Instruction Manual

9
Warning:
Never use more than 17mm (0.5in) of fiberglass insulation or other not fire-retarded
insulation material for the heat tracing system. (The overall R value of the insulation, protective
barrier and waterproof barrier should not be greater than 2.0). Over-insulation can cause the
heating cable to overheat and cause fire hazard or electrical shock.
Electrical Requirements
 Make sure that the heating cable load you are connecting is within the rating of your control system.
 The cable should be plugged into a permanently installed receptacle.

Ground fault circuit breakers are required on all heater constructions per the National Electric Code.
Use circuit breakers that incorporate 30-mA ground-fault circuit protection or equivalent levels of
ground-fault protection.
Testing

It is recommended that after the installation of the thermal insulation and weather barrier but before
energizing the circuit, another insulation resistance (megger) test should be performed. This should
reveal any damage to the heating cable that may have occurred during the insulation installation.
 It is the installer’s or electrician’s responsibility to perform a series of tests on the heat tracing system
at specific points at the start of and during installation of the heating cable.
 Quick identification of any heating cable damage is the most economic approach to troubleshooting an
installation. The installation costs of the cable and thermal insulation are much greater than the
heating cable.
 Once power is connected, but before putting the system into operation, verify all heating cable testing
and documentation have been completed for each heat tracing circuit. This will ensure that the system
has been installed per the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Maintenance
 Inspect the cable at the beginning of every heating season and monthly during operation.
 Preventive Maintenance: A preventive maintenance program is needed which will encompass both
visual and electrical checks of the system. These should be done not only before initial operation of
the system, but also on a scheduled basis. The checks should also be done after any maintenance has
been performed.
 Check the system to verify that the insulation is not wet from rainfall. Wet sections of pipe can result
in cold spots or frozen sections. If the insulation is damp or wet, it should be replaced.
 Turn off or disconnect the power when the heating season ends. Reconnect before the next heating
season.
Warning: Disconnect the power connection before inspecting.