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DC easy change tank kit

  • 1.  DC easy change tank kit

    Posted 12-15-2017 14:01
    I just installed a new DC with the easy change tank kit...I really liked it...big improvement for convenient service.

    So, I ordered a bunch of retrofit kits, at 7 bucks and change per kit. I'm thinking of just upgrading a few of my good regular customers with the new kit free of charge, the next time I'm there for a regular service. Any thoughts on the free upgrade?...seems to make sense to me.

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    Jim Ialeggio
    grandpianosolutions.com
    Shirley, MA
    978 425-9026
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  • 2.  RE: DC easy change tank kit

    Posted 12-15-2017 18:51
    I think the quick change tank is a big improvement for the technician. With a lot of help from Charles Rempel , I installed my first water tank. I also am recommending the client use distilled water to extend the life of the pads maybe up to a year.
    Good move Damp Chaser!

    Sent from my iPhone




  • 3.  RE: DC easy change tank kit

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-16-2017 10:38
    Regarding distilled water. I, too, have been advising customers to use it instead of tap water. My experience so far is that the pads don't get scaly and the pianos seem to stay in tune well between service calls, which can sometimes be years apart. A recent incident gave me doubts about this advice. A customer's DC system, equipped with a "smart bar" and red light, was indicating dry pads. She added water, over-filled the tank and water spilled out onto the floor. The red smart light continued flashing, and she called me. I shifted the pad about 2 inches to one side and the light immediately stopped flashing. This pad had been in the piano a little over a year and, although the part that had been touching the smart bar wasn't crusty, it did feel somewhat stiffer than the rest of it. I seem to recall that DC doesn't recommend distilled water in their systems. Do any of you have thoughts?


    sent from my iPad




  • 4.  RE: DC easy change tank kit

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-16-2017 10:54
    I like the reverse osmosis water you can get at water dispensing machines outside of most grocery stores. You can get a gallon for around 25 cents, 5 gallons for a buck or so. Cheap, plentiful, and effective, no mineral deposits. And it' good drinking water.

    Richard West





  • 5.  RE: DC easy change tank kit

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-16-2017 13:40
    Richard, inside grocery stores up here. Boy, do I miss Arizona

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    Larry Messerly, RPT
    Bringing Harmony to Homes
    www.lacrossepianotuning.com
    ljmesserly@gmail.com
    928-899-7292
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  • 6.  RE: DC easy change tank kit

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-16-2017 14:14
    Harry,

    They do in fact recommend distilled water. It's right in the instructions.  Of course you must also add the treatment, otherwise the sensors won't work properly, as the water needs to be able to conduct electricity, therefore electrolyte is added. Some homeowners forget this (or choose to forget) not really understanding how the system works. 

    It has also been learned that repeated instances of letting the humidifier go dry creates an inhibiting situation in the pads so that they won't wick all the way up to the bar no matter what kind of water is used.

    Pwg

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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    603-686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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  • 7.  RE: DC easy change tank kit

    Posted 12-16-2017 17:10
    I had client that required hard crusty pads to be changed every 3 months.....too much minerals in water. Damp Chaser advised me to continue adding the solution in the bottle as directed to Distilled water. I should expect extended life of pads, maybe up to a year. Even if we don’t make it a year, it’s still better than changing them every 3 months. We’re 4 months in and pads look good.

    Sent from my iPhone




  • 8.  RE: DC easy change tank kit

    Posted 12-16-2017 14:39
    did you use the distilled water with the DC treatment solution, or just the plain water?

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    Jim Ialeggio
    grandpianosolutions.com
    Shirley, MA
    978 425-9026
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  • 9.  RE: DC easy change tank kit

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-17-2017 13:55
    The customer was using both the pad treatment and distilled water.

    Sent from my iPad




  • 10.  RE: DC easy change tank kit

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-17-2017 10:32
    Harry Miller's customer seems to have misunderstood the light system (unless even that has been changed).  She added water to the system when the red light came on.  That's NOT the low-water light.  The problem was, in fact, that they aging pads stopped drawing water up to the pad sensors.  This can happen, as was pointed out, even without significant mineral build-up.  There's no reason NOT to change out pads every other service visit (assuming 2X per year), especially now that tank can be more easily accessed.

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    David Skolnik
    Hastings-on-Hudson NY
    914-231-7565
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  • 11.  RE: DC easy change tank kit

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-18-2017 15:58
    Thanks to all for your responses to my DC pad question.

    Sent from my iPhone




  • 12.  RE: DC easy change tank kit

    Member
    Posted 12-15-2017 20:07
    I must have missed an email about this new feature. I found instructions for the new Quick Release brackets but where are these upgrade kits featured ? I have to re-install two full systems for customers who moved here recently so if there is a kit that will make it easier I need to get some and perhaps purchase a few extra

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    James Kelly
    Pawleys Island SC
    843-325-4357
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  • 13.  RE: DC easy change tank kit

    Posted 12-15-2017 20:19
    They are hangers for the small bar and sensors which allows the tank to drop without them. I bought a bunch from Brooks.

