Monitoring Temperature & Humidity

[John Ross]

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Monitoring Temperature & HumidityHow about using a sling psychrometer, (see I learn, I got the spelling right, this time. :-)) once a month or week. Check it against your reasonable priced digital hygrometer. Then add or subtract the difference.
I had been using the pocket sling psychrometer from Pianotek, but stopped using it when I got my digital temp & humidity gauge.
Best regards,
John M. Ross
Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Joe Garrett 
  To: pianotech ; James Mulkey 
  Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2005 1:22 PM
  Subject: Re: Monitoring Temperature & Humidity


  JP,
  Thank you for the timely information!<G> The "senior drift" thing is particularly of interest to me. As I've had my unit for many years, it is likely that it is no longer close to being accurate! Yikes!<G> I suspect I better get with the program and update ASAP.
  As I think this information is very important, I'm forwarding this to the list. I hope you don't mind.<G>
  Monitoring of temp/humid has always been a thing with me. It helps us understand why a particular piano won't stay in tune and helps the client(s) keep their home healthy for them, as well as their piano. Much thanks for the post!!!
  Best Regards,
  Joe Garrett, R.P.T.
  Captain, Tool Police
  Squares R I
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: James Mulkey 
    To: joegarrett@earthlink.net 
    Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2005 7:20 AM
    Subject: Monitoring Temperature & Humidity


    Joe, 

    I am a "lurker" on the PTG PianoTech forum. 
    I read your post to Julia on this topic. I would agree that a temperature/humidity meter is better than doing nothing at all to monitor the piano's environment.  My experience with Radio Shack products has not been good.  The two I bought from Radio Shack were way out of calibration for humidity compared to the Oregon Scientific and other brands I've owned.

    The best, but most expensive (ca. $300), temp/humidity monitoring device I have so far encountered are Temp/Humidity Data Loggers.  These devices are easy to use;  automatically record temp/humidity data;  quite accurate -- some are calibrated against a NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) standard; and provide a lot of data points to evaluate.  I am currently using a HOBO Data Logger, Model H14-001, made by Onset. (This model was recommended by one of the guys that work for Dampp-Chaser.  It is the measuring device they use at their factory test facility to evaluate the DC's performance.)

    What sold me on this particular data logger is that it has a user-replaceable humidity sensor.  As you may know, all electronic humidity measuring devices require periodic re-calibration due to a phenomenon called "senor drift".  They drift at a rate of 1 to 3 percent per year.  You must either send the device to the manufacturer for recalibration and replace the humidity sensor yourself with a pre-calibrated sensor purchased from the manufacturer.  

    The software package that comes with the data logger graphically depicts temp/humidity fluctuations.  Mine is set up to record at 4-minutes intervals, 24/7, and has enough memory to store a month's worth of data.

    While this device is probably too expensive for most piano owners to consider, it may be of value to dealerships handling high-end pianos, recording studios, some churches (perhaps), and possible some rebuilding operations.  Perhaps a few private owners of high-end pianos would buy them too.

    Here is what the graph, imported into a PowerPoint slide, looks like.  As you can see, it is easy to see how the piano's environment is being maintained.  It's been very useful tool for helping me tweak the settings on my whole-house humidifier/dehumidifier system. 

    Cheers, 
    JP Mulkey 
    <<...>> 




      



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