Resistive cable opens up space for the implementation of 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 voltage is applied, the cable evenly glows along its entire length to achieve safe temperatures.
The core of the material is presented in the form of several steel cores coated with a reliable insulating layer. A metal braid is applied over the base, which simultaneously plays the role of a heat- reflecting screen, a protective sheath against mechanical damage and an earth element. The outer layer is made from a wide variety of materials traditional for the manufacture of conventional cables.
Operating principle
The resistive cable is capable of changing the level of current conductivity under the influence of ambient temperature. When the latter falls, this indicator increases, which leads to an increase in heat transfer. The maintenance of various heating modes is facilitated by a gradual change in cable temperature in individual sections.
The most important technological advantage of this principle of operation is the lack of need for the use of expensive automation.
Fields of application
Currently, resistive cable is successfully used for heating: housing, production facilities, warehouses and terminals, garages, hangars, educational and administrative institutions.
The presence of reliable protection in the form of a special metal shell contributes to the installation of the system on wooden surfaces and other materials that are at high risk of fire. If it is not possible to organize reliable grounding, a resistive cable with an additional copper braid is used.
Water cable
The heating system can cover the pipes from the outside or protect them from freezing from the inside. For pipeline elements of significant diameter, the most commonly used method is external mounting. Relatively narrow pipes allow installation in both ways.
For the floor
Every year, resistance heating cables are increasingly being used as an effective means for heating private houses and apartments. The elastic system is placed in the form of a network directly under the floor covering due to laying on a concrete screed. During operation, the surface actually turns into a continuous heating panel.
For the roof
Installation of the system in the form of resistive cables avoids icing of the roof in the winter. It is recommended to lay the heating medium in places whose geometry contributes to the accumulation of ice and snow, the formation of icicles.
Due to the periodic heat supply of the roof, there is no need to perform laborious and rather dangerous work on mechanical cleaning of the roof. Modern resistive cables must be installed on any type of cover.
For tanks
The need to maintain a stable temperature in containers arises both in the household and in industry. In particular, resistive heating systems are actively used to prevent freezing of storage tanks for oil products, chemically active substances, industrial and drinking water.
Benefits
What are the advantages of a resistive heating cable? The following deserves attention:
- High work efficiency and long service in the case of correct calculations and conscientious installation.
- Versatility - resistive cable is successfully used for heating a wide variety of coatings.
- Ecological cleanliness - the functioning of the system does not harm the environment.
- Easy operation, repair and maintenance.
disadvantages
First of all, the inconvenience is caused by the need to use sections of a certain length into which the resistive cable is divided. The price is also considered quite a significant minus, since most consumers simply cannot afford installing such heating systems.
The resistive cable is subject to severe local overheating in areas of accumulation of debris and kink, which increases the likelihood of ignition. At the same time, if a malfunction occurs, the entire system must be replaced.
Finally
A high level of manufacturability, simplicity of design, compactness, excellent thermal contact with surfaces - all this distinguishes a resistive cable against the background of other heating systems. This solution is also supported by increased elasticity, which allows the material to take almost any shape. The flexible system is easily mounted in hard-to-reach places and can be performed in a multilayer design.
It is recommended to choose a resistive heating cable 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-effective fake.