Full Product Manual

4. Saw Cutting Main Lines

Saw cut each line to achieve at least a ⅜” wide groove for the snow melting cable. Multiple blades may be

needed to accomplish this type of cut. Test with a shorter cut rst and use a cable to see if it ts into the groove.

Cuts need to be at least 1-½” deep, per the National Electrical Code, and the cable should not run deeper than

2-3” from the surface to ensure proper performance. Plan a wider cut of about 9/16” or more for the 6” long

factory splices at the beginning and end of the cable. Ensure that the splice can be fully buried and placed at least

4” from the conduit opening. It may be a good idea to cut the last run 5’-10’ longer than needed to allow for any

cable overruns.

If an in-slab high temperature limit sensor will be used, this is the best time to plan one short groove equidistant

between two heating cables. Separate conduit should be used to protect the low voltage sensor wire and it must

NOT be shared with any high voltage cold lead from the heating cable. The temperature sensor conduit should

be capped o and the sensor itself installed within the conduit near the cap. This allows easy replacement of the

sensor, if required.

5. Saw Cutting U-turns

Round the corners of cuts to allow smooth cable placement in the U-turns from one groove to another. This can

be accomplished by making additional 45° cuts at the U-turns or doing a core drilling with a core drill bit with a

diameter matching the cable spacing (typically 3”). Please note that core drilling will require much more ller than

the saw cut method will.

Remove any sharp edges in the grooves to avoid cable damage. Clean the grooves with a high-power pressure

washer. Allow to dry and ensure that the grooves are free of dust and debris.

6. Make Sure the Manufacturer’s Splice is Embedded

Power is carried to each mat by a non-heating “cold lead”, which is connected to the heating cable via a

manufacturer’s splice.

One of the most common snow melting installation mistakes made is leaving this splice, and some of the heating

cable, outside of the asphalt (sometimes it is incorrectly left in the conduit or left exposed). This can cause the

splice, which is half heating element, to overheat and fail. By simply making sure that the splice is embedded

correctly in the asphalt, a problem-free installation can be assured.

Be careful to avoid stepping on or applying pressure to the factory splice or endcap.

4.7 Installation of Snow Melting Cable in Finished Asphalt or Cement