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Raychem-IM-H58033-XLTracePipeFreezeProtectionCOM-EN 18/01
8
Troubleshooting Guide
Symptom
Probable Causes
Corrective action
Circuit breaker trips
Circuit breaker is undersized
Recheck the design for startup temperature and current
loads. Do not exceed the maximum circuit length for heat-
ing cable used. Replace the circuit breaker if defective or
improperly sized.
Connections and/or splices are
shorting out.
Visually inspect the connection kits. Replace if necessary.
Physical damage to heating cable is
causing a direct short.
Check for damage around the valves and any area where
there may have been maintenance work. Replace damaged
sections of heating cable.
Bus wires are shorted at the end.
Check the end seal to ensure that bus wires are not shorted.
If a dead short is found, the heating cable may have been
permanently damaged by excessive current and may need to
be replaced.
Circuit lengths too long.
Separate the circuit into multiple circuits that do not exceed
maximum circuit lengths.
Nick or cut exists in heating cable or
power feed wire with moisture pres-
ent or moisture in connections.
Replace the heating cable, as necessary. Dry out and reseal
the connection and splices. Using a megohmmeter, retest
insulation resistance.
GFPD is undersized (5 mA used
instead of 30 mA) or miswired.
Replace undersized GFPD with 30-mA GFPD. Check the
GFPD wiring instructions
Low or inconsistent
insulation resistance
Nicks or cuts in the heating cable.
Short between the braid and heating
cable core or the braid and pipe.
If heating cable is not yet insulated, visually inspect the
entire length for damage, especially at elbows in flanges and
around valves. If the system is insulated, remove the connec-
tion kits one-by-one to isolate the damaged section.
Arcing due to damaged heating-
cable insulation.
Replace damaged heating-cable sections.
Moisture present in the connection
kits.
If moisture is present, dry out the connections and retest.
Be sure all conduit entries are sealed, and that condensate
in conduit cannot enter power connection boxes. If heating-
cable core or bus wires are exposed to large quantities of
water, replace the heating cable. (Drying the heating cable is
not sufficient, as the power output of the heating cable can
be significantly reduced.)
Test leads touching the junction box.
Clear the test leads from junction box and restart.