Schlter® DITRA-HEAT-E-RT Thermostat User Guide & Manual is a FAQ.
My wife and I decided to put a heated flooring system under our bathroom floor tile.A few minutes before we wake up, our thermostat warms up the tile.It is great to have a heated floor in the morning.We are going to show you how to install DITRA-HEAT.Even if you are a complete beginner, you will be ready to work on this project.
An uncoupling mat is placed over wood or cement subfloors.The geometric configuration of DITRA prevents tiles from cracking.The technology used by DITRA-HEAT allows heating cables to be run in the stud structure.It is a cool system for professionals.Here are the things you need.
The prices for the heating cables were left blank because they depended on the size of the room.The online calculator will help with the price.It is important to have the correct underlayment before you install DITRA-HEAT.We installed DITRA-HEAT over the OSB.
If you want your wood subfloors to have a minimum thickness of 3/8′′, you should reference the DITRA-HEAT handbook.It is always better to increase the thickness of the underlayment.
Get the total square footage of your bathroom.Take the areas that won't be heated into account.There is a bathtub, a bathroom and a toilet.
DITRA-HEAT cables should not be under a bathroom.The minimum spacing is 2 inches from walls, partition and fixed cabinets.6 inches from floor drain to heat source.A buffer zone can be added to your floor plan.It is difficult to know where the heating cable will end.DITRA-HEAT cables can't be cut.The buffer zone is an area where floor warming is not essential and heating cable installation isn't planned.
Excess heating cable can be placed in this area.A buffer zone can be created by installing heating cables from the wall.
Two DITRA-HEAT-E-HK heating cables can be connected and controlled by a single thermostat if the total current in your setup is less than 15 Amps.
If the total current in your setup is over 15 Amps and multiple heating cables are required, you will need additional DITRA-HEAT thermostats.Local electrical codes can be used to wire the cables to the thermostat.
You can use the online calculator to choose the cable.You can visit the website.They come in rolls or mats.The mats are good for smaller spaces.You should order heating cable that is slightly less than what you need once you figure out the DITRA-HEAT.
It is better to have less than more because the heating cables cannot be cut.We will discuss this in the video.DITRA-HEAT can be turned on and off when you need it most.
You will save money and have a better experience.We like the touchscreen thermostat because it looks great and adds a nice touch to the bathroom.
If you want to waterproof the entire floor, you can use the KERDI-BAND to flash up the sides of the walls.
The DITRA-HEAT mat was set over the OSB wood subfloor.The fleece side of the mat needs to be set in a modified thin-set.We modified our thin-set by adding Keralastic to it instead of water.
It is not a bad idea to have a set of knee pads since you are going to be on your knees.Anyone installing tile or other flooring products can use their knee pads.
If you mix up thin-set, it will be slightly loose but still hold a trowel ridge.If you use Mapei's system, add the Keralastic to a bucket.
Then mix the thin-set until it has a creamy smooth texture that is slightly thinner than what you would use for setting tile.
The first sheet was dry fit.The DITRA-HEAT must be at least 1/2 inch from the walls.
A damp sponge and water is needed to clean the subfloor.
The damp sponge application will stop the wood subfloor from sucking the moist air from the thin-set.
If you want to make all the ridges the same direction, go back over the burned thin-set with the trowel.troweling.
If you get any thin-set on the top of the DITRA-HEAT, clean it off.The thin-set will prevent the cable from snapping.
The bathroom is next to carpeted areas so we positioned the membrane in the center of the doorways.
Check the coverage underneath the long pieces.This will make sure that the membrane doesn't stick to the floor.
If you are not going to heat a specific area, the DITRA-HEAT should cover the entire floor.This keeps the floor straight.
The toilet area needs to be waterproof.This is an easy process with the help of DITRA.Use a utility knife to cut around the toilet flange.
KERDI-FIX is used to seal around the toilet.This helps keep the floor dry.
DITRA-HEAT requires a dedicated circuit.If you don't want to do it yourself, call a licensed electrician.We used metal conduit in local codes.
The DITRA-HEAT-E-RT/-RSD-R thermostats include a GFCI.The back of the thermostat is very similar to a GFCI.
A circuit breaker is not required when using these thermostats.If you are a techie, the DITRA thermostat is pretty cool.You can see the complete installation of the thermostat in Step 14 and the video.Do not install a cable designed for a 120 V power source.All of the heating cable details can be found in the DITRA-HEAT installation handbook.The handbook can be found on the website.The DITRA-HEAT system has a 10 year warranty.
Test 1: Conductor Resistance and Test 2: Conductor and Ground Braid Continuity.
The test is not required.The warranty will be extended from 10 years to 15 years if you do the test.
Resistance measurement can be done with a multimeter.If you don't know how to do this, read your multimeter directions.
Place the multimeter lead on the red wire and the black wire from the heating cable.
If the ohms reading on the power leads varies by 10% or more from the printed value, this means either the cable has been damaged or the multimeter is not set properly.
A ground braid protects the heating cables.The ground braid and the two conductors are protected from contact by the electrical insulator.
A continuity test is needed to make sure there is no contact between the ground braid and two conductors.To test for continuity, set the multimeter.The multimeter lead should be placed on the red wire and the ground wire.The reading on the multimeter should be either Overload or I if there is no continuity.
