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Has anyone ever used heat tape????

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by snowwy, Dec 14, 2017.

Page 1 of 3
  1. Dec 14, 2017 #1
    snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

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    Frost King 6 ft. Electric Water Pipe Heat Cable-HC6A - The Home Depot

    I"m looking at this product but it don't look like it would be practical for my needs. I was hoping to wrap around my 4 inch metal tube to unload my tanker loads. But doesn't look like wrapping around, using in the outside weather. Or in wetness. is recommended. Looks like the wattage is very low that a 400 watt invertor in the truck 12v socket could power it. It wouldn't be used the entire time. Only after arrival to unthaw so i could open the valve to unload.

    I"m looking for other means that might be easier and more user friendly then using a torch and risk burning up airlines and electrical. It also be nicer to sit inside a warm truck rather then freezing to death trying not to break down while thawing out the valve.

    Another idea I've got would be one of these.

    Shop Remington 16,000-BTU Portable Propane Tank Top Heater at Lowes.com
     
    snowwy, Dec 14, 2017
    snowwy, Dec 14, 2017
    #1
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  3. Dec 14, 2017 #2
    scythe08

    scythe08 Road Train Member

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    What about intransit heat? That should keep anything around the internal valve from being a pain, unless it's caustic or glycerin. A previous company gave up heat guns and attention cords, and big inverter. It was ok.
     
    scythe08, Dec 14, 2017
    scythe08, Dec 14, 2017
    #2
    snowwy Thanks this.
  4. Dec 14, 2017 #3
    snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

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    Only thing i'm aware of for intransit heat is the trailer tied in to the trucks cooling system. The trailers were insulated with heater tubes that used the trucks coolant. Instead of the normal 14 gallon capacity for truck alone. It was now 25 gallons or whatever it was the trailers required in addition to truck.

    Other then that i have no clue what your mentioning. And who I"m working for now don't have those types of trailers.

    We haul waste water from the yogurt plant to dairies. Before the valve might not be bad as it's part of the 7000 gallons in the trailer. But after the valve. My trailer anyways. Gets a little leakage that freezes up on the journey. Preventing the valve from opening. The waste has a lower freeze point then standard water so it don't take much to melt it. But when it gets down to below 10. Sometimes even the 12 inches before the valve will freeze up enough to add to the conflict of opening. And come January. Some places dip to -10.
     
    snowwy, Dec 14, 2017
    snowwy, Dec 14, 2017
    #3
    scythe08 Thanks this.
  5. Dec 14, 2017 #4
    rogueunh

    rogueunh Road Train Member

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    I use those heat tapes. It really isn't something you can just plug in and expect to work quickly, takes time.
     
    rogueunh, Dec 14, 2017
    rogueunh, Dec 14, 2017
    #4
    snowwy Thanks this.
  7. Dec 14, 2017 #5
    Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    "Looks like the wattage is very low that a 400 watt invertor in the truck 12v socket could power it."

    Technically, no it wouldn't work but it most likely would. An inverter isn't looking for what is called an inductive load so it will draw a bit more than wattage.
     
    Ridgeline, Dec 14, 2017
    Ridgeline, Dec 14, 2017
    #5
  8. Dec 14, 2017 #6
    scythe08

    scythe08 Road Train Member

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    Portland, Or
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    Yeah that coolant setup is what I've always used and what we have in our current trailers. Are you guys servicing Dannon or Chobani? I've never once had a trailer without in transit heat built in to it. I don't know what else to do to help you
     
    scythe08, Dec 14, 2017
    scythe08, Dec 14, 2017
    #6
  9. Dec 14, 2017 #7
    wis bang

    wis bang Road Train Member

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    Does the receiver have steam? that's the fastest way..

    The best cure would be to replace the internal valve seat and gasket....
     
    wis bang, Dec 14, 2017
    wis bang, Dec 14, 2017
    #7
  10. Dec 14, 2017 #8
    snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

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    Dannon to dairies. There's no water at the tanks we offload in to.
     
    snowwy, Dec 14, 2017
    snowwy, Dec 14, 2017
    #8
  11. Mar 11, 2018 #9
    oldtrucker66

    oldtrucker66 Light Load Member

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    Did you find a solution? I would like to know. We always used steam to thaw frozen valves, but I understand steam is not available at dairy farms.
    The Water Pipe Heat Cable might work with a larger inverter, not a small one that plugs into a 12 volt socket. It might be slow, but you will be warm inside.
    The propane tank top heater with 20 pound propane tank is big and bulky. Do you really want to carry a 20 pound propane tank in your cab?


    Ideas off the top of my head: 1-Repair leaking valve. 2-Insulate the valve area. 3-In freezing weather, never leave a loaded tanker outside for very long, especially overnight. 4-Have you tried a propane torch with a flame spreader or de-icing attachment (Google for images)? 5-If a torch is too much heat, consider a small heater. (Google or Amazon small propane camping heater.) Mr Heater makes the Little Buddy (3800 BTU). Coleman also makes one. 6-Run in-transit heat. It might prevent the internal valve from freezing.

    Good luck. Let me know what worked. Although it's not a problem I've had, I might have it in the future.



     
    oldtrucker66, Mar 11, 2018
    oldtrucker66, Mar 11, 2018
    #9
  12. Mar 11, 2018 #10
    Fold_Moiler

    Fold_Moiler Road Train Member

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    I just torch it. It takes less than 3 minutes...
     
    Fold_Moiler, Mar 11, 2018
    Fold_Moiler, Mar 11, 2018
    #10
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