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| Moderated by: Brenda Im | Page:   1 2 |
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| Water heaters | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Sun Dec 12th, 2010 01:36 am |
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21st Post |
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softride G.O.G Community Member 
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My Stall and barn are not attached. My barn isn't in the pasture or paddock either. The only time it is inconvient is when we had severe weather, you know, hurricanes and lightning storms. I was always afraid that my horses would break into the feed room and you all know what a disaster that could be. That is why we dug a ditch (easy to do in FL sand-NO ROCKS), ran wire in gray pvc from our barn to the stall. Inside the stall door, we ran the pvc to the rafters. We then were able to put a ceiling fan and lights. We don't have to worry about a mouthy horse. the lights, fan, and the horse trough are connected to ground fault. I can't stress enough about the ground fault recepitacale. It is a life saver and well worth the little extra money they cost!!!!! I tried to send a picture but I haven't figured out how to do it yet, I'll keep trying.
____________________ Horses are not a job-They are a way of life! |
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| Posted: Thu Dec 16th, 2010 11:11 pm |
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22nd Post |
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SPOTD RIDR G.O.G Community Member 
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Does anyone know if there is a gallon limit that the tank heaters need to have to work properly and be safe ? I have this 40 gal tank right outside the barn:http://www.tractorsupply.com/livestock/livestock-equipment/stock-tanks-accessories/stock-tanks/oval-stock-tank-40-gal-2229846 And I just bought this heater :http://www.tractorsupply.com/livestock/livestock-equipment/stock-tanks-accessories/stock-tank-heaters/api-15n-sinking-de-icer-1500-watts-2170712 I was worried it may need to be in a bigger tank, but I cannot find any information, I have a 100 gal rubbermaid in the lower pasture that we haul water to but I like this one at the barn because the well house is right at the barn for easy cleaning and filling. I planned on running a drop cord under the roof line outside the barn and coming down the backside of the barn and down the wooden fence to the tank which is maybe 4 ft from the barn.
____________________ JoAngela "Jo" |
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| Posted: Fri Dec 17th, 2010 02:11 am |
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23rd Post |
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slipslider G.O.G Community Member 
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Spotd, I have the exact same water tank and same heater. It works fine on mine and I know mine had the info on how many gallons of water it works on, but cannot remember off hand. You do want the right size as they come in all different types. But the one you have should work just fine. This is the second year I have had mine and had absolutely no problems. I have a metal tank and the plastic one. I have them side by side right now in my pasture. Reason for this is.. I have to add water with hose from house and if weather is cold for very long, hose gets too cold and is very hard to do. So I double up so water will last longer, I find that horses will really drink that heated water in the winter time. I have also found that for some reason (i guess taste) they really like the water in the metal tank better than the plastic one. If they have a choice they will drink the metal one first. Last edited on Fri Dec 17th, 2010 02:12 am by slipslider ____________________ LaVonne Summertime Stables, LLC |
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| Posted: Fri Dec 17th, 2010 12:08 pm |
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24th Post |
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SPOTD RIDR G.O.G Community Member
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I wonder if they prefer the metal tank because it is bright and clear and they can see the bottom, no monsters in it, LOL All the units are 1500 watts that were sinkable, the floating were 1250 watts so seems they all are about the same size. More than likely if you found info. on the gallon requirements and used the same set up I plan on using it must have been ok assuming you went with it too. Last edited on Fri Dec 17th, 2010 12:10 pm by SPOTD RIDR ____________________ JoAngela "Jo" |
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| Posted: Fri Dec 17th, 2010 12:19 pm |
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25th Post |
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slipslider G.O.G Community Member
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yes spotd, that is exactly what i use and it works great. Had it in my metal one this last cold spell with the plastic one sitting right beside it. The plastic had 3 inch ice on top and the metal one had no ice at all in it. It works great, you should have no problem with it.
____________________ LaVonne Summertime Stables, LLC |
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| Posted: Fri Dec 17th, 2010 07:10 pm |
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26th Post |
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SPOTD RIDR G.O.G Community Member
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Ok my maintence guy was out today to put up a outside barn light that will light up the backside of the paddock at the water tank and well house area, so when we were putting in the water heater I decided that I just did not feel good about the heater in that little 40 gal tank, just to visable and easy for the horses to get to I felt. I went to the lower pasture and got the 100 gal rubbermaid tank, so they can't see it sitting in the bottom as easily, we ran a drop cord along the roof beams inside the barn to a portable GFCI unit I bought that plugs in the recepticle he installed today and came down the back of the outside of the barn and along the bottom board of the fence, tacked up with staple nails, and into the back of the tank so that it is flush to the fence. I had him to drill 2 small holes in the side of the tank about 3" from the top and secure the electrical cord on the heater with a tie strap, that way the cord is not floating in the middle of the tank for them to see and it can't be pulled completely out, hopefully. I already had the big tank that we don't even use so I went with it rather than let it sit.
