Installation of heating cable. How to connect the heating cable yourself

In the severe winter, it is not difficult to protect the water supply system from freezing, it is enough to use a heating cable that is installed inside the pipes or outside. The heating element prevents the formation and accumulation of ice ridges leading to unpleasant consequences, which in any case will need to be eliminated - either repair the damage, or change the ice-broken pipes.

What is a heating cable?

The basic principle of the heating cable is the conversion of electrical energy into heat. The main feature of these heating systems is that they only take energy and convert it into heat without the use of fuel or oxidizer. Systems for heating pipes are heated from the effect of an electric current passing through them and do not allow unfrozen external communications. Therefore, a heating cable for water supply is simply necessary to prevent a failure of the whole water supply network during the winter. The heating system for external pipelines assumes the use of a wire with a sealed, seamless, resistant to various influences shell, which easily tolerates temperature changes. Inside the outer layer there is a heating element. When the temperature is lowered, the heating cable is connected to the mains. The heating element is activated and heats the entire system. And when the ambient temperature rises, the power supply of the cable is disconnected and the pipeline operates normally.

Why use cable heaters?

There are several positive moments when using heating cables, here are the main ones:

1. Saving. Connecting the heating cable allows you to adjust the heating output depending on the ambient temperature. In addition, the need for food is regulated.
2. Easy to use.
3. Versatile design: a cable heater can be equipped with any pipeline located both outside and underground.
4. Safety of use: the insulation system is impeccable, it serves as a reliable protection against external thermal, mechanical and chemical influences.

Types of heating cable

The main element of the cable heating system is a heating cable, which can be of two types:

• Resistive is a low-cost, simple-to-install heating cable that is most often used in households to equip underfloor heating systems and to heat small diameter pipes up to 40 mm.
• Self-regulating wire is used to heat tanks and pipes with a diameter of 40 mm, as well as roofing, gutters, electrical panels, etc.

Resistive heating cable

The principle of operation of this element is based on the installation along the entire length of the pipeline of a special cable and sensors that react to changes in ambient temperature. They periodically disconnect and connect the heating system when a certain temperature is reached.

You can lay the heating cable with your hands in different ways: parallel (tape) and spiral. The cable is attached to the pipes using an aluminum tape. The main thing when installing a heating system is to prevent the heating cable from pulling too much. Sometimes for better contact and even distribution of heat, it is recommended to wrap pipes and wires with several layers of aluminum foil. Also, to ensure more efficient operation, it is necessary to equip the system with a reliable thermal insulation, because if necessary, repair the heating cable with your own hands. The insulator can reduce the cost of electrical energy and reduce the loss of heat. As a thermal insulation material, mineral wool can be used, which has a sufficiently low thermal conductivity.

Self-regulating heating cable

Now consider what is another type of heating system. Self-regulating heating cable are two insulated conductors that are in the polymer, which changes its resistance under the influence of the temperature difference. No sensors or electronic temperature controllers are needed. That is, as the ambient air temperature decreases, the polymer resistance decreases, and an increase in the current intensity occurs, which leads to more heat produced. As the temperature rises, the reverse process occurs.

This amount of heat depends on the reaction of the polymer to changes in the temperature of the surrounding atmosphere at a particular or specific point in the wire, and therefore it is different. Thanks to this feature, a self-regulating heating cable It is effective in use in various places and has a sufficiently long service life.

The reliability of insulation ensures high safety of the heating cable and its economy. If necessary, it can be cut into pieces of the right size, which does not affect its properties.

Advantages of self-regulating cables in front of resistive

1. For resistive cables, it is important that the medium is uniform throughout its length, which is very difficult to do in practice. This often leads to overheating of the cable and the failure of the heating system. Where the heating cable has been installed, the temperature automatically decreases in places with a lower heat sink, while in other areas it remains unchanged.
2. Self-regulating cable has a higher resistance to voltage surges and does not burn if it is increased for a long time.
3. Resistive cables have a fixed length, which can not be changed, and self-regulating cables can be cut into pieces of the required size.

Installation of self-regulating heating cable. Internal works

Self-regulating heating system can be installed in two ways: inside and outside. Qualitative work on the installation of heating cables ensure the uninterrupted and trouble-free operation of water, sewage or any other system.

Internal installation is used for pipes of small diameter - up to 50 mm in the absence of direct access to the pipe itself. When the pipeline system is underground, the heating cable is pushed into the pipe by hand. Its length should be equal to the length of the water pipe. Basically, this method is used for the installation of new pipes.

Heating cable: external mounting by hands

With the external arrangement of such heating, the cable is fixed to the surface of the pipe. In this case, its length can be equal to the length of the pipe, and also to exceed it. It depends on the method of laying, that is, on what method the heating cable, the installation of which was made by oneself, is attached to the pipes:

1. Linear mode. The length of the cable is equal to the size of the pipe. The number of threads of the heating element is selected depending on the required power.
2. Spiral method. The length of the cable exceeds the length of the pipe. It is laid around the channel in a spiral. This is the most costly method of attaching a heat insulation device.

External installation of heating cables is the simplest and quickest way to equip the system for heating pipes. Sometimes it is more effective than external. Often laid inside the pipe, the cable thaws ice much faster than the one that is wound outside. But it performs its functions in any case.

Heating cable connection

First, you must supply power from the electrical panel or the outlet to the heating cable. When mounting on pipes in a place sufficiently remote from the electrical board, it is necessary to use a junction box. To connect the heating cable to the mains, it is not difficult to do it yourself. It is advisable to use the instructions that come with the product. The connection itself can be done both with a simple terminal connection and with the use of ready-made heating cable solutions.

How to make a heating cable with your own hands?

You can buy heating elements in specialized or construction shops, but you should know that their cost is high enough. Possessing some skill and certain technical skills, you can try to make a heating cable with your own hands. To do this, it is sufficient to use a suitable material. A power telephone cable can replace a heating system. It is similar to heating in form and characteristics. Such a cable is thin, durable and rigid. It has a reliable insulation and can be used in a humid environment.

It is clear that a heating system made of telephone cable will be deprived of many important functions. For example, the process of self-regulation will be impossible. In addition, the system does not have special food isolation. However, all the above-mentioned useful qualities are not particularly needed, so you can safely use a homemade heating cable. Installation by own hands is not at all difficult. First determine the place of its laying - that is, outside the pipe. Wire the wire to the surface very tightly. The pipe with the cable is usually tightly wrapped with foil, on top of which aluminum tape is wound , it is it that presses the heating element to the base. Such heating for pipes can be arranged not only for water supply, but also for sewerage. It is necessary to ensure maximum protection of all heating cables, protect them from moisture. For this you can use heat and waterproofing. For a single or periodic operation, a heating cable, made with your own hands from a power cable, can be used at the dacha or in the place where people live irregularly.

In conclusion, it can be said that the heating system for heating the water pipe, which is the heating cable, is the necessary component for full-fledged operation during the year, and in the winter especially.