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thermo-sink waterers working well

Cedarcreek said:
Silver said:
We have one of these waterers, and it's ok. It still requires breaking the ice out of it every day, and sometimes the float freezes to the underside of the lid, or the water freezes around the float. You also have to protect the lid with something strong or the cows will bump it off and then you have a disaster. But it beats the heck out of opening a dugout or the creek on a daily basis.
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I've got one of those waterers, with just 3 horses drinking out of it I've got to break the ice every day.
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You need more horses. :wink: :lol: :lol:
 
Big Muddy rancher said:
Cedarcreek said:
Silver said:
We have one of these waterers, and it's ok. It still requires breaking the ice out of it every day, and sometimes the float freezes to the underside of the lid, or the water freezes around the float. You also have to protect the lid with something strong or the cows will bump it off and then you have a disaster. But it beats the heck out of opening a dugout or the creek on a daily basis.
Click to expand...

I've got one of those waterers, with just 3 horses drinking out of it I've got to break the ice every day.
Click to expand...

You need more horses. :wink: :lol: :lol:
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I've got more horses than I need, the rest of them are out in another pasture.
 
Jason said:
If you are running a water line, power isn't a big deal.

I can use a lot of electricity for the extra $1000 per waterer.

I use 150 watt oil pan heaters in my waterers.

Even if they ran 24 hours a day 30 days a month for a full 6 months, that's 648 kwh. At the current cost of $.06 / kwh that's $38.88

Interest on the $1000 is $60 a year if you borrow at prime.
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Ok, I don't get it

Why not put in a good underground drain, let a little water run over. It cost lots less than electric heaters to run, don't need to fool with power lines, always have at least a open hole for cattle to drink. I guess I am lazy, but chopping ice is not my idea of a good way to spend my time and I believe cattle do much better if they always have ice free water to drink from.
100 feet of perforated drain tile cost abt $40. It does require the use of a backhoe (on a nice summer day) (if you neglected to put it in the same trench as the water line)
I admit that here in the northern sand hills of Nebraska, we seldom get many days below -20, but wouldn't this work as well in colder areas? I know it don't take much water running to work much better than 150 watt heaters, or for that matter 1500 watt heaters. Are you in a area where the ground would not soak up enough water? If so, you might find a area down hill from the waterer, bring the end of the drain back to ground level, and fence off and cover a big enough area with junk hay deep enough and big enough to keep it from freezing solid and the water will find a way to get out. (large hay stack)
 
Good idea sandhiller. I think there are more guys doing that. I have a couple tanks set up with a bleed valve to overflow. Not with an underground drain field but out in the open away from the tank with 4" PVC. My water costs $3.50 per 1000 gallons which is still cheaper than electricity.
 
OK I have to ask what does the vegetable oil do Elwapa ?
We have a waterer that when the wind blows the float always freezes to the top and then the rest freezes . I have raised the float so the water level is just below the rim but it still freezes when the darn wind blows in -0 conditions, which is pretty much always .. :roll:
 
Looks like you guys have a lot more experience than me with energy free waterers. Has anyone tried Cobett waterers? http://www.cobett.com/ We see -30 around here sometimes and I am tired of failed elements and frozen waterers but I don't need to put in a whole new unit and have a block of ice either.
 

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