This 12V heating tape is a pre-formed spiral silicone rubber heater with a 25 mm coil inner diameter, made to wrap pipes, hoses and tubes of around 25 mm outside diameter as heat trace tape for pipe freeze protection and warming. It is rated at about 80 W per metre, from 80 W for a 1 m heater to 400 W for a 5 m heater, and each heater is built for one supply voltage between 12 V and 220 V. That makes it usable as low voltage heat tape on 12 V and 24 V battery, vehicle and solar systems, as well as on mains. The silicone construction is listed for -60 to +200°C, and heaters are offered with plain lead ends or with a circular screw-lock connector on the lead.
On a 12 V or 24 V system the heater draws far more current than the same heater on mains, so length, wattage and wiring have to be planned together. The sections below give the listed sizes, the current each one draws at 12 V, 24 V and 220 V, and what to confirm before ordering a low-voltage build.
Key Features
- Pre-formed self-coiling spiral, 25 mm coil inner diameter
- Lengths 1–5 m; approx. 80 W/m (80–400 W)
- Built for 12 V, 24 V or any voltage up to 220 V
- Silicone construction rated -60 to +200°C
- Plain lead ends or circular screw-lock connector
- Optional plugs, thermostat, thermocouple and joining connector
- Aluminium foil tape available for fixing and heat spreading
- Custom lengths and wattages on request
Specification
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Product type | Pre-formed spiral silicone rubber heating tape (heat trace) |
| Coil inner diameter | 25 mm |
| Standard lengths | 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000 and 5,000 mm; other lengths to order |
| Power | 80, 160, 240, 320 and 400 W (approx. 80 W/m) |
| Supply voltage | 12–220 V; one voltage per heater, specified per order |
| Working temperature | -60 to +200°C |
| Lead termination | Plain lead ends, or circular screw-lock connector |
| Accessories | Plain plug; plug with leakage protection; three-pin plug; joining connector; thermocouple; digital thermostat (220 V, 15 A); aluminium foil tape |
| Listed use | Heating and freeze protection of pipes, hoses and tubes |
| Certification | Not stated for this item; confirm required documents per order |
Current Draw at 12 V, 24 V and 220 V
A heater’s power stays the same whatever voltage it is built for, but the current changes in proportion. A 12 V heater draws about 18 times the current of a 220 V heater of the same wattage. On low-voltage systems this, not the heater, usually sets the limit on how long a single heater can be.
| Length / power | Current at 12 V* | Current at 24 V* | Current at 220 V* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 m / 80 W | 6.7 A | 3.3 A | 0.36 A |
| 2 m / 160 W | 13.3 A | 6.7 A | 0.73 A |
| 3 m / 240 W | 20.0 A | 10.0 A | 1.09 A |
| 4 m / 320 W | 26.7 A | 13.3 A | 1.45 A |
| 5 m / 400 W | 33.3 A | 16.7 A | 1.82 A |
*Calculated as power divided by voltage, at rated output. Actual current varies slightly with element temperature.
Planning a 12V Heating Tape or 24 V Installation
Used as a 12V heat trace or 12V pipe heater, a 1 m heater draws under 7 A, which suits most vehicle and battery circuits. A 5 m heater at 12 V draws over 33 A, which needs heavy supply cable, a high-rated fuse and a battery or power supply able to carry that load continuously. Where a long pipe run must be heated at low voltage, two practical options are a 24 V build, which halves the current, or several shorter heaters on separate fused circuits. Confirm at enquiry that the length and wattage you need can be built for 12 V or 24 V before ordering.
Cable size matters more on low voltage because voltage drop is a larger share of the supply. A drop of 1 V is minor on 220 V but costs a 12 V heater about 16% of its output. Size the supply cable for the heater current and the full run from the battery or power supply, and keep that run as short as the installation allows.
Battery capacity is the other limit. A 12 V heater draws its rated current for as long as it is switched on, so running time on a battery depends on the heater’s wattage and how it is controlled. On battery and solar systems a thermostat or timer that only runs the heater when it is needed is usually essential.
Thermostat and Control on Low Voltage
The heater has no built-in thermostat. The optional digital thermostat listed for this heater is a 220 V unit rated 15 A, intended for mains-voltage heaters; it is not a 12 V or 24 V DC controller. For a low-voltage build, use a DC thermostat or relay controller rated for the heater current, with a sensor fixed to the pipe. A thermocouple is available as a separate item where your controller accepts one.
Choosing the Coil Size
The 25 mm spiral suits pipes, hoses and tubes with an outside diameter of about 25 mm. For reference, a 3/4-inch steel pipe has an outside diameter of about 26.9 mm. Measure the outside of the pipe or hose rather than relying on its nominal size: the spiral should close onto the surface with even contact and no air gaps. For tubes of 6 to 12 mm outside diameter, smaller spiral sizes are available in the same construction.
Connector and Termination Options
Each length is offered with plain lead ends or with a circular screw-lock connector fitted to the lead. The connector lets the heater be unplugged for pipe maintenance or seasonal removal without cutting the lead. A joining connector is listed for linking heaters; confirm at enquiry how heaters are to be connected on your system. Mains-voltage heaters can be supplied with a plain plug, a three-pin plug or a plug with leakage protection. Plug standards differ by country, so state the plug type or order bare lead ends for connection by a qualified installer.
Installation Notes
- Clean the pipe or hose surface so the silicone sits in direct contact with it.
- Let the spiral close onto the pipe with evenly spaced turns and no overlap.
- Aluminium foil tape over the heater helps hold it in place and spread heat along the pipe.
- Where insulation is fitted over the heater, allow for the higher heater temperature that results.
- Fuse every circuit for the heater current, and use earth-leakage protection on mains supplies.
Common Procurement Errors
- Ordering “12 V” without checking the current. A 5 m heater at 12 V draws over 33 A.
- Using the standard thermostat on DC. The listed thermostat is a 220 V unit.
- Undersizing the supply cable. Voltage drop on a 12 V run directly reduces heater output.
- Choosing by nominal pipe size. The spiral must match the measured outside diameter.
- Leaving voltage unstated. Each heater is built for one voltage only.
RFQ Checklist
- Pipe or hose outside diameter and length to be heated
- Heater length and wattage, standard or custom
- Supply voltage, and whether it is AC or DC
- Available supply current and cable run length on low-voltage systems
- Termination: plain lead ends or circular screw-lock connector
- Plug type, thermostat, thermocouple or joining connector if required
- Aluminium foil tape quantity, if required
- Certification or test documents required for your market
- Quantity per size
Certification and Documentation
No certification is stated for this heater in the current specification. If your market or customer requires a specific approval or test report, state it at enquiry so that availability can be confirmed for the ordered length, voltage and termination before quotation. Applicable RoHS / REACH documentation can be confirmed according to the ordered construction.
Related Categories
Smaller spiral heat trace, flat heating tapes, crankcase belts, drum bands and heating pads are listed in the Silicone Rubber Heaters category, part of the High Temperature Wire Cable range.
