HeatTrak Snow and Ice Melting Mats User Guide

HeatTrak Snow and Ice Melting Mats

CAUTION :
NEVER COVER MATS;
DO NOT USE INDOORS; DO NOT USE INSIDE
PET HOUSES;
FOR SNOW MELTING ONLY

DOWNLOAD

a digital copy of this guide at heattrak.com/guide

Thank you for purchasing
HeatTrak Snow & Ice Melting Mats.
We know you will undoubtedly join the over 100,000 satisfied HeatTrak customers who have tossed their shovels for a more efficient and safer way of removing snow and ice. If you have any questions about anything you read or about our products in general, please do not hesitate to contact one of our HeatTrak Specialists at 888-586-4904.
Enjoy your snow day.

Important Note about Decorative Concrete

If your walkway or patio is a form of decorative concrete, also known as stained concrete, it most likely has a sealer on the top surface that could degrade when exposed to large amounts of heat. As a result, discoloration of the concrete may occur. To eliminate this possibility, it is advisable to place a small layer of insulation under the heat mats to prevent the heat from penetrating the sealer. Examples of insulation could be thin pressure treated plywood (tip – Home Depot and Lowes will cut it for free); outdoor carpet strips; or 1⁄4″ thick polyethylene or neoprene foam insulation (available through multiple online resources).

Installation Instructions

Save these instructions in case you need to look at them again.

1. LAYING OUT THE HEATTRAK SNOW & ICE MELTING MATS:
   • Clear all pre-existing ice and snow from the area where you will be using the HeatTrak Mats.
   • Make sure the surface is free of any sharp objects such as rocks, glass or loose nails, which could cause damage to the bottom of the mats.
   • Lay the mats flat on the surface they are to be used. One side of the mat is smooth and shiny. The other has a ″gritty″ texture. Make sure the side with the ″gritty″ texture faces up. The mats may not immediately lie flat because of the way they were rolled in the box. If this is the case, simply flex the mat in the opposite direction of the bend and place back down. When the mats are turned on, the heat will eventually cause them to lie flat.
   • When laying down the mats, be sure the cables are off to the far side of the walkway or stair case so no one trips on the cables accidentally.
2. CONNECTING THE MATS TO EACH OTHER:
   • The HR model mats are designed with watertight connector cables so that multiple stair and walkway mats can be connected together. NOTE: Entrance mats (HDM models) are designed to be stand-alone mats and do not connect to other mats. If you purchased an Entrance mat, proceed to Section 4.
   • Like Christmas lights, these mats can only be daisy-chained up to a certain length. This length depends on how many stair and walkway mats you are connecting together. The best way to determine how many mats can be connected together is by adding up the total amps of each mat, which can be found on the small labels around the male connectors.
   • The Power Unit which connects your mats to your outdoor outlet is designed to safely handle up to 15-amps; however HeatTrak recommends not exceeding 14-amps.

Example

1. If you connect three 20″ x 60″ walkway mats (2.5-amps each) with five 10″ x 30″ stair mats (0.7A each) you only have 11-amps, so you’re ok.
2. If you connect eighteen 10″ x 30″ stair mats you will have a total of 12.6-amps, so you’re also ok.
   • If the mats you are connecting will exceed 14-amps then disconnect some of the mats and put them on a different Power Unit. Remember, no more than 14-amps per Power Unit. Additional Power Units are available at www.HeatTrak.com, model number HR-P.

IMPORTANT:
Now that you have read the above section, it is important for you to know the rating of your outdoor outlet.

• Most outdoor outlets are rated to handle up to 15-amps. Some newer outlets can handle up to 20-amps. If you have connected up to 14-amps of heating mats, even if you only used one Power Unit, you cannot plug anything else into that outdoor outlet, unless you know that the amp rating on your outdoor outlet is greater than 15-amps.
• Similarly, if there are other items plugged into that outdoor outlet (Christmas lights, etc.), you may not be able to connect the full number of mats to your Power Unit. If you have any questions, please consult with a certified electrician.
• Connecting the Mats: to connect mats together, find the female connector of mat #1, and connect it to the male connector of mat #2. Align the 2 connectors, and firmly push the connectors together so they are flush with each other. If the male and female ends feel like they do not connect together, flip the male end of the cord 180 degrees and try again.
• Once the male and female cords are securely connected, slide the locking sleeve over the seam to ensure a
  water-tight seal.

