Dumb question

**Tiempo** · #1 11/17/11, 05:52 PM

I had to put in the sinking de-icer today and I noticed some damage to the cord..I wrapped it with electrical tape.

How can I be sure it's not charging the water tonight?

Yes, I could stick my hand in there, but I'd rather not

, plus a very mild current could be enough to keep the horses from drinking, but too mild for me to feel.

Irish Pixie · #2 11/17/11, 06:03 PM

Not a dumb question at all. Is it a metal trough? If so, maybe a fence tester will work?

malinda · #3 11/17/11, 06:13 PM

Stick your lips in the water - Ha - J/K!

The only way I've been able to tell is when the horses aren't drinking. I've stuck my hand in the water and felt nothing after seeing a horse act like it was shocked from it.

I used to have a horse who thought the tank heaters were toys. He ruined at least one or two a season. Well, they would still heat, they just sent current through the water too.

**Tiempo** · #4 11/17/11, 06:20 PM

Off to stick my lips in the water....brb

I guess I'll have to hope for the best tonight, the tank is one of the 100 gal rubbermaids, it has a plug in but it's not working.

I know who the culprit is, I've caught Tucker playing with the cord a few times, he must have done this at the end of last winter just before I put it away.

Maybe I'll put some water in a second tank, a spare I have, but it's cold enough tonight that it's freezing over pretty quickly.

Minelson · #5 11/17/11, 06:46 PM

That is why I love my heated bucket. It's been working great for 4 solid winters here where winter = hell. It's only 16 gal but that is not a problem for me with 2 horses. My horses (who play with everything) haven't messed with this at all...as long as I keep it full.

http://www.valleyvet.biz/ct_detail.h...eated%20bucket

**Tiempo** · #6 11/17/11, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minelson

That is why I love my heated bucket. It's been working great for 4 solid winters here where winter = hell. It's only 16 gal but that is not a problem for me with 2 horses. My horses (who play with everything) haven't messed with this at all...as long as I keep it full.

http://www.valleyvet.biz/ct_detail.h...eated%20bucket

I didn't know they made those so big, I've only seen the 5 gals before.

Still way too small for us though, I'd be filling it every 5 mins and with our hose rigmarole that would be a huge pain. I might get one for Puff and the goats though.

beccachow · #7 11/17/11, 06:54 PM

Hmmm, I would also be worried for a short. Just my VERY humble opinion, I would probably get it replaced as soon as I could.

I hate dealing with this stuff, it means the cold weather is right around the corner!

**Tiempo** · #8 11/17/11, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beccachow

Hmmm, I would also be worried for a short. Just my VERY humble opinion, I would probably get it replaced as soon as I could.

I hate dealing with this stuff, it means the cold weather is right around the corner!

Oh yeah, I'll take care of it tomorrow afternoon, but I'm worried about tonight and tomorrow. I have to leave the house before dawn in the morning and won't be free until 2 ish

wr · #9 11/17/11, 09:32 PM

Tiempo, how cold is cold? You might be able to get by with putting a ball in the tank.

goodhors · #10 11/17/11, 09:50 PM

I would strongly suggest NOT using a tank heater in the Rubbermaid tank that is not using the drain hole.

ESPECIALLY if you have a horse that plays with the heater! Rubbermaid tanks WILL BURN if the heater gets partially out of the water, overheats in the plastic.

This is past experience speaking, our tank burned to the waterline with BIG FLAMES! We had a sinker heater, horse pulled it partly out. Hot element was not submerged in water to cool, so it started the fire.

We were SO LUCKY that tank was far away from the barn, neighbor passing saw the big flames and came in to extinguish the fire. Not much left of the tank, only about 6 inches tall, destroyed the heater, while the horses stood around like it was a campfire!! Big snow pile helped to put the flames out, no water left.

We only use galvanized water tanks now, with a sunken heater under the half cover where horses can't reach cord or heater. I have heard of certain animals who actually DOVE totally under the water, trying to get the heater! If tank was not half covered, they wrecked the heaters, even screw-in models!! That gets pretty expensive, so we make the heater invisible to the the playful geldings, no danger of chewing cords, breaking heaters.

A money saving tip is to put the metal tank inside a plywood box with insulated sides and bottom. We use the sheet styrofoam and Great Stuff spray foam as insulation. Box has a screwed down cover over half the top, with a cover we put over the open part at night. All horses are stabled at night. We run the heater at night (lower elec price, horses can't get shocked if there is a short!) if temps get cold enough. Often just covering the open top at night, water stays ice free.

Heater is never plugged in while horses can access the water. If there IS a short, horses will never feel it, to be shy of using the winter tank.

**Tiempo** · #11 11/17/11, 10:06 PM

Good info, thanks.

Molly Mckee · #12 11/17/11, 10:32 PM

Years ago we had a horse electrocute himself by standing in a puddle and chewing the cord on the tank heater. We are very careful now and run the cords inside plastic pipe. I would not use a heater that I thought had the slightest chance of leaking.

chewie · #13 11/18/11, 04:50 PM

oh molly, that's awful! but, thanks for telling that, i'll learn from your heartache.

we have a tank big enough that only part of it is under the fence for the horses, or they will stand in it. the heater is in the other side, where they cannot reach it.

and putting a ball in it? hmm. like a soccer ball? tell me more of this please.