nuther brainstorm.... Need advice.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 3, 2010

Hey folks,
Trying to trim down my chore time so I can afford a hobby or two :roll:

I have several of these water tanks (in different variations) that I use on the pastures for the horses thru the summer. In winter, I keep horses at two outside stalls and have a tank at each place. When it goes below freezing, I spend an hour or so a day with propane torch thawing out the drinkers. Was thinking I could just keep some type of propane pilot light, or maybe a small camp stove/bunson burner under the the drinker flange with a shroud and maybe a blanket over the top.

Wondering how long a small torch bottle would last with a minimalflame or pilot light, and if anyone knows if there is something other than a camp burner that would work and be cheap to setup/use.

Thanks,

Dave

Anonymous-0 · Jan 3, 2010

If you have power avaliable how about a heat lamp? You could even put it on a timer.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 3, 2010

Sory, no power. Last year, I had a kind of smudge pot that I filled with heating oil. Couple hunters got bent out of shape and reported the open (unattended) flame. Figure a pilot light covered won't be visible (smudge pot smoked).

Dave

rrlund · Jan 3, 2010

Those kind of drinkers really are made for the inside of a stanchion or tiestall dairy barn where it's warm. Why don't you get one of those energy free waterers where they push the ball down to drink?

Anonymous-0 · Jan 3, 2010

If I had one place that belonged to me, I might. But the pastures are rented. If I find a cheap one on ebay or someone giving up, I'll get one. It doesn't get below 15 degrees (knocking on wood) and usually just around 25 over night. These drinkers thaw out OK just time consuming.

Dave

rrlund · Jan 3, 2010

Can you just drain them at night? Dad used to drain the drinkers in the stanchion barn when there weren't enough cows in the barn to keep them thawed. Trouble with using something propane in my mind would be if the horses were trying to drink when they came on. OUCH!

Anonymous-0 · Jan 3, 2010

I do that in the stalls at the house whae it's real cold, but the tanks won't work that way. The flame won't be near enough to make the drink tabs hot, just keep a temp on the throat so the little rubber vanl doesn't freeze.

Dave

Ecnerwal · Jan 3, 2010

I'm not sure how small you can get them, but if you used one of the propane catalytic heaters, it really wouldn't have an open flame for anyone to get upset about. On the other hand, depending on your water supply situation, a slow leak (to keep it from freezing up) might be a lot less expensive (even dragging the tank around to refill) than burning fuel.

Quick look shows a Coleman unit that claims to run 7 hours on a ~1lb tank for $50-100 depending on vendor. Seems pretty small, and reasonable time per fuel, especially if you used a 20-100 lb tank rather than a 1-lb tank - though that one may not be designed to use with a hose. I don't claim to have made an extensive search - I know there are large ones for big tanks, it's just a matter of how small you can get and make the connection to a large tank for your application.

A slighty more extensive look finds RV catalytics that run as small as 1/8 lb per hour consuption (slightly better than the above) but I suspect you'll need to find somewhere closer to you to get them from as I belatedly note that you are in Germany.

http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-furnaces/olympian-catalytic-heaters.htm

JR. FRYE · Jan 3, 2010

This may sound stupid: what would happen if you
could and can you put a heat tap on your water line leading to your drinkers, would it keep the lines warm.
If you can put heat tape on them I would cover them with foam pip wrap.
I do this to my cattle tank every year. and it works.
GOOD LUCK:
FROM; JR Frye

sammydwm · Jan 4, 2010

how many horses? How many tankers? How many waterers?
Could the whole thing be changed to something more efficient?
Why not stock tanks instead of water cups?
With your temps you aren't going to freeze up a tank.
Or if you are worried, build an insulated box and have 2 old windows on one side. Paint the tank black on that side to absorb heat and chances are you will never freeze.
Depending on number of head and tank size you may cut down on the number of trips out to the pasture.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 4, 2010

(quoted from post at 04:24:06 01/04/10) How many waterers?
Could the whole thing be changed to something more efficient?
Why not stock tanks instead of water cups?
With your temps you aren't going to freeze up a tank.
Or if you are worried, build an insulated box Depending on number of head and tank size you may cut down on the number of trips out to the pasture.

Here's what I have... and the problem. Was thinkig all it would take is a small (pilot light?) just behind the flange as that's where I use the torch (and at the bottom of the bowl) Bowl wouldn't be an issue if the throat didn't freeze. If it doesn't get below 25 overnight, usually just the little valve freezes up.
I like the box idea real well and have styrofoam panels and 3/4" plywood just going to waste. 100 liter pallet tanks are available 10 miles away also. Once again.... the simple solution slips right by.

Someone is even selling your idea on ebay for about $1700 a pop (link)

http://cgi.ebay.de/Thermofass-Weidefass-Thermotank-Pferdetraenke-Frostsicher_W0QQitemZ300379246207QQcmdZViewItemQQptZHof_Viehtechnik?hash=item45efff8e7f

Would still like to figure something for the tank, but the 1000 liter box would solve a bunch of problems and take up less room.

Thanks, Dave

nuther brainstorm.... Need advice.

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