Can I Cut Electric Warm Floors • CIMFLOK.COM

Why can not I cut the heating cable?

Heating resistive cables (underfloor heating) are sold as prefabricated sections connected to a power cold cable. Each section has a specific length and power. When calculating heating systems, these values are used. But when an error creeps into the calculations and the rest of the cable has nowhere to mount, the first solution that seems logical is to cut off the excess.

The instructions attached to the heating section prohibit any manipulation of shortening or building up the sections. Why? Indeed, in catalogs the same heating cable, for example with a power of 20W / m, is sold in sections from 5m to 120m. And it seems that if you approach the matter thoroughly, then at home you can make a completely high-quality end sleeve, and use the rest of the cable somewhere else.

The instructions do not prohibit cutting resistive heating cables in vain. The thing is that despite the same article, in heating sections of different lengths cables of different composition are used. For example, sections 10m long and 20m long, basically contain completely different heating cables. The manufacturer calculates the cable resistance in advance, setting at which length, the heating power will be 20W / m. And if this cable is cut in half, then its power will increase by 2 times, which will amount to 40W / m. Structurally, both heating cores and cable insulation are not designed for such heating. When connected to the network, such a cable will overheat and burn. This is comparable to the incandescent spiral in heating devices, if it is shortened, it becomes almost white-hot and quickly burns out.

In case of local repair of the heating resistive cable in the screed, the damaged area should be replaced by a piece of heating cable from a similar section so that there is no overheating in this place. Do not insert a piece of cold connecting cable, as this will violate the resistance of the remaining heating cable.

How to shorten the floor heating cable

A warm floor is no longer a luxury, but often a necessary necessity for many people, because our winters are cold, and developers rarely worried that everyone should be warm.

So it is not surprising that many of us try to insulate ourselves as much as possible, including installing a warm floor. And everything goes very well if the floor is correctly installed and everything works fine. Yes, sometimes there are situations when the cable for warm is made too long, which causes great inconvenience, especially considering that during installation it is necessary to make sure that the cord does not bend and rupture anywhere, otherwise then there may be big problems with operation, yes and then no one guarantees your safety. After all, electricity needs to be careful.

So it’s best to take into account its length even before installing a warm floor, because it is only necessary to shorten the cable in extreme cases. So take into account in advance that only the part on which there is no furniture is heated, and carefully measure all the parameters of the room.

But if, nevertheless, some kind of mistake happened and not everything was taken into account, then sometimes it is necessary to shorten the cable of the warm floor.

But, before you do this, you should find out that manufacturers do not support such an idea and strongly recommend that you do not shorten the floor heating cable yourself. So if you had a valid guarantee for such a floor, then its action automatically ends when you decide to shorten the cable for the warm floor.

Do not forget about it.

As for the process itself, try not to do it yourself, but still trust the hands of a professional. Find a good craftsman who can help you cut the cable correctly so that there is no short circuit later, and that the whole structure does not burn out.

But still, if you decide to do it yourself, then after you cut the wire itself, put a resistor in the place of the cut, which will limit the current.

This must be done, because when the cable is cut, its resistance decreases significantly, due to which the current increases.

It is also very important to choose the right resistor, because if its value does not correspond to the resistance that was inherent in the piece of wire that was cut off, then again problems can arise, because of which it will be necessary to change the entire structure.

Options for interior decoration

Warm floor. heating mats: how to choose and lay with your own hands?

The system of warm floors has long and firmly entered the life of people who seek to make their home more cozy, warm and comfortable. For those who live in a country house, it is more advisable to install water floors, and for residents of urban apartments an electric heated floor is recommended. As a rule, the electric floor heating system does not serve as the main source of heating, but is used auxiliary. Since there are several types of electric floors, the question arises which one to choose: cable, infrared or heating mats. This article will focus on the latest type of floor heating system.

Floor mats

Device and functions

What is a heating mat? In fact, this is a combination of conventional cables and a multilayer sheath on the grid. The cable consists of steel or copper wires and insulation protection. It is laid on a substrate with a snake with a pitch of at least 50 mm. When current flows through it, it heats up. To connect to the mains, a cold wire is used, the length of which is at least 1.5 m and which is connected via a coupling to the heating element.

Heating mat cable device Heating mat connection diagram

A cable sheath is a mixture of rubber, polymer fibers and fiberglass. Unlike cable underfloor heating mats are not fixed on a metal grid, but on a grid of synthetic fibers (Kevlar, fiberglass, etc.). The upper part of the substrate has an aluminum shell and is coated with a film of polyvinyl chloride. Are there too many isolators? No, multilayer insulation reliably protects wires from possible mechanical damage.

