Installation
Carbon-copper polymer film can be installed under laminate, tiles etc. The process is not difficult, however to avoid of mistakes participation of certified electricians in wiring would be recommended.
01 Preparations
First, you should understand, what power consumption provides your house power connection, and how much power you can afford for floor heating. Example: acceptable current of typical apartment connection is 16 A. Then total acceptable power, according to formula P=I*U, is 16*220=3520 W, or approx. 3.5 kW. Sum up powers of all existing electric appliances, say, 1.3 kW. We see that 2.2 kW is left for heated floor. For carbon-copper polymer film, power of which is 150 W/sq. m, we calculate (applying fill coefficient 0.8) that approx. 18 sq. m of heated floor may be constructed. Note that floor will only consume this maximum power in individual time moments, however, it must be observed. If connection provides for greater power (25 A, 40 A, etc.), then you have possibility to heat larger areas. But you should also pay attention to wiring quality.
Further, it is necessary to measure room accurately and to prepare floor laying scheme. Plan with calculations that for main heating needs (not for ground floor) at least 80% of the total floor area should be laid, and for auxiliary heating (for comfort) – approx. 60-70% of the total floor area (bear in mind acceptable power). Also take into account location of massive furniture in the room. E-floor is not recommended for installation in places, where objects with diameter over 10-15 cm are located on the floor (wardrobes, tables, flowerpots, etc.) If furniture has at least 10 cm long legs, then its presence in heated zone is acceptable. You should carefully draw scheme layout (specifying distances from the walls, etc.), as well as save it for the whole time of apartment service.
02 Wiring
Thermal regulator TR3100EU is used for installation electronic floors of small area. It provides commutation of electrical circuits with electro-mechanical relay. Commutated current may not exceed 16 A, which match the area covered by Carbon-copper polymer film up to 18-20 sq. m.
Thermal regulator TR3100EU-16. Commutation current up to 16 A, 220 V (3,200 W). Dimensions: 85 mm x 85 mm x 30 mm. LCD with lighting. Sensors: air (built-in) and floor (external/grounded). Programming: 7 days, 4 modes for every day. Manual temperature mode setting.
Carbon-copper polymer film can be truncated after each 25 cm. In such a way as many you want segments with different lengths can be arranged. The film segments must be joined/wired together in conformity with your layout scheme.
Sheets are queued to power supply (thermal regulator commutation unit). Recommended to use wires of two different colors, in order to make wire mating in communication box easier.
We recommend to solder wires to copper strip by using temperature-resistant solder. Connection places must be carefully insulated with unvulcanized rubber or bitumen insulation tape (Sika MultiSeal, etc.) In the same way other ends of copper strips must be insulated, where wires are not connected. The reflecting material must be located under carbon-copper polymer film (reflecting side up).
Lay reflecting heat insulation material (Pepi Reflekt Poli, etc.) can be used. Material can be 3–6 mm thick, depending on evenness of prepared surface. To prevent displacement, material must be fixed on base surface and sheets must be fixed each to other with construction adhesive tape.
Install carbon-copper polymer film sheets according to prepared layout. Recommended not to lay it closer than 10 cm to the walls. For uniform heating lay sheets as close to each other as possible, preventing their overlapping. To prevent film segments from moving, they must be fixed with construction adhesive tape to reflecting material and between themselves.
Floor temperature sensor must also be installed. Sensor must be placed under/above one of carbon(black) stripes of the film in the middle of stripe. Sensor and its wire must be grounded in insulation covering and fixed with adhesive tape. Don't forget about sensor location place, as no objects may be located on the floor above it. Wire connections should be done by qualified electrician.
After examining the circuit, power supply can be connected. If film sheets during next minute don`t heat up, or don`t heat up uniformly, seek defect in electrical circuit.
03 Laminated Floor
Important!
In choosing laminated parquet seek some designations indicating that this laminated floor may be used with heated floors. Laminated parquet should be kept unpacked at room temperature for at least one week. After laying adjust maximum floor temperature to max. 20 °C for few days, then gradually increase it, if necessary. Otherwise, if you will lay cold laminated parquet and rapidly increase its temperature, it will deform. As maximum temperature for laminated floors is recommended 29 °C, however, if laminated floor was glued, then higher temperatures will not damage it. Placing objects on the floor will hinder heat exchange, cause rapid laminated parquet temperature rise and possible deformation.
During installation don't forget about reflecting material bellow the carbon-copper polymer film.
We recommend to solder the wires. Never use clamps! It's not safe and sustainable. Connection places and other ends of copper strips must be carefully insulated.
04 Ceramic Floor
Floor base surface must be even and carefully cleaned from dust and other interfering objects.
First cover the heat reflecting material. The material must be affixed to the base and its sheets must be fixed together with construction adhesive tape.
Lay carbon-copper polymer film sheets (glossy side up) according to prepared layout scheme, but not closer than 10 cm to the walls. For uniform heating put the segments as close to each other as possible, preventing their overlapping. To prevent sheets from moving, they must be affixed by construction adhesive tape to reflecting material and between themselves.
Install wiring. Connections must be carefully insulated with bitumen insulation tape (Sika MultiSeal, etc.). In the same way other ends of copper strips must be insulated, where the wires are not connected.
Connect power supply, and carefully test, whether all film sheets heat up uniformly. If not – disconnect power supply and seek defect in electric circuit.
Cover the film surface with plastic or glass fiber (not metal!!!) mounting mesh (5-20 mm eye). The mesh must be affixed to the base surface through film and reflecting material. Fixings may not damage carbon or copper strips. Prime floor with “concrete-contact” liquid (adhesion plastering primer Feidal, etc.), in order to improve catch.
Further leveling mortar layer (1.5-2 cm) must be applied.
Do not forget to apply a good waterproofing mastic or paint.
Now the floor is ready for tiles.
Important!
Instead of 1.5-2 cm thick leveling mortar layer moisture-resistant plasterboards (3-6 mm thick) can be used. Plasterboards over the electronic floor must be fixed to the floor base with dowels and screws. Be carefully, don't damage carbon or copper strips.
Having finished tiling works, you may switch on electric floor after approx. 20 days only (duration depends on construction materials used).
Placing the objects on the floor will hinder heat exchange and will cause rapid rise of floor surface temperature!