Resistance heating cable problem ?

[gray]

I have a length of resistance heating cable that is just a fine sprial of resistance wire. It is double insulated and is rated at 240v ac and

60 watts / 12 ft length.

I am oing use it as bottom heat in a propagating unit.

Having never used this stuff before, how do I terminated it. Just straight into plug ?? and then via RCD. What about the heating effect on the plug. Or is there a proper way ??

[Scott M]

You don't need or want the heating operation between the propogating unit and the wall, so you'll want to either solder/crimp it to a length of flex or connect it via a lump of connector block or similar.

[gray]

I have a temp controller on the side of the unit, that I will cable it too. Bit I think I will terminate cable else where, then run a normal TWE to the contoller.

But I am not sure what it is I have got. All of the the underfloor heating cable are 2 core. This is only single core.

Any ideas

[Bob Minchin]

If it is single core, then you will have to run it in a loop. It is possibly designed to be embedded in thermally conductive medium such as soil or a floor and so you should not have any more than necessary in air. So terminate in a water proof box to connect via copper cable into the controller. I would certainly use an rcd for safety in the greenhouse. In fact I would not use mains in the green house at all and stick to low voltage but that is my/your choice.

12 foot @ 240v = 60 watts means the cable is about 48 ohms per foot.

12 one foot lengths in parallel gives 4 ohms.

Run that on 15 volts - say a battery charger safely in the house or high up on a shelf will give you the same 60 watts but a lot safer.

Bob

[The Natural Philosopher]

If its nichrome, which it probably is, forget solder. It simply wont touch it.