Dickson Data Logggers

[Ken Eschete]

John---- We started with two, but have found that they are in great demand
and we will probrably get a few more.  We got this idea from the university
library, and I think you will find them in use at your university in the
rare book section.
Ken

>Great item! How many do you own?
>
>John Minor
>University of Illinois
>
>
>On Tue, 15 Aug 2000, Ken Eschete wrote:
>
>]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
>]
>]