Mic safety

A news network in Arkansas is asking what should be the critical question in the aftermath of Rev. Kyle Lake's death. Which I wrote on here.

Gene Bosche said using a handheld microphone is not common in churches around Region 8, most of the churches he works with use a lapel or drop-down microphone. "For something like a baptistery where someone is going to be in the water either one would work properly the lapel microphone that's wireless is usually better."

Most of the pastors I spoke with said they use a wireless microphone with a transmitter safely inside the rubber waders worn during baptism. If the transmitter or the microphone do get wet, does that pose any danger to the pastor or to the person getting baptized? "The typical wireless microphone operates from a nine volt battery so there is absolutely no chance of electrocution," said Bosche.

The statement that using a wireless mic is a better choice, is not unfounded. The 9 volt battery that they are supplied with has much less chance of electrocutingting anyone. This is not to say that it is impossible, but it is unlikely that there would be enough emf (electromotive force) to cause any great injury to the heart. This is not to say that you would not feel it. You might. You may actually feel quite a bit. The ultimate problem may end up being the burn from a short circuited battery.

The next available option is a wired mic. This can take the configuration of several forms, but I will stick to the most common. A wired mic produces extremely low voltage, (0.001 v) and therefore does not have much emf in order to electrocutecute some one. I am not completely sure if shorting it may cause some mixers to bridge a connection and therefore send power down that line. I assume that hanging a mic that is connected in this fashionsion would be reasonable, and it is the method I use most often.

The last possibility is a mic that is connected to phantom power. This is not made up. This is a mixing board supplied +48v connection that runs down the mic line in order to supply power for some mics. It may be used or turned on for all or some channels on any mixer. (at our church I can turn off channels in groups of eight, and never run a baptismal mic on a line with phantom power) Not all mics require it although it does not negatively affect those that don't.

I rather suspect that the phantom power was indeed on in Kyle Lake's case.

An issue of grounding was raised in the article that I sourced at the top of the page. It is true that grounding may be an issue in sound systems. This is not to say that they are set up incorrectly. Sometimes it could be as simple as poor wiring on mic cables. It also could be caused by lifting the grounds. This is an act of disconnecting the ground from any particular equipment. Quite often on pro gear there is a switch supplied to accomplish this task.

Of course the obvious question is, Why would anyone disconnect the ground? The answer is a simple one. Buzzing. You know that annoying buzz you hear sometimes from sound systems? Sometimes loud, sometimes not? It is caused by what is called a ground loop. A ground that is connected not only to your sound system, but every other noise making item in the building. It causes noise, and most people are quite happy to be rid of it.

The simple answer is an independent ground for the sound system. Unfortunately this is not available in most churches and not all that simple to rectify. I for one am going to be looking into this solution at my home church.