heat cable installation guide

8/2/2019 Heat Cable Installation Guide

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Self regulating heat cableS

inStallatiOn guiDeheat trace Wire


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aPPlicatiOn OvervieW

The Thermal Technologies Heat Tracing Systemutilizes a sel-regulated heat cable to melt thesnow and ice on your roo, and keep ice andsnow rom building up to dangerous levels.Our sel-regulated system reduces costs tohomeowners, compared to constant electric-ity heat cablesmeaning big savings over the

years. The Thermal Technologies Heat TracingSystem is also a valuable investment that cansave home and business owners rom costlystructural damage and personal injuries causedby alling snow and ice.

Dd o kow?Zig-Zag heat cables arent themost ecient way to solve theproblem o snow load, iciclesand ice dams. And in manyareas, heat cables alone will

not solve these problems. (Seepage 16)

Thermal Technologies oersheated panels in a variety owidths to t any roo. T-Pan-els are available or roos with

eaves up to 18, while theT-Zone system ts roos witheaves 36 and larger. Whilethese options have a higherup-ront cost, they oer sig-nicant energy savings overzig-zag heat cables.

abOut therMal technOlOgieS cOrPOratiOn

As a Utah-based company, centered in thesnow-capped Mountain West, Thermal Tech-nologies knows cold weather. And, weve cre-

ated some o the best solutions or eliminatingthe dangers o ice and snow buildups. Werecommitted to oering quality installation,knowledgeable customer service and long-term dedication to our customers. And, as alocal company serving you, we can really do it.

Thermal Technologies is a leading innovatoro roo de-icing systems. We ocus on design-ing and manuacturing top residential and

commercial products. Our passion is helpingyou come up with the best solution or yourindividual de-icing needs.

Our high-grade de-icing products include ourown revolutionary T-Panel and T-Zone systemsthat virtually eradicate ice dams. We also pro-

vide cost-eective de-icing solutions includingour own Thermal Technologies Heat TracingSystem.


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DeterMine heat cable length

The area required to be heat traced will bedetermined by the size and shape o thestructure. For example an entrance, with anoverhang may be susceptible to driting snowaccumulation and require the total area to beheat-traced.

Typically the problem areas o a roo are Roof overhangs without gutters Roof overhangs with gutters & downspouts Gutters & downspouts Roof valleys & gutters

gutterS & DOWnSPOutSIn instances where extremely cold temperaturesand or severe winds are present its recom-mended that the gutter and downspoutsinclude 2 runs o heat cable. Installing 2 runs oheat cable (down and back) in the downspouteliminates the need or a T-Splice and an EndSeal.

To calculate the length of heat cable requiredto trace with 2 runs of 100 ft long gutters andtwo 15 ft-long downspouts, use the followingexample: 100 + (2x15) = 130 x 2 runs = 260 ft.

Tip: allow 4 extra cable or termina-

tions and allow sucient cable toreach your power connection point.

valleySTo calculate the amount needed or a valleyrun, frst measure the length o the valley. Forcomplete coverage, 70% o the length is re-quired in a looped-back run.For example, i your valley is 10 t long, simplymultiply by 0.7 and then multiply by 2 or theloop. 10 x 0.7 = 7t. 7t x 2 = 14 t.

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A T-Splice adds morework, but saves cable &wattage requirements.

Placing a double-run inthe gutter eliminates theneed for a T-Splice andprovides better protectionin extreme environments.

Heating Cable on the Val-ley is effective up to 70%of total valley length.


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The height of the heat cablesshould extend the entire area

above eave overhang.

Cable overhang:Allow for an extra 2 for

roofs without gutters.Roofs with gutters

need an extra 5to create drip

channels.

SpacingFrequency

Height

calculating aMOunt Of cable uSeD in

a Zig-Zag Cable Pattern:Zig-zag cable works in areas o light snow-all.For locations with requent heavy and extremesnow conditions, T-Panel or T-Zone Panel Sys-tems are recommended (See page 16).

The table below shows the how to determinethe length o cable required per oot o roo

line. Example: I you have an 24 eave, yourmultiplying actor is 4.5. For a roo edge o100, just multiply the two numbers: 100 x4.5 = 450 eet cable. This does not includelength required or the roo edge or gutter.

