Grand Piano
6-Part System
Installation Instructions
Tools Required: Cordless screwdriver or hand-held nut driver with 1/4”
hex head or #2 Phillips bit. Optional Tools: Hacksaw, bolt cutters, chalk
List Of Components: 3-Light Panel Humidistat
Primary Dehumidifier
(either 36” or 48”)
Secondary Dehumidifier
(24”)
Humidifier assembly (Low Water Sensor, Triple Outlet
Smart Bracket, Humidifier Heater Bar,
Watering Tube, Wicking Pads)
Watering can
2 Hanger Rods
Bottle of Pad Treatment Moisture Distribution Baffle
Contents of Hardware Kit:
(Green bag)
Installer
1. Please carefully read and follow all
Assortment of small, medium, installation instructions
and large screws. 2. Do not place a Dehumidifier in the action
of any piano.
1/4” hex & #2 Phillips head
3. The piano will need some time to adjust
Assortment of clamps to the conditions created by the Piano Life
Saver System. Therefore, please wait at
least 3 weeks before tuning.
4. Please inspect the power cord each time
the piano is serviced and take necessary
4 C-clips corrective steps if damage is discovered.
4 Hanger Rod 5. The Piano Life Saver System must
Brackets be installed by a professional piano
technician. Failure to do so will void all
Plus: warranties, whether stated or implied.
Velcro 6. The 5-Year Limited Warranty on the System
2 Half Clamps Alcohol swab covers parts only. Dampp-Chaser Corp.
Power cord tag assumes no responsibility for labor cost
Assortment of twist and zip ties related to repairs or maintenance.
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STEP 1: PLANNING THE INSTALLATION
Since there are so many different piano designs, you will need to exercise judgement on the
placement of components from time to time. However, there are several critical measurements
that must be followed at all times. Plan your installation with these criteria in mind:
1. The Humidifier tank should be as close as possible to the center
of the soundboard.
2. The Humidistat must be located 6” from the Humidifier tank.
3. The Dehumidifiers should be installed 12” from the Humidistat
if possible. It the piano is too short to allow this, install them
equidistant from the Humidistat.
STEP 2: HANGER RODS
Check to see if you have adequate clearance on top of the beams for the hanger rods. They should
not come in contact with the ribs. There are three possible methods for installing the hanger rods.
Method A* places the hanger rods on top
of the beams. This is the preferred and most
common type of installation. It allows the
Humidifier tank to be tucked up as far as
possible and provides the best moisture
distribution.
Slide the hanger rod brackets onto the hanger
rods. If you install them facing inward, the
hanger rods will rest on the beams. If they face outward, the hanger rods will
have some clearance above the beams. Use
whichever option you choose.
The Bent Hanger Rod Kit (PN 90180) is available separately for pianos that
have either a Tension Resonator System or very little rib to beam clearance.
Instructions are included with the kit.
* If this method will not work in your situation, see back page for Methods B & C.
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Lay the hanger rods over the beams and snap the baffle onto them. This assembly
will serve as your template for determining the final mounting location. It will ensure
perfect spacing between the hanger rods for installing the Humidifier tank.
Once you have decided on the
mounting position, use the small
screws to attach the brackets to the
beams.
The Baffle must ALWAYS be securely
installed. Failing to do so can result in
localized over-humidification of the
soundboard.
STEP 3: HANGER RODS
All the components of the Humidifier assembly, except for the tank itself, are mounted to the
piano via the Quick Release Brackets. Everything is held together for shipping by cardboard
inserts.
Remove and discard the inserts. Hook the assembly over
the hanger rods, directly in the center of the baffle.
Quick Release (QR)
Bracket
To watch a short instructional
video on the QR bracket, scan
this QR code. Raise the tank into position, making
sure to hook the hanger brackets
The Watering Tube is mounted to the back of over the hanger rods outside of the
one of the QR brackets. You may attach it to baffle.
whichever end you choose and angle it to clear
the baffle.
The rubber tips on the end of the Low Water Sensor should be left in place. They are there
to prevent puncturing of the liner when installing the Humidifier tank.
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STEP 4: HUMIDISTAT
The Humidistat should be placed as close as possible to the ribs without contacting
them. A gap of 5mm or 1/4” is fine. The two vent holes on the top right of the
Humidistat must NOT be directly under a rib. They need unrestricted airflow.
Use the two large screws to mount the Humidistat to
the beam as shown. If you wish, you can use the included
Velcro® to hold it up during this process.
Plug the Low Water Sensor and Smart Bracket
into their designated outlets on the underside
of the Humidistat. Make certain to plug the
white plug from the Humidifier Heater Bar into
the white outlet on the Humidistat.
Be sure to leave yourself enough
room on the left side of the
Humidistat to plug in the triple
adapter and the Dehumidifiers.
STEP 5: DEHUMIDIFIERS
Mount the primary Dehumidifier parallel with
the back of the keybed. Mount the secondary
Dehumidifier in the tail of the piano.
Snap the C-clips onto the Dehumidifier rods and
hold them up to the underside of the piano in
the locations shown. Slide the C-clips along the
rod until they are directly under a beam. Mark the
location and screw the C-clips into place using the
small screws.
Snap the Dehumidifiers into the
C-clips with the cord end closest
to the Humidistat. Plug the triple
adapter into the Dehumidifier outlet
on the Humidistat and plug the
Dehumidifiers into the triple adapter.
