What Is a Cable Heater?
Cable heaters are flexible heating devices made by covering heating wires with insulating material. The use of flexible insulation allows the cable to be easily bent and stretched, making it suitable for wrapping around pipes and tanks.
The insulator used in cable heaters is resistant to water and chemicals. Since the power output per unit length is consistent, cable heaters can be cut on site to fit the shape of the object they are wrapped around and can also be layered for increased heating effect.
Uses of Cable Heaters
Cable heaters are commonly used in industrial settings and scientific experiments to maintain temperature. They are also effective in preventing the freezing of water pipes in cold climates.
Due to their flexibility, cable heaters can be efficiently wrapped around tanks and pipes, ensuring close contact and even heating. For example, wrapping a cable heater around the lower third of a large tank can create convection currents, facilitating natural agitation and uniform heating.
With the heating element insulated, there is no risk of sparking, making it safe even when the cables overlap.
Features of Cable Heaters
Cable heaters typically feature a semiconductor heating element with self-regulating temperature control. The element is designed to adjust its heating output based on its temperature change, increasing output when cool and decreasing when hot, thereby maintaining a consistent temperature without the need for an external thermostat.
These heaters are generally designed for use with standard 100 V or 200 V power sources, and the heat output is selected based on the specific application. The use of a ground-fault circuit breaker is essential for safety. In applications like freeze protection, selecting the right cable heater to prevent overcurrent at the melting point is crucial.
It’s important to be aware that cable heaters, especially non-explosion-proof types, are not suitable for environments with organic solvents or excessive dust. For such hazardous areas, cables that meet explosion-proof electrical equipment standards are required.