Water Pipe Heat Cable

[Buckaroo5]

I want to install a self regulating heat cable on a poly water line that runs from my cistern through an unheated crawl space beneath my seasonal cabin in SE Ohio. I drain the cpvc water distribution water lines in the crawl space and maintain some heat in the cabin when not in use but I don't drain the supply line to the pump located in the cabin. Thinking about using Briskheat Speedtrace heating cable wrapped around the pipe and closed cell pipe insulation over top. I was going to install a recepticle in the crawl space and plug a ThermoCube TC-3 Thermostatically Controlled Outlet into it so that it only provides power when the temp is low (on at 35F/Off at 45F), then plug the heat cable into that. I would like to have a switch in the cabin for summer off/winter on and a pilot light that would indicate I am drawing power (i.e. the heat cable was actually on). That way I could monitor the heat cable was functional without getting into the crawl space. I think the switches with pilot lights I have looked at only indicate that the switch is on, not that there is actual draw. Is there such a thing? Thanks.

 

[jblnut]

Do you have internet access at this cabin ?

If so you could use an InkBird ITC-308-WiFi to control your heat tape. I have one watching each freezer and one controlling a heater in my well house. You can see the on and off temps for the heater as well as alarm temps if it gets too cold.

Temperature Controller ITC-308-WIFI

INKBIRD ITC-308-WIFI is a wireless temperature controller via WIFI connection with temperature calibration, the independent setting for refrigeration and heating, over temperature protection, and an automatic temperature control system for more accurate temperature control, which can be widely...

inkbird.com

 

[Sumboodie]

Do you have internet access at this cabin ?

If so you could use an InkBird ITC-308-WiFi to control your heat tape. I have one watching each freezer and one controlling a heater in my well house. You can see the on and off temps for the heater as well as alarm temps if it gets too cold.

Temperature Controller ITC-308-WIFI

INKBIRD ITC-308-WIFI is a wireless temperature controller via WIFI connection with temperature calibration, the independent setting for refrigeration and heating, over temperature protection, and an automatic temperature control system for more accurate temperature control, which can be widely...

inkbird.com

I had one of those nearly catch fire with a 1500 watt space heater.

The cords got SUPER hot. The burning plastic smell was noticed before it flamed.
Hit enough it melted the paint on the file cabinet it was sitting on.

 

[Buckaroo5]

Do you have internet access at this cabin ?

If so you could use an InkBird ITC-308-WiFi to control your heat tape. I have one watching each freezer and one controlling a heater in my well house. You can see the on and off temps for the heater as well as alarm temps if it gets too cold.

Temperature Controller ITC-308-WIFI

INKBIRD ITC-308-WIFI is a wireless temperature controller via WIFI connection with temperature calibration, the independent setting for refrigeration and heating, over temperature protection, and an automatic temperature control system for more accurate temperature control, which can be widely...

inkbird.com

I do have internet (Starlink) and will look at it. @Sumboodie, I think I will be in the 250W range on 24ft heat cable at 32F so not as much demand as you. It does say 1100W max at 120V.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I had one of those nearly catch fire with a 1500 watt space heater.

The cords got SUPER hot. The burning plastic smell was noticed before it flamed.
Hit enough it melted the paint on the file cabinet it was sitting on.

Cause you didnt follow directions

Space heaters arent supposed to be plugged into extension cords power strips or any other device

Theyre supposed to be plugged directly into a receptacle

Every space heater ive ever owned stated this in the directions

 

[Sumboodie]

I do have internet (Starlink) and will look at it. @Sumboodie, I think I will be in the 250W range on 24ft heat cable at 32F so not as much demand as you. It does say 1100W max at 120V.

I didn't realize that.
I originally bought it to control a diesel heater in a firewood kiln.

 

[Buckaroo5]

Do you have internet access at this cabin ?

If so you could use an InkBird ITC-308-WiFi to control your heat tape. I have one watching each freezer and one controlling a heater in my well house. You can see the on and off temps for the heater as well as alarm temps if it gets too cold.

Temperature Controller ITC-308-WIFI

INKBIRD ITC-308-WIFI is a wireless temperature controller via WIFI connection with temperature calibration, the independent setting for refrigeration and heating, over temperature protection, and an automatic temperature control system for more accurate temperature control, which can be widely...

inkbird.com

They seem to have a cyber Monday deal going on Amazon ($35) so thought I might pick one up. I was thinking I would have the controller in the cabin and run the thermostat bulb wire and the power output wire through the floor into the crawlspace. How long are each of those wires? I think the thermostat bulb should be located under the closed cell pipe insulation.

 

[CoogarXR]

1. The heat tape will have it's own thermostat. You don't need the ThermoCube. The heat tape's built-in thermostat reads the temp of the pipe (you tape it to the pipe). A ThermoCube reads the ambient temperature at the outlet. Which, depending on where it's plugged in, may be in a warmer spot and not trip in time.

2. You say "heating cable wrapped around the pipe and closed cell pipe insulation over top." Don't wrap the heat tape (heat cable, whatever, we call it "heat tape" around here, lol) around the pipe. Only run it straight along the bottom of the pipe. It should be in the directions to run it that way too.

All this stuff is fresh in my mind since I just winterized my new place that I'm working on. Winter just kinda jumped on me here, lol. I'm used to the more mild winters we've been having, and I thought I had a ton of time before the super-freezing temps arrived. Nope.

I have 4 layers of protection on my water system. I have heat tape on the incoming lines for the well and cistern, a thermocube running a heat lamp above the pumps, a separate homemade (built it here https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...-do-in-your-garage-today.126997/post-10564878 ) thermostatic control running a backup heat lamp above the pumps, and my propane furnace set on 45 degrees (the lowest it will set). I don't want to rely on the furnace too much, as the upstairs is gutted and it doesn't heat very efficiently at the moment, and propane is damn expensive.

 

[jblnut]

They seem to have a cyber Monday deal going on Amazon ($35) so thought I might pick one up. I was thinking I would have the controller in the cabin and run the thermostat bulb wire and the power output wire through the floor into the crawlspace. How long are each of those wires? I think the thermostat bulb should be located under the closed cell pipe insulation.

I purchased mine from this seller on eBay. No complaints. https://www.ebay.com/itm/254718379746

The outlet cord is really short, maybe a foot max. The sensor wire is around 4-5' long.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I think Raychem NVent FrostGuard is the best self-regulating heat tape on the market. https://www.nvent.com/en-us/raychem...-0?f[0]=markets|50801&f[1]=applications|65926 It's pretty foolproof, you just plug it in and forget it. It only heats when necessary.