8 | nVent.com
Step 5.
Install the insulation
Thermal insulation must be used. It protects
the Frostex heating cable from damage and
helps keep the pipes from freezing. Before you
insulate, be sure the Frostex heating cable is
undamaged—no nicks or cuts—and the braid is
intact. Replace the heating cable if necessary.
5A. Cover the system with the insulation
Cover the pipe, heating cable, connections,
valves, and spigots with clean, dry, waterproof,
fire-retardant thermal insulation, such as
closed-cell foam insulation, as shown in Figure
7. The insulation must be at least as thick as
selected in Table 1 or 2.
Secure the 9800 FlexFit plug to the insulation
with tape or plastic cable ties, being careful not
to cover the light or test buttons.
Figure 7. Thermal insulation
Do not leave the heating cable exposed, except
for the short distance from the pipe to the
power connection.
Fully insulate and weatherproof all exposed
piping. Put additional insulation on areas that
cannot be heat traced.
5B. Waterproof the insulation
Make sure the thermal insulation is waterproof
and stays dry. Install a watertight sleeve and
a solid cover or a barrier such as polyethylene
sheeting around the insulation wherever there
is any chance that the insulation might get wet.
5C. Install the warning label
Install the orange warning labels on the
insulation with one near the electrical outlet, as
shown in Figure 7.
Additional labels and installation tape are
available from nVent in the Frostex 9610 kit.
Step 6.
Start up the system
6A. Plug in the heating cable
After installing the heating cable and insulation,
remove the clear label that covers the test and
reset buttons. Then, plug the 9800 FlexFit plug
into a grounded and properly installed outlet.
If the Frostex heating cable length is longer
than 40 feet and the air temperature is lower
than 30°F, run water through the pipe before
plugging in the unit. This will warm up the pipe
and help avoid blowing the nonreplaceable
fuse in the 9800 FlexFit plug.
The signal light will go on indicating that the
ground-fault protection device and the fuse
are working properly. However, the light does
not confirm that the heating cable is properly
connected. See Step 7, “Test the System.”
6B. Test the plug
Press the white test button. The red reset
button should pop out from the surface of the
plug and the signal light should go out.
When the red reset button pops out, push it in
to restore power and proceed to Step 7.
If the red reset button fails to pop out, skip to
“Troubleshooting.”
If the red reset button pops out immediately
but cannot be reset, skip to “Troubleshooting.”
If the signal light does not light, skip to
“Troubleshooting.”
Step 7.
Test the system
Test the system using one of the two following
procedures.
7A. Test the water temperature
After plugging in the system, wait about an
hour. Turn on a water tap on the Frostex-
protected pipe and test the temperature of the
water. It should feel warm almost immediately
because the water heated by the Frostex
heating cable will be briefly running through
the pipe.
If the water is warm, you have completed the
installation.
If the water is not warm, skip to
“Troubleshooting.”
Warning
labels
