stock tank heaters??

[barnyardgal]

How do ya tell if they are working properly?? I have one on in the tank & water was froze this morning,i touched the deicer & it is WARM to touch & put it back in water & its been over 2 hours & water still frozen......

It is a submersible cast aluminum utility- 500 watts,cannot get pic to show up....

How do you tell if they done for?? Guess if it don't deice the water,it is no good?? No thermostat or anything on it either....Its about 2 years old......

Is it done for i guess???????????

see if this image works~~

http://www.shanestack.com/shop/index...-flypage-18502

[MO_cows]

We have had the best luck with the type that inserts into the drain plug hole.
http://www.orschelnfarmhome.com/univ...si5182762/cl1/

Seems like we only have to replace one of these every 3-4 years instead of 2.

If yours isn't keeping the water clear of ice with just the moderately cold nights we are having, get it out of the tank before it really malfunctions and shocks someone.

[Windy in Kansas]

Rated for a 50 gallon tank. How large is your stock tank?

You might try insulating the sides of the tank in an effort to aid it to prevent wind from pulling some of the heat from the tank.

[olivehill]

Well, my initial response when I read just the question was: if the water if frozen it's not working, but after reading your explanation I wonder if it's just not sufficient to keep the water thawed out. 500 watts is only 1/3 the size that they are up here. What size tank do you have it in? What is the low temp there right now?

[SolarGary]

Hi,
Do a solar one instead?

http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects...rHorseTank.htm

Gary

[rambler]

How big a tank, how many critters drinking out of it, what is you temp, can't tell you much without knowing this.

If it is warm, it is working, just not big enough for your size tank and number of critters for the temp you are at?

--->Paul

[arabian knight]

Originally Posted by MO_cows

We have had the best luck with the type that inserts into the drain plug hole.
http://www.orschelnfarmhome.com/univ...si5182762/cl1/

Seems like we only have to replace one of these every 3-4 years instead of 2.

If yours isn't keeping the water clear of ice with just the moderately cold nights we are having, get it out of the tank before it really malfunctions and shocks someone.

Yes the Drain Hole ones works great. Being in WI. we get some nights as low as 30 below zero. And those 1500 Watt Drain plug heaters works great even in a 150 gallon tank~! I have never had any trouble with those heaters at all.
The only thing is you DO notice it on the bill when it comes in.
Some years I have had 3 Stock tanks with those 1500 Watt heaters in, My Car Plugged in also which is 1500 watts, and for the 2 months that wee really get cold the bill can go up quite a bit.
but I will NEVER haul water because of frozen water buckets again.
I did that WAY back in the 70's and never will again.
And with so many cloudy and snowy days and very very cold temps solar type heaters just will not make it up here at all.

[rambler]

I really like the Cobett earth tube heater I have, it can skin over in below zero temps but will not freeze solid, works like they say, no electric to it, highly recommend. One of the best improvements I've made.


http://www.cobett.com/

--->Paul

[barnyardgal]

Sorry i did not get back here sooner but was a nice 50 degrees outside today so i raked up some gumballs - UGH---

Yes,i know there are plenty of stock tank heaters out there to buy/make............

The tank heater was working & keeping water thawed at 16 degree temps we had last week,BUT this morning,the water was froze solid..........i removed the heater from the water & touched it & it was WARM,had never touched one before,do not know if they are suppose to be WARM or HOT...........was just wondering if there was a way to check them but guess not..........

So,i changed it out today & put it in the geese pan of water to see if it works in a real small area & put a floating tank heater i had here in the tank........

Thanks anyways~~~~~

[rambler]

Wind chill aslo affects a water tank, on the surface.

You really didn't help us with anything either, we woulda needed more info to help you out.

Heater is either on or off, if it is somewhat warm it would be working???? they can have a thermostat that keeps them from getting hot, they can get hot, or they can stay lukewarm - depends on if you _just_ pull it out of the water, or if you are holding it in the air in your hand for 10 minutes.

So I'm not really sure of the question, needed more details. We tried You seem a little out of sorts, and that's disappointing when you got several replies and folks trying to help, and you come back with an attitude. None of us get paid for trying to help you either. Help us to help you.

Glad you got something to work out.

--->Paul

[barnyardgal]

[QUOTE=rambler;5564219]Wind chill aslo affects a water tank, on the surface.

You really didn't help us with anything either, we woulda needed more info to help you out.

Heater is either on or off, if it is somewhat warm it would be working???? they can have a thermostat that keeps them from getting hot, they can get hot, or they can stay lukewarm - depends on if you _just_ pull it out of the water, or if you are holding it in the air in your hand for 10 minutes.

So I'm not really sure of the question, needed more details. We tried You seem a little out of sorts, and that's disappointing when you got several replies and folks trying to help, and you come back with an attitude. None of us get paid for trying to help you either. Help us to help you.

Glad you got something to work out.


I am sorry you feel i had an attitude!!!!!!! I did not mean to have one!!!

I just ask a question as HOW TO TELL IF THE STOCK TANK HEATER IS WORKING???

It was working in temps down in the teens for a week or so when i first plugged it up.......Then yesterday morning the water was frozen~~~I broke the ice & pulled the heater from the water & touched it & it was WARM to touch~~~had never touched one before as have never had a problem with one before till yesterday~~did not know if it was suppose to be warm to touch or hot~~~
It is in a 50 gallon barrel~~~
Do not know what other infor you need just to answer my question~~IS THERE A WAY TO TELL IF THE STOCK TANK HEATER IS WORKING??
I sent a pic of the heater also.......

I am assuming the heater is about to quit so i changed the heater out~~

Thanks for the replys~~~

[arabian knight]

Well you do say it is around 2 year old. That is in some cases the life span.
The internal thermostat may just not be coming on at a cold enough temp, and going off way too early.
No there should not be ANY ice especially enough ice to Break to get water if the heater is working correctly. Get a new one. That way you will know for sure. I have to replace heaters 2 to 3 years that is about it.
Once in while one will work longer. But they are not being built very strong any more. And the price is pretty low, considering they are on so much of the time.
The ONLY thing I really have had very good luck in using is a 18 Gallon Bucket with a built in heater~!!!
Now with just one dog, and one mini that each has there own, those Buckets WORK, and work very well.
Even down to 25 below in the open with nothing around them, and not even a thin crust of ice around the edges~!!!!
And at 35 WATTS they are very economical to run.
But that is for Small animals, not cattle or large horses unless you want to fill it everyday, or twice a day.
But with a large dog and a small miniature horse, I had to only add water very 2 to 3 days. And much longer for the dog.

[nehimama]

I find that sometimes mine won't work well if there are calcium and mineral deposits built up from the water. If yours is two years old, could that be the case? I clean mine from time to time by immersing in vinegar and scrubbing. Just like new then.