THE QUINTESSENTIAL GUIDE TROUBLESHOOTING ELECTRICAL HEAT TRACE SYSTEMS

Possible causes include: * The startup temperature is lower than the designed startup temperature. * The installed circuit length is too long for the breaker size. * The ground fault current trip level may be adjustable and set too low. * The circuit breaker may not have the correct trip curve for self-regulating cables. Placing a sensor at the outlet of a hot tank, for a heat trace system that is designed to maintain fluid temperature over a long run of cable to a holding tank or distribution station at a lower temperature, is formula for disaster. Circuit Temperatures That Are Too High When too high circuit temperatures are causing problems in your heat tracing systems, consider these possible causes: * Incorrect setpoint on the thermostat or process controller. * Incorrect location of the temperature sensor. * Incorrect wiring of the temperature sensor. * A faulty thermostat.