Multiplying factor to determine amount of

cable needed per foot of roof line.Height Needed To

Clear Eave OverhangMultiplying Factor

For 24 Spacing Frequency

6 x 2.2

12 x 2.8

18 x 3.6

24 x 4.5

30 x 5.4

36 x 6.3

42 x 7.3

48 x 8.3

POWer cOnnectiOn Kit

cable length requireMentS WOrKSheet

Section Calculation Sub Total

Gutters Gutter length eet t

Downspouts (Downspout length x 2) + 4 t

Valleys (Valley Length x 0.7) x 2 t

Zig-Zag Roo line Roo line Length x Multiplying actor t

Length to Control Box Number o Power Connections x 6 t

Total t

24


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MaxiMuM Continuous CirCuit length (in feet) Per CirCuit breaker

5 Watt Heat CableMax Length segment lengths in Feet

Ambient tempat start-up 15 A@120 V 20 A@120 V 30 A@120 V 40 A@120 V 15 A@240 V 20 A@240 V 30 A@240 V 40 A@240 V

50F (10C) 200 231 231 231 395 463 463 463

0F (-18C) 132 163 231 231 247 327 463 463

-20F (-29C) 113 136 217 231 213 327 429 463

-40F (-40C) 98 124 191 231 200 256 378 463


Ambient tempat start-up

15 A@120 V

20 A@120 V

30 A@120 V

40 A@120 V

15 A@240 V

20 A@240 V

30 A@240 V

40 A@240 V

50F (10C) 132 172 183 183 258 342 363 363

0F (-18C) 89 115 173 183 166 227 343 363

-20F (-29C) 77 102 153 182 151 204 302 363

-40F (-40C) 72 94 134 182 132 200 272 363


Ambient tempat start-up

15 A@120 V

20 A@120 V

30 A@120 V

40 A@120 V

15 A@240 V

20 A@240 V

30 A@240 V

40 A@240 V

50F (10C) 106 133 154 155 207 268 310 365

0F (-18C) 68 95 139 153 132 187 276 310-20F (-29C) 60 79 119 153 126 162 240 310

-40F (-40C) 55 72 106 153 108 149 217 310

Try to design the heat tracing system usinga worst case start up temperature of 0

F. If longer circuits are required you may

want to choose a higher start up tem-

perature to increase the maximum circuit

length allowed for the appropriate breaker

size. However, keep in mind that if theheang system starts up at a temperature

POWer requireMentS

lower than that designed for, you mayexperience breaker tripping.

Tip: Selecting a higher voltage al-lows you to reduce the breaker sizerequired and in turn allows you to uselonger circuit lengths. To determine

the maximum circuit length allow-able and breaker size required use thetable below.


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To determine the opmum control meth-od you should consider that when the

cables are energized (ambient method)

and there is no snow/ice present power

will be consumed unnecessarily. On the

other hand if you rely on manual controland someone neglects to turn on the sys-

tem when necessary, the inevitable snow/

ice will form thereby defeang the original

purpose of the installaon.

SnOW/ice Melting cOntrOlS

Manual Plug-in ConneCtionThe heat cable is switched on/o manually. This method will require supervision to work

eecvely.

MOiSture & SenSOr teMPerature cOntrOlThis method ensures that the heat cable is energized only when a combinaon of

moisture and low temperature are present, thereby keeping the roof and guers free of

snow/ice. When either the precipitaon ceases, or the temperature rises above freez-

ing, the heang cable is turned o thus conserving energy.

10 foot Pig-tail

POWDer cOrD W/

MOlDeD Plug

Product code: EPT-10

20 aMP 30Ma gfci

Plug Kit

120VAC code: EGFI-120

240VAC code: EGFI-240

the CDP-2 snow sensor

cOntrOl/DiSPlay Panel

This oponal accessory provides conve-

nient indoor monitoring and control for

the DS-2B, DS-8, DS-224 or DS 824 ASEcontrollers. The remote control is self

powered, no AC wiring or baeries re-

quired and ts any standard single gang

electrical box.Compable with leviton dec-

ora/hubbell styleline cover plates. You

choose the cover plate color and material.Product code: 4214-TT


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the Ds-2b rain/snow

SenSOr cOntrOller

Integrated Precipitation Sensor

100-120/200-240 VAC Operation

Product code: E-DS-2B

the Ds-8 rain/snow

SenSOr cOntrOller

Designed or gutter, downspout and rooice melting

Remote Precipitation Sensor

Power/Activation LED

100-120/200-240 VAC Operation

Product code: E-DS8-LD

Heat CableController withIntegrated

Sensor

Heat CableController withRemote Sensor


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The eectiveness o heat tracing a roo or gut-ter is determined not only by the design andlayout but also by the quality o installation.

