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Hi All

I have a fault on an underfloor heating mat which is as follows

L-N no continuity (should be around 200 ohms)
N-E short circuit
L-E clear

I need to find the exact location of the fault so I can take a tile up to repair it, I have thought about hiring a thermal imaging camera, just wondering if anyone has any other ideas?

Cheers
 
it's a non-metallic needle ina haystack.there are specialist companies with the gear to find this, but is it worth the effort? personally, i'd rather buy a pair of socks.
 
How do you find the fault with a thermal imaging camera?
10mins of constant IR testing at 1000v to warm the dead short up or is there a specialist bit of equipment you can use ?
 
If there's no continuity L to N then it is completely open circuit and will not heat up. So there will be nothing for the thermal image camera to pick up.
 
If there's no continuity L to N then it is completely open circuit and will not heat up. So there will be nothing for the thermal image camera to pick up.
I meant apply a voltage (IR) To N-E.
 
L-N no continuity (should be around 200 ohms)
N-E short circuit
L-E clear

There is a certain 'less than safe' way to locate the problem area with the fault you have... It involves disconnecting some things, and connecting other things (ideally through an isolation transformer) to a variac, then winding it up while monitoring the current with a clamp meter to ensure the section of element that is connected is not overloaded. When it starts heating the problem area should be locatable with a thermal imaging camera.

Don't ask me how you repair the damaged part though. Just trying to access the element from under the adhesive can cause more damage, especially if the insulation is soft silicone. Far better to replace the entire element, or just do without.
 
Freddo, good idea locating using the N-E short rather than the open circuit. Pretty likely both issues will be at the same location. I should have thought of that.
 

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