Many owners of private real estate and industrial premises have already appreciated the advantages of electric wires when creating autonomous heating. Such systems are used everywhere. There are special cables that can be mounted not only inside, but also outside the room. These are anti-icing systems.
Such wires differ in a number of characteristics from a conventional underfloor heating cable. They speed up the process of snow melting on various surfaces. Thanks to their use, you can avoid the appearance of ice on the driveways to the house, on the steps, roofs and gutters. There are also systems that will prevent freezing of water and sewer communications.
Need to use the system
Electric equipment for removing ice from various surfaces has been used by mankind for a long time. One of the first appeared anti-icing system of the aircraft. Today, similar technologies are used in everyday life.
Many owners of private houses use specialwires that contribute to the rapid melting of snow that accumulates on the paths of the site, on the roof and gutters. Ice can be a great danger to human he alth and property. Accumulated snow can slide down the slopes of the roof at any time on the heads of people passing by.
In order not to slip on the steps, to prevent the fall of icicles, to be able to leave the site even in bad weather or after a strong snow storm, anti-icing systems are used.
System Features
In Moscow, Ufa, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, as well as in NN, many municipal and private facilities are equipped with anti-icing systems. This is due to the urgent need to improve the safety of citizens in the winter. In this case, a special electrical wire is used. It is similar to those systems that are used indoors. However, its power should be much higher.
For comparison: the average power of a warm floor in an apartment can be 150 W/m². The recommended nominal electricity consumption of the anti-icing system for our country is 300-350 W/m². And this is far from the only difference.
Wire installed outdoors is exposed to various adverse environmental influences. Its braid must withstand significant temperature changes. There are two basic principles for heating various objects with a cable.
Resistive wire
Roof and gutter anti-icing system cangenerated with a resistive cable. This conductor consists of a nichrome core. There are several different protective shells around it, a grounding conductor. The entire length of the wire heats up equally.
In order to avoid overheating of the cable, it is forbidden to lay the turns of the system close to each other, to cross the wire. This type of system has proven to be effective in ground heating in greenhouses, driveways, steps, fields, paved areas, etc.
For roof anti-icing systems, it does not fit well. The fact is that in different parts of the roof, the temperature of the base may be different. For example, when the sun comes out, it will heat only one side of the roof. In this case, in one part of the resistive wire will overheat. This may cause it to fail.
Features of installing resistive wire
Installation of resistive wire has a number of features. It is very important to read the manufacturer's instructions for the products presented. In this case, you can perform all the steps correctly.
Installation of a resistive wire involves the installation of a thermostat for anti-icing systems. This device will control the heating temperature. This will save electricity. If the outdoor temperature is below -5ºС, the thermostat will periodically turn off the wire. This will maintain the required temperature for the ice to melt.
The thermostat has a remote sensor that measures the temperature directly next to the heating wire. When it determines that it is getting too cold, the system will turn back on. This reduces energy costs.
Disadvantages of resistive wire
Roof anti-icing system is most often mounted from wires of a different variety. The resistive cable in this case has a number of disadvantages. The fact is that the length of gutters, roof slopes is always different. If there is a lot of wire, it cannot be cut. If the integrity of the core is violated, the system will not work.
Constant overheating of the wire, which is inevitable when installed in gutters, will cause the system to quickly fail. After a few seasons, it will need to be replaced.
It should also be noted that the installation of the system becomes more expensive due to the purchase of additional equipment. It is extremely important to install a thermostat in such a system. During operation, a significant amount of energy resources will be saved. The cost of such systems is comparable to self-regulating wires. A coil of wire 10 m long costs (depending on the manufacturer) from 5 to 8 thousand rubles. The price of a thermostat can be from 1.5 to 5 thousand rubles.
Self-adjusting wire
An anti-icing gutter system is preferably installed using a self-regulating wire. This wire consists of two strands through which electric current is supplied. Between these cores is a matrix of semiconductor material. Around the systemcovered with multiple layers of protection.
