DIY HEAT CABLE | STEP 4 | CALCULATE YOUR "ZIG ZAGS"

This is the video to watch if you want your heat cable installation to look like a professional did it. If you want those even, smooth "zig zags" on your roof rather than it looking like it was just thrown up there, you'll need to do a little bit of math with the measurements from the previous step, but don't worry! We break it down in simple terms for you.
The full steps:
Step 1: Removing your old cable • DIY HEAT CABLE | STEP ...
Step 2: Where do you need cable, and how much? • DIY HEAT CABLE | STEP ...
Step 3: Choosing a power source • DIY HEAT CABLE | STEP ...
Step 4: Calculate your “zig zags” (YOU ARE HERE!)
Step 5: Marking your clips • DIY HEAT CABLE | STEP ...
Step 6: Setting your clips • DIY HEAT CABLE | STEP ...
Step 7: Installing the cable • DIY HEAT CABLE | STEP ...

[@seansmith3747]

Dude. This is beyond helpful. Thank you.

[@marcusmazza2255]

Amazing thank you!

[@ethanzheng4673]

Beat instruction found, solid!

[@bobmariano3731]

Awesome 👏 thx

[@tschnuggable]

Thank you for this informative and succinct audio/visual - super helpful. Is there a standard calculation for a metal roof with ribs that are 10 inches apart and with an eave that is 4.5 feet?

[@functionalvanconversion4284]

Great video thank you! If my linear feet is 50' and my eave is 13' (I have a large over hanging deck that utilizes the same roof as the house) what spacing could I use for the spacing at the bottom of my triangles? Thx

[@wasatchheatcable8757]

Glad you liked it. You could use anywhere from 18" to 30" at the bottom there. It depends on your snowpack and your preference. Let us know how else we can help.

[@andyscott2347]

OK, Im following your process for the most part. You calculate 20x4=80+15=95 (manufacture's multiplier+ downspout), but then I don't see that number being referred to in the rest of this video. Is this an approximate so you can choose the precut manufactures lengths (in this example 80 & 100)?

[@rustymusician]

By following this example I came up short by 20 feet. In my case, with a 46 ft roof edge and 13 ft downspout it was better to multiply the roof length by a factor of 5, which gave me a little excess but better than coming up short.

[@stephenkowalski837]

Enjoy the video, but I am having a hard time wrapping my head around how much heat cable i will need. I have 30 ft of gutter, 13 ft of down spout and 13 ft of roof which I need to install the heat tape. The 30 ft is an "L" shape continual run gutter. How do I calculate how much heat cable I need to purchase? Thanks in advance

[@jacob7342]

Add the length of the L to your roof edge

[@radsan3006]

My front roof is approx. 55' from one end to another. The downspout is another 12', and another 10' to the outlet. The outlets go to a 15amp circuit breaker. Do you know if that will be enough, or will I need to plug the cable into a 20amp line?

[@wasatchheatcable8757]

We'd be happy to discuss your project further. Our sister company heatcable.com can be reached via phone [phone] or email [e-mail] It'd probably be easier for you to give us a call. We're glad to be of service.

[@toddweis2081]

You seem to missing the calculation for the inside corners? Do you just add 10 feet for each corner?

[@nomaddreamer1640]

i would love to install one of these - I'd only need 100 foot cable. My nearest 3 pronged outdoor outlet is 10 feet away. Is there ANY sort of electric extension cord that could possibly be used. or is there a system that has an extended power cord that you know of. Thx.

[@wasatchheatcable8757]

Hello - I would recommend you visit heatcable.com/shop/ and purchase one of our Factory Terminated Kits. We have EPD's plugs that will give your cable the protection it needs to be installed on your system. We can customize the length of power supply if more is needed. Give us a call at 801-896-8960 if you have any questions.

[@nomaddreamer1640]

@@wasatchheatcable8757 i'll check it out - thank you!

[@josefinaneilson8714]

Can you space them only 12- 16 inches apart?

[@wasatchheatcable8757]

Yes, but that's not necessary unless you are in a really high snowfall area and you would have to add additional cable.

[@josefinaneilson8714]

@@wasatchheatcable8757 Thank you for your response. Great video!

[@fernwehcentraloregon6100]

Does this formula take into account coming back down the gutter? or just the zig zags on the roof?

[@hectorflores6666]

in your math are you accounting for the portion of the cable that will go inside the gutter?

[@wasatchheatcable8757]

The typical multiplier on a normal installation with gutter uses a 3.75 multiplier. If you calculate using that math, then the gutter is included just need to add the downspout once that step is complete. Give us a call at our sister company heatcable.com 801-896-8960

[@Scruit]

The bottom part of the triangle of tape accounts for the gutter. If you didn't account for that (by putting left hand on 18") then your zigzag only needs 40.5".

[@IRAfallon]

you lost me at math

[@wasatchheatcable8757]

It should be pretty straight forward. Let us know how we can help you.

[@duckhunter0538]

This guy really over thinks stuff