Heating "Zebra" (Zebra): principle of operation, features, installation instructions

Advantages of the ZEBRA infrared heater

1. Long service life. Since there are no mechanical nodes in the system, therefore, there is no friction between the nodes in the heating system itself, as a result, there is simply nothing to break. There is no heat carrier in the system itself (as a rule, it is water, which is used in traditional heating systems), it is impossible to freeze it. Service life not less than 25 years.
2. Low power consumption. Due to the principle of operation and high efficiency - 98%, the energy costs associated with the operation of the heating system are significantly lower compared to any type of electric heating.
3. Installation does not require special skills. In order to install the heating system, it is enough to follow all the recommendations that are indicated in the installation instructions.
4. Temperature control. The system does not control the temperature of the coolant, but reads the air temperature in each room. That allows each member of the family to choose a comfortable temperature in their room.
5. The system is invisible. The heating elements are mounted on the rough base of the ceiling, and then they are covered with almost any finishing materials (for example: a stretch ceiling), which allows you to completely hide the system from the eyes.
6. Natural indoor humidity. Since the working surface temperature of the heaters does not exceed 50°C, the air does not dry out and the humidity remains natural.

How much does Zebra heating cost

Name	Unit measurements	Price, rub)
ZEBRA EVO-300 ST (220 V, 220 W / sq. m.)	m²	1 500
ZEBRA EVO-300 ST - 0.5 x 0.6 m (66 W, 0.3 sq. m.)	PCS.	450
ZEBRA EVO-300 ST - 0.5 x 1.2 m (132 W, 0.6 sq. m.)	PCS.	900
ZEBRA EVO-300 ST - 0.5 x 1.8 m (198 W, 0.9 sq. m.)	PCS.	1 350
ZEBRA EVO-300 ST - 0.5 x 2.4 m (264 W, 1.2 sq. m)	PCS.	1 800
ZEBRA EVO-300 ST - 0.5 x 3.0 m (330 W, 1.5 sq. m.)	PCS.	2 250
ZEBRA EVO-300 ST - 0.5 x 3.6 m (396 W, 1.8 sq. m.)	PCS.	2 700
ZEBRA EVO-300 ST - 0.5 x 4.2 m (462 W, ​​2.1 sq. m.)	PCS.	3 150
ZEBRA EVO-300 ST - 0.5 x 4.8 m (528 W, 2.4 sq. m.)	PCS.	3 600
ZEBRA EVO-300 ST - 0.5 x 5.4 m (594 W, 2.7 sq. m.)	PCS.	4 050
ZEBRA EVO-300 ST - 0.5 x 6.0 m (660 W, 3.0 sq. m.)	PCS.	4 500
Packaging ZEBRA EVO-300 ST (0.5 x 0.6 m, 50 modules/15 sq. m.)	PCS.	22 500

The principle of operation of the Zebra system

Infrared heating works in a similar way.The film heater Zebra is placed on the ceiling of the heated room. After the equipment is turned on, it begins to emit rays whose wavelength matches the wavelength of human infrared radiation.

They rush down and meet large objects on their way. Most often it is overall furniture and floor. Radiation is absorbed and accumulated by them, as a result of which objects begin to slowly heat up and give off the received heat.

Thus, the temperature in the room rises and gradually becomes comfortable. And it happens very quickly. After the room has become warm enough, the heaters automatically turn off and are inoperative until the room cools down a bit.

Film heaters Zebra are used as the main heating. Devices are mounted on the ceiling, infrared radiation is directed downward and heats the floor of the living room

Doctors note that if we compare convective and infrared heating, the latter is more beneficial for humans. The traditional convective water system is most often based on heating the coolant, which, in turn, must heat the air in the room. But it is known that air is a very poor conductor of heat, so it takes too much energy.

The system necessarily contains devices that transfer heat. These are radiators - heating devices that are heated by a coolant and thereby heat the air. Batteries need to be hot to do their job. Thus, they dry the air in the room, removing moisture from it.

In addition, air masses heated by hot batteries do not remain in place.They rise to the ceiling, and colder ones come in their place.

Thus, the floor will always be uncomfortably cold, and at head level there will be unpleasant excessive heat. Such a distribution of temperatures is unpleasant and not useful for humans.

Infrared heating works differently. The radiation heats up the floor first of all, which becomes pleasantly warm and warms the room.

Film-type infrared heaters can even be used on the wall. In this case, there can be no talk of full heating, but a separate section of the room will be well heated

It turns out that the zone of maximum heat is shifted to the lower part of the room, and in its upper part there is a pleasant coolness. According to doctors, such a temperature distribution is the most beneficial for the body. According to the principle of its action, radiant infrared heating is similar to the natural emitter of the Sun. The long waves produced by it are useful for living organisms.