If during installation you need to lay the mat in the other direction, the mesh can be cut.

The figure shows how you can cut the mat and stack sections in different directions

The cable can be bent but not cut.

Since both the heating cable and the substrate have a very small thickness, a warm floor will practically not reduce the height of the room, which is a definite plus.

The main purpose of thermomats is an additional, local source of heating. Most often, mats are laid in the bathrooms, in the kitchen or bal-KONE. And if you have a private house, with their help you can prevent icing of the stairs and porch in front of the entrance.

Selection of heating mats

Depending on the type of cable, two types of heating mats are distinguished:

The main difference between a single-core mat is that when connecting to a thermostat, both ends of the cable are used. And here there is a difficulty during installation: installation should be completed where it began. If this is not done, the cold wire from the second end of the cable will need to be pulled back.

With twin-core thermomats, everything is simpler. In addition to the heating cable, an electric wire is provided in the system. That is, only one end is used to connect to the thermostat. However, the price of such mats is higher, and they reduce the height of the ceilings more than single-core.

There is one more difference. When turned on, single-core heating mats are capable of creating electromagnetic radiation, which can be harmful to human health. Despite the fact that the indicators are at an acceptable level, it is not recommended to install this type of underfloor heating in residential premises, especially in children’s rooms. Experts advise using mats in industrial premises or on the street. In twin-core cables there is a second wire that “dampens” the electromagnetic field, so they are considered safe.

Before choosing thermostats as additional heating, study the positive and negative aspects of the system.

Adhesive tape on the mat grid speeds up the installation of the underfloor heating by gluing the cable to the base without any problems

Security. Multilayer insulation and non-combustible materials from which heating mats are made make them absolutely reliable.
Easy installation. An adhesive layer is applied to the substrate, which eliminates additional work and saves time and effort.
Thickness. As mentioned above, thermomats have a small thickness. Even mats with two-core cables will not significantly affect the height of the floor.

Among the shortcomings, the following can be distinguished:

Price. Electric cable floors are cheaper than mats.
Thin floor is not suitable as the main source of heat.

When choosing a warm electric floor, power must also be considered. Having determined the place where the thermomats will be laid, its area, as well as their place in the general heating system of the room, it is not difficult to determine the power. So, for a kitchen or a corridor, an indicator of 120 W / m2 will be sufficient, for a bathroom. 150 W / m2, and for a bedroom, a nursery or bal-KONa. 200 W / m2.

Video: Can I Cut Electric Warm Floors

The power of the thermomats for different finishes may vary.

Mounting technology

The use of heating mats is very popular. The main reason is that their installation does not require special skills and special work.

The first thing to do is prepare the foundation accordingly.

Determine the location of the thermostat. It is fixed on the wall. First you need to hollow the groove, and from it down. a wide shtole. The wires for powering the cable and connecting the temperature sensor are laid in it.
Level the surface. In the presence of significant elevations, a cement screed is made with a thickness of at least 30 mm. Minor defects are repaired with putty.
Prime the base.

After that, heating mats are laid. First, the installation diagram is marked on the basis. The grid does not require fixing to the floor using additional means, the roll should be unwound on the surface to the required length. If you want to cut the grid, then you need to do this so that you can then transfer the cable to the next strip.

As the roll rolls and the net is trimmed, the wires should be turned in the direction provided by the scheme. The cables must not be allowed to cross, as this can cause a short circuit and damage the “warm floor” system.

During the installation of thermometers, some rules must be observed:

Fire safety rules prohibit laying the grid in several layers.
Do not lay the electric cable under bulky furniture and household appliances.
The distance between the walls and the heating elements of the mats should be at least 50 mm, from the radiators. at least 100 mm.

When the heating mats are laid, the temperature sensor and thermostat are connected in accordance with the instructions.

Step-by-step technology for installing underfloor heating on the basis of heating mats

At the final stage, the health of the system is checked. All sections of the floor must provide uniform heating.

Finish flooring

Most often, electric underfloor heating is used for “cold” coatings, such as tiles or porcelain tiles. But it can be used with laminate or parquet, however there are some features that should not be forgotten. If you plan to lay a laminate, then the coating should be specifically designed for laying on a warm floor. Overheating of wooden floors should not be allowed, as the material may dry out over time, as a result of which the tree will crack. The heating temperature must not exceed 27 ° C.

