How hot does pipe "heat tape" get?

[ritelec]

Googling away to find how hot heat tape gets but to no avail.
Any experience with it?

Was in a crawl space (actually on your belly space) twice yesterday to splice on to a AC whip that came into that area from an outside AC disconnect.

First time in to see the lay of the land for penetration, second for the splice.

There was a strategic area between two water pipes that have heat tape (cable) on them..
one cable runs along the top of pipe the other running across the bottom.. the cable is taped and or tie wrapped to pipe. 2 cables per pipe.

When I went in for the splice, I shaped the whip to run between the two pipes as not to touch either pipe.

Pushing alittle of the wipe into the house from the exterior during support of whip it may or "may not" be touching the heat tape (cable).

How HOT does that cable get ?? The whip is non metallic seal tight with 3 - #12 thhn/thwn in it...

I didn't want to slither into the whole a 3rd time..

Does anyone know if the cable gets warm or HOT?

Thank you.

Rich

 

[OldSparks]

I used some when I lived in Maryland, and as I recall it was just barely warm to the touch. All it need do is prevent the pipe from freezing.

 

[480sparky]

I've never measured it over 40°F.

 

[ritelec]

Ok. Great. Thank you !!

Question. They do mention not to have it touch one another ( the heat cable) to avoid over heating and fire.
Did you see that potential ?
I did install self regulating that it was ok to touch together

Just for future knowledge. Thanks

 

[retirede]

There are different types (or used to be anyway). Modern stuff is self-regulating and will not get very hot. There are older types that can start a fire if installed improperly such as overlapping. It would even overheat to the point of failure if not in contact with the pipe.

 

[kwired]

The stuff you find around a house to keep lines from freezing won't get hotter then what you can stand to touch.

There are some for actually heating the contents inside the pipe to desired processing levels and not just to keep from freezing, those will typically have more insulation over the tape to help keep as much heat as possible at the piping though.

 

[gadfly56]

Ok. Great. Thank you !!

Question. They do mention not to have it touch one another ( the heat cable) to avoid over heating and fire.
Did you see that potential ?
I did install self regulating that it was ok to touch together

Just for future knowledge. Thanks

In the fire protection industry, the kinds of cable typically used are of the type that are designed to wrap on itself. This is especially helpful when heat tracing valves and backflow preventers.

 

[tom baker]

Heat tape today is self regulating, due to the number of fires years ago in RVs from improper installation where the tape crossed and built up heat.
Self regulating tape is made with a semi conductor matrix that has a negative temp coefficient, its resistance gets less as when cold, so more power.
The temp of the heat tape depends on the watts/foot, ambient air, and insulation.
And be sure to protect with a GFPE, or for short runs you can use a GFCI

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Heat tape today is self regulating, due to the number of fires years ago in RVs from improper installation where the tape crossed and built up heat.
Self regulating tape is made with a semi conductor matrix that has a negative temp coefficient, its resistance gets less as when cold, so more power.
The temp of the heat tape depends on the watts/foot, ambient air, and insulation.
And be sure to protect with a GFPE, or for short runs you can use a GFCI

It also depends on the design of the trace. Typical freeze protection tops out at about 100°F, however there are heat tapes for process that are self limiting but top out over 200°F.

 

[Electric-Light]

Heat tape today is self regulating, due to the number of fires years ago in RVs from improper installation where the tape crossed and built up heat.
Self regulating tape is made with a semi conductor matrix that has a negative temp coefficient, its resistance gets less as when cold, so more power.
The temp of the heat tape depends on the watts/foot, ambient air, and insulation.
And be sure to protect with a GFPE, or for short runs you can use a GFCI

You mean POSITIVE temp coefficient.

 

[drcampbell]

Unregulated heat tape, which requires a separate thermostat, is still available.
http://frostking.com/wp-content/uploads/Pipe_heat_cable_trifold.pdf

 

[tom baker]

Yes, sorry its positive.

 

[Tony S]

Raychem’s self regulating tape is rated 10°C. You can overlap it for example when wrapping valves.