Hi eric, Spark ,arc, fire. That's a good one to remember when I have to explain a customer. (25 years electrician, I knew about the arc, but never thought about it the way you do, my thought was just: spark can create a fire. So you just expanded my brain a bit hahaha.) I'am a heat tracing mechanic/technician in (mostly) factories in the Netherlands (1 year experience). I owe my boss (workgiver as we call it here 😉) big time, watching your videos keeps me up to date and makes a specialist out of me for when I repay my debts. I'm also a bit dyslexic, this learns so much easier than out of a book.
Wow! Very informative! I've had a heat cable on the roof of my house for many years but it's obvious it was installed by someone who didn't have any idea of all the important details! Now, I'm worried it could catch on fire and burn my roof... and house!! I will make sure every security measure is taken into account. Thank you so much for your videos.
Maybe I missed it, but I did not see any explanation of why or how this happens or how to avoid it other than to install a specific purpose breaker. I am left with the impression that this 'just happens' with this type of cable and that does not instill any kind of confidence in using it.
So he did explain it before he talked about the right type of breaker…he mention incorrect connections as well. Overall was made to get you think about it a little more than just plugging it into a normal outlet/circuit.
I noticed you didn't say how the custom box your company makes, actually work. Why is it so much cheaper than the circuit breaker? I'm thinking about having heat tape installed on my home, just curious.
It's no guarantee since there is no way to detect dangerous arcing with 100% accuracy, but a combination AFCI and GFCI breaker or receptacle is certainly good insurance and cheap enough to be worth it even if code doesn't require it where you are.
As long as you stay in your house through the winter, why can't I just manually plug and unplug the heat cable in a regular outlet on the outside of my house, as needed? We all want everything done for us, and the more devices we add to control the on and off, the more you leave things to fate. Plug the heat cable in when snow is forecasted, and when the cable has done its job, unplug it. Unplugged, you eliminate the current of electricity. Are americans getting that lazy?
@@joetoyota7903 I'd say it's the entire western world but I digress. Just had a friend ask me to install some for them and they want it set up so they can plug in when needed and unplug when not needed. They are American.
A dead short as you described will trip the breaker. The problem is a series short or even a high resistance parallel short won't trip a standard breaker, which needs to either see a sudden 150-200+ amp spike or a sustained current well over its rating to trip. That won't necessarily happen in a situation like this. This type of scenario is why we now have arc fault circuit interrupters. They are specifically designed to detect this type of arcing. And while a ground fault circuit interrupter isn't specifically designed to prevent fires, they also can under certain conditions, so it's best to use both for things like heat tape.
@@averyalexander2303 Yeah. I agree. But if you have spent any time messing around with GFCI then you know that they are notoriously troublesome. I have had to replace nearly every one in my houses at least once. But anyway, yeah. You got me there. They do lend a kind of safety feels, but they can also alert you to trouble that doesn't exist, which is a PITA to troubleshoot.
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER HERE, AFTER WATCHING THIS WOULD NEVER IN A FUCKING BAJILLION GOD DAMN YEARS WOULD I EVER FOR ANY REASON INSTALL THIS SHIT IN A HOME. THAT DESIGN IS GROSSLY NEGLIGENT
A little overly dramatic and excessive, aren’t we? With your screaming caps. This is the first tome I’ve heard of it, out of the millions that install deicing cables. 30,000 die in traffic deaths each year, and you don’t bat an eye.
@@icevariable9600 engineers are idiots. People who can't perform in the real world so they play the paper world. Then in the real world we fix what they do
COME ON! Looks to me, like that wire was put there right before the recording took place..... In my experience, when people insult my intelligence, I NEVER do business with them if I can help it! Just from seeing this asinine stuff, I will never hire some one to install an INSULATED Cable!.
Hi eric,
Spark ,arc, fire. That's a good one to remember when I have to explain a customer. (25 years electrician, I knew about the arc, but never thought about it the way you do, my thought was just: spark can create a fire. So you just expanded my brain a bit hahaha.)
I'am a heat tracing mechanic/technician in (mostly) factories in the Netherlands (1 year experience). I owe my boss (workgiver as we call it here 😉) big time, watching your videos keeps me up to date and makes a specialist out of me for when I repay my debts. I'm also a bit dyslexic, this learns so much easier than out of a book.
Well now I know why everyone burning down, freaking can’t afford the breaker 🤦🏼good info
Wow! Very informative! I've had a heat cable on the roof of my house for many years but it's obvious it was installed by someone who didn't have any idea of all the important details! Now, I'm worried it could catch on fire and burn my roof... and house!! I will make sure every security measure is taken into account. Thank you so much for your videos.