It is important that the heat cable be incontact with the roo and gutter to ensureproper melting.

Do not install heat cable under the roofngmaterials.

To prevent damage to the cable wheresnow might slide rom the roo, it may benecessary to install a snow ence near theedge o the roo.

Downspouts to underground sewersshould be traced down below the rostline.

Roof drains should be heat traced 12down into the heated portion o the build-ing.

Heat tracing the roo itsel is not always

necessary. I ice-damming on the roo isnot experienced then heat-tracing the gut-ters and downspouts should be sufcient.

I gutters are not present then heat cable

inStall guiDelineS

installed on the roo must have drip loopsextending past the roo edge. We recom-mend at least 2.

Roof clips may be secured to surfaces byway o adhesive to avoid the use o nails orscrews. We recommend Tamp-Pro Adhe-sive.

Junction boxes, whenever possible, shouldbe located under a roo overhang or asimilar area to avoid direct exposure toweather and should include drip loopswhere the cable enters the box.

On a larger installation when using mul-tiple circuits try to locate all the junctionboxes in one area to reduce power eedconduits.

A complete check list o materials shouldinclude: heat cable, power termination,end seal, roo clips, and a controller asrequired.

Warning:Section 426 o the National ElectricCode requires ground-ault protec-tion o equipment.


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MaterialS WOrKSheet

Item Model # Unit QTYHeat Cable Total Length (in Feet) t

Power Termination Heat Shrink kits (1 per control box) EPE ea

End Seal Heat Shrink Kits EES ea

Splice Heat Shrink Kits ESP ea

Tee Splice Heat Shrink KIts ETK ea

Roo Clips (Typicaly 10 clip-pack per 7 eet o roofine) ERC 10/bag

Controller Unit ea


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inStalling rOOf cliPS

The Roof Cable Clip is used to attach heatingcable to most types o roo suraces. A kit con-tains 5 double clips, which is typically enough

or approximately seven linear eet o rooedge, depending on your spacing requency.

1. Plan the layout o the roo clips accordingto your spacing requency. One double clip isused to secure the heating cable looped at theroo edge (this assures a drainage channel tothe gutter). A single clip is used to asten thecable at the top o the zig-zag layout arrange-ment. Single clips are made by snapping thedouble clip in two at the scored indentation.

2. The roo clips can be attached to the roousing adhesive or screws. When using screws,its recommended to place a dab o weather-proo silicone caulk over the screws (once

astened) to seal the screws holes and preventleaking caused by the screws.

Tip: Fasten the clips to the roo be-ore installing the heating cables.

3. Ater installing the clips on the roo, threadthe heating cable around the clips. Use extraclips in any location where the heating cable issusceptible to excess stress or movement.

4. Using pliers, close the clips frmly about thecable, being careul not to crush the cable.

5. The heat tape should be astened to the rooso that its touching the roo. This placementbetter enables the heat tape to melt the snow

and ice on the roo.

Tip: Use Aluminum tape to hold cablein place in gutters.


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A T-Splice adds morework, but saves cable &wattage requirements.

Heating Cable on the Val-ley is effective up to 70%of total valley length.

alOng the rOOf:

Your Thermal Technologies Heat TracingSystem utilizes a zig zag (or repeated V-shape) pattern along the roofs eave.

This pattern helps melt snow and ice alongthe eave and keeps snow and ice from build-ing up at your roofs edge.

The heat tape is constructed of a at mate-rial, so forming the zig zag is as easy as lay-ing it on the roof.

The bottom of the zig zag pattern rests in-side the gutter. By placing the bottom of theV shape in the gutter, the melted snowand ice will better drain into the gutter.

