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Discussion on Heating element for outside water trough/safe??
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Member:
Annes
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Posted on Friday, Jan 14, 2005 - 4:34 pm:
This is the 3rd year I have used a heating element in the bottom of a 100 gallon rubbermaid trough. It is located against the outside barn wall and the cord goes through the wall and plugs into an outlet inside. The cord is completely hidden from the horses and out of the weather. A special GFCI outlet was installed by a qualified electrician to insure safety. This worked wonderfully for two winters. I only leave the element in during the cold months and I clean it each season. We had freezing temperatures a few weeks ago for the 1st time this year. I noticed the horses pawing around the trough and when I went to inspect the water it was not frozen. I put my hand in the water and got a mild electric shock up my arm. (I am sure this had already happened to the horses.)I promptly unplugged the cord. I do not know why the electricity did not automatically cut off like it should. My husband wants me to simply replace the heating element but I do not want to take the chance of this happening again. I called the Co-op and they want to replace the element and said I shouldn't worry about it happening again. They said they have sold these for years and haven't heard about any problems. The person I spoke with said he didn't think there was enough current to kill a horse (or person). I only did this because I thought it was 100% safe with the GFCI outlet. Until I figure this out I am going to cut ice at the pond. I did look into the heated insulated waterers because the heating element is underneath and not in the water. Can anyone advise me on this and tell me what your experience has been. My husband and the Co-op think I am over-reacting. Thanks so much for any help.
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Member:
Suzeb
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Posted on Friday, Jan 14, 2005 - 5:17 pm:
Hello Ann,
Although the shock may not be enough to kill your horses or yourself, it is still a shock and your horses are sensing their drinking water as a place to stay away from. People put up electric fencing for horses to keep away from other things that could be dangerous. Do you want to keep your horses away from their drinking water? I don't think you are over reacting at all, if anything keep stomping your feet up and down  .
Hope this helps,
Susan B.
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Member:
Eoeo
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Posted on Friday, Jan 14, 2005 - 8:08 pm:
Absolutely, the horses will NOT drink water from a tank where they get even a MILD shock. We have used the tubs with the heating element in the bottom section separate from the water section. They work even when it is at 0 degrees. I put them inside of a cut off barrel with some insulation inside the barrel just to help make sure they work below 0. I don't believe you need to do that but I thought it would give some protection to the heated tub in case the horses try to play with them, paw at them or whatever and at $69.99 a piece and we have 8 of them, I don't want them breaking them.  We have 3 that are going on their 2nd year, the others are new. They hold about 15-16 gallons of water. EO
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Member:
Liliana
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Posted on Friday, Jan 14, 2005 - 10:28 pm:
Hi Ann
Although now we live in sunny Cozumel Mexican Caribbean. I remember having that problem back in England.
What we did (most horsey people back there) was put a ball which floats at the top of the trough, the wind moves it and stops the water from freezing. 
One morning whilst rugging up the horses I notice that all but one bucket had the icey top and when I looked, Bluebell the mare had DrOpped a carrot in her bucket and it had kept it without the dreaded icey top!  From then on all buckets had a largish carrot DrOpped every night. Funny but is true!
I hope it works for you,
Liliana
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Member:
DeeDrOtt
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Posted on Saturday, Jan 15, 2005 - 8:51 am:
I have used the Rubbermaid troughs with the heating element in the bottom for over 10 years and have never experienced any problems. I do replace the elements as they look worn or if any wires look unusual. I currently have 8 operating now. I use these because here in mid-MI (as today) we have temps in the single digets with wind chill below ZERO, and these seem to work the best (as opposed to the heating elements that foat on the top) All the troughs are completely with out ice and the water is actually warm which makes the horses WANT to drink. In the winter they seem to drink more if the water is available than in the summer. I think if you purchase a new one and replace it all will be good. Some of the new ones actually have the heating control where if it gets above 50 degrees it shuts off. They really do the best job. I also used the buckets with the heating element built in the bottom of the bucket, both the 5 gallon and the larger ones. They work good for smaller paddocks or for the dogs. Oh I also wanted to mention that I use timers on my heating units. Right now they are on constantly, but when the weather reports that it will be in the 30's during the day I set the timers to turn off around 10am and go back on around 6pm (saves on electricity). BUT - next year I should not have to worry about this - all the pastures and paddocks will have the Nelson waterers installed with heating units so - unless the line freezes all will be good. No more troughs or hoses.
Good Luck - try a new unit I thing you just had one that had a problem.
Dee}}
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Member:
Sandbox
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Posted on Saturday, Jan 15, 2005 - 4:25 pm:
Dee - I just had a Nelson waterer installed this fall and wanted to share my experience with you. The first time it dipped into the subzero temps - it froze up so my plumber lined it with insulation. It got even colder and again froze so he added some heat tape - that seems to have resolved the freezing issue but now I noticed that the steel rim around the top works like a flag pole on your tongue when I touch it. And it also creates a small rim of ice around the edges and can slow down the refilling process.
I keep telling myself that it looks pretty but deep down I'm wondering if I should have look into a different brand for ND winters...or maybe I should move to a warmer climate - sigh.....