Maybe I missed it, but I did not see any explanation of why or how this happens or how to avoid it other than to install a specific purpose breaker. I am left with the impression that this 'just happens' with this type of cable and that does not instill any kind of confidence in using it.
So he did explain it before he talked about the right type of breaker…he mention incorrect connections as well. Overall was made to get you think about it a little more than just plugging it into a normal outlet/circuit.
Very good information and video. You are quite clear in explaining. Thank you! :)
I noticed you didn't say how the custom box your company makes, actually work. Why is it so much cheaper than the circuit breaker? I'm thinking about having heat tape installed on my home, just curious.
So the homeowner didn't have a gfci plug of breaker?
Today i when i turned on my computer the cable caught on fire 😢
What if you plug this into a Arc fault Receptacle . AFCI . Will it be protected then...
It's no guarantee since there is no way to detect dangerous arcing with 100% accuracy, but a combination AFCI and GFCI breaker or receptacle is certainly good insurance and cheap enough to be worth it even if code doesn't require it where you are.
Can you put heat tape on the under side of the roof/wall?
What kind of sensor do you used?
Thank you
Now I don't want heat cable
All the failures shown in your video would be stopped by an arc flash breaker, yes?
GFEP breaker or device would have prevented the fires and burned cable shown in this video. Thanks for watching!
So my GFCP won’t help at all???
As long as you stay in your house through the winter, why can't I just manually plug and unplug the heat cable in a regular outlet on the outside of my house, as needed? We all want everything done for us, and the more devices we add to control the on and off, the more you leave things to fate. Plug the heat cable in when snow is forecasted, and when the cable has done its job, unplug it. Unplugged, you eliminate the current of electricity. Are americans getting that lazy?
You ruined an otherwise sensible comment with some bigotry at the end.
@@RedSiegfried Yeah, truth sorta hurts don't it.
@@joetoyota7903 I'd say it's the entire western world but I digress. Just had a friend ask me to install some for them and they want it set up so they can plug in when needed and unplug when not needed. They are American.
@@thegoodobserver Then, they are the exception, not the rule.
@@joetoyota7903 Agreed
Which is why I refuse to use heated floors and ceilings
Ok. I was about to install a heat cable but this made me lose confidence in it entirely. This scares the hell out of me.
me too
I almost installed heat cables on my water pipes. Glad I didnt
When installing heat cable, would you recommend wearing gloves as oils in your skin can make the cables seem delicious to animals?
Gloves are not necessary when installing heat cable.
Oil breaks down rubber
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
@@dcahill121rubber is made from oil 🤨
I'd call that strange. It doesn't even seem real at all. Almost no way this could happen. If you don't believe me, put a key in an outlet.
A dead short as you described will trip the breaker. The problem is a series short or even a high resistance parallel short won't trip a standard breaker, which needs to either see a sudden 150-200+ amp spike or a sustained current well over its rating to trip. That won't necessarily happen in a situation like this. This type of scenario is why we now have arc fault circuit interrupters. They are specifically designed to detect this type of arcing. And while a ground fault circuit interrupter isn't specifically designed to prevent fires, they also can under certain conditions, so it's best to use both for things like heat tape.
@@averyalexander2303 Yeah. I agree. But if you have spent any time messing around with GFCI then you know that they are notoriously troublesome. I have had to replace nearly every one in my houses at least once. But anyway, yeah. You got me there. They do lend a kind of safety feels, but they can also alert you to trouble that doesn't exist, which is a PITA to troubleshoot.
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER HERE, AFTER WATCHING THIS WOULD NEVER IN A FUCKING BAJILLION GOD DAMN YEARS WOULD I EVER FOR ANY REASON INSTALL THIS SHIT IN A HOME. THAT DESIGN IS GROSSLY NEGLIGENT
A little overly dramatic and excessive, aren’t we? With your screaming caps.
This is the first tome I’ve heard of it, out of the millions that install deicing cables. 30,000 die in traffic deaths each year, and you don’t bat an eye.
@@icevariable9600 engineers are idiots. People who can't perform in the real world so they play the paper world. Then in the real world we fix what they do
@@icevariable960023yrs doing commercial, industrial and residential roofs I've seen thousands of this cables and never seen one burnt like this.
COME ON! Looks to me, like that wire was put there right before the recording took place.....
In my experience, when people insult my intelligence, I NEVER do business with them if I can help it!
Just from seeing this asinine stuff, I will never hire some one to install an INSULATED Cable!.
The purpose of this video is to show how improper use and installation of a product, can, but does not always, result in dangerous situations.
@@wasatchheatcable8757 Okay I get it. I'm just saying! To ME! This is a giant hand 2 face.
@@autismknights8971 It's an informative video, chill out.