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Discussion on Solar water heater
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Member:
erika
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Posted on Friday, Dec 21, 2007 - 9:02 am:
This tip comes to us via Ilona, who told Holly, who told me...
Check these out!
https://www.horsesonly.com/amesco/
I know that many of us have pastures where power is not an option. This is a great idea for those paddocks that are far from the barn!
Thanks Ilona!!
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Member:
ekaufman
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Posted on Friday, Dec 21, 2007 - 9:53 am:
Yes-- I had the high-end one here and it leaked 30,000 gallons/month. YMMV. The trough style may be stronger.
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Member:
christel
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Posted on Friday, Dec 21, 2007 - 10:22 am:
This is neat even if you have access to electricity- those durn electric heaters can get expensive- these would pay for themselves in less than 2 years- thanks for posting Ilona.
Elizabeth, are you saying you had this brand of heater? If it leaks that much water, maybe its not as good as I thought? 
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Member:
mrose
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Posted on Friday, Dec 21, 2007 - 10:33 am:
Imagine my shock when I went to the site and found these tanks are made in Ivans, UT!! That is just east of St. George, about an hour south of me. If you knew what Ivans looked like, you'd know why I was shocked. Also, funny because Ivans never has snow. I'm going to look into these also. The minute we plug our tank heaters in the electric bill shoots up.
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Member:
ekaufman
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Posted on Friday, Dec 21, 2007 - 10:50 am:
I had the 42 gallon sun tank with a direct line installed. That particular tank isn't well designed, IMO. It had cracked right through the trough and was dumping water like crazy. It's hard to describe, but that particular model was designed to break.
I notice they claim "units still going strong after 18 years." Wonder exactly how many units? If they define "going strong" by water flow, mine was a star!
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Member:
annes
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Posted on Friday, Dec 21, 2007 - 11:26 am:
Country Supply also has these. I looked into it last year but did not order. I only have 3 horses now and our winters are not too bad. I really don't have to break ice for very long.
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Member:
christel
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Posted on Friday, Dec 21, 2007 - 12:00 pm:
ummm, gonna have to rethink this- 42 gallons of water aint much water, if one didn't have it attached to a flow valve you'd spend alot of time refilling and especially so if you had the other size, and a lot of time draining hoses if your tank isn't close to faucet.
Ann one of my biggest reasons (other than I hate breaking ice) to use a heater in the first place is to make the water a little warmer, thus encouraging more consumption of it- if water is not icy cold I figured they would drink more of it, thus be warmer. Am I off base with this analogy? Will horse drink more if the chill is off so to say?
Has anyone mentioned to Holly what Elizabeth says about these tanks? Have they improved them now, I wonder?
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Member:
ilona
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Posted on Friday, Dec 21, 2007 - 12:02 pm:
Elizabeth,
I don't believe that this company makes a 42 gallon tank, maybe it was a different manufacturer?
I know I can't wait for mine to arrive as by the time I have de-iced 6-8 water tanks in the morning I am just about fit for nothing else, not good in my situation  !
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Member:
ekaufman
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Posted on Friday, Dec 21, 2007 - 12:19 pm:
I had the 42 gallon one mentioned here.
https://www.horsesonly.com/amesco/
I imagine the stand-alones could be more durable.
Yes Chris-- I've been corresponding with Holly about these waterers.
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Member:
ajudson1
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Posted on Friday, Dec 21, 2007 - 3:21 pm:
I don't think much of them after going to the website. I told Holly as much in an email to her. I think the best answer is to have one tank, with one heater that screws into the hole of the tank, and have a run that connects all the horses to the tank. Even if they can't drink 24/7, they will get enough. Meaning let different horses at it different times. Been there, done that, but then I have small pastures.
My horses don't seem to drink as much in the winter, but then neither do I.
I have to use almost 50' of hose to fill the tank. So I prefer to fill it full and not have to do that again for a few days. Could just kick myself though for not considering automatic waterers in the 2 open stalls, or, at least demanded a hydrant beside the barn where the tank is. (I do get some hot water from the faucet in the barn, it has heat trace on it in the tack room...so that is a nice bonus)
Ilona, if you get yours, let us know how it works, and how sturdy it is. Would love cut the electic bill down some.
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Member:
alden
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Posted on Saturday, Dec 22, 2007 - 11:31 am:
Here's a link that has a lot of info on solar pumping and solar stock water.
https://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/WaterPumping/waterpumping.htm#Stock
and another, it's all about pumping. But maybe it'll spark an idea.
https://practicalaction.org/docs/technical_information_service/solar_pv_waterpump s.pdf
Good day,
Alden
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