~ Sandy
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Member:
DeeDrOtt
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Posted on Saturday, Jan 15, 2005 - 4:55 pm:
Sandy
I was wondering - when you had your Nelson
waterers installed was that ones with the built in heaters and insulators? The ones I bought
have the heaters built in and have anywhere from a
4' to 8' insulator that goes in the ground and
and then the heater connects to the electric in the ground. They are suppose to be guaranteed not to freeze unless your water line freezes. May want to check into that. I do have the Nelson waters in my stalls in the barn (were here when we moved in) I have had some issues with them but it is a direct result in how they were originally installed from the previous owner. We have resolved some of the incorrect installation issues but I will be replacing 2 of them maybe next summer. My electrician is very knowledgeable with the Nelson waterers since the largest Horse area in MI is just south of me and most of thoses (MILLION DOLLAR) farms have them. He does most of the service in that area - so since he says the Nelson's are the CADILLAC of the watering systems
I am going to give them a try.
Thanks for the info though - and when next winter rolls around I will be on the lookout for any issues. I am not looking for Pretty I need Function. So if that is what they turn out to be
is pretty - Nelson will here from me. I will be installing 8 - 10 outside waterers so I sure hope they work. Thanks again.
Dee
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Member:
Lisamg
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Posted on Saturday, Jan 15, 2005 - 7:52 pm:
Ann;
I too am from Michigan, and yes, it gets very cold here. I have used heating elements in a Rubbermaid trough since I built the farm 6 years ago. The rubbermaid troughs work nice since they are black and keep the water warmer in the winter. Never had a problem with shocking. However, that said, heating elements take a beating in well water. Which is what most people are putting in their troughs. Depending on what kind of water you have, don't expect your heating element to last more than a couple of years. That's the key here. Don't wait until they start shorting out, replace them and there will be no problems. Here at our farm we have high content sulfer water which basically eats metal. We replace our heating element every other year. We buy the ones that shut off when the water reaches 40 degrees. I really don't worry about colic in the winter from too little water consumption because the horses will drink more water if it's warmed in the winter. I think decreased water intake is probably more of a threat to your horses health than one faulty heating element.
If I were you I'd just get another heating element and check the water for electicity if you see a problem. (i.e. horses pawing, no water gone out of trough, etc....)
Just my opinion ...
Lisa
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Member:
Albionsh
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 16, 2005 - 1:35 am:
Eoeo, what is the manufacturer of your waterers? We are at that stage of our barn building project and we would love to find a unit for each of our 20 stalls that is less expensive while still being very effective. Thanks!
Nancy
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Member:
Eoeo
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 16, 2005 - 12:37 pm:
They are 16 gallon plastic tubs with a heating element in the bottom. You would have to fill them every day by hand if you used these, however, I would imagine you could fix them with a float of some type and have it connected to a water source. For the rest of our place, my husband has used 15 inch pvc Pipe and run the water source inside with heat tapes and put one of those heated buckets in it. These have worked great but probably are a little spendy on electricity. We have cheap power here so I have never checked to see what they each cost. Right now, we have 6 of those going and they work. He used a toilet fill valve on the bottom of the bucket and it fills to certain level and shuts off. The only thing you have to be careful about is that when you install them you flush the line well before you hook up the toilet valve as it can get a little piece pvc shavings from making your cut and then it will keep the valve from sutting off completely. EO
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Member:
Eoeo
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 16, 2005 - 12:38 pm:
I forgot tomention, the heated 16 gallon tubs are found at any feed store around here and they are in the Horse catalogs too. I think they are put out by Farnam but don't quote me. EO
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Member:
Sandbox
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 16, 2005 - 1:10 pm:
Dee - My Nelson waterers are insulated and heated but, when the temps and windchill went crazy, mine needed some extra insulation - we were experiencing -19 degrees plus a little more with windchill when they froze up on me.
But this morning the temp was -27 and w/ windchill -47. But I checked the waterer and it was still working - the extra insulation and heat tape really did the trick. Good luck with your big project.
~ S
But regarding that guarantee - I think I'll give Nelson Mfg a jingle
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Member:
Annes
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Posted on Monday, Jan 17, 2005 - 11:06 am:
Thanks everyone for your help. Today it is a high of 25 and low about 12 at night. I used the ax this morning in the trough. I am concerned they do not drink as much when the water is so cold. The element I had kept it at 40 degrees. From everyone's advice, it sounds like I should replace my element and try again. This was the 3rd winter for it. It worked perfectly for the other two winters. I do use city water so that wasn't a problem. I saw a 25 gal. solar water trough in the Country Supply catalog which was really tempting. It said it is guaranteed to minus 20 degrees and even keeps down algae in the summer. Is this too good to be true?? It was pricey (on sale for $348) but if it works there would be no more buying $30 elements every 2 years or, most importantly, worrying about a shock. I was wondering if anyone has used a solar water trough? Thanks.
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Member:
Pepette
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Posted on Friday, Feb 3, 2006 - 6:47 pm:
I just bought a solar water tank for horses. Keeps the water from freezing in the winter, and keeps it cool in the summer. It really works! They cost around $450. I am going to replace one tank at a time, as I can afford it.
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Member:
Ajudson1
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Posted on Saturday, Feb 4, 2006 - 11:01 am:
Do you have a website with any info on the tank?? Or where to find one?? With the heating element adding at least a dollar a day to our electrical bill, I'd love to look into alternatives.
Do you need to still have a heating element for when there is a long stretch of cloudy days?
Let us know how it works for you, please!!
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Member:
Pepette
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Posted on Saturday, Feb 4, 2006 - 3:51 pm:
https://www.horse.com/products/product.aspx?sku=BSA40
The price is lower from Country Supply (above URL).
WE LOVE IT!!!!
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