Heat Trace Cables

Best suited as an “off-the-shelf” product used on circuits which do not exceed 140m at 120V; 240m at 240V; 425m at 600V, THERMOCABLE® fluoropolymer constant watt cut - to - length heat tracing cable is a parallel resistance type heating strip which uses a thermally stable nichrome heating wire, with a series of heating zones. These heating zones produce constant, predictable wattage per meter output. THERMOCABLE® is ideally suited for pulling into trace channels on Urecon pre-insulated metal or plastic pipe systems.

Series type heating cables are desirable when heated lengths exceed the circuit limitations of our off-the-shelf constant watt THERMOCABLE®. Often used in long pipe runs in mining where power is scare and often expensive. A series type cable has a constant power output throughout its length and may be used to trace pre-insulated pipes to 3659 m (12000 ft) or more in length from one power supply point. This is a lightweight product, easy to pull into heat trace channels and provides proven long term performance and reliability.

Series type heat trace cable cannot be cut to length in the field. Each application must be engineered and a cable of the appropriate resistance chosen for the application (voltage, circuit length and power output).

Although long electrical circuit lengths are possible, the series type cable must be supplied in shorter physical lengths to permit conduit pulling. If installed above ground, series junction boxes may be used to connect the cables together; if buried, the cable may be spliced under the thermal insulation at these points.

Care should be taken in selecting a self-regulating heating cable to be used in a channel on a pre- insulated pipe. Because of the air surrounding the heating cable in the channel, the cable's operating temperature is higher because of the reduced heat transfer; this will reduce the effective power output of the self-regulating heating cable. The channel's position on the circumference of the pipe also has an influence on the operating temperature. Derating factors for such applications are available from the cable manufacturers.