Humidity Control System issue

[RustRazor@AOL.COM]

Hi folks:

Here's a nice one: A couple of days ago I came upon a Yamaha Grand (G1 or so) 
which looked to be between 15 and 25 years old with a humidity control system 
installed neatly underneath.  It consisted of 2 heater bars and a water tank 
unit and, of course, the brain.  The shame is that the brain was not smart 
enough to realize that whoever installed the system (around 8 yrs ago 
according to the customer) got the two outlets mixed up.

That's right - the heater bars were plugged into "HUMIDIFIER" and the tank 
was in "DEHUMIDIFIER" and those heater bars were humming.  Sure enough there 
was a crack in the soundboard that you could drop a credit card through as 
well as signs of dried out mildew.  Another in a long line of pianos I have 
seen damaged by inept usage of these systems.

I am not a fan of these systems although I know a lot of you readers out 
there are and I am not interested in debating the issue, however, I do have a 
suggestion for the manufacturer which I will now put out there for any who 
wish to pick this ball up.

Since the manufacturer of these units has no real control over who installs 
them and I am not aware of any factory installations occurring, they may wish 
to consider employing a keyed system where heater bars are keyed ONLY to plug 
into the correct socket on the brain, and NOWHERE else.  The water tank could 
have its own keyed plug as well.

This would serve to indemnify the manufacturer as well as ensure proper 
installation of their equipment.  After all, if tobacco companies can be sued 
for people abusing their product, what next?

My rant, Matt in NY