Hi Alan, Our university server has finally cleared out enough worms and viruses (and mostly overload caused by the latter) that I can receive and reply to emails, at least sporadically. After 15 years, I now have a grand total of three full systems installed. Patience is the operative word here. Let me recommend a gradual approach, beginning with half systems on a few critical pianos, then a few more, then some upgrades to full systems. Half system being humidistat plus adequate drying tubes - at least one 50 watt, for grands plus one or two additional, possibly lower watt. I like the dry humidistat for my climate anyway, but I think the dry would be best just about anywhere for this application - would keep the piano within the low end of the cycle (assuming the ambiant humidity goes below 35% on a regular basis). I have a couple Steinway B's with half systems with one 50w and one 25w installed along with dry humidistat, and another B with just one 25w with standard humidistat (that's what I originally used, maybe 12 years ago). The higher wattage pianos were plus and minus 8 to 10 cents (up to plus 10, up to minus 8) at the end of the summer (high pitch time here). The low wattage was plus 10 to 25 cents. I don't have any naked B's now, but they used to be plus 15 to 40 cents. I also have a couple B's with G6PS installed (full system, with 50w and 37w drying units). Both were within plus or minus 5 cents throughout. If you demonstrate the results to someone who will pay attention (a piano faculty member?), you can possibly recruit an assistant lobbyist for funds to install more. I like the idea of including a system in the purchase of any new piano. The cost is insignificant in that context - less than 1% the cost of a grand. Regards, Fred Sturm University of New Mexico --On Wednesday, August 20, 2003 12:25 PM -0700 Alan McCoy <amccoy@mail.ewu.edu> wrote: > Now this is a problem I'd like to have. I have, instead, the problem of > getting money to purchase dampp chaser systems. And, of course, 20-30c > pitch changes to knock my head against. > > Alan McCoy > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org]On Behalf Of >> Keith McGavern >> Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2003 7:54 PM >> To: College and University Technicians >> Subject: RE: filling Dampp-Chasers >> >> >> At 7:01 PM -0500 8/19/03, Mark Cramer wrote: >> > ...Anyone progress with ideas for porting the water from room to room? >> >> Here's what I've been doing for years: >> >> This involves 27 Sohmer Studios *without* fill tubes. I go down the >> hall to each room, turn on the light and remove the lower front >> boards. >> >> I then access a water faucet in the custodian's closet on each of the >> three floors with a 3' black rubber hose fitted with a connection >> device for the faucet. From that I fill two gallon plastic jugs that >> I walk to the pianos. The tanks are hung low enough to pour the water >> in the humidity tanks. . When the jugs become empth, I refill. I do >> add Humidity Treatment to the jugs each fill-up. >> >> During the filling of the humidity tanks, I check the rods to make >> sure the units are operating and check the pads for crust. This >> process takes between 45-60 minutes depending on how empty the tanks >> are. >> >> I have a notice sign on each piano asking for the users of the rooms >> to call when they notice a Low Water Light blinking. >> >> If just one call comes in, I go and do all the tanks. I do reschedule >> in conjunction on the chance of not receiving a call. This maximizes >> the effective purpose of the DP systems. I now can float the pitch on >> each piano and seldom do pitch changes on these pianos. >> >> I have found no quicker, reliable or efficient way for me to do this >> task. >> >> Keith McGavern >> Registered Piano Technician >> Oklahoma Chapter 731 >> Piano Technicians Guild >> USA >> _______________________________________________ >> caut list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives > > _______________________________________________ > caut list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
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