Stock water tank, electric de-icer voltage ?

[irwin]

Hey guys,gals;

Anyone have any knowledge about voltage in the water from a stock tank de-icer?

For about 3 weeks after we installed it we had no obvious problem, then my wife noticed one of our horses acting funny while taking a drink. He was cautiously licking the water with a (this ain't right) look in his eyes, so my wife unplugged the de-icer and the horse, after licking cautiously again he finally stuck his snout in and drank normally.

She told me this story so I brought my tester home and checked the water with the heater on, I got a reading of 0.3 volts, unplugged it and tester went to 0.0 v.

We went to TSC and bought another de-icer, after draining the water and installed new piece, filled it up (110 gallons) I tested the water again and got the same 0.3 volt reading..? Is this okay?

I called an electronic tech friend and he said the reading should be zero, I called my brother who's an electrician and he said that's not enough voltage for a horse to feel and don't be concerned, but he admits he's not sure if it should be bleeding any voltage into the water.

So anyone? Should the de-icer be bleeding a third of a volt into the drinking water?

Thanks....

 

[Soundguy]

Should it? no.. can it? well .. you've seen it.

the fix? EZ

I drive a metal rod in the ground ( copepr best.. but rebar is fine ). then i put a water pipe ground clamp on it with a piece of bailing wire and then hang the wire a foot over in the water.. perhaps with a nut on the end of it for weight... this provides a ground path for any residual charge vs your horse's tounge and feet...

soundguy

 

[tommu56]

Irwin
Measure from the water to separate ground probe.

It could be some thing else in the house or barn causing problem and showing up out there.

I remember a diary farm that had a problem and the farmer complained to power company and said it wasn't their problem.
After some one found the problem and they had the transformer replaced he sewed for lost production and won

tom

 

[irwin]

Should it? no.. can it? well .. you've seen it.

the fix? EZ

I drive a metal rod in the ground ( copepr best.. but rebar is fine ). then i put a water pipe ground clamp on it with a piece of bailing wire and then hang the wire a foot over in the water.. perhaps with a nut on the end of it for weight... this provides a ground path for any residual charge vs your horse's tounge and feet...

soundguy

That sounds like an easy, can do, Chris. thanks for the suggestion, got a few spare rebar somewhere around here.

Irwin
Measure from the water to separate ground probe.

It could be some thing else in the house or barn causing problem and showing up out there.

I remember a diary farm that had a problem and the farmer complained to power company and said it wasn't their problem.
After some one found the problem and they had the transformer replaced he sewed for lost production and won

tom

Thanks Tom, I'll be trying to find out what the real story is, and while I do that... I need my horses to feel free to drink, be a shame to train them to fear water.

 

[Soundguy]

Yep.. get them drinking and then check your grounds at the junction box.. and possibly have the power co check at the pole.

Might check from your water in the house to ground as well.... could be a hot water heater leak issue??

good luck

soundguy

 

[quicksandfarmer]

Your problem is called "stray voltage," it's a common problem when electricity is used around water. Here's an article:

What Causes Stray Voltage? - Bass Associates Inc.

 

[4720 OWNER]

Pigs are very sensitive to it as well. Cannot feel a 9v battery, but just put your tongue on it!

 

[irwin]

Your problem is called "stray voltage," it's a common problem when electricity is used around water. Here's an article:

What Causes Stray Voltage? - Bass Associates Inc.

Thanks for the link qsf....interesting..

 

[Racer71]

I would check your ground wire. Your hot and netural should be insulated already but the ground would go to the outside of the heater. This could be hard to track down.

 

[irwin]

I drive a metal rod in the ground ( copepr best.. but rebar is fine ). then i put a water pipe ground clamp on it with a piece of bailing wire and then hang the wire a foot over in the water.. perhaps with a nut on the end of it for weight... this provides a ground path for any residual charge vs your horse's tounge and feet...

soundguy

Just thought I'd follow up and let Chris know what I did and the results.

Did what you suggested, drove a six foot ground rod in five foot deep, attached a section of electric fence wire with a ground clamp. Before I put the wire in the water I tested it again..this time it measured 0.23 volts without ground wire..then put the wire into the tank to about 3 inches from the bottom...it tested 0.051..I'd say it's a success.. My horses are drinking without a problem. ..I'll try to solve the (what,why etc.) when I'm not so busy....
Thanks for your help...and all the best.