Installation Manual

2.0 Selection of the Heating System
Selection of your Heating System will depend on the application. The following can
be taken as a general guide:
Install Chart
Application
Watts per Sq.Ft. (per Sq.M.)
- Cable spacing inches (mm)
Multiplier at
given spacing
Outdoor Snow Melting
45 to 55 W/ft2 (484 to 592 W/m2)
Recommended spacing 3” (76mm).
4.0 at 3” (76mm)
Formula: Area of Application x Multiplier at given cable spacing = Heated Cable
Length required
Example 1 (English): 100 sq.ft of Outdoor Snow Melting x 4.0 at 3” spacing = 400
feet of Heated Cable required
Example 2 (Metric): 9.3 sq.m of Outdoor Snow Melting x 4.0 at 76mm spacing =
122m of Heated Cable required
Please note the above-indicated values are meant as a general guide. Your values
may vary depending on a number of factors. Please consult your Account Manager
for assistance.
3.0 Important Instructions before
Installing the System
1. Heating Cable must not cross or overlap itself at any point. This could cause the
Cable to overheat, requiring replacement.
2. The Heating Cable length should not be cut or altered under any circumstances. This
may cause over-heating resulting in damage to the Cable.
3. The cold lead can be cut or extended with a conventional splice, inside of an
accessible junction box (weatherproof if outdoors).
4. Take precautions to avoid damage to Heating Cable during installation. Do not drive
over cable. Duct tape the ends of shovels. Do NOT saw expansion joints, without
having lines marked o clearly with spray paint, where installer has veried that
Heating Cables will not be cut. Do NOT damage Cables with heavy equipment,
machinery or vehicles. Do not walk on splices, do not bend splices.
5. Heating Cables should be separated from other heat sources such as luminaries
and chimneys.
6. Do not install the Heating Cable below 5˚ F (-15˚ C) ambient temperature.
7. Minimum bending radius of the Heating Cable shall not be less than 10 times
its diameter.
8. Minimum spacing of Cables is 3” (76 mm) and maximum spacing of Cables is 3.5”
(89 mm). As spacing distance of wire increases, watts per square foot decrease.
9. Twin Conductor Heating Cable has a ground braid (metal sheath) to be connected to
ground and 2 conductors which are to be connected to the power supply.
10. Double check the voltage and wattage of the Heating Cable received against the
project specications on your custom installation plan. These are marked on the
packing box of the product. A qualied electrician should connect the Heating
System.
11. A digital Ohm meter and a Megohmmeter (Insulation Tester) will be needed
to properly install the system. Check the continuity, resistance and insulation
resistance of the Heating Cable before installing and also after installing. Resistance
value should match the value shown in Appendix A on page 9 & 10. A tolerance of
-5% to +10% is allowed. Insulation resistance should be innity.
12. Keep high voltage power wires in a separate conduit from low voltage wires.
13. Allow sucient drying or curing period of the concrete / asphalt after installing the
Heating System and before energizing the Heating System.
14. For easy reference, ax a label at the power distribution board indicating the
location of the heating units installed.
15. The National Electric code requires that the heating cables be installed over a base
of at least 2” of substantial masonry or asphalt, and have at least 1.5” of the same
installed over the cable. Our recommendations are based on these NEC standards.
WARNING
16. The Cable must NOT be shortened or cut in any manner or subjected to strain at
the splice joint.
17. NEVER power-up Heating Cables prior to being buried in concrete, asphalt or
in mortar (even for testing purposes). This will prevent premature failure of the
Heating Cable.
2
2.5” in (6.3cm) maximum
thickness brick or concrete
paver
1.5” sand, stone
dust or mortar
Plastic tie wrap
4 in (10) or 6 in (15) square 10
gauge wire mesh
Level of
heating
cable
2” (5 cm)
3” (7.6 cm)
8”-12” crushed
rock aggregate
Right
hot/cold joints 6
in (15 cm) apart
and 6 in (15 cm)
from slab edge
Wrong
hot/cold joints
installed on
slab edge
Wrong
hot/cold joints
bunched
concrete wall
Junction box mounted on
inside wall
Control joint
Concrete
Heating cable secured to
rebar with plastic tie wraps
Steel bar
3”
3”
Cable identification tag
(within 3 in (7.5cm) of NPT
connector)
Cold lead
Conduit
Expansion joint
Heated Slab
Conduit
Hot/Cold
joint
Heating
cable
Cold leads protected with 1-1/2in (3.8cm)
minimum nonmetallic conduit
where they emerge from slab
Topping 2 in (5.0 cm)
minimum to 3 in (7.5 cm)
maximum thickness
Dimension B must not
exceed 6 in (15 cm)
Dimension A must not
exceed 3 in (7.5 cm)
If dimension C exceeds 3
in(10 cm) an additional run
of cable must be used
B
Conduit for slab temperature sensor
Corner rounded off to
prevent cable damage
1.2 in (1.3 cm) wide steel
prepunched strapping
Wrong
cold joints
unche
Wrong
cold joints
stalle
slab
Cable must be at least 4 in
(10 cm) from rail post
Cable must be at least 4 in
(10 cm) from edge
C
A
Expansion joint
Concrete
Heating cable secured to
rebar with plastic tie wraps
Steel bar
3”
3”
HOUSE
DRIVEWAY
RELAY
J-BOX
Heating Cable must not cross or overlap itself at any point.
This could cause the Cable to overheat, requiring replacement.