Water Tank De-Icer - How long extension cord?

picard335 · Oct 16, 2003

First year of having livestock in our pasture.

How long can I run and extension cord to our water 100 gallon stock tank for the winter?

Given I buy the lowest gauge extension cord, like 8 gauge or 10 or what ever they have at Lowes (i think).

I'm wanting to put electric in the pasture near the barn, but thought it might save me money till next year just running a cord.

Thanks
John

Old_Hickory · Oct 17, 2003

Wow,
Funny,I thought I was the only one that ever done that.I bought the heaviest extension cord one from Lowes as well.
I suppose you have a Rubbermaid 100 gallon stock tank with a 1000 watt submersible heater?
I have put mine on one of the Lowes 100 ft cords,I forget if mine is a 10 or 8 gauge.I do remember I bought the heaviest 100 ft extension cord they had(about 10 years ago)specifically for doing this exact same thing you are doing.
I would put a ground rod with ground wire next to the tank for safetys sake and attatch the ground wire to the ground rod and to a brick or something so it will set on the bottom of the tank.
I even kept a 300 gallon stock tank with the 1500 watt heater in it.It would keep the tank from freezing (full) down to 20 below zero +.Tape all of your connections tight or do something to keep them weather tight.
Set the tank well away from any buildings and make sure you have the right size breaker.
I am not an electrician and if you had any questions I would talk to one or someone on this forum could answer your questions.

Lots of luck and be careful,if you are not sure about what you are doing: ask ask ask and ask.

chim · Oct 17, 2003

Need to know the wattage/voltage of the heater to get the size of the cord. You surely have a route to run the cord that the livestock won't tramp on or chew it(?)......................chim

Old_Hickory · Oct 17, 2003

Those heavy extension cords,the cattle will not hurt them by walking on them.Chewing could be a concern.I set my tank next to my fence so the cord was not in the lot/pasture,but I drive on them a lot.It would be best to keep the cord out of the lot/pasture.

picard335 · Oct 17, 2003

It'll be for horses, the tank inside with the cord on the outside of the fence, they won't be able to get at it...

Its a 1500 watt drain plug type, I'm afraid those floaters and sinkable versions they would play with them.

The tank is a 100 gallon gavalnized oval shape type.

I think it'll be a 500 ft run to the tank. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

DUMBDOG · Oct 17, 2003

Based upon a online calculator, 12.5 Amps, 500 feet would require a #3 wire size. I am not an electrician, so somebody correct me if I am wrong.

cowboydoc · Oct 17, 2003

I've got one I run 250' feet of cord for and no problems. They are just two regular ones. Nothing heavy duty. I have done this the past three winters and not a problem. The same heater too.

DavidJ · Oct 17, 2003

You are not wrong. At 500 ft you'll need #3 wire to keep the drop below 3%. #4 gives you 3.1% so you could realistically use that but if you've got to go that big you might as well go with the right size.

I think I'd be looking at a smaller heater and insulate the sides of the tank.

picard335 · Oct 17, 2003

Ultimately thats what i want to do, a freeze proof tank, with a water source. The City hasn't called me back on how much it will cost to run a 800 ft water line. Left two messages now in a week. But I imagine the cost of a backhoe won't be cheap. Plus the cost of hooking into the main, and plumbing up to the faucet.

Its just cheaper now to use my 35 gal plastic tank to haul water from the house. I put it in my FEL and strap her down and make two runs each week. (tractor time too!)

I've searched high and low for a "other" source of heater, like propane, or solar. Haven't found a thing. My grandpa had a coleman type latern he'd place under the water place, but it would rust out the tank from condensation. That was looong time ago!

Anyone seen a propane/diesel/other type of heating source for stock tanks?

/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

cowboydoc · Oct 17, 2003

They do make them. They even make ones that you can keep going with firewood. But for the small amount of money it takes to run a stock tank heater I don't think they're worth it, plus the hassle of always putting in fuel, wood, etc. Alot easier for a couple bucks a month just to run a stock tank heater.