Patent ID: 6894254

Claim:
In pipe heater apparatus comprising a plurality of pipe heaters configured for mounting on one or more pipes, wherein each of said pipe heaters has a heat producing element that is capable of producing heat from electric power derived from line voltage electricity and a power controlling circuit for controlling the electric power to the heat producing element, the improvement comprising: a socket on each of said pipe heaters comprising: (i) an inlet daisy chain connector, (ii) an outlet daisy chain connector; (iii) a modular receptacle connector, (iv) a first electric power trace extending between the inlet daisy chain connector and the outlet daisy chain connector and connected electrically to the heat producing element; (v) a second electric power trace extending between the inlet daisy chain connector and the outlet daisy chain connector and connected electrically to the modular receptacle connector; and (vi) a third electric power trace extending between, and connected electrically to, the modular receptacle connector and the heat producing element; and a local controller module comprising said power controlling circuit and a mating modular plug connector configured for mating, releasable connection with the modular receptacle connector of the socket in a manner that connects the power controlling circuit electrically in a releasable manner between the second electric power trace and the third electric power trace for controlling the electric power to the heat producing element.