Humidistat Accuracy

[Farrell]

Bottom covers were not around when I did the install several years ago. Perhaps I will do that sometime - I like the idea of them.

I seem to recall that when installing the humidistat, access with a drill pushed the unit 2 inches from the board. This still would not affect why it doesn't seem to turn on at 58%. Oh, and BTW, it is a "DRY" humidistat - I believe it is supposed to keep the environment around 38% or so. I always use the "DRY" (or is it the "WET" one? - anyway, the one that targets the drier RH - it's been a couple years since I last ordered a humidistat) version because it at least seems to get me a little closer to target.

Hey, you never know, but yes, the rods are plugged into the correct spot.

I'm sure the humidistat was not used with the dehumidifier. I did use a humidistat on my old dehumidifier because the built-in humidistat was so erratic. My new dehumidifier has a very good humidistat - I keep it set to 45% and the shop stays right between 43% and 44%. So I don't use the DC humidistat for that purpose any more.

If I were using a full system, whether the piano stayed at 42%, 38% 58% or even 68%, I don't think it would make a whole lot of difference (or would we tend to get a bit of string corrosion at 68%?). But because, in a modern air-conditioned Florida home, RH rarely gets above 75%, nor below 40%, it give us the opportunity down here to not use the humidifier part of the DC system, and still maintain a stable optimal environment. Any time you can bypass something that requires maintenance, puts water in a piano, causes lights to flash, costs more money, bla, bla, bla, - AND get the same benefits - you come out way ahead. That is why I want my dehumidification system on my pianos down here to create a piano environment of around 40% to 45% - when the home does go to its extreme 35% or 40% RH in the dead of winter, we still won't see much change in the piano environment. So, for our Florida environment having a dehumidification system that keeps the piano RH down in the lower 40%s is where we want to be. That is why I keep getting frustrated with something that appears to keep the piano closer to 60% RH.

Terry Farrell
  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Don" <pianotuna@accesscomm.ca>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, December 02, 2002 10:15 PM
Subject: Re: Humidistat Accuracy


> Hi Terry,
> 
> D.C. does suggest that the humidistat be placed as close to the sound board
> as possible. I don't ever run into a situation where I do a "rods only"
> install, so obviously I have little expertise in that area. In my regular
> full system installs I tend to get the controller within 1/4 inch of the
> sound board (or closer if I can). I would tend to use a bottom cover in
> your situation however, and drop the number of rods down.
> 
> Terry how far from the controller to the "nearest" rod?
> 
> Long shots follow:
> 
> 1. I hate to say it--but....is it plugged in the "right way"? *grin*.
> 
> 2. Is it possible that the controller you are using was once used to
> control the room dehumidifier you mentioned? It's possible it is damaged. 
> 
> At 09:40 PM 12/2/02 -0500, you wrote:
> >Boston GP-178 grand. No bottom cover. Six rods totalling 195 watts. Top of
> humidistat is 2" below soundboard panel. No humidifier (room never gets
> below 40% RH. No light kind. Left probe on humidistat for 20 minutes or so
> - plenty of time for full equalization No, I am not aware of barometric
> pressure influence on RH.
> >
> >Checked RH this evening. Right at 58% RH. Rods stone cold.
> >
> >Terry Farrell
> >  
> >----- Original Message ----- 
> >From: "Don" <pianotuna@accesscomm.ca>
> >To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
> >Sent: Monday, December 02, 2002 6:22 PM
> >Subject: Re: Humidistat Accuracy
> >
> >
> >> Hi Terry,
> >> 
> >> Please give us a bit more information. I think you have a Boston Piano?
> >> Grand? Upright? Bottom Cover (or back cover)? How many dehumidifier rods?
> >> How far from soundboard is Humidistat? How far is hum from humidifier? How
> >> far is hum from drier bar(s)? Three light kind? Smart Bar? How long did you
> >> leave your probe on top of the humidistat? Did you chart against barometric
> >> pressure for a true R.H. reading?
> >_______________________________________________
> >pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
> >
> >
> 
> Regards,
> Don Rose, B.Mus., A.M.U.S., A.MUS., R.M.T., R.P.T. Tuner for the Center of
> the Arts
> 
> mailto:pianotuna@accesscomm.ca
> 
> http://us.geocities.com/drpt1948/
> 
> 3004 Grant Rd.
> REGINA, SK
> S4S 5G7
> 306-352-3620 or 1-888-29t-uner
> _______________________________________________
> pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives