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How do I get the best performance from the heated hose?
By applying a few best practices, you can improve the performance of your heated hoses and Reactor.
The heated hoses of a Reactor are an important part of the system. To get the best performance out of your Reactor, you should take into account some general guidelines regarding the handling of the heated hoses.
The way you handle your heated hoses can have a serious impact on the performance of your Reactor and the quality of your spray result. Take into account the following best practices regarding the heated hoses to get the most out of your spray foam or polyurea system.
Avoid coiled hoses
The heated hoses of a Graco Reactor are designed to be rugged, while maintaining reliability. However, avoid having coiled hoses as they create an uneven heat buildup that can result in hose rupture, possibly causing serious injury, including fluid injection.
Be sure to always uncoil the hose before spraying, as this allows it to heat up faster. This is due to the effects of heat on conductors, called the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR), also specified as “R”.
The TCR effect means that the hotter the wire, the less current it can carry. And less current means slower hose heat-up time.
Graco engineers compared hose heat-up times for coiled and uncoiled hoses. Their tests showed that uncoiled hoses maintain an even temperature, allowing maximum current flow. This can improve your hose heat-up time by 10 to 15%.
Insulate the fluid temperature sensor (FTS)
In the last 15 meter section of the Reactor heated hose, the fluid temperature sensor (FTS) monitors the chemical temperatures. Like the thermostat in your house, the Reactor system applies heat to the hose based on the FTS temperature readings.
Poor FTS insulation is like putting your thermostat outside. The Reactor will continue applying heat to the hose, possibly causing damage.
To properly insulate your Reactor’s FTS, Graco offers an all-in-one insulation repair kit (part 26C350).
Alternatively, you can monitor and control the temperature of your heated hose through the Resistance Control Mode (RCM) . The RCM monitors hose temperature over the entire length of the hose by measuring the total hose resistance. The advantages: minimized hot and cold spots associated with typical hose condition, like hoses coiled on hose rack, missing hose insulation, varying ambient conditions, etc. Additionally, you are not dependent on properly functioning RTD cables or an FTS to monitor hose temperature.
Refer to the manual for further directions:
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