[pianotech] To unplug or not to unplug

[Mark Dierauf]

I think that I can confirm this heat effect, having measured a rapid 
change of about 2¢ after plugging in an unplugged DC during high 
humidity conditions, IOW, with the dehumidifier bars on (100 watts 
worth, on this particular D). I'm not sure how long the system had been 
unplugged prior to my arrival, but I think not more than a few hours.

- Mark

On 2:59 PM, David Skolnik wrote:
> Barbara -
> I had a lengthy conversation with Randy @ DamppChaser this morning 
> about a number of things, including this.  His take on "unplug", if he 
> doesn't mind my summarizing, was that the soundboard is much slower to 
> acclimate to a change in condition than the couple of hours your 
> system would be disengaged (taking into account all the caveats that 
> have been already aired).  He felt that temperature change would be 
> much more of a factor, short term, than humidity.  Of course, what I 
> didn't think of at the time was whether the absence of any heat source 
> under the board, for that period of time, would represent a 
> "temperature change".  Not what I think he had in mind.
>
> If you truly felt the need to stay 'powered-up', but were genuinely 
> concerned for the welfare of the choir members, you might look into 
> using something like a battery back-up, like we ALL use for our 
> computers.  If the piano is mounted on a dolly (given your 
> description, it sound like it should be), you could just have that 
> mounted on said dolly and plug into that.
>
> And then, there's just tacking down the extension cord with premium 
> gaffer's tape, my favorite tool.
>
> Regards -
> David Skolnik
> Hastings on Hudson, NY
>
>
>
>
> At 11:28 PM 1/23/2011, you wrote:
>> Hi List,
>>
>> I will be installing a full DC system with undercover on a Yamaha C-6 
>> that lives in a large parish hall. The piano is stored on near the 
>> wall on one side of the room.  Every week it is rolled out mid-room 
>> for a chorus rehearsal.  It seems like it would be OK to unplug the 
>> system, move the piano and use it for rehearsal, and then roll it 
>> back and plug it back in. Or, I thought about using some sort of 
>> retractable extension cord, but am concerned about how well that 
>> would really work--then there is the concern about the chorus members 
>> tripping over the cord.
>>
>> Thoughts?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Barbara Richmond, RPT
>> near Peoria, Illinois
>
>
>