The principle of operation of such a system is simple. When electricity passes through the system, the matrix material resists it. In this case, the wire begins to heat up to a certain temperature. The matrix material reacts to the ambient temperature. When it is cold outside, the resistance of the polymer between the cores becomes minimal.
In this case, the wire quickly heats up the core. As soon as it gets warmer outside the window, the resistance to electric current increases in the matrix. The wire heats up less. The design of such a wire consists of special sections. Therefore, the self-regulating cable can be cut. In different sections, its temperature may not be the same along its entire length.
Features of self-regulating wire installation
Installation of an anti-icing system using a self-regulating wire has a number of features. This cable is not afraid of temperature changes in different sections of the route. It is connected with a plug directly to the outlet. The power point must be grounded.
When installing the system does not need a thermostat. The system itself will adjust to the existing conditions. This is energy efficient equipment. Due to the design features, the wire can be heated differently along its entire length. When the sun shines on the roof in one area, the heating will decrease here. In this case, the section of the wire that remains in the shade will heat up more intensively.
Thisthe most efficient heating. The cost of this wire will be slightly higher than that of resistive varieties. Systems from different manufacturers are on sale. On average, 10 m of self-regulating wire can be purchased at a price of 5 to 10 thousand rubles. Its cost quickly pays off during operation.
Advantages and disadvantages of self-regulating systems
Heating roofs and gutters with anti-icing systems made of self-regulating wires has several advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of the presented systems include their zoning. The wire can be cut in steps of several centimeters. This ensures a quality, accurate installation.
The power consumption and durability of the presented system is higher than that of resistive wire. In this case, it is not necessary to add an expensive thermostat to the circuit. This is a solid system that is not afraid of temperature changes, overheating.
The disadvantages of self-regulating wire include its high cost. Many owners of private real estate prefer to equip the heating of paths, steps from a cheaper resistive cable. For these purposes, a large footage of the system is required. For gutters, self-regulating wire is ideal.
Zone cable
Anti-icing systems can be made in the form of mats. A resistive wire is laid out on a special grid of polymeric material. At the same time, the laying step has already been accurately calculated. Installers need onlyroll out such a mat, and then fill it with an appropriate coating.
This type of system belongs to the category of resistive wires. The mesh on which the cable is laid out can be cut. Most often, the width of the roll is 50 cm. Mats with a width of 80 and 100 cm are also on sale. It is more convenient to use structures 50 cm wide. By cutting the mesh, you can arrange a cover 1 m wide. The wire is not cut.
Mat is most often used for mounting heating of driveways to the house, areas in front of the terrace. Also, with their help, you can equip the heating of the steps, the upper platform of the porch. The cost of such a system is high. Therefore, a conventional wire supplied in the form of a bay is more often used.
Installation of ground heating system
Anti-icing systems are most often mounted on the ground. In this case, you must follow the instructions of the wire manufacturer.
First you need to prepare the site on which the system will be mounted. This can be compacted soil or a cement stair pad. If it is necessary to make heating of the tracks, a layer of gravel (about 10-15 cm) is poured onto the ground. He is well tamped. Next, you need to lay a layer of thermal insulation. A special mounting tape made of metal is laid out on it. It can be supplied as a kit or purchased separately from the cable.
This tape secures the cable. It is laid with a snake with a certain step (indicated by the manufacturer). Usually it is 10-15 cm. The system is covered with a small layer of sand. Then everything is poured with concrete or paving slabs are laid out.
Forarranging the heating of the porch, the wire is laid out on the prepared concrete base, and then it is poured with another layer of cement mortar.
Installing the wire on the drain
Anti-icing systems for gutters are mounted a little differently. Self-regulating wire is in the open, it is not poured into concrete. This is made possible by the ability of the wire not to overheat.
Depending on the configuration of the drain, the roof is laid out wire. It can be laid out in a snake or even strip. In this case, special clamps are used. They securely hold the system on the surface.
After considering the features of anti-icing systems, you can choose the best option for your facility.
