[CAUT] temperature and pitch

[David Love]

The piano will be cooler when measured inside the lid because of the
specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity of cast iron.  The iron will
be cooler than the surrounding air probably lowering the temperature just
slightly under the lid.  

David Love
www.davidlovepianos.com


-----Original Message-----
From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Fred
Sturm
Sent: Wednesday, December 16, 2009 4:34 PM
To: College & University Technicians
Subject: Re: [CAUT] temperature and pitch

On Dec 12, 2009, at 12:52 PM, Jeff Tanner wrote:

> Yes, your D/C system was operating all along, which is why wonder if  
> the inside of the piano was affected as much by a 10 degree change  
> outside.


	Today I tuned a Steinway B with a double tank D/C system installed.

It has an undercover, and the lid was closed (covered with Christmas  
decorations) and stayed that way while I tuned it. I placed my Mannix  
CMM880 thermo-hygrometer on the plate as far as I could reach. It  
measured 70.3F. I placed it on a table next to the piano. It measured  
71.0F. I repeated a couple times while tuning to be sure, leaving it  
in each location for several minutes. No mistake.
	I'm guessing the D/C rods did not add significantly to the  
temperature of the plate. I don't think there is any real significance  
to the piano being cooler - probably something to do with heating  
system cycling, and the air inside the piano being static. But I think  
my earlier assessment was correct: the D/C produced heat was not a  
significant factor.
Regards,
Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico
fssturm at unm.edu