OK To Leave Mics "On" All Day? at DVinfo.net

Dan Brown · October 3rd, 2005, 12:15 PM

Is there any problem leaving my Oktava MK-012's powered-up through my Behringer pre-amp all day? All week? Or should I shut the phantom power off when not using the mics.

Thanks...

Stephanie Wilson · October 3rd, 2005, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Brown

Is there any problem leaving my Oktava MK-012's powered-up through my Behringer pre-amp all day? All week? Or should I shut the phantom power off when not using the mics.

Thanks...

Dear Dan,

Don't have any experience with the audio equipment you're describing but I would suggest that running current and the associated wear through the mics on a continuous basis might not be a good thing. Also leaving the phantom power on will put a slight drain on your batteries even when the mics are off.

Steph

Jay Massengill · October 4th, 2005, 10:12 AM

It also depends on how gentle the Behringer is when phantom power shuts off. That can put strain on both the mic and the mic input too. You definitely want to pot the mics down, and sometimes the output too depending on the design, when you cut off the phantom power.
I try to strike a happy medium. If I know I'll be using the mic several times during the week I have no problem leaving it on unless I'll be making different physical connections. If it's unlikely to be used for several days I'll shut things down.
Your Behringer, and its power transformer and capacitors are probably undergoing greater aging than your mics.

David Ennis · October 4th, 2005, 03:52 PM

Always an interesting topic for the physics-minded. We are often hesitant about leaving things turned on mainly because of our shared experience that light bulbs (and vacuuim tubes for us geezers) "burn out." But I know of no low power device that is degraded by having electric current pass through it. Even with high power devices it's the heat that does the damage.

And the most damaging of all is thermal cycling. A light bulb turned on and off will fail before one that's left on. I worked for several companies that did "evironmental stress," aka "accelerated aging" testing of devices. These tests were combinations of virbration and thermal cycling ("shake and bake"). Thermal cycling is known to be much more destructive than vibration.

I agree with Jay's focus on the Behringer's power transformer--that's subject to themal cycling and vibration.

October 3rd, 2005, 12:15 PM	#1
Dan Brown Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 235	OK To Leave Mics "On" All Day? Is there any problem leaving my Oktava MK-012's powered-up through my Behringer pre-amp all day? All week? Or should I shut the phantom power off when not using the mics. Thanks... __________________ dB

October 4th, 2005, 03:52 PM	#4
David Ennis Fred Retread Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hartford, CT Posts: 1,227	Always an interesting topic for the physics-minded. We are often hesitant about leaving things turned on mainly because of our shared experience that light bulbs (and vacuuim tubes for us geezers) "burn out." But I know of no low power device that is degraded by having electric current pass through it. Even with high power devices it's the heat that does the damage. And the most damaging of all is thermal cycling. A light bulb turned on and off will fail before one that's left on. I worked for several companies that did "evironmental stress," aka "accelerated aging" testing of devices. These tests were combinations of virbration and thermal cycling ("shake and bake"). Thermal cycling is known to be much more destructive than vibration. I agree with Jay's focus on the Behringer's power transformer--that's subject to themal cycling and vibration. __________________ "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence..." - Calvin Coolidge "My brain is wired to want to know how other things are wired." - Me

October 4th, 2005, 10:12 AM	#3
Jay Massengill Trustee Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Burlington Posts: 1,976	It also depends on how gentle the Behringer is when phantom power shuts off. That can put strain on both the mic and the mic input too. You definitely want to pot the mics down, and sometimes the output too depending on the design, when you cut off the phantom power. I try to strike a happy medium. If I know I'll be using the mic several times during the week I have no problem leaving it on unless I'll be making different physical connections. If it's unlikely to be used for several days I'll shut things down. Your Behringer, and its power transformer and capacitors are probably undergoing greater aging than your mics.