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    Regards,

    Jon Page
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  • 14.  RE: DC easy change tank kit

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-15-2017 20:52
    Although I like the idea, I felt that the new arrangement seemed to interfere with the plastic shield. Had a hard time getting it to stay on the crossbars, and on a piano with marginal clearance to the SB it could be problematic.

    Maybe I did something wrong? I never had a problem with the other arrangement.

    Pwg

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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    603-686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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  • 15.  RE: DC easy change tank kit

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-17-2017 09:18
    Beware too of the "distilled" water with "added minerals and flouride".  If the owner claims to be using distilled yet the pads don't look like it...read their label. 

    Who would of thunk it?

    Pwg

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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    603-686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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  • 16.  RE: DC easy change tank kit

    Posted 12-18-2017 10:16
    Hi guys. I'm glad to see such positive feedback on the new Quick Release (QR) brackets. They are available from your usual distributor for a whopping $7.47, PN 60648, and will fit any grand System with a Universal tank. You can remove the tank without any tools in under 10 seconds.
    I am working on the issue that a few people have mentioned whereby the additional hanger bracket pushes up slightly on the baffle; sometimes popping it loose. I'll keep you posted on how that progresses.
    Water quality and what kind of junk is in it has a lot to do with how long the pads last and how well they wick after going dry. Distilled water is best for pad life. Our Pad Treatment served two purposes. It is there to kill biological things that will grow in standing water. The active ingredient is also in contact lens solutions. It also introduces enough free ions into the water to allow it to conduct electricity so that the Low Water Sensor and Smart Bracket will work because pure distilled water is a wonderful insulator. To be clear, the Pad Treatment does NOTHING to prevent mineral buildup on the pads. If your water has high mineral content, those minerals will crust up the pads, causing them to fail. How quickly depends on the water. 
    A couple of additional points. Use of the tank liner is optional. Since the tank is now so easy to remove, I would personally just skip it. I know that this doesn't apply to anyone of you, but it is possible to poke a hole in the liner with the LWS probes, even with the little protective rubber tips and it's also possible to poke the angle cut of the watering tube between the liner and the tank. This results in water getting between the tank and the liner. No liner, no problems. For the time being the liner is still included but you can remove it if you want. Keep in mind that not all of our Systems use a liner. Anything with two tanks can't have one. 
    As always, if you have questions, give me a holler.

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    Charles Rempel
    Dampp-Chaser Corp.
    HENDERSONVILLE NC
    828-692-8271
    Charles
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  • 17.  RE: DC easy change tank kit

    Posted 12-18-2017 11:04
    I haven’t found the baffle being dislodged to be a big issue as it is simple enough to replace it as part of re-engaging the hangers on the bars after servicing the unit.




  • 18.  RE: DC easy change tank kit

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-18-2017 12:03
    About the watering tube between the liner and tank.  I just experienced this problem.  I had changed the pads and sleeve on the Humidifer  the beginning of December and when reinstalling the tube this happened.  It was at the grand at my church and I always check every time I am at church.  I saw the "dry Pad" light flashing and the LWL was NOT.  Getting underneath I could feel the "funny" feel of the liner being dry but water in the tank. Pulled it down and corrected the problem.  This installation does not have the 'quick release' kit install "yet".


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    Ken Gerler, RPT

    Gerler Piano & Organ Service
    Florissant (St. Louis), MO 63033
    kenneth.gerler@prodigy.net
    314-355-2339
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  • 19.  RE: DC easy change tank kit

    Posted 12-18-2017 16:43
    Some of the baffles have a slight upward curve to them and some have a slight downward curve. The ones that curve down can be the problematic ones. If that happens you can trim the edges of the hanger rod in a pinch to give clearance.
    The use of the liner is optional. If you have concerns about the water getting into the wrong place you can certainly not use the liner. Tanks are very easy to clean.

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    Charles Rempel
    Dampp-Chaser Corp.
    HENDERSONVILLE NC
    828-692-8271
    Charles
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  • 20.  RE: DC easy change tank kit

    Posted 12-26-2017 10:11

    In general these things are an improvement. Unusual beaming like some Bechsteins can provide a challenge.

    Chris Solliday






  • 21.  RE: DC easy change tank kit

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-26-2017 13:06
    Charles,

    My proposed "fix" was going to be make the hook substantially thinner. Of course, in order to do that you would need to source out or "retool" for a new hook. 

    Yes, grinding it down should work. 

    Virtually all my clients use distilled water. Virtually the only thing I have to do is replace pads. No need for anything else for a good long time.

    Pwg

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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    603-686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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