Infrared heating: what is it

School physics told about the waves around us. We perceive the radiation that our eye sees as a color spectrum, and we know for sure that ultraviolet and infrared waves are present beyond its boundaries. The last human body perceives as heat. Scientists divided the infrared spectrum into three groups: low, medium and high wavelengths.

The higher the temperature of an infrared emitting object, the shorter the wavelength. The shortest man is able to see, they already lie in the visible spectrum.

For example, a hot steel rod emits short-wave radiation.Another pattern is known: short-wave and even medium-wave radiation is not useful, and sometimes dangerous for living organisms.

All heated objects emit infrared radiation. The most powerful source of infrared spectrum waves is the Sun, which gives life to our planet by heating it.

Long waves of the infrared spectrum have a beneficial effect on humans. However, some are even afraid of the word “radiation” and therefore do not consider infrared heating as a worthy option. This is fundamentally wrong. The universe is arranged in such a way that all the heated bodies around us emit infrared waves of various lengths. We emit them ourselves.

Technical characteristics of film heating ZEBRA

• Voltage required for operation, Un - not less than 220 V, 50 Hz.
• Maximum specific power - from 145 to 220 W / m² (depending on the series)
• Rated load current In - 1.0 A / m².
• Maximum heating temperature - from 35°C to 50°C (depending on the series)
• Thickness - less than 1 mm.
• Weight 1m² - no more than 550 g.
• Heater protection class – IPx4.

The modular heater is installed on the base of the ceiling

Please note that it is necessary to cover at least 65% of its area. Heating installation ZEBRA Thermostat RTC E51.716

Installation of heating ZEBRA Thermostat RTC E51.716

In order to correctly select the required number of modular heaters, we recommend that you contact our company, and our specialists will calculate it for free. Before installing the heaters, the ceiling base must be covered with a special material with heat-reflecting properties - IZOLON (at least 3 mm thick on a wooden ceiling base, at least 5 mm on floor slabs).For ease of installation and connection of the heating system, it is recommended to place modular heaters in such a way that the outlet wires go out in one direction, which will allow them to be hidden in the cable channel in the future, without extra costs for consumables.

An integral part of the heating system is a thermostat, which is necessary for taking readings of the temperature in the room and controlling the operation of the entire system. And the power for the heating system is “taken” from the power shield, while each room must be equipped with an automatic switch.

Once the system is installed and running. A current is supplied to the heating elements, which is converted into radiant energy, under the influence of which all enclosing structures begin to warm up - the floor, furniture, walls, etc. The thermostat takes readings of the temperature in the room all the time and as soon as the set parameter reaches the desired values, the system turns off.

Every year, the PSO-Evolution plant expands the range of film heaters, at the moment the following series are in production:

Zebra EVO-300ST

Series ZEBRA EVO-300 ST

The ZEBRA EVO-300 ST series was the first to be put into production. This series has a power of 220W/hour per 1m² or 66W of power per module. This heater model is used in those rooms where the ceiling height does not exceed 5m.

Zebra EVO-300SOFT

Series ZEBRA EVO-300 SOFT

The ZEBRA EVO-300 SOFT series was put into production relatively recently, has a power of 170 W / h per 1 m² or 51 W per module, is intended for use in rooms where the ceiling does not exceed 3 m.

Zebra EVO-300PRO

Series ZEBRA EVO-300 PRO

The ZEBRA EVO-300 PRO series is an improved ST series.With absolutely the same power per square meter - 220 W / h per 1 m², the PRO series has acquired a significant advantage - a directed flow of infrared rays, which allows you to warm up the room much faster. Reducing the operating time of the heating system, reduces energy consumption, which saves your budget.

Zebra EVO-300WF

Series ZEBRA EVO-300 WF

The ZEBRA EVO-300 WF series is a product specially designed for floor installation. It is not always possible to mount heating elements on the ceiling, so it was decided to develop a heating element that can be used under floor coverings. It has a power of 150 W / h per 1 m² or 45 W of power per module.

Zebra EVO-300DRY

Series ZEBRA EVO-300 DRY

DRYING series Special series for use in wood drying systems, power 105-120W/pc. (350-400W / sq.m) when connected to 380 V, size 500 x 600 mm. Supplied in strips of specified length with a pitch of 600 mm.

The device and characteristics of the heater

Under the Zebra brand, film-type IR heaters are produced. The system was developed by Russian engineers and is manufactured at a plant in Chelyabinsk.

This is a multilayer canvas, where a radiating element is located between the layers of non-conductive films. When an electric current passes, it is he who is activated and begins to emit infrared rays. In order for them to move in the right direction, an aluminum screen is used. The result is a flexible panel with a thickness of 1 mm.

