What does it actually mean, "oil filled radiator" and how do they work? Do they need an outside energy source (plug in)? I'm not clear from your description, is the radiator actually in the box or is the warm air from the radiator pumped into the box somehow. I suppose I should look at one in person. The search descriptions don't do much. I guess out here we don't really use these types of things like you guys in snow country. David Love www.davidlovepianos.com -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Ron Nossaman Sent: Sunday, December 13, 2009 7:49 AM To: pianotech at ptg.org Subject: Re: [pianotech] hot box dimensions jiimialeggio wrote: > David Love wrote: >> I'm a bit too paranoid to have something >> generating that much heat. > > I'm with you here. Enclosing the oil filled radiator and all its > controls in the box give me the willys...but I'm just going to go for it > anyway...seems like Ron hasn't burned down yet. > My previous box was so underpowered, it probably took much more energy > to use because of its ineffectiveness, and didn't work so good. > > What I really would like to find though is some flat concrete pavers > with encased resistance wires. Put em under the false floor. > Jim I The oil filled radiators were invented, I think, to produce lots of heated air *without* the fire hazard of open resistance coils. I have mine set at the high end of the low heat range, so it's not putting out maximum heat at any time. At this setting, it takes me two or three days to get a panel down to 6% when it's 100°+ outside with over 80%RH, and I wish I'd set the heat higher. I also have a circulating fan that is quite aggressive, rather than relying on convection or a muffin fan. Air is forced directly through the radiator first, then under the panels and into the box. This keeps the vanes cooler than they would otherwise be. Finding a fan that wouldn't burn up under these conditions proved harder than I had thought going in. If the proximity of the radiator to the wood worries you, make your box a foot wide and get more clearance you can fill with a high temperature insulation. Ron N
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