UnderFloor™ Mat Installation Manual Series U10 Please be aware local codes may require this product and/or the thermostatic control to be installed or connected by an electrician.
Read this Manual BEFORE using this equipment. Failure to read and follow all safety and use information can result in death, serious personal injury, property damage, or damage to the equipment. Keep this Manual for future reference. Thank you for selecting the UnderFloor mat system. When properly installed, UnderFloor mats are covered by a 25 year warranty. Ensure the mat installation log on page 6 is filled in during installation. This information is required for warranty protection.
Skill Level Installation must be performed by qualified persons, in accordance with local codes, ANSI/ NFPA 70 (NEC Article 424) and CEC Part 1 Section 62 where applicable. Prior to installation please consult the local codes in order to understand what is acceptable. To the extent this information is not consistent with local codes, the local codes should be followed. However, electrical wiring is required from a circuit breaker or other electrical circuit to the control.
Table 1 As with any electrical product, care should be taken to guard against the potential risk of fire, electric shock, and injury to persons. The following cautions must be observed: NEVER cut the mat, or remove the foil radiator, or modify the mat in any way. Doing so will cause dangerous overheating and will void the warranty. The mat must remain intact. However, the power leads may be cut shorter, if necessary, but never removed completely. NEVER leave the mat rolled up or bunched in the joist bay.
Installation must be performed by qualified personnel, in accordance with local codes and standards. A licensed electrician is recommended. ALWAYS pay close attention to the voltage and amperage requirements of the breaker, the control, and the mat. For instance, do not supply 240 VAC to 120 VAC mats or damage will result.
Phase 1 - Preparations Before installing UnderFloor, make sure to fully inspect the products and carefully plan the site. Items Needed Materials: • SunStat thermostat control (with floor sensor) • SunStat Relay control (if required) • Control electrical box (UL Listed, extra deep, see control instructions for size and type required) • Junction electrical box • Wire nuts (must be UL Listed and proper size) • Flexible or rigid conduit (if required, see Step 2.
Inspect mat, control, and sensor To prevent the risk of personal injury and/or death, make sure power is not applied to the product until it is fully installed and ready for final testing. All work must be done with power turned off to the circuit being worked on. STEP 1.1 Remove the Mat, SunStat control, and SunStat sensor from their packages. Inspect them for any visible damage and verify everything is the correct size and type according to the plan and the order.
STEP 1.3 Use a digital multi-meter set to the 200Ω or 2000Ω (2kΩ) range to measure the resistance between the conductors of the mat power leads. Record these resistances in Table 3 under “Out of the box before installation”. T he resistance should measure within the resistance range on the nameplate label. If it is a little low, it may be due to low air temperatures or meter calibration. Consult the factory if in doubt. Measure the resistance between either of the white or black leads and ground lead.
Phase 2 - Electrical Rough-in To prevent the risk of personal injury and/or death, make sure power is not applied to the product until it is fully installed and ready for final testing. All work must be done with power turned off to the circuit being worked on. STEP 2.1 Circuit Breaker (Overcurrent Protection) UnderFloor mats must be protected against overload by a circuit breaker.
to reach the SunStat directly, it may be extended. A junction box may be required by local code to make this connection. Follow the installation instructions included with the SunStat for details. For construction with an existing wall or where the wall is covered, cut the necessary openings to mount the electrical boxes listed above. Wait to install the boxes until all wiring is fed into these locations to make it easier to pull the wire.
STEP 2.6 Install SunStat Sensor A floor sensor comes with the SunStat thermostat and must be installed correctly to control the floor temperature. Remember to locate the sensor in a floor where a mat is located. The following are recommended methods for installing the sensor. Other equivalent methods may be used. Before installing the sensor, make sure to test it with an ohmmeter. See Phase 1. Method 1.
Method 2. If it is not possible to drill a hole to set the sensor in the subfloor, it may be held flat to the subfloor with a nylon wire clip. Locate the sensor in a joist bay directly over where a mat will be installed, about 2" from the joist. Insulate the sensor with additional “blueboard” or fiberglass insulation, 1" to 2" thick and 6" square. This will help isolate the sensor from the heated joist space. Method 3. If possible, install the sensor directly into or under the floor covering area.
