[CAUT] Dampp-Chaser component issues

[Ron Poire]

Here's another solution.
Purchase an extention cord mounted in a reel.
The ones they have at the U of MN, are mounted in a reel, which pays out 100 
feet of cord, as the piano is moved.  The reel inside the housing in on a 
spring/ratchet, so that the cord will automatically retract when given a 
reasonable tug.
This cord with housing, has a large plastic ball on the cord, so that the 
end will not retract into the housing.
It will be necessary to swap positions with the plug on one end of the cord, 
and recepticle on the other.  After switching the plug and receptical, the 
humidistat can be plugged into the cord on the housing, and the other end, 
which has the plugk, can be plugged into the wall.  The cord housing is 
mounted on the dolly, by tapping and drilling holes to mount the housing on 
the dolly, thus carrying most of the cord with the piano.
When this cord has been run over enough times, usually the first 6/-8 feet, 
cut off the dangerous part, and reatatch the plug to the cord.
Back in business again.
We had to do some searching, because some of the reel-out cords were meant 
to have the housing mounted on the wall, which doesn't do much good.

Another thought;  Buy heavy extention cords, permanently atatch the 
humidistat cord so the extention cord must be used.  Now, if someone runs 
over the cord, it's no big deal.  Simply go get another cord.

Ron Poire




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Marcel Carey" <mcpianos at hotmail.com>
To: <caut at ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2008 5:23 PM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Dampp-Chaser component issues


>
> The best solution I have seen was shown to me by Denis Brassard at U of 
> Montréal. He cut a piece of pvc tube about 3" diameter, lift the leg and 
> put the caster back in the tube (about 1" tall). This way, when you move 
> the piano tue tube pushes the wire out of the way so the caster won't go 
> over it. The caster is just pushing on the tube but since the tube is 
> flush on the floor, the caster never gets over it. Thanks Denis.Marcel 
> CareySherbrooke, QC> Date: Wed, 5 Nov 2008 15:54:58 +0000> To: 
> caut at ptg.org> From: pianotuna at accesscomm.ca> Subject: Re: [CAUT] 
> Dampp-Chaser component issues>> Hi Alan,>> There is a spiral tubing 
> designed for bike cables that can be wound around> cords to protect them. 
> It is available in various colors.>> Does school policy prevent a new end 
> from being attached to the cord> "after" the damage? Can the cord be 
> shortened by putting on a new end?>> The rivet can be replaced in the 
> probe. This is much less prone to> happening with the new design.>> At 
> 04:09 PM 11/5/2008 -0500, you wrote:>>We have come up against two problems 
> with the components of our>>Dampp-Chaser systems. Â >>   One is damage to 
> the power cords by stage dollies when the piano is>>mounted on one and 
> gets moved around at all.  The problem is that the ac>>power cords get 
> run over by the dollies. Over time, the insulation of the>>cords become 
> worn enough that the copper wire itself becomes exposed or,>>worse yet, 
> the cords become severed. Our school’s safety policy>>prohibits taping 
> of exposed wire or splicing and taping a severed cord, and>>it doesn’t 
> look like there is a consumer-feasible way to replace the>>cord, requiring 
> replacement of the humidistat (which is lots of $$$,>>considering it is 
> really a cord-related problem). Â  Does anyone know of>>something in which 
> the power cords can be encased, so as to leave them>>flexible, yet make 
> them more impervious to the effects of being run over by>>the wheels of 
> the stage dollies?  Or is there a way to replace the power>>cord without 
> “compromising� the housing of the humidistat?   >>   The other 
> problem is what to do when the rivet that holds the low-water>>warning 
> light probe in place gives up the ghost and no longer does it's>>job.  
> Has anyone else out there run into this and developed a reliable>>fix? 
> Â     Thanks,    Â     Alan Eder        Instant access to the> latest> 
> Regards,> Don Rose, B.Mus., A.M.U.S., A.MUS., R.P.T.> Non calor sed umor 
> est qui nobis incommodat>> mailto:pianotuna at yahoo.com 
> http://us.geocities.com/drpt1948/>> 3004 Grant Rd. REGINA, SK, S4S 5G7> 
> 306-539-0716 or 1-888-29t-uner>
> _________________________________________________________________
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