Dampp-Chaser grumblings

[Clyde Hollinger]

Friends:

In addition to Rob's grumblings I also heard a tech from our chapter
complaining about difficulties installing the new Dampp-Chaser hot-wired
systems.  I am quite certain the Mairs at Dampp-Chaser would want to
hear these comments, because they have improved their systems a number
of ways after feedback from "us."  

Maybe this is one time a reversal to "the old way" would be in order, or
there may be some better option, but they need to hear from their field
experts.  Rob, you might want to forward your e-mail to them.

Clyde Hollinger

atonal@telusplanet.net wrote:
> 
>         Lotsa talk about Dampp-Chasers lately...
> 
>         Today's experience was with installing one of the new kits on a
> 7' Baldwin. By new, I mean one of the G5PS systems with the new
> light panel (nice) and the hard-wired humidistat (not nice at all).
> 
>         Problem #1 Because all the components of this new design are
> wired to the humidistat (except the humidifier and de-humidifier
> plugs) I couldn't mount my components and then route the cable, a
> system that has worked well on my numerous DC installs in the
> past. Compounding this problem was the fact that  the posts on 7'
> Baldwins are approximately 1" from the soundboard and 1/4" from
> the ribs, I had to snake the light panel along the soundboard, over
> two posts, all while following two soundboard ribs to get to a
> location that would allow the wire to be routed properly. More fun
> ensued when I wanted to mount the humidistat in a different area
> than the humidifier. Because the low water sensor is wired to the
> humidistat, and the humidistat is far to big to squeeze between the
> aforementioned gap between the posts and soundboard, I had no
> choice but to remove the sensor from the tank, with the wingnut
> fastener, it is no big deal, but was flummoxed to find that the screw
> fastener on the sensor also would not fit between the board and
> posts... it made the sensor 1 1/4" in it's narrowest dimension.
> Displaying more anger than a seasoned tech should, I grabbed my
> trusty Sears Craftsman sidecutters and sheared off 1/4 inch from
> the screw, which now fit between the board and post. Re-attaching
> the sensor also proved a bit tricky, as the short cable meant that I
> had to hold the humidifier tank up with one hand, and using my
> second and third hands, re-attach the wingnut on the screw, while
> holding the sensor in place, and then hang the tank on the support
> bars, previously installed.
>         Problem # 2 This doesn't seem like a big deal, but it proved to
> be problematic, nonetheless. When I hang the support bars for the
> humidifier tank, I use the Mylar moisture shield as a guide to hold
> the bars in place before driving in the screws on the brackets. I was
> chagrined to find that the holes cut into the shield for the bars was
> now a tiny hole, that barely fit around the thin metal bars, but
> caused the shield to fan out flat no matter where I moved the rods
> to. Out came my micro-tip scissors and the holes were enlarged to
> the old 1/2" or so dimension, allowing the rods some movement,
> and not causing the shield to bunch up.
> 
>         So, what should have been a routine, 1/2 hr or so install turned
> into a 1 hr, cursing, neck-straining, knuckle bruising ordeal. At one
> point, I heard a sound and looking out from under the soundboard
> to see a up-side down pair of feet and legs (at least from _my_
> perspective) asking anxiously if I was alright, and if there was
> anyting they could do. I realized that backstage at an auditorium is
> not the best place to let it be known vocally what you think of the
> particular design changes on a given piece of hardware.
> 
>         Now, there is a particularly ironic twist to this story. My last
> service call of the day was to replace a set of legs on another 7'
> Baldwin, of similar vintage to the one mentioned above. Lo and
> behold, there is a Dampp-Chaser, but it has been sorta patched
> onto the piano, hanging 1/2 a foot or so below the posts, wires all
> over the place, filler tube hanging down, but, miracles, actually
> functioning. Now, before I start jacking up this unit to get into
> serious leg replacement, I grit my teeth for another ordeal and
> decide to install the components where they should be, and
> hopefully save a bucket or so of H20 landing on my feet. However,
> this unit is a couple of years old, and has _oh yes oh yes oh yes_
> Plugs! as in plugs for the water light and sensor. I had that sucker
> off the piano and re-installed in 20 minutes... chortling each time I
> route a cable along the tight soundboard/post gap and pop it home
> into the already mounted humidistat. Worked like a hot damn.
> 
> I don't blame Baldwin 7' grands for tight Dampp-Chaser
> arrangements, in fact, there are handy cross-bracing posts for
> attaching humidistats, cable, filler tubes, all out of sight from
> normal viewing of the piano. The real monster installations are the
> tiny grands with no posts whatsoever... you have to suspend the
> components with pure mind-power. I don't blame Dampp-Chasers
> in general, I've worked with enough over the years that their merits
> speak for themselves in reduced humidity-related service work. I
> just miss my plugs...sigh.
> 
> 'Night all
> 
> 
> Rob Kiddell,
> Registered Piano Technician, PTG
> atonal@telusplanet.net
> 
> "Windows NT crashes
> I am the blue screen of death
> no one hears you scream"
> 
> -Windows haiku error message