XLR microphone to K3 wiring

[Ron Kenwood]

I want to connect a mic with a 3 pin XLR connector on its cable end to
the rear panel of my K3. No instructions came with the mic. This will
require a female XLR to 1/8 inch mono connector. I have seen a couple of
different ways that mics may be wired. Balanced or unbalanced and
apparently there can be some variation in which pins are used for what.

I am guessing that I want unbalanced audio. The scheme I have seen for
this is pin 2 for signal, pin 1 for ground, and that is jumpered to pin
3. The 1/8 inch tip to XLR pin 2 and sleeve to XLR pin 1.

Does this sound right?

Ron W3ZV
_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
 http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft   

Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

[Joe Subich, W4TV-3]

Ron,

> I am guessing that I want unbalanced audio. The scheme I have
> seen for this is pin 2 for signal, pin 1 for ground, and that
> is jumpered to pin 3. The 1/8 inch tip to XLR pin 2 and sleeve
> to XLR pin 1.

The rear panel mic input does not ground the sleeve of the
1/8" (3.5mm) jack - it is raised by an RF choke.  You will
want to use twisted pair wire with pin 2 of the XLR connected
to the tip of the 1/8" plug and pin 3 of the XLR connected to
the sleeve.  

If you use shielded cable, connect the shield to pin 1 of the
XLR and bring it out as a flying lead to the ground terminal on
the K3's rear panel.  Do not jumper pins 1 and 3 of the XLR
unless the "low side" of the mic input is connected DIRECTLY
to ground/chassis.  Doing so will add hum and noise to the input
signal (the "pin 1 problem").
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email]
> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Ron Kenwood
> Sent: Friday, October 24, 2008 2:41 AM
> To: Elecraft
> Subject: [Elecraft] XLR microphone to K3 wiring
>
>
> I want to connect a mic with a 3 pin XLR connector on its
> cable end to
> the rear panel of my K3. No instructions came with the mic. This will
> require a female XLR to 1/8 inch mono connector. I have seen
> a couple of
> different ways that mics may be wired. Balanced or unbalanced and
> apparently there can be some variation in which pins are used
> for what.
>
> I am guessing that I want unbalanced audio. The scheme I have
> seen for
> this is pin 2 for signal, pin 1 for ground, and that is
> jumpered to pin
> 3. The 1/8 inch tip to XLR pin 2 and sleeve to XLR pin 1.
>
> Does this sound right?
>
> Ron W3ZV
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
>  http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft   
>
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
 http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft   

Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com