Tech Tips: How To Test Snow Melting Mats and Slab Heating Cable
Master the Art of Testing Snow Melt Mats and Slab Heating Cables for Uninterrupted Heating
Imagine installing your snow melting or slab heating system, only to find a fault after it's buried in concrete. This video ensures you avoid such pitfalls by effectively testing your heating systems.
- Discover the importance of testing your heating cables or mats before installation.
- Learn how to use an electronic mega ohmmeter to test the integrity of your heating systems.
- Find out how to test 120-volt and 240-volt systems effectively.
- Understand how to interpret ohmmeter readings for accurate system analysis.
- Learn the process of testing your system before, during, and after installation for optimal performance.
This comprehensive guide is invaluable to both beginners and professionals wanting to ensure a safe, efficient, and reliable heating system. With the right testing process, you can trust your heating system to provide long-lasting warmth.
Hello. Whenever you order snow melt or slab heating cable, it is crucial to test each cable or mat to ensure that it is in good condition before it gets buried in the concrete. The last thing you want is to install a mat that has been damaged during shipping, only to discover that it doesn't work when you turn it on. To effectively test these mats, rolls, or cables, you will need a mega ohmmeter.
There are two types of mega ohmmeters available. The older hand-crank mega ohmmeter is not recommended for use anymore, so we will focus on the electronic mega ohmmeter instead. Each roll or cable that you incorporate into the system must be tested with this device. If you do not own a mega ohmmeter, you can rent one from Warmly or check with local electricians, as many of them have this equipment available.
A mega ohmmeter tests the insulation between one of the electricity-carrying wires inside the system and the ground. For example, in a 120-volt system, one wire is typically yellow and the other is black. If it were a 240-volt system, you would see a red wire instead of yellow. To conduct the test, you will check the yellow wire against the ground and then the black wire against the ground to ensure that the current-carrying wires are not making contact with the ground anywhere in the mat or cable.
To perform the test, attach the black clamp to the ground and set the mega ohmmeter to 500 volts. Then, take the yellow wire and connect it to the ground. When testing, you should see an infinite reading, which indicates that there is no contact between the current-carrying wire and the ground. If the reading shows "OL," it also signifies a good condition. After completing the test on the yellow wire, you will repeat the process with the black wire, ensuring that you do not touch the wires during this procedure, as it involves a dangerous amount of current.
Once again, you should expect to see an infinite reading, confirming that there is no continuity between the black conductor and ground throughout the mat or cable. Each mat or cable should be tested in this manner before, during, and after installation to ensure that nothing has compromised its integrity. If everything goes well during the hookup, your system will operate flawlessly. Thank you for watching.
