The cable will draw a lot of energy trying to get to its top-out temperature, unless you add a temperature controller.Ī controller doesn't have to be extremely costly, though. That doesn't, however, mean that it won't get hotter than necessary for whatever it is you're heating! Low-temperature self-limiting heating cables usually top out at about 160☏ – which is to say, a lot hotter than you need it if you're just using it to keep pipes from freezing. A more accurate term we like to use is "self-limiting." Basically, what it means is that a self-limiting cable cannot overheat itself to the point of damage to the cable. "Self-regulating" is a somewhat misleading term that was coined by the original inventor of the product. Back to top How about keeping pipes from freezing?įull article: What "Self-Regulating" Really Means
#Heat cable how to#
The manual also shows you how to find out what size kit you need, but for quick reference we have a chart on the general SpeedTrace kit page.
#Heat cable install#
All the information you should need to install it is contained in the kit's installation manual (PDF), which you can also find on the ordering page for any of the kits. Combine that with the hassle avoided by not having to go up on the roof every year or two to replace the cable, and the SpeedTrace kit is well worth the investment.Īdding any heating cable kit to your roof is a somewhat complicated project, but the SpeedTrace kit simplifies matters by including everything you need, so you don't have to worry about whether you've ordered the right termination kit or go out hunting for downspout hanger brackets. This is a kit based around the popular and reliable SpeedTrace family of self-regulating heating cables – these cables are professional-grade, durable products and, with good treatment, we've known them to last a decade or more in use. We have a simple solution to that problem in stock: the SpeedTrace Roof & Gutter Snowmelt Kit.
Typically, the kits that are available in hardware stores (from the mom-and-pop place on the corner all the way up to the big-box retailers) will do a good job for a season, but come next year it's anyone's guess whether they'll start working again. Sold in fixed lengths from 2 to 20 feet (depending on the style).īuilt to order or sold in fixed lengths from 3 to 24 feet.īack to top What kind of heating cable should I use to keep ice dams from forming in my gutter?Ī lot of folks come to our website because they're looking for a more reliable heating cable for roof de-icing. Many styles can be cut to length, and terminations added, in the field. Power density measured in watts per square inch. Power density measured in watts per foot.įlat in cross-section. Somewhat rounded, resembling type NM or Romex™ cable. Highly flexible to conform to tight contours and odd shapes.Īs flexible as heating tape, but more forgiving of imprecise wrapping. Some styles are resistant to moisture or suitable for use on electrically conductive surfaces, but they must not be submerged, and are generally intended for indoor applications.įairly stiff (about as flexible as a garden hose), but very good for spiraling around pipes. Power densities and construction comparable to those of heating tape.Īvailable with housing styles that are resistant to water and many chemicals, and suitable for outdoor use. Higher power densities and temperatures, ranging from tapes with a maximum of 305° up to very-high-temperature tapes rated for up to 1400☏ (760☌). Lower power densities and temperatures, with maximum temperatures ranging from 150☏ to 500☏, and including low-intensity cables well suited for freeze prevention. What exactly is heating cable (heat trace cable, heat cable, etc.)? How do I run heating cable from a solar panel? (The Rule of Three).How long or short of a cable can I run?.Does "self-regulating" mean I don't need a thermostat?.What kind of heating cable should I use to keep ice dams from forming in my gutter?.What is heating tape? How about heating cord? Is there a difference?.What exactly is heating cable (heat trace cable, heat cable, etc.)?.
#Heat cable free#
We'd like to think of this as "Everything You Need to Know about Heating Cable." If you've got a question that isn't answered here, feel free to call us and ask at (866) 685-4443, or email us – and your question might even become the subject of our next article here. We've put together this page, and the articles that are linked here, to try to answer any questions you might have, so you can feel confident that you're getting the right cable and using it properly.
Heaters: what exactly it is, how to use it, what it's useful for, and so on. We get quite a few questions about heating cable here at O.E.M.
Enclosure Heating (includes wattage calculator).
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