Keeping water from freezing for small scale livestock

[feedjake]

I've been all over the web looking at "solar powered" watering systems. But I wanted to get some of your thoughts. When I get the goats (God willing) I'm leaning towards just updating with a new electric line. Right now all I have... is the line that runs from the house to the light post and splices into an extension cord for use when needed in the barn. I would like to just update that, and get a new line, to go from a switch in the house, across to the light post and over to the barn, for multiple uses, including a livestock water heater, with a couple of plugs and some overhead lighting.

It's maybe 80 - 100 feet from my house to the barn.

 

[Hollow]

You can always drop a bottle of anti freeze in the trough but make sure you use a bottle that the seal has never been broken. I've had to do this for our horses a few times and I always tied the jugs up so the cap was always upright and out of the water so there's no way it can leak and contaminant the water.

 

[MMagis]

If you can do electric, that’s the way to go. Anything else is going to cost more, and you still won’t have power out there.
The jug in the tank would work to a certain temp I’m sure, but when it’s single digits in the day it wouldn’t. I think I’d use washer fluid instead of antifreeze, though I’m not sure how much safer it is.

 

[charlz]

Yeah I don't think you can beat electric tank heaters or heated buckets.

 

[Gary51]

I would suggest checking in to building an earth covered tank like this:


Precast concrete feed bunks and stock tanks for livestock

They do not use any electricity, just heat from the earth. May not be 100% ice free in your area but I've seen people from the Ozarks in Missouri report that they remain nearly ice free all winter in their enviroment. They're expensive to buy but I would think one could be built much cheaper.

 

[MikeD74T]

Powerless waterer movieclip . I helped a neighbor farmer install one of these 20 years ago. It worked great at least to -10F. MikeD74T

 

[Ken45101]

No matter what I do for grounding or even GFCI, there always seems to be a little electrical leakage from electric heaters. That gives the horses a slight tingle on their nose when the heater is on and they refuse to drink after that.

I've given up and just bust out the ice twice a day.

I have been using the plastic Rubbermaid tanks. I wonder if a metal tank would provide a better ground. Are those of you who are successfully using electric heaters using plastic or metal tanks?

Ken

 

[DennisArrow]

Run at the MINIMUM a 30A circuit to your barn. If possible a 220V down there. There is no telling how much power you will actually need and nothing worse than NOT having it when you need it.

The low power buckets are 16 gallon with a thermostat. 250 Watts.........3 amps
Lights........dont know how big your barn is but 5 100 watt ...................5 amps
Heat lamps for kids.....dont know but lets say 3 at 200 watt...................6 amps

YOU are out of electricity...........That long of a run and your voltage is down to probably 100 instead of 110. Your available amperage on a 20A circuit is down to perhaps 15......

Now what happens when you want to run a drill, grinder, or dremel to shape hooves/horns?
You just bathed your show goat and need the blower and trimmer?????????????

Your meds refrigerator is blowing the breaker when it comes on?
Your fence charger has to be unplugged to run your lights.
Your flashlight charger cant work........ON and ON.......

Run the greatest power that you can...........lol

ASK ME HOW I LEARNED THESE THINGS..........God bless.....Dennis

 

[20 20]

I saw this post yesterday and have come up with a solution.........let the critters in the house for the winter and fill the tub :laughing:

 

[GregbkH]

No matter what I do for grounding or even GFCI, there always seems to be a little electrical leakage from electric heaters. That gives the horses a slight tingle on their nose when the heater is on and they refuse to drink after that.

I've given up and just bust out the ice twice a day.

I have been using the plastic Rubbermaid tanks. I wonder if a metal tank would provide a better ground. Are those of you who are successfully using electric heaters using plastic or metal tanks?

Ken

Proper grounding is the answer. With plastic, static could be the culprit, especially in the winter. Good grounding or static straps is for plastic also. You have to run a good ground from the tank to building steel and maybe even a couple of ground rods. It has to be a solid ground. Have someone test it with a meter.