CAUTION: Be sure to use a saety har-ness/line and/or other essential saetygear when working on your roo.Consult your local saety code(s) and/or regulations and seek expert help.

uP the valley:

Similarly to the V pattern along theeave, youll run an inverted (or upside

down) V up valleys on the roo. These valley Vs will be much taller than

the eave Vs. So, the valley V will meltsnow and ice much higher up the roowhere snow and ice collect in the valley.

inSiDe & DOWn the gutterS:

Heat tape is placed inside and down yourgutters to keep the melted snow and icemoving reely down and away rom yourhome or business.

Youll want the heat tape to exit out the

bottom o the gutter downspout(s) at least3 inches, so the water will ow away romthe gutter and ice will not orm at the bot-tom o your downspout.

The heat tape should be placed at thebottom o the gutter, touching the gutterbottom, to best melt the snow and ice andkeep water owing reely.

In severe cold conditions, two runs of heattape can help keep water owing reely.

Generally, no clips or fasteners are neces-sary when running the main line(s) o heattape in the gutter.


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You may want to secure the heat taperom the roos eave to the main line(s) oheat tape in the gutter, to better assist themelted snow and ice to drain directly into

the gutter. Secure the heat tape on the roofs eave to

the heat tape in the gutter by astening thebottom o the zig zag pattern (the bottomo the V) to the main line(s) o heat tapein the gutter. Be sure to consult labels onzip tie containers and/or other astener

products or heat-resistance beore using.

cOnnecting unDer the rOOf:

Since the heat tape is electric, electricalconnections need to be made. These con-nections are best placed under the roo,to protect them rom inclement weather

conditions. When reaching these connections with

the heat tape, a drip loop or saggingU-shape is ormed in the heat tape sothe melted ice/snow will run down to thebottom o the U and then drip to theground (rather than entering the electrical

connection).

CAUTION: Be sure to use a groundault circuit interrupter (GFCI) that willtrip (or shut down) your electricalcircuit i the electrical comes in con-tact with water. Always use a licensedand knowledgeable electrician amil-

iar with local electrical and/or otherpertinent code(s) and/or regulations.

cutting. SPlicing & caPPing the enDS

Of heat taPe:

One primary benet of Thermal Technolo-gies cut-to-size heat tape is that it can be

cut to any length to ft your specifc roo.And, the heat tape can be easily splicedto make repairs and/or ollow your roosunique contours.

CAUTION: Never work with live wires.I you are repairing heat tape thathas already been in use, be sure toshut o all power connections beoreattempting to work on the heat cable.Always use a licensed and knowl-edgeable electrician amiliar withlocal electrical and/or other pertinentcode(s) and/or regulations.

You can run the zig zag pattern along theeave and up the valley with one continu-ous strand o heat cable. So, little cutting/splicing is necessary.

The heat cable in the gutter along theeave can also be one (or more) continuous

cables. So, ew cuts/splices are needed. Heat tape can be spliced into a T. This

technique is useul to splice a line o heattape rom the main gutter run to a newline running down a gutter and out thedownspout.

Splices can be concealed in the gutter.

However, electrical splices must be well-sealed rom exposure to water.

Be sure to cap the ends of the heat tapewell, so the electrical wires are not ex-posed. Youll likely have cut heat tape tocap at the bottoms o your drain spoutgutters.


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Roof Damage Potential

Extreme

Strong

Mild

Heat cables are not 100% effective in areasof strong & extreme snow and ice precipitation.

T-Zone & T-Panel Systems from Thermal Technologies remove

snow & ice with complete coverage for extreme environments.

aPPenDix


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rOOf Pitch tO angle

cOnverSiOn chart

To fnd your roos pitch, put a level buttedto the roo and mark a 12 span on the level,then measure down. I you were to measure7 then you have a 7/12 pitch. I you measured5 down, then its a 5/12 pitch, meaning theroo drops 5 in a 12 span. Ensure the tape

measure is square (at a true right angle) to thelevel get an accurate measurement.

Level

12

5This measurementdetermines yourpitch. This pitch is5/12 or 22.26.


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1-866-MELT-123

www.thermaltechusa.com

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