Delivering Precision and Quality for Over 30 Years

As a supplier to European Aerospace companies, Western Equipment International relies on Clayborn to fully understand and comply with the stringent specifications required for their space flight heat tape. Western Equipment has worked with Clayborn Lab for over 30 years and we have always received prompt delivery and top quality products.

— Suzanne Gingras
Western Equipment International,
Tamarac, FL

Step by Step

How to apply heating tape to a flat surface -->

How to install terminals and make heating tape connections -->

Heat Tape

Heat Tape Specifications

Description Silicone Adhesives
(-16 series)		 Acrylic Adhesives
(-28 series)
• Operating Temperature Range -100 to +250ºC -100 to +180ºC
• Outgassing … TML/VCM 1.047% / .322% .264% / .000%
• Adhesion to etched aluminum oz/inch width 28@ +125ºC
450@ -100ºC		 29@ +125ºC
50@ -100ºC
• Overall Thickness Applied .025” .028”
• Dielectric Strength 600 vdc 600 vdc

Note: In applications exposed to weather, water, mechanical abuse or solvents, tapes will require additional protection. If there is any potential for moisture to come in contact with the heat tape, we recommend a ground circuit should be installed between the aluminum top surface of the heating tape and the grounded metal heat sink to which it is applied.

How to Select a Heating Tape

1. Determine the length (L) of the heating tape needed to give even distribution of the total wattage (Tp) over the surface of the object to be heated.

2. Determine the amount of power necessary for your application. The total wattage (Tp) required to maintain the object to be heated at the desired temperature can be calculated as follows (based on temperature maintenance only. Does not provide for rapid warm-up or heat losses/gains due to fluids in tube):

Flat Surface Heating

Tp = P x A x ΔT

Tube and Pipe Heating

Tp = P x Ltube x ΔT

Where:
P = Watts required to maintain temperature per square foot per degree F temperature rise (see table below)

A = Heated Area, square feet

ΔT = Temperature rise, ºF above ambient

Where:
P = Watts required per lineal foot of tube per degree F temperature rise (see table below)

L = Length of tube, feet

ΔT = Temperature rise, ºF above ambient
Insulation Thickness bare .5" 1" 2"
P Watts / sq. ft. / F .3 .15 .10 .07
  Tube Diameter
Insulation bare .25" .5" 1" 2" .05
Thickness .5" .10 .13 .21 .4 .08
  1" .07 .09 .13 .2 .11

3. Calculate the Ohms / Foot of Tape

E2 / Tp x L where:
E = Your operating voltage.
Tp = Total from item 2.
L = Length of tape from item 1.

4. Calculate Watts / Foot of Tape

Tp / L

5. See the data table Below

From the data table select the tape with the approximate ohms/foot as calculated in step “3” and equal or greater maximum watts/foot capacity as calculated in step “4”.

Specifications for Ordering

PLEASE REVIEW THE SPECIFICATIONS AND LENGTH / SELECTION OPTIONS BEFORE MAKING YOUR SELECTION

Specify resitance code letter (A-K), Silicone or Acrylic (16 or 28), and Number of conductors (1,2,4) i.e., H-16-2, B-28-4. Quantity discounts on 500 or more feet of a single type

Width Conductors 1/6"
1		 1/4"
2		 1/2"
4
Part Number
(Resistance Code)		 ohms per ft. Max. watts per ft. ohms per ft. see notes Max. watts
per ft. 		ohms per ft. see notes Max.
watts
per ft.
    (4) (1) (2) (4) (1) (3) (2) (4)
A-16 or 28 1.9 25 .9 3.8 40 .5 1.9 7.6 70
B-16 or 28 3.2 25 1.6 6.4 40 .8 3.2 12.8 70
C-16 or 28 4.0 23 2.0 8.0 35 1.0 4.0 16.0 62
D-16 or 28 4.9 20 2.4 9.8 30 1.2 4.9 19.6 52
E-16 or 28 7.0 25 3.5 14.0 40 1.7 7.0 28.0 70
F-16 or 28 8.8 23 4.4 17.6 35 2.2 8.8 35.2 62
G-16 or 28 10.8 20 5.4 21.6 30 2.7 10.8 43.2 52
H-16 or 28 13.2 20 6.6 26.4 30 3.3 13.2 52.8 52
J-16 or 28 21.3 13 10.6 42.6 20 5.3 21.3 85.2 32
K-16 or 28 26.8 10 13.4 53.6 16 6.7 26.8 107.2 25

Custom resistances from .11 ohms/ft. to 60 ohms/ft. available upon request.

(1) Ohms/foot with all conductors in parallel connection.

(2) Ohms/foot with all conductors in series connection.

(3) Ohms/foot with conductors in parallel/series connection.

(4) Maximum wattage per lineal foot when applied to a metal heat sink at room temperature. Reduce these ratings linearly to zero watts output at 500ºF. Use of Clayborn Terminals is encouraged to insure thermal grounding of Heating Tape along its entire length (see Terminal Literature -->) Adhesion to heat sink along entire length is important to prevent burnout when tape is used near maximum wattage rating.