Tiled floor cake

As a rule, manufacturers of flooring indicate whether it is possible to use material with underfloor heating. A wide range of models of heating mats are available on the market, which are oriented to work in tandem with carpet, linoleum or other topcoats. So choosing the right one will be very simple.

If there is not enough heat in any room of your house or apartment, then the question of the advisability of installing a warm electric floor is removed by itself. And if the choice fell on heating mats, then the task is all the more easily possible, since the installation of the system does not require special skills and it is easy to do it yourself. Dear readers, leave your comments, share opinions about the article and about this system of underfloor heating.

How to avoid mistakes when installing a warm floor

Installation of underfloor heating: useful tips

Today we would like to talk about the mistakes that are quite often made during the installation of cable heating systems.

Some of them can be critical and cause damage to the warm floor immediately, part of. It will appear only after some time after installation and start of operation. In any case, the cost of error is high enough to take this matter seriously.

If you are not confident in your abilities or you are offered to install a warm floor for people who do not have much experience in this regard, it is better to entrust this work to specialists. see the installation of underfloor heating section.

Our many years of experience in the installation of cable heating systems suggests that most of the malfunctions are caused by improper installation and damage to the cable during or after installation.

Tip # 1 When choosing a heating cable or mat for a warm floor, focus not on the total area of the room, but on the area not occupied by furniture, san. technical appliances, etc. Remember that under stationary furniture or such stationary objects of a large area, such as bathtubs, washing machines, sofas, etc., it is not necessary to lay a warm floor in order to prevent damage to the warm floor cable due to overheating, and this does not make much sense, because you can’t walk there anyway.

Tip # 2 Some masters believe that if you select a cable that is too long, you can shorten the cable without any problems. In fact, heating cables cannot be cut! This applies to most cables that are used in modern underfloor heating systems. “Shortening” the cable leads to an increase in its power, overheating and failure! In case you have a cable left. it is necessary to reduce the laying pitch or increase the heated area.

Tip # 3 It is categorically forbidden to turn on the cable to check the performance until the moment when it is laid (especially in the bay) and the solution does not dry completely! Turning on the cable in such conditions can damage it. The cable is checked by measuring its resistance and insulation resistance. After laying the cable, it can only be turned on for a very short time.

Tip # 4: Do not lay the heating cable on a dirty and dusty surface. Use an industrial vacuum cleaner to prepare the floor. Treat the surface with primer.

Tip # 5 A common heating cable should not have any contact or intersection points or close proximity of lines. The minimum distance is indicated in the product passport and is usually 5-7 cm.

Tip # 6: Take care of the minimum bending radius of the heating cable. This is also a passport value, usually it is 5-10 thicknesses of the cable.

Tip # 7Do not block the floor temperature sensor in the solution! The underfloor heating sensor must always be in the corrugated tube. The tube should not have holes through which the solution could penetrate and should not be too bent. The tube must also be sealed directly from the sensor. Remember that it must be possible to remove the temperature sensor if it is necessary to replace it. Quite often this simple requirement is not fulfilled, which makes it impossible to replace the sensor in case of failure.

Tip # 8 When installing the sensor tube, try to keep the working end of the sensor as close to the surface of the new floor as possible. This applies primarily to floors with screed, where screed thickness increases by 3-5 cm).

Tip number 9 Do not use one heating cable to heat different rooms. Regulatory documents are prohibited. The desire to save on the purchase of a thermostat leads to a malfunctioning system, since different rooms are in different thermal conditions.

Tip # 10Not worth walking on a heating cable in hard shoes. If you can’t do without walking around it, do it with caution. Exclude the presence of strangers and other people in the room where the heated floor is mounted.

Tip # 11Do not neglect some “formalities.” Measure the resistance of the warm floor and the insulation resistance before and after installation, make sure that it matches the value in the product passport. If the value is not indicated in the passport, enter it, be sure to indicate the date of installation.

Tip # 12: Don’t forget to draw a floor heating scheme! At the same time, indicate the distance to walls and other objects, the location of the end and couplings, and the location of the sensor. To do this, in most instructions for underfloor heating there is a corresponding drawn page. We advise you to take a picture of the heating cable. The circuit and photo will always come in handy when later you need to drill the floor to install plumbing and door bumpers.

Tip # 13Do not leave air voids around the “hot” part of the heating cable. This is especially true when laying the so-called “Thin” warm floor in tile adhesive. Failure to comply with this requirement in order to save solution or simply out of ignorance will lead to overheating and cable failure.

