Do it Yourself Electric Radiant Floor Warming Installation Manual CONTENTS Introducing SunTouch UnderFloor Materials and Cautions PART 1 Inspect the Mat and Sensor PART 2 Electrical Service Rough-in PART 3 Install the Mat PART 4 Final Wiring PART 5 Install the Insulation PART 6 Wiring Diagrams PART 7 Please be aware that local codes may require this product and/or the control to be installed or connected by an electrician. Troubleshooting Guide SPANISH VERSION on page 13 � www.
SunTouch UnderFloor Installation Manual Introducing SunTouch® UnderFloor™ SunTouch UnderFloor is a safe and efficient electric floor-warming product for interior applications. It is intended only for installation under a wood subfloor in residential and light commercial installations. It is not designed for other purposes such as roof snowmelting. Any use or installation of this product other than what is stated in this installation manual will void the Limited Warranty.
SunTouch UnderFloor Installation Manual 3 Designing a SunTouch UnderFloor System In general, SunTouch UnderFloor should be installed in all floor areas where floor warming is desired. It can be installed to either warm the floor or to heat the space. If SunTouch is being installed to heat the space, first perform a heat loss calculation. Use RadiantWorks® or a similar program to calculate the heat loss of the room(s). SunTouch can be expected to provide approximately 34 BTU/hr/sq.ft. of mat.
SunTouch UnderFloor Installation Manual Materials and Tools Needed • SunTouch UnderFloor mat(s).* See page 3 to determine how much mat is needed for each joist space. • Floor-sensing SunStat control (programmable or dial, with built-in GFCI). • GFCI circuit breaker. (SunStat controls have a built-in GFCI; therefore, the GFCItype circuit breaker is not recommended since two GFCIs may conflict and cause problems. If using the SunStat controls, use a standard circuit breaker.
SunTouch UnderFloor Installation Manual 5 PART 1: Inspect the Mat and Sensor Monitor the Wire! Throughout the installation process it is very important to take resistance readings of the mat and floor sensor wires to make sure they have not been damaged. Use a quality digital ohmmeter (multi-meter) able to measure up to 20,000 ohms (Ω) to take these readings. Analog meters (with the moving needle) are not accurate enough for this product.
SunTouch UnderFloor Installation Manual PART 2: Electrical Service Rough-in Circuit Overcurrent Protection and GFCI Protection The SunTouch mat must be protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). If the mats are directly powered through the SunStat controls, these already have an integral GFCI to protect the mats (do not install a GFCI type circuit breaker to supply a SunStat Control because the respective GFCIs may conflict and cause problems).
SunTouch UnderFloor Installation Manual 7 Angled hole drilled for floor sensor Floor surface Subfloor Sensor tip Bead of construction adhesive Minimum 1”-thick insulation Floor joist Insulation (6” square) Diagram showing Method 1 for installing the floor sensor into the subfloor. Bottom Plate Work Drill a hole up through the wall bottom plate to route the power wiring from the SunStat control box to the mats below the floor.
SunTouch UnderFloor Installation Manual PART 3: Install the Mat See Part 6 for typical wiring diagrams. Observe the following rules, plus all other electrical/building codes and the Cautions on Page 4 when installing the mat(s): 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.), ventilation openings, and other openings. ity.
SunTouch UnderFloor Installation Manual 9 6. 6. At the other end of the mat, place a nail into the joist at 2” below the subfloor. Hang the fiber mesh of the mat onto the nail. This will make it much easier to staple the rest of the mat. 9. 9. Using the same techniques, staple up all other mats. Power Lead Installation 7. 7. 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.
SunTouch UnderFloor Installation Manual PART 4: Final Wiring Install the Control Install the control(s) for the mats according to the wiring diagrams provided with the controls. 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. It is a good idea to overwrap the wire nuts with electrical tape to further secure the wires into the wires nuts before pushing the control back into the electrical box.
SunTouch UnderFloor Installation Manual PART 6: Wiring Diagrams Ground 11 UnderFloor Mat (maximum 15 amps) 120 VAC Typical Electric Wiring Diagram with SunStat Control (120V) SunStat Control Dedicated 120-V, 20-amp (maximum) circuit for 120V mats Load 1 (must be GFCI protected unless a GFCI SunStat is used).
PART 7: Troubleshooting Guide If problems arise with the SunTouch 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.
