Cold Weather *****WARNING****** please Read

[Omran]

Quote:
I would use the red one too.

 

[mdbokc]

The GFI (Ground Fault Interrupter)/GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) is designed to keep you from getting electrocuted. It does not function like a fuse which is designed to protect the house from fire.

A GFCI monitors the amount of current flowing from hot to neutral. If there is any imbalance, it trips the circuit. It is able to sense a mismatch as small as 4 or 5 milliamps, and it can react as quickly as one-thirtieth of a second. This is the beauty of the device.

Say you are outside with your power drill and it is raining. You are standing on the ground, and since the drill is wet there is a path from the hot wire inside the drill through you to ground. If electricity flows from hot to ground through you, it could be fatal. The GFCI can sense the current flowing through you because not all of the current is flowing from hot to neutral as it expects -- some of it is flowing through you to ground. As soon as the GFCI senses that, it trips the circuit and cuts off the electricity. If the wires short or current flow is disrupted between the hot wire and common, the circuit trips instantly, preventing electrocution.

Thus kitchens, bathrooms, outdoor outlets are prime sites for this device to protect yourself.

And if there is a electrical current flow difficulty at your coop, this will instantly kill the power if you are on such a circuit.

 

[Omran]

Bump it just for a reminder, please keep this thread here for the winter.
thank you all.

 

[Chieftain]

Those "red bulbs" are infrared head lamps, and depending on the wattage, they can be an extreme hazard to use. These are designed to generate high heat, so please beware about what you are using. An improperly used infrared lamp is extremely dangerous and can inflict severe burns.

If you have a good reflector that is hung by something besides the power cord, a regular incandescent light bulb can throw enough heat by itself. Putting a 500 watt infrared bulb in a reflector makes an excellent heat cannon, that can cook your chicks and burn down your coop and/or house in very short order. Such a lamp is perfectly capable of melting a rubbermaid container.

I counsel everyone to make sure you have a good, reliable thermometer that will tell you the actual temperature down at litter level, and that you experiment before your chicks arrive so that you thoroughly understand your heat lamp arrangements ahead of time. Don't compound your cold problems by burning down the coop either.

Be safe out there!

 

[Mike L]

Be certain that the cover you put on your run for shade in the summer can handle the snow load.

Lots of ruined runs when it snows big....

My shade tarp rolls up on a pipe. I’ve made a chicken wire frame in four parts with a post in the center so the tarp has a middle support when it’s rolled out. Oh that was fun building! Putting in the last secrion(solo you know) I dropped my driver bit which a fast chicken grabbed and dashed with. It swapped beaks three times but I was able to see who had it. I was in a bad way and hadda prop up that section then chase down my dang bit! Got it at least and finished. Now the run had a dual purpose topper. I’ll get a pic soon.

 

[Aunt Tat]

I knew take on the game "Keep Away From......"