heat trace cable

[allan873]

Hi I,ve got a wee elec. problem which I am sure someone out there can solve. a number of years ago I bought a elec. heat trace cable because we caravan all year my problem is I am unsure if it is still working, if I can just explain what it looks like, there is 3M of red cable about the same size as 2.4mm cable at one end there is a black plastic block 150mm x 20mm x10mm from which comes 4M cable to 13amp plug, there is power from the plug to halfway along the plastic block.
Thanks
allan

 

[paws]

Hi Alan, These heating wires ( often known as Ice Guard) take around 10 Watts per 10 ft run so a 20 ft run should be consuming power on 230V at about 20 Watts
A meter will soon show the power being used, but a quick and simply test is to leave the heating wire on overnight and by morning with a pipe run of between 10 and 20 ft you should have one or two pints of nice warm water as soon as you open the tap.....
This assumes that the heating wire has been correctly fitted (stretched along the water pipe and secured continuously with metalic heat resistant tape, and with the whole lot insulated against excessive heat los,s by use of conventional split foam pipe insulation with all joins taped)
Hope this helps
Regards
paws

 

[allan873]

Paws, thanks for getting back to me, think we are talking about different things, this trace is only for keeping the pipes from freezing and no way would it heat the water
allan

 

[Guest]

You might try a word with these people; http://www.cross-electrical.co.uk/pages/contact.htm

 

[Past_it]

Allan, I would have thought the easiest way to see if it is working is to simply plug it in. Some of this type heating tapes are only 3 or 4 watts per foot, so you need to keep it on for a while to detect any temperature rise. These tapes are self regulating so initially take slightly more current until they reach their working temperature.
If it doesn't seem to work check the fuse.

 

[paws]

Hi Allan, No we are both talking about the same equipment..... and if you have fitted it correctly (and insulated it correctly against excessive heat loss) you will find that in the morning after being "on" all the night you will have a pint or two of warmish water......the purpose of the heating wire is to prevent freezing in the water pipe...hence its name "Ice Guard" however it will on a 20 ft run of pipe provide the warmish water as an excellent bonus in addition to having kept the water pipe from freezing..... I use it extensively in all our stables and the horses appreciate the warmish water....that we use to take the icy cold chill off the bits in the horses bridle.....
You could say that this comes straight from the horses mouth!!
If you aren't getting any warmish water then you have either not fitted it correctly or its not working....
Regards
paws

 

[paws]

Duplicate post

 

[allan873]

Paws, thanks for your reply you are probably right because I now know that I didnt have the pipes lagged as well as they should be, so I am going to start again I have sent for a roll of Aluminium tape and I will spend a bit more time to try and lag the pipes properly, in a caravan this might not be as easy as it seems but i,ll see.
allan