Question Re: this heated water base..

[HennysMom]

Morning all...

Okay - so I'm looking to get a heat source for my galvanized waterer and I'm looking at this, however...when you read the description - well...here..you tell me...look at bolded part:

Automatic Electric Fountain Base may be used with any of our GALVANIZED FOUNTS . (Note: Can Not be used with the Dura Fount.)Thermostatically controlled so that the base will not heat unless the temperatures are cold enough to be needed. The thermostat keeps the water from overheating and the base at a safe temperature. Element carries a 1 year guarantee; 100 watt, 115 volt will keep founts open in single digits in a sheltered area. Not designed for outdoor use where there is apt to be single digit temps. or colder with wind chill.

So - uhm...isnt that whats its original intent was, to keep water from freezing at those most crucial times??

We do get single digits here in VA sometimes and windchills, most definately we drop to single digits; not alot, but some. This year I think we will be hitting record low temps however.

How do you purchase something that may not work in the times you need it most - and why wouldnt it?

 

[bluey]

I think that many people put their waterers/heaters in their coops. I leave mine outside, very close to the garage where it is plugged in. I think the point they are trying to get across is that it has a range of temperature where it will work fine but at extreme temps (single digits), you may want to relocate the unit to shelter since the heating element is not designed for those temps.

Mine has worked great so far in the teens (17 degrees low). Hope that helps.

 

[LynneP]

Our base says basically the same thing. We use ours inside, and it's elevated on cinder blocks and a patio block to keep it high enough for safety. We also have the cord protected and we've thread it through a beam and plugged it in away from the hens.

To be able to use these on standard voltage outlets and to protect your circuits and animals the heater usually goes no higher than 50 Fahrenheit. They come on just above the freezing temperatures. They work well in a sheltered space, but if you left them outside with wind and all, the electric circuits woul be on so much you'd be bankrupt or your lines would overheat.

By using cinder blocks and the patio block we conserve heat in the concrete, too.

 

[HennysMom]

thanks ya'll - I've been researching threads most of the morning and I think what I"m going to do is just purchase the plastic dog water bowl that has the heater enclosed in it. It says it goes to 20 below - and I like that the cord is enclosed fully and it can be used outside. This metal base isnt supposed to be used outside, you must wrap the cord and a bunch of other stuff I dont want to do

. Our waterer is out in the run because the coop is too small for one inside, so I need something that will remain impurvious to the elements.

Thanks for your help on it, much appreciated!

 

[LynneP]

I have one of the 1.5 gal dog bowls that I use to keep water thawed for the feral cats. It has a good guard on it, and I secured it in place at the base of a barn pole with a bungee so it didn't get tipped over and heat while empty...also a Farm Innovators product...

 

[ella]

Glad you found a solution.

For anyone else who is wondering about this subject, you can get a heater base to work at colder temps by not filling the waterer completely. Just put a gallon or two in there and it'll keep it from freezing.

It's just not powerful enough to heat many gallons when it gets super cold.

 

[Wildsky]

Someone posted the other day about a warning on the heater base saying not to use it near water.

 

[ella]

 

[Chicken Woman]

I ran the cord on mine through a PVC pipe and have it on cinder block in the coop. Thechickens can't mess with the cord that way.