____________________ JoAngela "Jo" |
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| Posted: Fri Dec 17th, 2010 07:25 pm |
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27th Post |
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slipslider G.O.G Community Member
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Sounds to me you have it all fixed up. And I am bad, pictures are deceiving. Mine is bigger than 40 as well. Believe my metal and plastic one are both 100 gallons. You and your horses are all set and it will be so nice!!
____________________ LaVonne Summertime Stables, LLC |
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| Posted: Sat Dec 18th, 2010 06:59 pm |
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28th Post |
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Rush Creek Farms G.O.G Community Member
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I have two buckets in with my horse. One is the blue 5 gal heated bucket that stores the cord underneath when not in use. The other is a plain 5 gal bucket. My horse prefers the cold water - he will break the ice on the top of the unheated bucket rather than drinking from the heated bucket. I clean and empty both buckets twice a day. It's a rare occasion that he'll drink more than 1/4 of the warm bucket. How do you keep your horses from dirtying up the larger tanks? I have not gotten a larger tank because my horse is messy. I am concerned if I have to empty the whole tank to clean it, that I'll have a sheet of ice on the ground... Maybe for one horse my two-bucket method is fine, but we're considering adding a second horse in the next year. I love hearing all of your ideas... Jen
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| Posted: Mon Dec 20th, 2010 02:10 pm |
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29th Post |
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slipslider G.O.G Community Member
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I have found that the dirt goes to the bottom of tank and the water is still fresh and clear on top. Once the horses have drunk the tank close to bottom, i will dump and rinse then refill. I try to do this on the days weather is above freezing when at all possible. If not then i just fill it back up, dirt again will settle to bottom. This is the only suggestion i have.
____________________ LaVonne Summertime Stables, LLC |
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| Posted: Mon Dec 20th, 2010 02:16 pm |
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30th Post |
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sdlepal Ranch Hand 
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Here is an idea for all of those, who like me have to bust the ice and dip the chunks out by hand. I have been using a kitchen colondar with a handle and after breaking the ice, just dip the chunks up and away! It works pretty good. If I ever re-do my watering system I would have a Ritchie water tank.
____________________ Pam and Cowboy Casey |
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| Posted: Mon Dec 20th, 2010 04:37 pm |
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31st Post |
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Lakota G.O.G Community Member 
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I know that it sounds like a really carefree situation, but there's no way to tell if your horses are drinking. If there's a health issue, not drinking the tank down will give you a heads up. A drop in tank heater is a real time & effort saver, and they're not terribly expensive. I have always solved nosey horse problems by cutting a piece of 1/2" plywood that will cover a little less than half the tank (standard old metal tanks). Drop in the heater, screw the wood down w/cord between top of tank & wood. Nobody ever messes with it for the last 30 years. Tanks are always next to fence or barn wall.
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| Posted: Sun Dec 26th, 2010 04:27 pm |
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32nd Post |
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SPOTD RIDR G.O.G Community Member
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sdlepal wrote: Here is an idea for all of those, who like me have to bust the ice and dip the chunks out by hand. I have been using a kitchen colondar with a handle and after breaking the ice, just dip the chunks up and away! It works pretty good. If I ever re-do my watering system I would have a Ritchie water tank. In the stalls that have the 5 gal buckets I use a hammer to break the ice then use a minnow net to scoop it out, never thought of anything bigger for the outside tank, good idea. My tank heater is working great, I went out one morning when it was 18* and the tank was steaming, I was like OMG it must be smoking hot !, I stuck my hand into it and to me the water don't even feel warm, lightly cool, just the right temperature. Jerry said he watched Coal & Mira stand at the tank the other day and drink for a really long time.
____________________ JoAngela "Jo" |
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| Posted: Sun Dec 26th, 2010 05:08 pm |
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33rd Post |
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slipslider G.O.G Community Member
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I love water heaters and is the one of the first things i invested my money in. I started with one heated water bucket for my old horse that is known to colic if she does not drink enough in the winter months. I was told when I got her that she would colic in winter and they thought for some reason she was not drinking enough water. It has worked great for her and only have had a couple of spells with her colicking and that was because i was sick and my son i do not believe saw to her as well as he should have. I soon bought heated buckets for all my stalls and it is great. I fill them up before putting them in their stalls and by next morning they are empty or close to empty so they are drinking great from them. I have two water tanks outside with just one water heater in one, if it gets low, i switch to the other. The other day the tank without the heater was slushed with thin layer of ice, but horse could drink from it as it was not frozen sloid, other tank was clear. Watched one of my horses go up the the ice tank and looked at it, nosed around to see about a drink then went for the heated and drank. I had a friends horse that stayed overnight once and evidently squished my heated bucket causing it to crack the bottom. I plugged it up, found a bucket that would sit down inside of it and it worked great, so still able to use. Just a thought for those that may have had this to happen, don't throw away. It can still work. I love water heaters and heated buckets!!
____________________ LaVonne Summertime Stables, LLC |
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| Posted: Mon Dec 27th, 2010 08:22 pm |
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34th Post |
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SPOTD RIDR G.O.G Community Member
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Caught Coal drinking the ice free water today.
____________________ JoAngela "Jo" |
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