Question for ATOT Electricians

[NL5]

Anybody know how to find a break in a ceiling Heat circuit (element)? Tic Tracer?

Thanks in advance!

 

[NL5]

Anybody????

 

[Drako]

Can't you just look at the heating element? If you see a break, that's were the problem is

 

[JEDI]

call a hvac guy?

 

[Drako]

call a hvac guy?

LOL, for an in ceiling heater?

 

[olds]

LOL, for an in ceiling heater?

Heating
Ventilation
Air
Conditioning

 

[Drako]

Heating
Ventilation
Air
Conditioning

Wow, thanks

 

[JEDI]

LOL, for an in ceiling heater?

thats what the h in hvac is for, right?

 

[NL5]

Can't you just look at the heating element? If you see a break, that's were the problem is

The element is in the drywall. You can't see it.....

As far as calling a pro, may have to - the PUD used to do it, but not any more. Most HVAC companies don't want to mess with it......

 

[Cogman]

Need more info. Whats going wrong? Is the heater randomly turning on/not turning off? Do you smell burning wood? What make, model, ect is it?

If it is just finding breaks, then using a DMM would be just about as easy as anything else. (measure resistances, if it is infinite you have a break, if it is 0 you have a short.)

 

[NL5]

Need more info. Whats going wrong? Is the heater randomly turning on/not turning off? Do you smell burning wood? What make, model, ect is it?

If it is just finding breaks, then using a DMM would be just about as easy as anything else. (measure resistances, if it is infinite you have a break, if it is 0 you have a short.)

No heat. No smell. Don't know the make/model. I'm gonna test the circuit, but I'm pretty sure it's a break. I just need to find where.

 

[Drako]

The element is in the drywall. You can't see it.....

As far as calling a pro, may have to - the PUD used to do it, but not any more. Most HVAC companies don't want to mess with it......

Yeah, it's what an Electrician would handle - HVAC guys would pretty much laugh at you if you asked them to look at it.

Can you remove the vent cover to get at the heating element(s), and the electrical box?

 

[Cogman]

No heat. No smell. Don't know the make/model. I'm gonna test the circuit, but I'm pretty sure it's a break. I just need to find where.

Is it controlled by a thermostat? If so, the problem might be in the thermostat, if not, the problem might be with the power. If the circuit breaker/fuse trips, then you probably have it grounded somehow (Bad).

If you can touch either side of the element, that would be the easiest place to check for a break (using a DMM) You would just place both prongs on either side and read the resistance value.

 

[NL5]

Yeah, it's what an Electrician would handle - HVAC guys would pretty much laugh at you if you asked them to look at it.

Can you remove the vent cover to get at the heating element(s), and the electrical box?

Vent cover? The element is IN the drywall. Is ceiling heat (cable).

Is it controlled by a thermostat? If so, the problem might be in the thermostat, if not, the problem might be with the power. If the circuit breaker/fuse trips, then you probably have it grounded somehow (Bad).

If you can touch either side of the element, that would be the easiest place to check for a break (using a DMM) You would just place both prongs on either side and read the resistance value.

Yes, it's controlled by a thermostat. If it is that, or the actual power, I can fix that no problem. I just need to know how to find the break.

 

[Drako]

Vent cover? The element is IN the drywall. Is ceiling heat (cable).

I'm confused. It's a radiant heater in a ceiling? A better description of what you have might be helpful

 

[Cogman]

It depends on what type of thermostat it is, if it is a particularly old one, (IE doesn't use digital temp sensors) then the problem will be pretty simple to check if it works. You would remove the thermostat, detach the wires that runs from heating element to power, Attach a DMM onto those two wires coming out of the thermostat, crack up the heat to 90 or whatever the max value is. See if the circuit is open. If it is, your thermostat is broken. If not, it is probably something to do with the heating element and fan.

Since the element is in the drywall, it is a bit trickier to work with. You might try something along the lines of a wire tracker. It should beep until the wire breaks.
http://www.bettervalvelocator.com/