Any heating cable providing a watt output which increases as temperatures fall and decreases as temperatures rise. Self-regulating heating cables use a carbon matrix-heating element with variable resistance.
Self-regulating cables have a conductive polymer-heating element where the resistance exhibits a PTC characteristic, the resistance of the element increases with temperature. Conversely, the cable’s power output decreases with increasing temperature. As the temperature increases the cable power output approaches zero. At this temperature the cable effectively “shuts off”. A hazardous area T-rating can be assigned to self-regulating cables regardless of installation conditions.
Being a parallel construction, the self-regulating heating cable can adjust its power output for local condition along its length.
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