Installing the radiant floor heating mat.
Created Jan 21 2006 by W., M.
1. The floor area was measured first.
It was approx. 50+ sq. ft.
Electric radiant floor heating should be installed
only under 'walkable' floor surface. This surface should be an area not
covered by anything solid like shower stalls, vanities, toilets, etc.
Although a 49 sq.ft. mat was available, it was
much easier to install somewhat smaller mat like the 44 sq. ft. mat into
the 50+ sq.ft. area.
2. Next, the electrical panel was evaluated
for the available space needed to add one 15 Amps GFCI
breaker to power the 640Watt mat. 640 Watts @ 120V = 5.4
Amps. This is the job for a qualified person like a licensed
electrician.
3. The location for the thermostat single gang
box was chosen and the box was installed.
4. Then, the floor sensor was installed.
5. The mat was next.
6. The mesh of the mat (not the
heating wire!) is secured to the subfloor with staples. Again,
take caution to never, ever drive a staple through the heating
wire!
For the slab subfloor, a hot glue gun will be more
appropriate as the staples obviously would not work.
Please note the location of the conduit for the thermostat
floor temperature sensor.
7. Test the resistance of the mat.
8. 'Cold' power leads are run up to the
thermostat (sometimes called a 'floorstat').
9. Two flex conduits were used: one for the
power cold leads, the second for the floor temperature sensor. The sensor
conduit was installed on the subfloor some 1" away from the heating element of
the mat.
10. When cured the floor will be ready for the
tiles.
Caution: don't use the floor heating to speed-up mortar
cure time!
What is GFCI and
why it is needed?
WHEN
INSTALLING THE MAT(S):
MAINTAIN
THE DISTANCE BETWEEN HEATING COILS!
This
is NOT OK:
1"
IS THE ABSOLUTE MININUM. 2"-3" IS BEST.
Please remember:
Electricity can be deadly and wiring done incorrectly can kill and start deadly
and destructive fires even when "just replacing one small
receptacle".
YOU
ARE DEALING WITH LINE VOLTAGE, not low voltage!
NEVER
EVER attempt to work or even touch the inside of the electrical components
without being 100% sure that the power is
disconnected!
If
you are not an electrcian and if you have the slightest doubt about your wiring
ability, please contact a licensed electrician and/or repairman before
doing any diagnosis, repairs or installations. The products shown here
are deemed SAFE and sound by various testing authorities but the wiring
process can only be SAFE when done with safety precautions. Please
read manuals and/or ask pros when not sure. Most of the simple
installations shown here can be done by yourself or you can have someone
qualified do it for you and THEN have the electrician check it and connect it to
power.
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