When installing a band heater, it is important that it should be well seated on a clean smooth surface and be tightened so that good heat transfer occurs between the heater and the body being heated. The more circular the object to be heated is, so much the bet- ter. Conductive heat transfer is the best type of heat transfer for a band heater, which relies on physical contact between the heater and body being heated. Any air gaps between the two will cause hot spots and are detrimental to the life of the heater.
If the surface you’re installing the band heater around has pits or divots, it’s a good idea to apply a layer of high-temperature thermal transfer compound between the heater and what you’re heating, in order to aid with heat transfer over those uneven areas.
General Procedure:
Seat the heater in its intended position.
Securely and evenly tighten the heater clamping screws.
Electrically connecting the heater.
Energize the heater, allowing it to reach operating temperature.
TURN OFF THE POWER TO THE HEATER and…Immediately retighten the clamping screws of the heater to take up elongation caused by any thermal expansion. Try to do this quickly while the heater is as hot as possible. Take care not to burn yourself. For safety reasons, don’t retighten the heater when it is energized. Just don’t do it.
Energize the heater again and allow it to operate normally. There are applications where, because of the heater size, the clamping screw re-tightening operation should be repeated several times. Don’t forget to turn off the power to the heater for each retightening.
