Infloor Standard Electric Cable - Manual (Page 25)

Infloor Installation Manual
25
Troubleshooting Guide
If not qualified to perform electrical installations, it is strongly recommended that a qualified, licensed electrician
be hired to install the heating cables and related electrical components . If problems with the system arise, please
consult the troubleshooting guide below . Any troubleshooting work should be done with the power removed
from the circuit, unless otherwise indicated . See www.infloor.com for further assistance .
Problem
Cable resistance measure-
ment is outside the range
printed on the nameplate
label.
Floor does not get warm.
Floor heats continuously.
Control is not working
correctly.
Control is not working
at all.
GFCI conflicts and
false-trips.
Possible Cause
An analog ohmmeter (using a moving
needle) was used to take the reading .
If measurement shows an open or short
circuit, the cable has been damaged .
If measurement is just a little low or high, room
temperature has affected the resistance .
The resistance measurement could be from
more than one cable wired in series, or wired
in parallel . Either will provide false resistance
readings .
The multi-meter may be set to the wrong
scale .
Cable has been damaged .
GFCI has tripped, indicated by a light on the
control or “GFCI TRIP” .
Incorrect voltage supplied, or mismatched
electrical components used .
Uninsulated concrete slab floor .
Cables are wired in “series” or “daisy chained”
(end-to-end) .
Incorrect wiring . The control was “bypassed”
when it was wired to the power supply .
Defective control .
If a programmable control, the programming
may be incorrect .
Incorrect voltage supplied, or mismatched
components used .
Floor sensor is not wired properly, or is not
working properly .
Loose connection(s) on line side and/or load
side of control .
Defective control .
No power is supplied .
Floor sensor is not wired properly, or is not
working properly .
Defective control .
An electric motor or a ballasted light source is
sharing the circuit with the cable(s) .
Solution
Obtain a digital ohmmeter able to read 0 to 20,000 ohms and
remeasure the resistance .
Record resistances between all wires and contact the manu-
facturer .
Make the room temperature 65°–75°F (18º-24ºC), or contact the
manufacturer .
Make sure resistance measurements are for only one cable at
a time .
The ohmmeter should typically be set to the 200 (200 Ω) scale . For
heating wire with resistance range higher than 200 ohms on the
nameplate label, set the meter to the 2000 ohm (2k
Ω) scale .
Measure cable resistance . Check for both “open circuit” and “short
circuit” as detailed earlier in this manual . If damaged, record
resistances between all wires and contact the manufacturer .
Check for loose wire connections . Reset the GFCI on the control
or circuit breaker . If it trips again, check for a short circuit in the
cable as detailed earlier in this manual . If cable is damaged,
record resistances between all wires and contact the manufacturer .
If cable is not damaged, replace the GFCI control . Also see “GFCI
conflicts” below .
Measure “line” voltage, 120 VAC cables have black and white leads.
240 VAC cables have black and blue leads.
Surface temperatures rise slowly on an uninsulated slab and heat is
lost to the ground below . If, after 5 to 8 hours of heating, the floor
is not warmer to the touch, check for cable damage (see “Cable has
been damaged” above) . Measure “load” voltage/amperage to cable .
Multiple cables must be connected in “parallel” (or black-to-black,
white-to-white) .
Make sure wiring connections are correct . Consult the wiring
diagram on the back of the control, the instructions that came
with the control, or the wiring diagrams in Appendix 2 .
Return control to dealer for replacement .
Carefully read and follow control programming instructions .
Test voltage, verify parts . See “Incorrect voltage supplied” above .
Make sure only one floor sensor is connected to the control .
Remove and reinstall the wire nuts at each connection . Make sure
the wire nuts are tight . Check all connections back to the breaker .
Return control to dealer for replacement .
Check circuit breaker . Measure voltage at the control . Check all
connections between breaker and control .
Make sure only one floor sensor is connected to the control .
Return control to dealer for replacement .
Electric motors and similar electrical devices can cause a GFCI to
false-trip . Run a dedicated circuit to the floor-warming system or
select a different branch circuit .