OM-281136 Page 18
5-8. Installing Air-Cooled Heating Cables
A. Pipe Installation
1
!
Do not hang cables on steel brackets, hang-
ers, or other mechanisms.
!
Turn off heater output.
!
Use proper tools and/or wear heavy, insulated
welding gloves and clothing to prevent burns.
.
Keep heating tool leads between ArcReach
Heater Extension Cable and workpiece together
to increase heating performance and minimize
unintentional heating of nearby objects.
.
Read welding power source and ArcReach
Heater Owner’s Manual before installing cables.
1
Air-Cooled Cable(s)
2
Preheat Insulation
3
Workpiece
4
Weld Joint
5
Twisted Leads
6
Tape marking center of cable
.
Prior to placing heating cable on part, a preheat
cover is recommended to protect the Air-Cooled
Cable from abrasion and weld spatter.
S
Wrap preheat cover around the air-cooled cable,
note this does not act as a layer of insulation but helps
protect from job site and workpiece abrasion.
S
Put a piece of fiberglass tape or clearly identify the
middle of the cable on the wrap to make the cable
wrap process more efficient.
S
If insulation is being used, apply the heating tool over
the insulation.
S
To decrease heating time, place the heating tool
closer to the weld joint.
.
Move heating tool away from joint when welding
to protect from weld heat.
S
Insulation can be secured in place with a non con-
ductive strap or tape such as fiberglass reinforced
tape. Do not use metal straps or wire.
Installing Heating Cables:
A. Locate the center of the heating cable.
B. Route the center of the cable over the top of the pipe
and pull it through underneath to start the first turn.
Route the cable over the top of the pipe again working
toward the joint to start the second turn. If there is
enough cable, a third wrap can be added by routing
the center of the cable over the top of the pipe again.
C. Once the desired number of turns are applied, route
the outer loose ends of the cable through the center
loop a few times each (depending on the loop length)
to bring the leads together.
D. Twist the remainder of the cables together from the
coil to the TC Extension Cable to cancel the magnetic
field between them and minimize incidental heating of
nearby metal objects.
.
A typical induction coil will have 2-4 turns on each
side of the joint. Pipe diameters larger than 24” will
usually require 2 separate heaters depending on
target temperature and time to temp require-
ments.
If using Thermocouple (TC) Probes, position them un-
der the insulation (under the heating cable) in direct
contact with the workpiece.
2
1
2
3
4
3
2
4
2
Ref. 282308-A
1
1
5
6
.
Do not use metal wire or straps to secure cables in place.
Instead,
use plastic cable ties, tape or non conductive strap to secure cables.
.
This is an example of a typical Air-Cooled coil on small
diameter pipe using a single heating cable.
