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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

OT: solar stock tank heater??

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jose bagge

02-01-2008 05:05:55




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Anyone know where to buy or how to build a solar powered stock tank heater? getting tired of busting ice, but I can't get power from the barn out to the far feild.




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Texasmark

02-02-2008 08:51:07




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 Re: OT: solar stock tank heater?? in reply to jose bagge, 02-01-2008 05:05:55  
My water tank is a 300 gallon from TSC. I put one of their 1200W 115vac tank heaters in it and my first light bill was $45 higher than it had been....leave it on all the time and it is supposed to have a 40F thermostat. I'm in N. Texas, not Minn. so I can't imagine what it would cost me up there.

Problem with solar panels is that you would need an acre of them (lots) to supply the 10 amperes that it would take to run a 1200W heater. Doubt you would want to go that route for several reasons.

There are several (passive...require no power) tricks that can be tried to keep the ice broken. I have seen them discussed in articles, but never tried any of them.

Mark

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paul

02-01-2008 12:13:23




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 Re: OT: solar stock tank heater?? in reply to jose bagge, 02-01-2008 05:05:55  
I'm in MN, was minus 15 F or worse several days of the last 2 weeks. I had to bust ice only 2 times, and only a 1/2 inch.

Get the tube into the ground, insulated, 8 foot deep for me, don't know your location... Works very well. Solar only works when the sun shines, electric use up $10 a month & get real ugly if the juice goes off, and there are stray voltage issues..... You gotta check the ater once a day anyhow, so the little skin on the couple very coldest days is no issue.


Mine is a Cobett, they are on the web. Put it in 6-7 years ago, loved every winter, best thing I did on this place. Happy happy.

Link

--->Paul

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rrlund

02-01-2008 11:37:46




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 Re: OT: solar stock tank heater?? in reply to jose bagge, 02-01-2008 05:05:55  
I've got one of those automatic energy free waterers across the road. One of those where they have to push a ball down to drink. They use a 16 inch inside diameter styrofoam tube,two inches thick to pull heat up from the ground. It's been as cold as -4,had a wind chill around -30 day before yesterday,hasn't frozen. I was real leary of it when I bought it,but it works perfect.



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IH2444

02-01-2008 11:12:32




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 Re: OT: solar stock tank heater?? in reply to jose bagge, 02-01-2008 05:05:55  
Solar power for this is just not feasable in most locations.

Painting the tank black on the outside would help some but overheat the water in summertime.



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varmint

02-01-2008 19:28:41




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 Re: OT: solar stock tank heater?? in reply to IH2444, 02-01-2008 11:12:32  
painted half a tank black and turned it S in the winter - black half to the N in the summer



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R. John Johnson

02-01-2008 05:53:02




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 Re: OT: solar stock tank heater?? in reply to jose bagge, 02-01-2008 05:05:55  
Just like your home, you are better off spending money on insulation than heat. I've got one waterer here, In Manitoba, that utilizes no energy to heat, only to pump water. It is made from a 4 ft culvert, 12 ft long. A plate is welded on one end and it is buried, on end, 8 ft deep in the ground. A lid with two drinking holes covers it. The drinking holes have tubes made by this company.

www.kellnsolar.com

The entire inside is insulated with spray on foam 6 inches thick. The only heat loss is through the surface of the water in the two tubes. The tubes prevent air from getting at the entire surface of the water to cool it. The other key element is to have as many animals drinking as possible. that brings fresh "Warm" water into the system.

John

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gene bender

02-01-2008 05:49:28




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 Re: OT: solar stock tank heater?? in reply to jose bagge, 02-01-2008 05:05:55  
Then what are you going to do when the sun dont shine. We used to have small kerosene lamps that fit under the tank to keep from freezing.



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