<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <html xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" = xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" = xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" = xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=ProgId content=Word.Document> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10"> <meta name=Originator content="Microsoft Word 10"> <link rel=File-List href="cid:filelist.xml@01C4374B.3BFCBAB0"> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="time"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="date"/>  <style>  </style>  </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple = style='tab-interval:.5in' bottomMargin=0 leftmargin=3 topmargin=0 rightMargin=3> <div class=Section1> Mark,<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I understood Dan’s visual = indicator could be placed on the outside (near the fill tube) so you have a low = tech foolproof way to check levels. No removing the undercover. = <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Jim<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> -----Original = Message----- From: = caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] On = Behalf Of Mark Cramer Sent: = <st1:date Month="5" Day="11" Year="2004">Tuesday, May 11, = 2004</st1:date> <st1:time Hour="11" Minute="11">11:11 AM</st1:time> To: College and = University Technicians Subject: RE: easy fix !! = -- (Visual) humidifier <o:p> </o:p> <div> It is a great = idea Dan, and I'm glad you've proven it over time!.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Discussing this = awhile back, I wondered if you were installing these riser tubes on the outside = of the piano, but see from this post you are = not. <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> The missing item then, is the bottom-cover, which would need to be detached/re-attached (in our case weekly) in order to inspect the = guage.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> It's not that = students couldn't do this, the issue is that bottom-covers are made of fine = cloth (of necessity) for which there is currently no durable means of attachment/re-attachment. <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> (some are = currently stapling the velcro tabs to the cloth, though I believe Fred Sturm has developed an alternate fastening method)<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> So the issue = that initially sent us on this "hunt" was the concern = "bottom-covers" would not hold up to the wear & tear of under-the-piano = inspections.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> What I think = I've "woken-up" to Dan, the key words being "I = think," is that inspecting the water level (before watering) may be totally unnecessary, for any grand-system, bottom-cover or = not. <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> The = "telltale" indicators of "empty, how-empty and full" are all there automatically, no guages required. <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> So perhaps I = could encourage a few of you to test me on this. It will only take a few = minutes, and I'll really appreciate the correction if I'm = mistaken:  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> 1.) Simply connect a "full" pitcher to a piano whose LWL is NOT blinking, and begin to = pour:<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> If "trickling" is heard, keep = pouring, you KNOW you have capacity.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> 2.) When the "trickling" sound = stops, stop pouring: <o:p></o:p> Water has reached the upper-end of the hose = slit; your "high-water limit" (full = capacity) <o:p></o:p> If you want to know how much water the tank = needed, simply see what's left in the pitcher. (our assistants report average consumption weekly by e-mail, allowing us to forecast trends, = and adjust the watering interval as necessary). =  <o:p></o:p> If you're curious as to whether the tank is = actually full, reach into it and check the level with your finger. (the water = level should/will almost reach the upper end of the angled slit in the = hose) YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO DO = THIS AGAIN!<o:p></o:p> If no "trickling" was heard, = simply stop pouring, lower the pitcher and allow any surplus water to = return.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> BTW, I'm not = saying manual inspection and indeed the LWL aren't necessary, in fact they are = an essential back-up, even in a "scheduled" watering plan. = <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> (If I find a = blinking light, I immediate check the tank level, then go on a room-to-room = hunt for others, and the assistants "hear about = it!")<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> But for the = moment, it looks like I've found the solution I was after; pianos can be watered to schedule without waiting for a blinking light, without crawling under = the piano, without detaching the bottom cover and without reaching into the = tank, and that is a vast improvement over the previous = method.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> May I hear back = from a few of you on this?<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> thanks, and best = regards,<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Mark = Cramer,<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Brandon</st1:PlaceName> = <st1:PlaceName>University</st1:PlaceName></st1:place><o:p></o:= p> </div> <div>   &nbsp= ;  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>   = <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>   <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <blockquote = style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt'> -----Original Message----- From: = caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org]On = Behalf Of Jim Busby Sent: = <st1:date Month="5" Day="11" Year="2004">Tuesday, May 11, = 2004</st1:date> <st1:time Hour="11" Minute="3">11:03 AM</st1:time> To: College and = University Technicians Subject: RE: easy fix !! = -- (Visual) humidifier<o:p></o:p> Dan,<o:p></o:p></= span> <o:p> </o:p>= You are the man! = Good idea.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p>= Jim<o:p></o:p></s= pan> <o:p> </o:p>= -----Original = Message----- From: = caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] On = Behalf Of dan tassin Sent: = <st1:date Month="5" Day="11" Year="2004">Tuesday, May 11, = 2004</st1:date> <st1:time Hour="9" Minute="33">9:33 AM</st1:time> To: caut@ptg.org Subject: easy fix !! -- = (Visual) humidifier<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  Mark,  & =  list,<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>         I = think you will find it best if you installed a  VISUAL  = INDICATOR  GAUGE  on the side of the water = tank.   Drill a couple of holes ( top and bottom ) on the end nearest the edge = of the piano, and glue (Epoxy or Silicon Sealer) a CLEAR Plastic = Tubing on the  outside of the tank.   Once it's installed,  = fill it with predetermined quantities of water and mark the tubing on the outside.   At one glance, you can see HOW much is in the tank, = and then at one glance determine HOW much to fill back into the = tank.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>         = You'll have to remove the tank and empty it to do this project.   But, it = will be so much worth the effort to take OUT  ALL  the guess work in = knowing the present water levels by just ONE glance.   You could still = use the  LOW-WATER light indicator to tell you WHEN to look at the = SIGHT gauge.   The only extra effort in this form of checking is = just bending down to look under the piano at the tank / gauge.  (which, = you need to look at it once in a while to check it's condition, = anyway.)  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>   There is no patent on this operation = --- I think it's "Public Domain."   ( well, it is now... = )<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Try it.  I know you will like it.  = I install this type of indicator on EACH new Damp-Chaser before I put it in a = customer's piano, or a school piano.   It is  TOTALLY  = =  Dummy Proof.   (batteries not = included...)<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Best of Luck,<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>   ( a former Radio = Control Helicopter and Airplane Modeler -- it helped in knowing little tricks that = work in OTHER applications.)<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> ______________________________________<o:p></o= :p> </div> <div> Dan Tassin, RPT<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <st1:City><st1:place>Nashville</st1:place></st1:City>= Chapter<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Blair</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType>School</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> of Music (Asst. = Tech)<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Jackson</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName>State</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> College<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> ----------------------------------------------= -----------------------<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> PS:   HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL = AT THE CONVENTION IN = <st1:City><st1:place>= NASHVILLE</st1:place></st1= :City> = !!!<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  There will be a "Special Guest = Bluegrass Band"  performing at the  OPENING = CEREMONIES.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>            You  DON"T want to = miss this bunch !!!   <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>                         Come one,  Come  = ALL !!!   <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>        &nbs= p;           &nbsp= ;            =      You are going to  LOVE  =  <st1:City><st1:place>Nashville</st1:place></st1:City>= !!!<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> </blockquote> </div> </body> </html>