Wrong installation and use of electric tracing belt

　　With the progress of science and technology, as an efficient and convenient thermal insulation solution, electric tracing has been widely used in petroleum, chemical industry, construction and other fields. However, in practical application, due to the user's lack of understanding of the electric tracing belt, there are often some wrong installation and use methods, which lead to equipment damage, energy waste and even safety accidents.

　　This paper will discuss the common mistakes and their effects in the installation and use of electric tracing tape, and put forward corresponding solutions to help users use electric tracing tape better.

　　First, the wrong installation method and its influence

　　1. No special junction box is used.

　　When installing the electric tracing belt, some users directly connect the wires to the wiring of the electric tracing belt for convenience, without using a special junction box. This will not only damage the insulation layer at the wiring, but also cause safety accidents such as short circuit and fire. The special junction box can not only improve the insulation performance of the junction, but also effectively prevent moisture from invading and ensure the safe operation of the electric tracing belt.

　　2. Tie the electric tracing belt with iron wire.

　　Some users will use iron wire to tie the electric tracing belt when installing it. However, the hardness of iron wire is high, and it is easy to break the insulation layer of electric tracing tape, resulting in short circuit or failure of electric tracing tape. The correct way is to use cable tie or special fixing tape for electric heat tracing, which can not only ensure the firmness of electric heat tracing, but also avoid the damage of insulation layer.

　　3. Irregular winding

　　When installing the electric tracing tape, some users will wind it at will, resulting in uneven winding spacing and even overlapping. This irregular winding method will lead to uneven heating of the electric tracing tape on the pipe wall, which will affect the insulation effect, and may even lead to local overheating and equipment damage. The correct way is to evenly wind the electric tracing belt according to the specified interval to ensure its uniform heating on the pipe wall.

　　4. Wrong power supply installation

　　Some users do not install a special switch for electric tracing, but directly connect the wire to the upper end of the air switch. This wrong way of power supply installation will make the switch circuit unable to protect the circuit. If an accident occurs, it will not automatically cut off the power, which may cause equipment damage or electric shock to people. The correct way is to install a special switch for electric tracing to ensure the safe operation of the circuit.

　　Second, the wrong way of using and its influence

　　1. Turn on and off the system frequently.

　　In order to save electricity, some users will frequently turn on and off the electric tracing system. However, this practice will lead to frequent changes in the current inside the electric tracing belt, increase the load of the electric tracing belt and shorten its service life. The correct way is to set the working parameters of the electric tracing belt reasonably according to the ambient temperature and the temperature of the medium in the pipe, so that the heating power of the electric tracing belt can be automatically adjusted to achieve the purpose of saving energy and prolonging the service life.

　　2. Do not use leakage protector

　　When using electric tracing tape, some users don't install leakage protector, which is considered as an unnecessary safety measure. However, the leakage protector can automatically cut off the power supply when the circuit leaks or the current is too large to prevent accidents. The correct way is to install leakage protector to ensure the safe operation of electric tracing belt.

　　III. Solutions and Suggestions

　　In order to avoid the above-mentioned wrong installation and use, users should pay attention to the following points when installing and using electric tracing belts:

　　1. Use a special junction box: When connecting the electric tracing tape and wires, use a special junction box to ensure the insulation performance and safety of the wiring.

　　2. Use cable tie or special fixing tape: When fixing the electric tracing tape, use cable tie or special fixing tape for the electric tracing tape to avoid using hard materials such as iron wire.

　　3. Standardize winding mode: When winding the electric tracing tape, it should be evenly wound according to the specified interval to avoid overlapping and unevenness.

　　4. Installation of special switch and leakage protector: When installing electric tracing belt, special switch and leakage protector for electric tracing belt should be installed to ensure the safe operation of the circuit.

　　5. Reasonable setting of working parameters: When using the electric tracing belt, the working parameters of the electric tracing belt should be set reasonably according to the ambient temperature and the temperature of the medium in the pipe to avoid frequent opening and closing of the system.

　　In a word, as an efficient thermal insulation solution, electric heat tracing plays an important role in practical application. However, the wrong installation and use will affect its performance and life, and even lead to safety accidents. Therefore, when installing and using the electric tracing belt, users should strictly follow the specifications to avoid common traps and ensure the safe and stable operation of the electric tracing belt.