USING A CABLE EXTENDER

HR-EXT20: You may require a Cable Extender if you get into a situation where the small male connector of a walkway mat needs to connect to the small female connector of a stair mat. The 20″ long Cable Extender will allow you to make this connection. This Cable Extender is available at www.HeatTrak.com (Part No. HR-EXT20).

CONNECTING THE POWER UNIT

• Every grouping of mats requires a Power Unit (Part No. HR-P) to connect the mats to the electrical outlet on the wall.
• The Power Unit connects to either the first or last mat in your system. DO NOT CONNECT THE POWER UNIT TO THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET UNTIL ALL OF THE MATS ARE PROPERLY CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER AND THE POWER UNIT IS CONNECTED TO THE LAST MAT.
• To connect the Power Unit, use the same method described above for connecting the male and female connectors. But first, read Section 5 below regarding the Light Tester.
• If you have an Entrance Mat, you do not need a Light Tester and can skip to section 6 of this guide.

USING THE LIGHT TESTER

• The Power Unit you purchased comes with a detachable clear module pre-inserted at the end of the 6 ft cable. This module is called the Light Tester. It is designed to let you know whether electricity is flowing through the mats or not.
• This Light Tester will illuminate when electricity is flowing properly. As an example, plug the Power Unit into an outlet and make sure the Power Unit is on. The Light Tester will illuminate.
• To use the Light Tester, remove the Light Tester from the Power Unit cable and insert it into the female connector of the last mat in your system.
• After the Light Tester is inserted into the last mat, connect the female cable of the Power Unit to your first mat in the system. Then plug the Power Unit into an electrical outlet and make sure the Power Unit is on.
• If all the mats in your system are connected properly, the Light Tester at the end of your system will illuminate. If it does not illuminate, then one or more of your mats are not connected properly. If this is the case, see below:

HOW TO DETERMINE WHICH MAT IS NOT CONNECTED PROPERLY:

• Remove the Light Tester from the last mat in the system and insert it into the female end of mat #1 of your system. DO NOT FORGET TO RE-INSERT THE TESTER INTO THE LAST MAT WHEN YOU ARE FINISHED TESTING THE SYSTEM.
• If the Light Tester illuminates then the Power Unit is properly connected to mat #1. Proceed to mat #2. Reconnect mat #1 to mat #2 and insert the Light Tester into the female end of mat #2, and so-on.
• If when performing this test the Light Tester does not illuminate, there is a bad connection between that mat and the one prior to it. In this case, disconnect and reconnect mats again and push connectors firmly together. Make sure the connectors are flush with each other and re-test.

SECURING THE MATS

• Should you decide you want to secure the mats down, the mats are designed with 3/8″ diameter grommet holes in each corner to make securing the mats simple and effective. Securing the mats minimizes tripping and keeps them from moving.
• To secure the mats you must use these holes. Use a stainless steel or galvanized screw that is appropriate for the surface the mats are lying on (i.e. wood screw for deck, concrete screw for concrete, etc.)
• NOTE: double sided tape may be used as an alternate method to secure the mats; 3M VHB 4941 tape is recommended, follow manufacturer’s instructions for installation.

TESTING THE POWER UNIT

• For general safety, the HeatTrak Power Unit comes with a built-in Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) located on the power supply cord. This device turns off the power in the event of a short circuit.

• It is important to test the GFCI to be certain it is working properly- both after the mat is installed and before seasonal use. Here is all you need to do:
  A Locate the test and reset buttons on the device. B Plug the power cord into the outlet.

• Press the resetbutton. A red or green light will appear. C Press the test button. The red or green light should go out.

• Press the reset button again and the red or green light should come back on.

