Heating cable: characteristics, installation features, scope

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Heating or heating cables with automatic regulation have a very wide application as one of the protective measures against icing of various objects, buildings and structures. Modern options have a number of advantages, including a simple and convenient installation method, as well as the ability to use segments of the required length. That is why many owners of private country houses are interested in what a heating self-regulating cable is.

General description of the product and installation

One of the most important parameters can be considered safety during operation. The use of cables of the required length allows you to fully realize this quality. For example, for heating small terrariums, fairly short options with a length of 20 cm or more are used.

In addition, using a special tee system, you can organize connections from several such products. The choice of the optimal length depends on the purpose of use. Expertsit is advised to select a heating cable with a margin if it is unregulated, otherwise its use may be completely impractical. Excess length is also a problem, as randomly distributed "extra" lengths or looping leads to the possibility of accidental fire.

In general, there are several relevant types of such cables on the market, each of which has both certain advantages and a number of disadvantages. When choosing, you should focus on what the purchased product will be used for.

Main function and applications

Heating cables are considered as special purpose products. As the main function, it is necessary to single out the conversion of electrical energy into thermal energy over fairly significant distances. The distance of heat transfer depends, of course, on the length of the product and can reach from a couple of meters to several kilometers. These products form the basis of all cable heating and anti-icing systems.

In the domestic and industrial sectors, such devices solve a number of problems, among which the following are worth noting:

• creation of an electric floor heating system for heating residential and industrial premises;
• preventing condensation;
• possibility to compensate for heat losses in tanks or pipes;
• building an effective anti-icing system for gutters, roofs or gutters;
• heating of various sitesin the open air, for example, areas for landing helicopters, stairs and steps on them, as well as ramps;
• Support of technological processes in production by maintaining operating temperatures or using in heating and cooling modes according to certain algorithms.

In installation, the importance of these characteristics should not be underestimated. For example, exceeding the chain length allowed in the specifications often leads to premature failure of the heating sections.

Key Features

By and large, there are four main characteristics that you should rely on when choosing a product in a store. Their listing can be seen below:

1. Local power. The accepted standard unit of measurement is watts per meter, but North American manufacturers often indicate this parameter in watts per foot of length. The most common and popular models have a linear power in the range from 10 to 60 W/m.
2. Highest idle temperature. This parameter of the heating cable means the value at which it can be without being connected to the network. The specification usually mentions that for the entire operational life in this condition, the product is able to withstand no more than 1,000 hours of operation.
3. Maximum chain length. The greatest possible length of each of the sections that make up the branched system is implied. In this case, the parameter does not change even if one segment is used. It is determined by a direct dependence on the thickness of the cores,through which current is supplied.
4. The highest load temperature. With this value, the cable is able to work for quite a long time and not get any damage.

In installation, the importance of these characteristics should not be underestimated. For example, exceeding the chain length allowed in the specifications often leads to premature failure of the heating sections.

Resistive cables

They were the first to appear and have already begun to gradually give way to more advanced versions of such products on the market. However, it remains the choice of many who need a simple heating cable for pipes at an affordable price. For all subspecies, the same basic characteristics are relevant. However, it is not recommended to save even more and cut the existing pieces of cable into several lengths.

This action will lead to a decrease in resistance and, as a result, exceeding the permissible maximum temperatures during operation. In this case, the chain will soon simply overheat and break. In addition to the relative cheapness, a number of other advantages of resistive cables can be cited, including their high degree of reliability, ease of installation and simplicity of the device as a whole.

Actual subspecies in this case are three variations:

1. Single-core cables. They are considered the simplest and do not require the involvement of specialists for installation. The outer sheath is thermally stable and underneath is a copper braided shield. Next comes the insulating layer that protects the core from overheating, which conducts current. By usingsuch products create closed contours.
2. Two-core cables. Completely similar to the previous ones. However, they already have a couple of cores as the main structure. If you don't need to create a closed circuit, combined with a limited budget, this option will be an ideal choice.
3. Zone cables. The structure is completely preserved, but improved due to the presence of spirals between the veins. Thus, heating occurs evenly, which eliminates the main disadvantages of resistive-type heating cables.

Self-regulating cables

More progressive and modern version. The main difference is the presence of a self-regulating matrix, which is made of an elastic semiconductor material and is located between the cores. The amount of power used and the efficiency during heating depend on the resistance level of the "smart" matrix, which determines the appropriate value from the ambient temperature. For example, if one of the sections is in ice, and the other is in the air, then the cable will be able to determine this. So the colder area will get more heat.

Among the positive qualities of such products, a number of the following can be distinguished:

1. Flexibility and elasticity. Largely due to this, heating self-regulating cables for pipes have gained such wide popularity in the market: surface heating with any shape is available.
2. Economy of electricity. Separate heating of sections allows you to take exactly as much of it as necessary in the givenconditions.
3. Free cutting. Power and operating parameters do not depend on length. Any values are allowed.
4. Relatively easy to style. Unlike resistive models, here it is possible to lay parts of the cable on top of each other without damaging it.

