55 gallon waterer in northern Wisconsin winter?

[TheGonzo]

I'll definately check him out. Besides lasting longer this type of water supply does not require as much cleaning,

 

[blucoondawg]

As a general rule you need about 5 Watts of heat per gallon of water for stock heaters in open tanks, unless the extreme temps are sustained for extended periods of time...

When you consider a 55 gallon barrel is fully enclosed, thus providing protection from wind and the heat exchanges of the open surface water, as well as providing some degree of insulation it potentially lowers that wattage requirement over an open stock tank or pond...

In extreme cold the outsides of the horizontal nipples will freeze to some degree, but in may cases the birds can peck the ice away pretty easily and or it doesn't take much effort to liberate the ice yourself with a little heat or picking...

Thanks for the 5 watt rule I figured there was something like that someplace. Yes I figured the barrel being closed would help, it will also be inside my coop which is usually a little warmer than outside air anyways. Hopefully it will work out well

 

[aart]

Hope you post some pics of construction and updates on operation...if it ever really gets cold.

 

[blucoondawg]

Ya I'll post a pick, hope to get it out on the next couple days, still don't have the nipples should be here by the weekend

 

[aart]

Have you read the thread about horizontal vs vertical nipples?
Lots of good installation info there....search my username in the thread.

 

[blucoondawg]

Ya I have read through some different ones, it seems the horizontal is the most trouble free way to go. I think installing them through the side of a barrel is the best way to go for winter, I will probably make a pipe system for warmer months when I can just leave the hose hooked up

 

[MeepBeep]

Ya I have read through some different ones, it seems the horizontal is the most trouble free way to go. I think installing them through the side of a barrel is the best way to go for winter, I will probably make a pipe system for warmer months when I can just leave the hose hooked up

A pipe system with hose hooked up will require about a 1 PSI constant pressure regulator, and they can get costly... It's cheaper to continue to use the barrel/bucket with a float valve hooked to a hose to keep it topped off and gravity pressure on the water...

I used one of these in my 55 gallon drum, works fine to keep it topped off...

http://www.amazon.com/Kerick-Valve-MA052-Float-Adjustable/dp/B0077RAP1I

Put this pipe to hose adapter on the end...

http://www.lowes.com/pd_195096-61002-AIFFHT1234___?productId=50030706&pl=1&Ntt=apollo+1/2-in+pvc

And for about $10 you have an auto-fill system that can be hooked to a hose to keep your bucket/barrel full...

For the winter I highly recommend those cheap 'expanding hoses' on Ebay, that can be easily brought back inside to a warm area and dropped in a 5 gallon bucket after use... Just make sure to get a cheap 25 PSI pressure regulator so the hose doesn't 'pop' as that is a common failure, but they are cheap enough to have a few extra on hand...

http://www.lowes.com/pd_191774-1029-MLD-25PR___?productId=1054541&pl=1&Ntt=pressure+regulator

My coop is heated so I don't have to worry about the water in there, but my barn isn't heated and although I installed a more permanent self draining PVC water system for this year I have previously used these expanding hoses to water out there from the frost-proof hydrant in the barn to the heated water trough or buckets... The convenience of being able to easily drain it and then toss it in a bucket and bring it back inside to avoid it freezing can't be beat, IMO... Heated hoses are very costly,and regular hoses are a hassle in cold weather...

 

[blucoondawg]

Ya I'm just going to use regular hoses and drag one out once every so often and refill the barrel I can hook up in my basement and pull the hose out my firewood door, I have been thinking about a frostless hydrant but haven't gotten around to that yet. I'd probably just use auto fill out of a bucket to gravity feed the pipe system.

 

[aart]

Ya I have read through some different ones, it seems the horizontal is the most trouble free way to go. I think installing them through the side of a barrel is the best way to go for winter, I will probably make a pipe system for warmer months when I can just leave the hose hooked up

I highly recommend 'practicing' installation by drilling different sized holes and threading nipple in on a similar piece of scrap material.

 

[blucoondawg]

Well I got the barrel put together and filled, now I just have to make sure they figure it out. I don't have the heater yet but it's been unseasonably warm so I should be fine until I get to town and pick one up. The nipples threaded in just fine with a 3/8 hole drilled. The biggest problem is getting the hole nice and straight, if not the nipples end up sort of crooked but they still seem to seal alright