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Is there a rule about how close heat tape can be to electrical wires?

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FinnNoodle

Member
Location
Detroit
Occupation
Handyman
Client hired me to install heat tape on pipes awfully close to some electrical wires and it feels wrong but I'm not seeing any guidelines about it. It's an extremely old house, but it's new CPVC and new romex in question.
I'm having trouble linking the picture but it's a bit of horrorshow where the wires are present (not my work, I promise).

Good idea/bad idea?
 

FinnNoodle

Member
Location
Detroit
Occupation
Handyman
The heat tape has a thermostat at the start of it's run, which coincides with where the wires are located. The instructions say nothing about contract with electrical wire, but do warn about doubling up on the tape itself. The heat tape is rated for CPVC.
 

LarryFine

Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
Location
Henrico County, VA
Occupation
Electrical Contractor
The question is whether the tape can get hot enough to damage the cable, so compare the numbers.

We know the tape doesn't get hot enough to boil water. 75C = 167F. Does heat tape get that hot?
 

don_resqcapt19

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Illinois
Occupation
retired electrician
If it doesn't damage the pipe, it won't damage close by electrical cables, especially since the heat tape should be covered with insulation after you install it.
 
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