Tip # 14Do not turn on the underfloor so that the “screed dries faster”! It is necessary to wait a few weeks, depending on the thickness and type of solution used. SNiPs normalize the period of 28 days.

on the topic: Installing a warm floor. Basic steps step by step

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Ask your question

Is it possible to cut the installation cable of the warm floor and the temperature sensor?

You can shorten the installation wire of the heated floor, as well as the wire of the temperature sensor.

Is the following cable management technology allowed: Extruded polystyrene foam 50 mm on a monolithic foundation slab, insulation on a Bp mesh (cell 50×50 mm or 100×100 mm). The cable is fixed to the grid in increments of approx. 150mm. Next, a screed is made of c / p mortar, on which the tile is laid.

This cable management technology is allowed.

Hello! I plan to lay the heating sections in tile adhesive under the tiles of porcelain in the apartment. Heating lines are laid in screed. Question: Will there be problems with the electric cable that will pass over the heating lines? (heating pipes are laid in a corrugation, without insulation and also warm the floor covering) The total area of the heated floor is 10-12 m2, the intersection area with heating routes is 4-5 m2. It is planned to turn on the warm floor in the fall until they have been heated, and if necessary, at the same time as the main heating

According to the instructions for the specified underfloor heating cable should be at least 100 mm from other heating appliances, for example, from risers and central heating pipes in order to avoid local overheating of the cable.

In your case, we suggest considering the option of laying in the room two sections of underfloor heating, laid on opposite sides of the heating line, with the necessary distance.

Is this type of underfloor heating only mounted in a screed? installation under a wooden floor, without pouring, with a screed or tile adhesive is possible?

According to the instructions for the sections indicated by you, the Set of underfloor heating floor is a universal electric heating system for rooms through the floor, which can be installed under a tile or other decorative coating (in a layer of tile adhesive) and in a screed. Installation under a wooden floor without screed is not possible

Below are recommendations for preparing the surfaces on which the heating cable will unfold.

Concrete floor: ensure an even, clean and dry floor surface (rough floor surface must be pre-leveled using a leveling mixture). For a better surface finish, a primer is recommended. After processing the surface of the floor, it is necessary to wait for it to dry (according to the instructions for use).
Ceramic floor tiles: ensure a clean, dry and even surface without sharp edges, bumps, etc.
Wooden floor: securely fasten floorboards, cover with waterproof plywood 18 mm thick (GVL or similar) and fasten with screws to provide a reliable, stable base. Laying plywood on beams or logs is not recommended, as it will not provide mechanical strength. It is important to provide a solid base to prevent cracks in the layer of mortar or adhesive mixture, the sharp edges of which can damage the heating cable.
Floor already covered: the previous coating (e.g. laminate, cork, etc.) must be removed with an adhesive layer.
Coating (bitumen) used as waterproofing: must be covered with a screed with a thickness of at least 50 mm. Lay the heating cable on a dry screed (the drying time of the screed is 28 days). If using other types of coatings as waterproofing, consult the manufacturer.

We recommend using high-quality blends with polymer-plastic additives for pouring.

Good afternoon! Tell me why you can not lay the cable directly into the glue? Thanks in advance!

According to the instructions for the cable, the thickness of the screed for laying this section should be at least 3 cm. In the event that the thickness of the screed is less than three centimeters, and when laying the Teplolux 20TLBE2-26-520 section, the laying step is 15 cm, uneven floor heating. Thus, if the thickness of the adhesive layer of 3 cm is allowed by the manufacturer, then you can lay the cable directly into the glue, otherwise you will need a screed.

Is it possible to shorten / cut the underfloor heating cable?

Impossible. In this case, the resistance will change and when you turn on the cable will fail.

What is the maximum temperature for heating indoor air when using underfloor heating?

The maximum indoor temperature using underfloor heating systems depends on many factors: First of all, on the power of the underfloor heating; the presence in the room of another type of heating, the size and quality of the sealing of window and door openings, the presence of insulation of walls, ceilings and floors. All these factors affect heat loss, and, consequently, the temperature in the room.

They included a warm floor installed in a screed of 5 cm in the house. 5 degrees, after 2.5 hours of operation, the floor temperature is the same. What can be wrong?

The temperature in the room is too low, heat loss is high, cable power is not enough to warm the floor. You must wait a longer time or increase the temperature inside the room with additional heating.

How to find a cable break point?

The place of cable breakage is determined using special equipment, such as the Locator 911 Station Locator or its analogues, as well as using the Thermal Imager.

How to check the heating floor heating cable for serviceability?

Measure the resistance of the heating core for compliance with the resistance stated in the passport. Lack of resistance means a break in the heating core.

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