Zebra goes on sale in the form of a strip divided into segments. Thanks to this, the strip can be easily cut into fragments of the required length - from 60 cm to 6 m.

The width of the heating film panel is 50 cm. There are usually 50 such segments in one package. The cutting of the panel is most often done immediately before installation and is carried out with ordinary scissors or a clerical knife.

The device of the film heater is extremely simple. In fact, this is just an emitter of infrared waves, laminated into a film. Efficiency increased by reflective element

Each of the heater segments is a full-fledged heating element with a useful power of 67W. The film IR heater has sufficient flexibility, which allows it to be used on a profile of various configurations. The working side of the cloth is marked with a branded sticker, laminated under the film.

From the technical characteristics of the device, we can conclude that it is suitable for use in rooms with high humidity. The heater is IP44 marked, which allows it to be installed in saunas, swimming pools, etc. The wave range of the device is from 8.9 to 9.5 microns. It uses a standard 220 V power supply.

General device and principle of operation

The operation of film heaters "Zebra" is based on physical phenomena associated with the heating of conductors. However, the very principle of operation of these devices is fundamentally different from the operation of conventional resistive heaters, which are distinguished by irrational heat transfer and consume a huge amount of electricity. In order to understand how these systems work, it is necessary to consider what elements they consist of and how they are interconnected.

The standard PLEN "Zebra" EVO 300 includes in its design the following parts and components shown in the figure:

1. Wires with which the elements of the system are connected to a power source. They are identified by individual color coding. Brown, red or white colors correspond to the phase conductor, and blue to zero. Sometimes the colors can be duplicated by the letters L and N, corresponding to the phase and zero.
2. A hologram of the manufacturing company that protects the product from possible fakes of poor quality.
3. Connection points of conductors and heating strips, made by soldering in the factory. They are hidden inside the film and insulated with high quality. Do not solder connections at these points yourself.
4. Heating strips made of a special alloy, thanks to which the most optimal temperature is formed with even and powerful heating.
5. Thermal reflector in the form of a layer of aluminum foil, which receives heat from the heating strips. From it, in turn, the flow of heat is directed in the right direction.
6. Polyester film, consisting of two layers, in which all of the above components are hermetically packed. A film gap remains along the perimeter, which is necessary for installation.

All parts interact with each other, providing and maintaining the optimum temperature in the room. The system works in a certain sequence. After applying voltage to the contacts, the resistive strips are very quickly heated to operating temperature. Some modifications, for example, "Zebra" EVO 300 pro or "Zebra" EVO 300 soft can be heated to a higher temperature, if this is provided for by the specifics of their use.Similar devices are used in mini-saunas, dryers and other similar facilities.

The generated heat is evenly distributed over the surface of the heater, covered with aluminum foil. Uniformity is ensured by the physical properties of aluminum - high heat capacity and thermal conductivity. Further, the thermal energy is converted into radiation, that is, an infrared flux with a wavelength of 8-10 microns is formed, located in the region of the invisible spectrum.

Infrared radiation, meeting with a barrier that absorbs this energy, causes the surface to heat up. However, the IR flux passes almost unhindered through thin layers of finishing materials, due to a certain frequency and wavelength. As a result, the Zebra elements of the EVO 300 pro, located under the ceiling, cause heating of all surfaces that are exposed to infrared radiation. Not only floor and ceiling coverings are heated, but also all interior details located in the room.

Question: How much power do they use?

Answer: According to the technical data, the power consumption is approximately 200 watts per square meter. However, PLEN (and Zebra) does not work constantly, but turns on for a while, about 6 minutes per hour. Thus, film heaters consume about 20 Wh / sq. m, while managing to warm the room to its full height. True, these 20 watts are an ideal case, with appropriate insulation of the house. More accurately, the flow rate can be calculated depending on the type and size of the room, the thickness of the supporting structures, the number of window and door openings, the climatic zone, and the quality of the room insulation.

Heating "Zebra"

These systems are known under the abbreviated name PLEN, which means film radiant electric heater. This technical term began to be used as a trademark of one of the domestic manufacturers. The products of this company became known as PLEN "Zebra". Exactly the same products are produced by other companies, and their quality is much higher than foreign counterparts. Among them, heating "Zebra" EVO 300 and its various modifications are very popular.

