Dear List, Our Keyboard Maintenance Dept has just started using two Dickson Data Logger's (model Tp120) to chart the temperature and humidity levels in sensitive areas. These are small electronic measuring devices, (the size of a pager), which take digital measurements of temperature and humidity every minute over a period of up to several weeks. The information is downloaded using the provided software, and is displayed on the screen in the form of a chart. Humidity from 0% to 95% is recorded with accuracy of 2%. Temperature from -40 to+176 tracked within 1.8 degrees. We have found many interesting uses for this method of gathering data: - We placed one on the concert stage and at the same time, placed the other one off-stage where the piano is usually kept. A comparison of the two charts showed that the conditions were close to being the same, belaying our fears about this. We did, however discover that there was quite a large swing in humidity on one weekend. Since we have the date and times this happened, we can ask Facilities Management to track down what happened, and try to prevent it from happening again. - One of our professors had been complaining about the conditions in his studio for years, so we placed a data logger in his studio. The chart produced the evidence that this was true, and Facilities Management was able to locate the problem. - Charts of the organ loft in the chapel revealed a pattern of temperature changes during services (all those people). This information is used to duplicate conditions during the tuning process. - Anytime we have had a problem proving to Facilities Management that we need something fixed, this system has been our "smoking gun". The TP120 costs $159. The software is for PC. No Mac version available. More info and sample charts at www.dicksonweb.com. Other models can be connected to the telephone line and will call you if things are going wrong! I would be interested to hear if anyone else is using a data logger system. Thanks, Ken Eschete Northwestern University Ken Eschete, RPT Keyboard Maintenance Supervisor School of Music Northwestern University 847/467-6970
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