Create a DIY Snow Melter?
I want to create a snow / ice melting cord like the ones you buy for your roof. Is this something that can be safely done by a reasonably handy do-it-youselfer? I am interested in creating a DIY Snow Melting cable, not a DIY self-electrocuter.
It would not be used in a fixed location (ie, no plans to attach to roof) and it is not going to be buried in concrete. And ideas welcomed.
Thanks for the suggestions so far, where is a good place to get these pre-made wires? (In Canada)
The Answer by Leo
:
I really would NOT recommend doing this as a DIY thing. These cables are really big resistors, so that they get hot. Think of a really long toaster wire.
The way that these things work is to get hot, right? Well, warm realistically speaking…but either way, you don't want your toaster wire in contact with the melting snow, because it will ground out. So you have to wrap it in something that will keep it out of contact with ground. I would assume that this is some sort of rubber. If you find some way to coat your wire, it will have to be in contact evenly, all the way through, and without any air bubbles in it.
There would simply be too many variables on producing this on your own that could lead to grounding out or fires. I would not do this on my own.
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Comments
You can buy a 40 foot long UL-approved safe one for about $30. It has the heating wires buried in insulation that can withstand water and bending. They also tend to not get very hot so you have low risk of starting a fire.
I can't imagine that for that kind of money you could cobble-together a heating wire that would not be a problem. So why bother to try?
If you want just a little warm spot that you can use with keeping an outdoor pet's water bowl from freezing there are small heating elements (encased in metal cans) that you can get from farm supply stores or appliance part stores that you can wire up for a little concentrated heat (but you need to be careful about how well you attach and insulate the wires to them. Again DIY is probably not the way to go.
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I really would NOT recommend doing this as a DIY thing. These cables are really big resistors, so that they get hot. Think of a really long toaster wire.
The way that these things work is to get hot, right? Well, warm realistically speaking…but either way, you don't want your toaster wire in contact with the melting snow, because it will ground out. So you have to wrap it in something that will keep it out of contact with ground. I would assume that this is some sort of rubber. If you find some way to coat your wire, it will have to be in contact evenly, all the way through, and without any air bubbles in it.
There would simply be too many variables on producing this on your own that could lead to grounding out or fires. I would not do this on my own.
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