All heating systems of this type can be divided into two main types, depending on the installation method:

• Ceiling heaters. They give out a heating temperature not exceeding 450C. The location on the ceiling ensures uniform heating of the room. To maintain a comfortable temperature, it is enough for the system to work for 5-15 minutes during every hour. This mode is supported by a regulator that significantly reduces power consumption. Ceiling heating "Zebra" is best suited for private houses, country cottages, suburban cafes and other facilities with a high probability of using autonomous power sources.
• Floor film. It also provides heating up to 450C in a short period of time, after which the resulting heat is transferred to the floor covering. The required heating mode is set using a thermostat, which periodically turns the heating on and off. In many cases, infrared heating "Zebra" serves as an effective addition to the main heaters - radiators or other appliances. Ideal for residential and office spaces, corridors and bathrooms.

Stages of installation of the heating system ZEBRA EVO-300

Film radiant heaters ZEBRA EVO-300 are packed in boxes. Each box contains 15 m² of film or 50 heaters. All heaters are already connected to each other in a strip 30 m long.

For the installation of the ZEBRA heating system on modular elements there are specially designated areas. They are located on each side of the modular heaters and have a width of 2 centimeters.

Preparing heaters for installation

Before installing film heaters, we need to determine their number. Next, determine the length of each strip consisting of heating elements and cut the required dimensions

Very IMPORTANT - the heating elements can only be cut along the cut line!!!

We recommend not to cut the wires L (phase) and N (zero) (connecting the modular elements to each other) exactly in the middle. And do it in such a way that some elements have a long end of about 8 - 12 cm, and others no more than a centimeter (since it will be a dead end and needs to be isolated). As a rule, heat shrink tape is used to isolate the elements.

Please note that the maximum length of the tape consisting of modular heaters is 6 meters.

Installation of modular heaters on the ceiling

Before installing film heaters, it is necessary to mount a heat-reflecting screen - Izolon - on the entire ceiling area. For wooden ceilings, it is recommended to use Izolon with a thickness of about 3 mm; when installing the heating system on a concrete base, the thickness of the reflective screen should not be less than 5 mm.

It is very important that if the base of the ceiling is made of wood of natural humidity, then you cannot cover the entire area with a heat-reflecting screen, you will definitely need to leave gaps in the veins, otherwise the moisture from the wood simply will not go anywhere, which will lead to the formation of fungus.

As fasteners, a mounting stapler and brackets are used - for the wooden base of the ceiling and dowel-nails and a press - washer for concrete ceiling bases (floor slab).

The base of the ceiling is prepared. We proceed to the installation of heaters. When installing the heating elements, we use the same fasteners that were used to mount the heat-reflecting screen.

It is recommended to install heating elements evenly over the entire ceiling, taking into account the design features of the ceiling base - floor beams, ventilation, electrical wiring for lighting, etc.

Connecting heaters to the mains

The long ends, which we recommended to leave at each strip, should go out in one direction, since there will be trunk cables that will fit into a 25 * 25 mm cable channel. The wires coming out of each strip - L (phase), N (zero) and the ground wire, are inserted into pre-prepared holes in the cable duct.

Please note that copper cables must be used as supply wires. Depending on the total power of the heating elements, it is necessary to select the cable section, the specialists of the CLIMATE Group of Companies will help you with this. All cable connections must be soldered, the use of "twisting" is not allowed !!! Then we close the cable channel

All cable connections must be soldered, the use of "twisting" is not allowed!!! Then we close the cable channel.

Next, we connect according to the diagram below.

A thermostat is installed in each room, which will read the air temperature and turn on / off the heating system as needed.

If the total power of the heating system exceeds 2200 W, it is necessary to install additional equipment - a modular contactor.

Wiring diagram

Commissioning the heating system

Once again, we inspect all cable connection nodes. "Automatic machines" in the power shield installed in each room must be turned off. In each room, on the thermostat, set the minimum temperature, approximately 5 ° C. We supply power to the heating system, turn on the “machines”. After we made sure that everything works, we set the required temperature values ​​​​in each room.

If you are not sure that you can handle the installation of the heating system yourself, we recommend using the services of the specialists of the CLIMATE Group of Companies. All installers working in our company have a high level of qualification and have 5 access groups. .

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

The materials presented in the videos will help you better understand how the heating device works, how it differs from analogues and how it can be quickly installed.

Video #1 Working principle of infrared heating:

Video #2 A brief overview of the Zebra EVO heating system:

Video #3 How to install the Zebra system:

Infrared heating, and Zebra refers to this type, is a practical alternative to convective systems.Its effectiveness and economy have been proven by numerous studies and years of practical application.

When deciding to install IR heaters, you need to understand that all their advantages will be fully revealed only if the rooms are thoroughly insulated, otherwise the Zebra will only bring disappointment.

Do you want to talk about how you bought and installed a film heating system at home? Do you have useful information that will be useful to site visitors? Please write comments, ask questions and publish photos on the topic of the article in the block below.