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STEP 6: LIGHT PANEL
Generally, the light panel is mounted under
the keybed on the treble side, but it may be
mounted elsewhere. Use the medium screws.
It is important for the light panel to
be readily visible. Do not mount it in a
location where the piano owner will have
to make a concerted effort to see it.
Secure the red PADS light cube using the special
clamp and small screw in the separate kit.
Run the cable from the light panel to the
Humidistat and plug it into the designated
outlet. Attach the cable to the piano using
the smallest clamps and small screws. Make
sure it does not come in contact with the
Dehumidifier rods.
STEP 7: WATERING TUBE
For ease of access, the Watering Tube is
mounted to the underside of the rim.
Route the watering tube from the end of the
Humidifier tank to whichever side of the piano is most
readily accessible by the owner, usually the curved
side. You can loosen the clamp to angle the tube
toward the side you wish. Re-tighten the screw when
you have achieved the angle desired. Route the tube
over the beams and attach it to the underside of the
rim using the small screws, one of the 1/2” clamps,
and the two half clamps
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STEP 8: HOUSEKEEPING
Gather up any extra length in the various Cables and
bundle using zip or twist ties. Use any remaining
clamps to anchor the bundles neatly out of sight.
Ensure all of the components are plugged into the
appropriate outlet on the Humidistat and Plug the
Humidistat into a wall outlet that is not controlled by
a light switch. Wrap the STOP sticker around the cord.
Confirm the proper function of the System by looking at the light panel. The green
POWER light should be on solid, while the yellow WATER light and the red PADS
light should both be blinking. If anything else is happening, please recheck all
connections and then contact Dampp-Chaser tech support.
STEP 9: ADD WATER TO THE SYSTEM
Once you have confirmed that everything is installed properly,
it’s time to get the Piano Life Saver System up and running.
We recommend you use this part of the installation to educate
the piano owner on the proper care and operation of the
System. A good way to do this is to have them do the initial
filling under your instruction.
First, have the piano owner fill the watering can up to the red
line with water. Distilled water is preferable, but tap water Can
also be used.
After the can is full, have them add one capful of Dampp-Chaser Pad Treatment
to the water. Explain how filling the can with water first will prevent bubbles from
forming. The bubbles make the can difficult to empty.
Reach under the rim of the piano and unhook the
watering tube from the half clamps. Insert the nozzle of
the watering can into the watering tube and tilt the can
forward so the nozzle is facing straight down. Make sure to
hold the can at least as high as the lid of the piano.
When the watering can is empty, set it on the floor to allow any extra
water in the curve of the tube to run back into the can instead of
making a puddle on the floor. Disconnect the can from the tube and
clip the tube back into the half clamps.
Do not use water that has been softened using salt. Salt water will react with
aluminum, shortening the life of the System.
NEVER use anything other than Dampp-Chaser Pad Treatment© in the
System. Other humidifier treatments contain chemicals that will harm
your customer’s piano. Use of another brand of treatment voids the
System’s warranty and may also void the piano manufacturer’s warranty.
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STEP 10: CONFIRM PROPER FUNCTION STEP 12 WARRANTY REGISTRATION
As soon as the System has been filled, the yellow Inside the System box you will find two warranty
WATER light will stop blinking, but it will take registration cards. Please follow the instructions
several minutes for the red PADS light to stop on the TECHNICIAN card to register the warranty.
blinking. If either light does not stop blinking The PIANO OWNER card is included for piano
within about ten minutes, confirm proper owners who want to be personally involved. It is
installation of all components and contact NOT necessary for both to be utilized.
Dampp-Chaser tech support.
STEP 11: PIANO OWNER EDUCATION
It is important the piano owner clearly
understands what to do after you leave. Explain
what they will need to do when the lights blink
and how the System requires professional
service at least once a year.
It is recommended that you carry
COMPLETE SYSTEM: Pads and Pad Treatment with you
at all times so that you can provide
your clients with the supplies that
their System requires.
For visibility sake, photographs of the Humidifier tank assembly were taken without the liner in place.
While it is included in the System, use of the liner is optional. It may be removed if you deem it unnecessary.
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...continued from page 2
Method B places the hanger rods between
the beams and is used in cases where there is
inadequate clearance between the top of the
beam and the ribs to allow the hanger rods to
be installed, or if a tension resonator is present.
You will have to cut the hanger rods in this
situation. As in Method A, use the baffle as a
template to ensure proper spacing. Continue
with STEP 3 on page 3.
* See Note below
Method C places the hanger rods under the beams and is used on the rare occasion
when the Humidifier tank and hanger rods must be mounted under the beams. An
example of this would be a Bösendorfer that has a grid type beam structure. As in
method A, use the baffle and hanger rod assembly as a template and mount the hanger
rods to the beams as shown in the diagram.
This is the only method that requires
the use of the screw hole in the
center of the 6 hanger brackets.
Remove the hanger brackets that
are positioned at the corners of the Remove the
Humidifier tank (1). Slide them down screws holding
and reattach, utilizing the hole in the 1 the parts of the
middle of the bracket.(2) Quick Release
assembly
2 together and
reassemble
using the hole
in the middle
of the hanger
brackets.
* NEVER use the upper holes if the Humidifier tank is mounted using methods
A or B. This can put the soundboard at risk of damage from condensation.
DAMPP-CHASER CORPORATION
800-438-1524 828-692-8271
www.PianoLifeSaver.com [email protected]
PO Box 1610 Hendersonville, NC 28793
PN 20394 7/19
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