
small amount of charge that could be stored in that small a
capacitance.

Yes, the polarization resistor is so high valued that it would not be much
to worry about. And it would have nothing to do with phantom power anyway.

It _is_ possible for big electrostatic loudspeakers to arc over if they
bottom out, but they have substantially larger area, greater distance between
the backplate and the diaphragm, and therefore enormously greater charge
involved. Even so, this can be prevented by careful engineering.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."