Under floor heating system problem

North,

You problem starts here
I purchased an underfloor heating system from Livingheat

I expect that you had planned to save a pound or two by taking this tack? This is a mistake that is often made. The Installer is faced with having to make the best of a bad job.

Always trust the tradesperson to supply and fit the materials that they recommend. That is the value add of a tradesperson, and its then their fault if if doesn't work or if there are other issues with the job.

Sorry not to be sympathetic, but I have fallen into this trap with customers in the past, customer-supplied materials often have issues.
 
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Well, more than two, but - yes.

Don't forget that in the very first post you pointed out that these fitters didn't know how to do it.
 
Another concern, 3 mats conected n parallel and only one sensor.

If the mat around the sensor goes open circuit and thus never heats up then the other two mats will heat up continuously as the single sensor will never reach the temperature at which the mats would normally turn off.
 
The problem seem to be that the electrician is not willing to extend the wires in any way or form. I need to find one that will.
 
Is it that he won't, full stop, or that he won't and then sign the warranty card?
 
And with that untruth from you:
And then goes to quote things that specifically don't support your case that anything I've said is an "untruth" - which I take as you trying to call me a liar without actually using the word.
You're just p***ed at (yet again) being called out for pushing blanket "facts" (in this case, "UFH can't work") which just aren't supported by observable facts.
I have not, despite your accusations of lying, said that the thermal conductivity of a medium changes depending on wether it's electric or water heating it. What I have said is that the physics of the system is far far more than the conductivity of the medium, and that different types of system have different characteristics. I've even pointed out some of the key areas - but you have ignored these as they don't support your view that I am "lying".

BTW - for an electric system, no I don't believe the physics of "the answer to the carpet issue is more powerful UFH". That might, for some definition of "more powerful" apply to a wet system, but not to an electric system. As you correctly point out (when not foaming at someone disagreeing with you), adding a carpet decreases the thermal conductivity between heat source and room. Within some limits, the answer to that is to increase the temperature of the heated layer (ie where the wires or pipes are buried). For an electric system, this will happen automatically since with the element turned on, the steady state is that heat lost to the room must equal heat put in by the element. If you reduce the conductivity of the system, then the temperature at the element will rise until the thermal flow is again equal to the heat input. Naturally there are limits to how hot it can be allowed to go - and increasing the power of the heater element won't change that. If you hit the upper limit of underfloor temperature before reaching the point where there is enough heat going into the room then yes, as you correctly point out, the room won't be fully heated. That is also something which, if you stop frothing for a moment to actually read and comprehend, I have not disputed.
A wet system is different. Heat input to the slab (or heat spreader plates) is a function of delta-T between the water in the pipes and the slab. Increase the slab temperature (by putting down a carpet) and the heat input to the slab will reduce due to the reduced delta-T. Compensating for that would need a "more powerful" system - either more surface area (more pipes, more closely spaced) or increased water flow temperature (again with not too generous limits if the system is to remain reliable).
 
He does not want to join the wires at all. He is saying that the wires provided from the mat should have been long enough to reach the juntion box and that an extension is not the right way to do it. Therefore the warranty card can not be signed. I called the shop where i purchased the mats and they say that it is the first time they had this problem (yeah right) and that the sparky is being difficult and they suggest truing somebody else
 
He is saying that the wires provided from the mat should have been long enough to reach the juntion box and that an extension is not the right way to do it
Well he's quite right. I've had some that have been JUST long enough, but joining the cables, particularly under the floor is just asking for trouble.

You probably will find an electrician who will do it, but when you ring round to find one, explain up front exactly what you want, don't just say 'I need UFH connecting up' as it'll waste your time and theirs if they also refuse to do it
 
I'm sure you'll find someone who'll joint your wires out like you want, but you'll regret this when the joint fails.

You still haven't told us the total load of your heating mats or how you intend to make sure there is an earthed metal covering over the elements.
 
I found someone. He made the connections yesterday About the load and the earth i do not know but i will ask him when he comes again to install the rest of the electrics. I am hoping there is a good reason why there is no earth
 
Not having an earthed layer above the mats, e.g. a metal grid with a spacing of not more than 30mm, is not allowed.

There can be no good reason for not having one.

If your electrician is any good, he will know this, and he will refuse to proceed unless one is installed.
 

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