De-Icers

[Hexe]

Well, it's official. Winter WILL be here soon and I'm considering a de-icer this year.
What kind/brand are you using and how do you like it? Any problems? I'm so paranoid that I will electrecute myself or the stock. (Our trough will be between 50-100 Gallons).

[SteveO]

insulated freedom self waterer.
Steve

[sammyd]

we use the sinkable kind with a guard.
like this one
Allied Precision Sinking De-Icer - Mills Fleet Farm

only problem we've had in 6 years is that the hold downs broke and I had to buy a new guard for it.

[ycanchu2]

Originally Posted by Hexe

Well, it's official. Winter WILL be here soon and I'm considering a de-icer this year.
What kind/brand are you using and how do you like it? Any problems? I'm so paranoid that I will electrecute myself or the stock. (Our trough will be between 50-100 Gallons).

You could always ground your tank in the event it does short out. If its a metal tank it will be grounded anyway if its sitting on the ground. To ground it better or if its a plastic tank just drill a hole in it and secure a #6 copper wire to it then to a ground rod.
You could also try a GFI breaker too. They are pretty sensitive around water. If it doesn;t trip it all the time. that would be a good way to go. With those the first hint of a short and they trip.

[G. Seddon]

The cattle have automatic waterers. But we also use a 100 gal. Rubbermaid trough with a heater element that fits inside at the bottom and a 12 ga. 3 wire extension cord (the heavy duty yellow ones) with a GFI receptacle.

I don't know if the 50 gal. Rubbermaid troughs have a place to put a heater? I think they also make a 70 gal. trough that should work okay too.