The black conductor in the heating cable should be tested the same way.The red and black leads from the multimeter should be placed on the ground wire.The reading on the multimeter should be either I orOL.
We recorded the test result in the heating cable tests log, even though we didn't see the "I" or "OL" on the multimeter.
During the continuity test, there were small breaks in the cable insulation that were not detected by this test.
Current leaking to ground can be caused by small breaks in the cable insulation.The DITRA-HEAT floor heating system will be disabled if the current leak is detected and the GFCI trips the circuit.
The insulation resistance test requires a megohmeter.Renting a megohmeter is the best option.Bill, our electrician, did not have one.On the ground braid, place the black and red megohmeter leads.
Press the Test button to set the megohmeter range.The megohmeter will inject 1000V into the heating cable.
The measurement of insulation resistance must be greater than 1 gigaohms.We got 2200 M and passed the test.
The floor temperature is communicated to the thermostat.The thermostat won't know when to turn the heat on or off if they're not working.
The test is very important.You will get a sensor with the thermostat and a heating cable.You will only use one sensor and keep the other in the electrical box as a backup.
Again, use a multimeter to check the accuracy of the sensors.Take a reading between the sensor leads when you set the multimeter for resistance at 10K +/- 2.
The sensor has a red wire and a blue wire.
If you hold the sensor in your hand, the reading should be low because of the heat.
The heating cable tests log can be used to compare the measured values with the table of expected values.
You will melt the was ring if closer.6 inches from floor drain to heat source.Forced air vent, fireplaces, baseboard heaters, etc.
The heating cable will have a cold cut.If you want to cut out some of the subfloor, you should use a chisel and a utility knife.It is 1/6 of an inch.
The cold splice will interfere with the tile installation.The tile will be pitched upward.It's good to have the cold splice flush with the DITRA-HEAT.
If spacing is closer than 3 inches, it can cause overheating and damage to the structures.
We ran our wire 3 studs from the wall to the blue tape of the Vanity because the toe kick is three inches.
The heating cable will fall into the DITRA-HEAT stud.The heating cable was embedded with a grout float.
If you have a run of heating cable that is more than 10 feet you will have to place a loop or jog in the setup.
The ability to modify the location and shape of the heating cable is a nice feature of DITRA-HEAT cables.
As you run the cable, keep in mind the buffer zone.Our buffer zone had 6 stud spacing next to the tub.
There was a buffer zone next to the toilet and the last few feet of the heating cable.
Between the heating cables, thermostat sensors should be placed evenly.They should be at least 24 inches from the wall.
Attach the thermostat sensor to the DITRA-HEAT stud with a small piece of it.The sensor will be in the mat.
The thermostat sensor wire is thinner than the heating cable so it needs to be jogged.
If you want the sensor to read the temperature in the room, place it in areas that don't get direct sunlight.If you have a pet that likes to sit in a certain spot, don't place the sensor there.!
There is a built-in GFCI in the DITRA-HEAT thermostat.There are two terminals on the back of it.
The black wire will be received from the electrical panel.Use a flat head screwdriver to tighten the black wire behind the L1 terminal screw.
L2 will get the white neutral wire from the electrical panel.Use a flat head screwdriver to tighten the white wire behind the L2 terminal screw.
In case of a ground wire touching the hot or neutral wires, only 1/2 inch of bare copper wire should be exposed, this prevents shorting out in the electrical box.
The red wires from the heating cable should be put into the other load terminal.
The ground wires should be combined with a wire nut.The slot at the top of the thermostat is an oval shape.
Remove one of the thermostat sensor wires from that slot.The wires should not touch the terminal screws on the thermostat.
The plastic guard should be snapped onto the thermostat.The terminal screws are covered.Bill used an electrical box for this project.There are wires that need to fit in the box.
The words should be readable on the thermostat if it is pushed into the box.!
Make sure the ground wires aren't touching the terminal screws.The last thing you need is a short that ruins the thermostat.!
The thermostat needs to be screwed to the electrical box.The blue and red wires should be placed in the C and D terminal.
You can use the extra modified thin-set from the installation to fill in the studs.The thin-set needs to be dry over night.
The KERDI-BAND can be used to waterproof the entire floor.To see all the details, watch the complete DITRA-HEAT installation video.
If you want to learn more about bathroom remodeling, check out our other Instrucables.
I need to buy a circuit breaker for a 240v install.I have installed a 15A breaker before, but I am not used to using double pole 240v breakers for things like a kitchen stove.There are two wires and one neutral.The thermostat only has a single hot wire and neutral connection so I am confused about what breaker to install.
Answer 8 months ago.
It's a good thing!The answer to my question was found by me.If you ever wonder about this, you can find the answer here.I don't need to buy 12-3 or 10-3 wire.You can get 12-2 or 10-2 wire for half the price.I need a double pole breaker.
1 year ago
1 year ago
When I program the t-stat to the allowable 104 degrees for a bathroom tile floor, the temp never goes higher than 84 degrees.It draws the correct amount of power all day but stays at 84 degrees.
Not completely related.Did you get your knee pads?I can't find any like them.Walter.
If the layout of tile and heated area requires more than one heating cable, I assume the thermostat is capable of handling up to two cable connections as well as the sensor?