<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2600.0" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV>Hi Isaac, Let me answer as many of your concerns as possible.  = I will respond in the text of your message. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Isaac OLEG" <<A = href="mailto:oleg-i@wanadoo.fr">oleg-i@wanadoo.fr</A>> To: "Roger Wheelock" = <<A href="mailto:roger@dampp-chaser.com">roger@dampp-chaser.com</A>>; "Pianotech" <<A = href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A>> Sent: Tuesday, December 10, = 2002 11:53 AM Subject: RE: DC "Smart Heater Bar" > Thanks, for answering. > > Yes the question about the scrub is yet open, = the 2 systems mounted > with them, have the pads becoming scrubby and = probably less efficient > in a few months (3-4 months actually), and , as = the customers are of > the keen ones (of course they are , as they = have a DC in their pianos) > they noticed that new pads where necessary more = often that what I've > told them. > > What I don't really = get is if the "pad"s light blink when the pads are > dirty with the deposit, = then if I relate that to the other problem I > suspect (too much warmness near  the controller when the lights are > on), that would = mean : > 1 ° The scrub develop too fast so the pads are less = efficient > 2° Then the pads light is on always > 3° the warmness of the = power + pads wire lights tend to give the > controller an optimistic idea of = the humidity. > 4° When humidity if too high it is then less = corrected by the rods. > > That makes a lot of supposed problems due to = initially ameliorations > of the product. Heat within the control = unit (Humidistat) comes from small resistors on a circuit board which = controls all the functions of the Humidistat.  The design is such that the = small amount of heat creates positive air flow across the sensor making it = more responsive than in a passive system.  (By the way we have = optimized the effect in our new H-4 Humidistat for Grands.) So I do not believe = heat in the Humidistat is causing you a problem. > As often in these kind = of evolutions, there are some possible > drawbacks, I hope the = problem is not as a catastrophic scenario as I > write there, but that is = understandable that the 3 lights together > induce a warming of the wiring (in = Watts how much ?)anyway UNDER OUR > 220 v 60 Hz A.C. that is the case (the = box was almost as warm as a low > wattage rod on the wire = side) > > May I suggest that the controllers be calibrated after they have = been > on for sometime, and in a somewhat close environment as under a > = soundboard. How are they calibrated actually ? When I first plug the > system = it always work fine and react with an acceptable tolerance in > H.R. = from what I've seen yet. > We calibrate each sensing unit prior = to the manufacture of each Humidistat. They go through a state-of-the-art = humidity and temperature controlled test chamber for four cycles of rh = 30 = to 65 over a 48 hour period.  If calibration does not meet our = specification units are recalibrated and retested. The sensors we use are chosen = for their stability.  They show very little drift in the = field. While calibration in a piano would be ideal, we manufacture hundreds = of Humidistats each week and such a calibration protocol would be = very expensive. I hope this helps. Roger > Is there a = transformer, or some thyrstor (resistances) in the > controller ? > > = Thanks for your help > > I've find another lack of security in the = kind of plugs used (3 pins > computer type) as sometime the contact is not = perfect with this > plugging, while I can't see why. > > = That's all for my (hopefully constructive) comments. For sure I'd like > a = window in the tank to see the water level, and a customer is > dreaming of = : > A rack that can be moved out of the piano (terrific for concert > stages) > An automation for the water (this is more complicated I = guess as it > involves a pump servo serviced). > > I wish to = order a partial system too, and will check again with my > retailer. > > Thanks for your help. > > With = bets Regards. > > Isaac OLEG > > > = PianoTech > 19 rue Jules Ferry > 94400 VITRY sur SEINE > FRANCE > tel = : 033 01 47 18 06 98 > fax : 033 01 47 18 06 90 > cell: 06 60 42 = 58 77 > > </DIV></BODY></HTML>