Humidity Control System issue

[romanop@attglobal.net]

How 'bout this one. A dealer (no names please!) had installed a complete DC
system on  Young Change grand with PianoDisc system. The PD was then plugged
into the humidistat outlet. Of course, I got a call that the PD was working
intermittently. When the humidity was high, everything worked fine, when the
unit turned off so did the PianoDisc! This was a dealer installation!

Phil Romano
Myrtle Beach, SC

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jon Page" <jonpage@mediaone.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2001 8:11 AM
Subject: Re: Humidity Control System issue


> At 01:26 AM 01/25/2001 -0500, you wrote:
> >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.
>
> Perhaps stickers placed beside the outlets further identifying them as:
> Heat  and Water.
> Sort of like "Installation For Dummies" nomenclature.
>
> Evidently Humidifier and De-humidifier are twenty-five cent words for
> someone with a ten cent vocabulary.
>
> Last week, I came across a double rod system where two 8W rods were
plugged
> into each outlet.
> I removed them from under the beams of the grand and advised more powerful
> units.
>
> Maybe their promotion should stress the benefits of installation rather
> than "You can make good money, too".
>
> Jon Page
>
> >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
>