Heat tape sensor placement

[Rmack1]

I'm using a 15' length of 'heat tape' which is electrically heated wires that you attach to pipes to keep them from freezing.

I'm using it to wrap around my tank dump pipes, back of the gates. I spiraled it around them, and put insulated tape over everything. The instructions say this is OK to do with plastic pipes if they are constantly filled with water, which mine will be.

I'm just doing this as a precaution, because it's going to get down to the twenties for a couple nights before I leave Mount Shasta.

However, due to the distance I had to go to get to a outside outlet, the thermostat sensor that is suppose to be placed against a pipe is just hanging under the trailer. I figured it would be better than nothing. I doubt seriously if the pipes would overheat, as the rest of the tank would conduct any excess heat.

Does anyone think there could be any problems with this?

[Rmack1]

Rmack1 wrote:

enblethen wrote:
Sensor should be mounted against the pipe, then covered with insulation.
Run extension cord between heat tape and receptacle.

I totally know you are right.

First night is A OK.

[Rmack1]

enblethen wrote:
Sensor should be mounted against the pipe, then covered with insulation.
Run extension cord between heat tape and receptacle.

I totally know you are right.

[enblethen]

Sensor should be mounted against the pipe, then covered with insulation.
Run extension cord between heat tape and receptacle.

[ndrorder]

I've see heat tapes melt into plastic pipes and the thermostat wasn't under the insulation. However, I don't know if it happened during normal use or when the heat tape overheated and shorted itself out. The melted area was well away from the damaged area of the heat tape.

[shastagary]

should be easy to tell if it will get too hot plug it in and check the pipe temp every couple hours if it gets to hot to touch them then add an extension cord so you can tape the thermostat to the pipes