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Plates vs. sheet metal

zeb_3
zeb_3 Member Posts: 104
in THE MAIN WALL
I thought the idea or plates was that the plate had a groove to hold & contact 3/4 of the tube where conduction from tube to plate takes place. If sheet metal was installed below the tube it wouldn't have as much tube / metal contact. However if your load requirements are low it would probably be OK.

Comments

  • Joe_8
    Joe_8 Member Posts: 32
    Staple up plates vs. sheet metal, weigh in.

    To my esteemed colleagues,

    Please help me settle a dispute between two of my local wetheads. At the supply house today, there was a colorful discussion concerning the cost difference and effectiveness between using staple up heat plates, or using sheet metal. In the staple up plate corner was the argument of design, expansion, simplicity, and appearance. In the sheet metal corner was the rebuttal of less material cost, mass of metal (gauge)creating more heat sink, and flexibility.
    I must say that I had never considered using sheet metal for this purpose and was intrigued by the argument.
    What do you all think?
    Joe
  • Troy_3
    Troy_3 Member Posts: 479
    steel plates

    I've never considered using steel plates especially after fixing a job that used Slant-fin steel plates. The contractor that we have done many radiant installs for called to say "something is wrong, we can't get the room warm." Sure enough- from what I saw it was installed correct and the only variable was we use Thermo-fin aluminum plates. I sold the contractor Thermo-fin plates which he changed himself. The room cale up to temp. within a few hours. His words- "It was an incredible difference." The steel plates didn't seem to even get warm.
  • Chris Maderia
    Chris Maderia Member Posts: 120
    Plain and Simple

    Alum transfers heat better than sheet metal. But you know what they say? "You get what you pay for". Let me ask this. If the use of sheetmetal was better, why wouldn't it be recommended by radiant mfg's? Don't you think that by using sheetmetal you are actually giving the customers a inferior system. I'm sure those contractors using sheetmetal aren't taking a cut in pay in their hourly rate so why should the customer take a cut in pay with THEIR system.
This discussion has been closed.

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