Mounting tips and features

Experts and craftsmen identify a number of simple and effective recommendations that will help you do the work yourself, efficiently and in a short time. Before connecting the heating cable, you should, if possible, settle in a favorable thermal zone. Of course, in outdoor conditions this is far from always feasible, however, at temperatures from -5 ° C and below, it is impossible to engage in installation due to the technical limitations of the product itself. The fact is that the special polymer structure inside the cores does not imply its initial laying in the off state in such conditions.

However, do not despair, because it is still not difficult to install a heating cable in the cold. At temperatures below zero degrees, the product loses its flexibility. You can avoid this effect if you carefully unwind the coil, and then plug the product into the network for one minute or a little longer. When heated, the flexibility will be fully restored, allowing further laying work.

Also, do not include a cable that has not been previously unwound. In addition, when laying resistive cables in a place where they will be constantly exposed to sunlight, it is best to choose productsblack color which are UV resistant.

External piping installation

In this option, the wire will be fixed on the outer surface along the pipes or wound around them. In the first case, it is very easy to install on your own. On one side, the product is preliminarily fixed by means of fiberglass self-adhesive or special heat-resistant plastic clamps. It is recommended to observe an interval of about 30 cm. It is worth remembering that the length of the heating cable for pipes is calculated according to the length of the surface on which it will be attached. Under no circumstances should metal fasteners be used, as they may become excessively hot during use of the product.

The second method of fixing is intended mainly for buried pipes. In this case, the cable will be located with some offset, and not in a certain upper or lower part. This variation is often referred to as the "eight (four) o'clock position". There is also another way to mount the heating cable for the pipeline - spiral. Thus, the best contact of the working surface with the product is ensured, however, this significantly increases the length of the material, and, accordingly, the final cost of the whole undertaking.

The pitch between the turns is adjusted according to the operating conditions. For the maximum possible heating of the surface, this interval should be as short as possible. This approach will be relevant in areas subject to the most severefreezing.

Internal piping

It will not work in every case to place the heating cable inside the pipe. The minimum cross section of the water supply must be at least 40 mm, otherwise the water flow will simply partially overlap. It is worth noting that this method is definitely more complicated than the one described above, however, for relatively short sections of a few meters, it is not easy to choose the best option. Experts advise pulling such a cable from top to bottom, that is, through vertical sections. A number of additional equipment will also be required, including the required number of tees and sealing sleeves to connect the sections and eliminate cord slippage.

Most often, a heating cable for water supply is carried inside the pipe only in certain situations where its use is more appropriate. These include repair or replacement of system components. If a finished product is being considered, then you can also insert and connect it yourself, without involving third-party specialists. However, it is already more difficult to assemble such a system. When installing, it is recommended to take into account a number of important factors and limitations. For example, do not run wires through shut-off valves or any other shut-off equipment, so as not to cause significant damage during operation.

Installation of cable for underfloor heating

In this scenario, special attention should be paid toproper advance planning. It all starts with the question of whether the floor heating cable will be used as the main and only system, or whether its role will be limited to only auxiliary to the main heating. In the case of partial heating, it is sufficient to observe the minimum percentage of surface to be covered, which usually depends on the type of room.

The following options are examples:

• residential premises - 60-70%;
• kitchen - 35-40%;
• toilet -30%;
• bathroom - 60%.

Installation of a warm floor, as a rule, is done in a screed under the tile. First of all, the place where the thermostat will be located is selected. The heat-insulating coating itself is mounted if the slope of the floor level does not exceed one centimeter over the entire area of \u200b\u200bthe room. This fact is checked using an ordinary water level or level. The heat-insulating surface is fixed with a metal mesh, which, in turn, is fixed with plastic clips to the cable itself.

The cold section of the heating element is inserted into the junction box, while no bends or deformations are allowed in this area. It should also be remembered that the junction of the cold sleeve with the heating part should be in the floor, and not on the wall strobe.

Installation of cable for gutter system

Many resort to the use of such products due to the fact that ice often forms in drain funnels. This, in itsturn becomes an obstacle to the flow of melt water from the roof surface. For pipes with a diameter of up to 10 cm, experts advise to run one string of wire, and with a larger diameter up to 30 cm, it is better to run two at once. Fastening is carried out using ordinary steel brackets. There is also advice, according to which it is worth creating more powerful heating in the upper and lower parts of the pipe. You can make it by laying additional threads, for example, in the so-called "dripping" form or after several turns in a spiral.

In addition, with especially long pipes from three meters, the cable is lowered and fastened using a special cable or chain with fasteners. It is enough to screw a hook or a metal rod into the wooden elements of the roof and fix it on the gutter. After the chain or cable is suspended from it. It is also worth mentioning that the wound method of fixing the heating cable for the drain is no less relevant. Best paired with medium or large diameter pipes.