Cable resistive - scope, main advantages and disadvantages

The resistive cable opens up space for realizing bold architectural and design solutions. The main advantage of the material is its extreme flexibility, which facilitates installation on virtually any surface.

What is a resistive cable?

In fact, this heating element acts electrically as a conductor of constant resistance. When the voltage is applied, the cable is evenly heated along the entire length with the achievement of safe temperatures.

The core of the material is presented in the form of several steel strands coated with a reliable insulating layer. On top of the base is applied a metal braid, which simultaneously plays the role of a heat reflecting screen, a protective sheath against mechanical damage and an earthing element. The outer layer is made of a variety of materials, traditional for the manufacture of conventional cables.

Operating principle

The resistive cable is capable of changing the current conductivity level under the influence of ambient temperature. When the latter falls, this indicator increases, which leads to an increase in heat transfer. Maintenance of various heating modes is facilitated by a gradual change in the temperature of the cable in separate sections.

The most important technological advantage of this principle of functioning lies in the lack of the need for the use of expensive automation.

Applications

Currently, a resistive cable for heating is successfully used: housing, production areas, warehouses and terminals, garages, hangars, educational and administrative institutions.

The presence of reliable protection in the form of a special metal sheath facilitates the installation of the system on wooden surfaces and other materials that are at high risk of fire. If there is no possibility for reliable grounding, a resistive cable with an additional copper braid is used.

Cable for water supply

The heating system can cover the pipes from the outside or protect them from freezing from the inside. For pipeline elements of considerable diameter, the external mounting method is most often used. Relatively narrow pipes allow the laying by both methods.

For the floor

Each year, a resistive heating cable is increasingly being used as an effective means for the heat supply of private houses and apartments. The elastic system is placed in the form of a net directly under the floor covering thanks to the laying on a concrete screed. During operation, the surface is actually converted into a solid heating panel.

For roofing

Installation of the system in the form of resistive cables makes it possible to avoid icing of the roof in the winter. Laying of the heating means is recommended to be made in places, the geometry of which promotes the accumulation of ice and snow, the formation of icicles.

Thanks to the periodic heat supply of the roof, there is no need to perform laborious and rather dangerous work on the mechanical cleaning of the roof. Modern resistive cables are to be mounted on coatings of any kind.

For tanks

The need to maintain a stable temperature in the containers occurs both in the household and in industry. In particular, resistive heating systems are actively used to prevent the tanks from freezing to store petroleum products, chemically active substances, technical and drinking water.

Benefits

What are the advantages of a resistive heating cable? Attention deserves the following:

1. High efficiency of work and long service in case of correct calculations and conscientious installation.
2. Versatility - the resistive cable is successfully used for heating a wide variety of coatings.
3. Ecological cleanliness - the functioning of the system does not cause damage to the environment.
4. Easy operation, repair and maintenance.

disadvantages

First of all, the inconvenience is caused by the need to use sections of a certain length, on which the resistive cable is divided. The price is also considered a significant disadvantage, since most consumers can not afford to install such heating systems.

Resistive cable is subject to strong local overheating in areas of accumulation of debris and inflection, which increases the probability of ignition. At the same time, in the event of malfunctions, the entire system must be replaced.

Finally

High level of manufacturability, simplicity of design, compactness, excellent thermal contact with surfaces - all this isolates the resistive cable against the background of other heating systems. In favor of this solution is also said increased elasticity, which allows the material to take almost any shape. The elastic system is easily mounted in hard-to-reach places and can be performed in multi-layered design.

Select a resistive heating cable is recommended based on the recommendations of professionals, which makes it possible to avoid unpleasant surprises during operation. Seek help from trusted suppliers and reputable retailers. Otherwise, there is a high probability of buying a low-efficiency counterfeit.