Phase 3 - Mat Installation To prevent the risk of personal injury and/or death, make sure power is not applied to the product until it is fully installed and ready for final testing. All work must be done with power turned off to the circuit being worked on. Do not allow the foil radiator of the mat to be mounted such that it contacts metal objects such as nails, staples, metal pipes, heating ducts, and joist straps. Keep the mat at least 2" away from recessed fixtures (lights, etc.
STEP 3.3 If the mat begins near the rim joist, measure about 6" out from that rim joist. This will allow enough room for the mat power leads, and will prevent unnecessary heating of the wall cavity above the floor. STEP 3.4 Measure 2" below the subfloor and mark the joists on both sides of the joist cavity. STEP 3.6 Hold the mat up along one joist and begin stapling the mat mesh along the 2" mark from the subfloor. Staple every 4" to 6" for about 2 ft. to get started. STEP 3.
STEP 3.8 Continue stapling the mat mesh at 2" below the subfloor, every 4" to 6". Then remove the nail at the end that held it up. STEP 3.9 Raise the mat to the other joist and staple the mat mesh 2" below the subfloor. STEP 3.10 Using the same techniques, staple up all other mats.
Junction box with multiple sets of mat lead wires, connected in parallel, and connected to the power supply. STEP 3.11 Power Lead Installation If you have not already done so, mount a junction box below the subfloor within reach of the mat power leads. Install more than one junction box, if needed, for larger jobs.
Phase 4 - Control Installation STEP 4.1 Install the Control Read and follow the instructions included with the SunStat thermostat and SunStat Relay for complete connection instructions, requirements, and mounting. STEP 4.2 Connect the power supply leads, the power drop to the mat junction box, and the floor sensor wire to the SunStat. Follow proper wiring procedures. STEP 4.3 Make any final connections to the circuit breaker or branch circuit source. STEP 4.
Phase 5 - Install Insulation Install R-13 to R-19 fiberglass insulation below the mat. Gently press the insulation up to the mat for best results and secure in place with rods, staples, or other method. A gap between the insulation and mat is acceptable but will not give the best heating results. Make sure to insulate at the end of all heated joist cavities.
REMEMBER: Proper insulating and sealing of the floor cavity is necessary for the performance of UnderFloor mats.
Connecting Multiple Mats To prevent the risk of personal injury and/or death, do not perform any electrical work unless qualified to do so. Work should be done with great care and with power turned off to the circuit being worked on. Follow all local building and electrical codes.
Troubleshooting Guide If problems arise with the UnderFloor mat or its related electrical components, please consult this troubleshooting guide. If not qualified to perform electrical work, it is highly recommended that a qualified, licensed electrician be hired. Any electrical troubleshooting work should be performed with the power removed from the circuit, unless otherwise noted.
Problem Floor heats continuously. Possible Cause Solution Make sure wiring connections are correct. Consult Incorrect wiring. The control was the wiring diagram on the back of the control, the “bypassed” when it was wired to instructions that came with the control, or the wiring the power supply. diagrams in this manual. Defective control. Return control to dealer for replacement. If a programmable control, the Carefully read and follow control programming programming may be incorrect. instructions.
Electric Floor-warming Products 25-year Limited Warranty SunTouch and Watts Radiant (the Companies) warrant their respective electric floor heating mats and cables (the Products) to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for twenty-five (25) years from the date of manufacture. Thermostats and controls sold by the Companies are warranted, parts and materials, for three (3) years from the date of purchase. The sole remedy for controls is product replacement.
Affiliations: SunTouch Customer Support USA Toll-free: (888) 432-8932 Canada Toll-free: (888) 208-8927 Latin America Tel: (52) 81-1001-8600 SunTouch.com The SunTouch and Watts Radiant manufacturing facility’s Quality System is an ISO 9001:2008 registered facility through LRQA. 8 40213 11332 IOM-WR-UF 2129 Watts Radiant Customer Support USA Toll-free: (800) 276-2419 Watts.com Canada Toll-free: (888) 208-8927 Watts.
