Heating cable is also referred to as heating tape and heat trace cable amongst the industry. Heating cable is used for a wide range of applications including pipe tracing, freeze protection, viscosity control, temperature process maintenance, roof and gutter, and much more. There are two main types of Heating Cables, Self Regulating and Constant Wattage.
Self Regulating Heating Cable products are used for freeze protection and process temperature maintenance for a wide range of industrial, commercial and residential applications. These industrial heaters are used to maintain the working temperature of pipes, fittings, valves, tanks and process equipment. Heat Trace cables regulate their heat output in response to changes in temperature. Self regulating heat trace cable can be overlapped and cut to length without loss of heat. It is ideally suited to freeze protection applications and snow melting but can be used in process applications as well. Self-Regulating / Self-Limiting heating cable automatically adjusts heat output based on surface temperature. Ideal for freeze protection and low temperature process maintenance. Self Regulating cable has advantages that is can be overlapped and cut to length without any heating loss on the cable. And In some caes can be used without control, though using a thermostat is always the suggested method fro turning the cable on and off.
Constant Wattage Heating Cables are ideally suited for applications where a particular watt density is required at all times. The heater element consists of a nichrome wire wrapped around parallel, insulated buss wires. Constant wattage cables are flexible, can be cut-to- length in the field, and are manufactured for use on voltages from 120 to 480V. Although not suited for overlapping, its constant output makes it an ideal choice for higher temperature applications where higher watt densities are required. Constant Wattage Cables are Equipped with a ground braid and can have an optional FEP jacket. Constant-Wattage heat trace provides precise and constant temperatures up to 500oF (260oC). Ideal for a wide range of applications. Constant wattage cable can be cut to length but there will then be a cold spot (unheated length) of cable that must be managed when you splice the cable together. Constant wattage cable must not be overlapped as it will over heat where the cable comes in contact with itself.
The theory behind heat trace is to replace the heat loss from a pipe into the space it travels through. A heat loss calculation is done and the result is a watts per foot of heat loss. To maintain a pipe temperature, the cable must equal or be greater than the heat loss. Heating cable is not good for actually heating up the pipe. It may work in unique applications, but in general it is for pipe temperature maintenance. Pipe trace cable can be used to keep down condensation in pipes when moving solids like flour where water creates a problem.
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