• If the light does not come on, make sure there is voltage at the outlet. If the safety device still does not work, call customer service at 888-586-4904.

CAUTION:
To Provide Continued Protection Against Risk of Electric Shock, ConnectConnect tto Po Prroperly Groperly Groundedounded OOutletutlets Onlys Only. The mat is on when a light appears on the Power Unit and/or the Light Tester is illuminated. If no light appears on the Power Unit, refer to the section about testing the Power Unit.

ONE FINAL NOTE:
Packages should never be left on top of mats, especially mats that are turned on. We STRONGLY suggest leaving a note for your delivery person that says: Do not leave packages on heated mats!
Warning:

• Store indoors after winter season.
• Inspect Cord Before Using. Only use extension cords rated for outdoor use and with a minimum rating of 15-amps.
• Read all Instructions.
• Do not modify the safety device or the plug connected to the mats.
• Do not plug in mats while stacked on top of one another.
• Do not drive any form of nails, screws, fasteners, or other objects through the surface of the mats. Use only the pre-drilled mounting holes for securing the mats. Do not cut, slice, trim, or otherwise alter the surface of the mat.
• Do not walk on the mats before they are completely installed.
• Do not install the mats on rough dirt or gravel surface.

WARNING
Electrical Hazard
These mats must be installed per HeatTrak instructions. Follow these important warnings to avoid the risk of fire or shock.

CAUTION
To Provide Continued Protection Against Risk of Electric Shock, Connect to Properly Grounded Outlets Only. Do not exceed the electrical rating of your outdoor outlet.

Caution:

1. To provide continued protection against electric shock:
   Have a qualified electrician install a properly grounded outlet, acceptable for outdoor use and protected from snow and rain, immediately adjacent to the location where the heating mat will be used.

2. Route the supply cord and locate the heating mat so as to be protected from damage.

3. Inspect cord before using.

4. Unplug heating mat at receptacle outlet when not in use or before removing.

5. Store heating mat indoors after winter season.

IMPORTANT
All information, including illustrations, is believed to be reliable. Users, however, should independently evaluate the suitability of each product for their application.

Reminder
The best way to determine how many mats can be connected together is by adding up the total amps of each mat. HeatTrak recommends not exceeding 14-amps per outlet. If the mats you are connecting will exceed 14-amps then disconnect some of the mats and put them on a different Power Unit.

HALF SIZE WALKWAY MATS
HR20-30| 20″ x 30″ Half Walkway Mat| 1.3| 5.0
HR30-30| 30″ x 30″ Half Walkway Mat| 2.0| 7.0
STAIR MATS
HR10-30| 10″ x 30″ Stair Tread Mat| 0.7| 3.0
HR10-48| 10″ x 48″ Stair Tread Mat| 1.0| 4.0
HR10-60| 10″ x 60″ Stair Tread Mat| 1.3| 6.0
ENTRANCE MATS
HDM24-36P| Standard 24″ x 24″ Walkway Mat| 1.9| 9.0
HDM30-48P| Standard 30″ x 48″ Walkway Mat| 3.2| 13.0
HDM40-60P| Standard 40″ x 60″ Walkway Mat| 5.3| 20.0
DRIVEWAY MATS
HTM24-20| Driveway Mat, 24″ x 20′, 120V| 3.14| 94.0
HTM24-20B| Driveway Mat, 24″ x 20′, 240V| 5.14| 94.0
HTM24-25B| Driveway Mat, 24″ x 25′, 240V| 21.0| 115.0

MOBILITY RAMP MATS

HTM36-05| Mobility Ramp Mat, 24″ x 5′, 120V| 3.9| 35.0
HTM36-10| Mobility Ramp Mat, 24″ x 10′, 120V| 8.0| 71.0
HTM36-15| Mobility Ramp Mat, 24″ x 15′, 120V| 12.2| 106.0

References

• HeatTrak | Heated Snow & Ice Melting Mats and Snow Removal Systems
• HeatTrak User Guide Library for Snow and Ice Melting Products
• HeatTrak | Heated Snow & Ice Melting Mats and Snow Removal Systems

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