On Fri, 18 Jun 2004 10:36:21 -0700, 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.


Bob

When the diaphragm bottoms out, there is no resistor at all in the
current path. The capacitor in a microphone is of a very high grade,
with virtually no losses, and there will indeed be a very high current
flow momentarily (English meaning of this word - ie for a moment, not
sometime soon) as the diaphragm hits the back plate. While I wouldn't
expect it to actually cause attachment, it would not surprise me if it
blew a tiny pinhole. Accumulate a few of those and you could well do
audible damage.

d
Pearce Consulting
http://www.pearce.uk.com