Dickson Data Loggers

[John Minor]

Eric:

Same here at University of Illinois. Good luck to us both!

John Minor



On Thu, 17 Aug 2000, Wolfley, Eric (WOLFLEEL) wrote:

]These look like great tools! Thanks for the tip Ken, I just ordered 2.
]
]All our HVAC systems are supposedly monitored 24 hrs via computer for temp
]and humidity, but all the monitoring in the world can't seem to improve
]things. Perhaps some outside monitoring with impressive computer charts (if
]it is a computer chart, people listen for some reason!) will give us some
]leverage with the people pulling the strings.
]
]Eric
]
]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
]Eric Wolfley, RPT
]Head Piano Technician
]Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music
]University of Cincinnati
]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
]
]> -----Original Message-----
]> From:	Ken Eschete [SMTP:k-eschete@nwu.edu]
]> Sent:	Tuesday, August 15, 2000 3:43 PM
]> To:	caut@ptg.org
]> Subject:	Re:Dickson Data Logggers 
]> 
]> 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
]> 
]