Getting Started Material and Tools Required: WarmlyYours Snow Melt Mats and/or Cables Controller, sensor(s), relay panel and Plaque Custom Design Layout (provided FREE with order) Digital Ohms Meter & 500 VDC Digital Megohm Meter (Megger) Amp Meter, Plastic cable ties, & Scissors Please call WarmlyYours (800) 875-5285 for 24/7 installation and technical support if needed.
Step 1 – Electrical Rough-In The electrician will supply appropriately sized breakers that are 30mA trip GFPE type for each heater circuit. The relay panel(s) must be installed, and power routed from the breakers to the relay panel(s). The electrician should complete any outdoor trenching needed for routing power to the heated zone. All outdoor rated junction box(es) required for cold lead extensions/splicing should be installed at this time. Control panel, relay(s), aerial mount sensor(s) (if used) and associated wiring should be installed.
Step 2 – Mat/Cable Heater Installation When material order shipment arrives, use ohms meter to test each mat heater (between the two conductors), and verify number with the UL tag. Also, test each heating mat for megohms (between conductor and yellow/green ground wire). The Megohm Meter (500 VDC) tests for insulation resistance around the conductor(s), and should read infinite, OL, or a minimum of 10 megohms.
Step 3 – Basic Preparation Paver installer ensures that the base has at least 8” - 12” of crushed rock aggregate that has been spread, and rolled over or tamped down. If insulation is desired, it should be located within the crushed rock aggregate (insulation must never make direct contact with heating cable). Heavy gauge wire mesh must be staked down to this flat, aggregate surface (chicken wire is not acceptable). Conduit for the OT (over-temperature) Sensor (if applicable), should be placed on the wire mesh.
Step 4 – Heater Placement The electrician uses plastic cable ties to attach the heating cable (or mats), to the wire mesh at the appropriate spacing (as per drawing plan layout). Avoid any overlapping, touching, or crossing of heating wires. Cable heaters should be placed within 2” of either side of the OT Sensor Conduit (when applicable).
Step 5 – Heater Burial The paver installer buries the heating cable/mats with 1.5” thick mortar, stone dust, or sand. The electrician tests the heaters continuously with an ohms meter.
Step 6 – Paver Placement The paver installer may now place pavers no thicker than 2.5” over this embedment layer.
Step 7 – Re-test Mat Heaters The electrician takes a final ohms & megohms test on each mat/cable and completes warranty documents with all test results.
Step 8 – Final Wiring & Amp Testing Electrician should complete all wire splicing in the junction box(s). The OT Sensor should be inserted into its conduit using “fish-tape.” Sensor wire splicing should be completed. Any associated control or relay panel wiring should be completed. Breakers should be turned ON, sensor(s) should be tested, and the system should be activated (manually, or with ice, snow or ice-water), to allow the electrician to check amperage of each heater.