Possible water trough problem

[Bernoff]

Question for the electricians. Noticed last few days that horses aren't drinking much if at all. Plastic trough with one of those floating electric heaters in it. Thought I heard once that they can leak electricity into water and the animals can get a small shock from drinking. Is there a way to test without putting my hand ( or my wifes hand) into the water to check?

 

[sirkdev]

could just use a multimeter, positive in water ground to ground?

 

[handyandy]

could take the heater out and see if the horses drink more. I had it happen on my cattle water bowls. They would stick their noses in then pull back so I stuck my hand in and quickly found the problem lol. Moisture had gotten into the plug in inside the bowl and electrified the water. Had to dry it out with a torch then seal up the plug.

 

[Bernoff]

Was it like an electric fencer or much worse. The wife wants to know. LOL Not that I would suggest my wife put HER finger in to check.

 

[Bernoff]

I have a multimeter but not sure where to set dial. What readings should a person get 000 or does some electrical current leak no matter what.

 

[handyandy]

Hahaha! It was less than an electric fencer, mind you the electricity would have just been flowing through the moisture on the heaters cord. I'm not gonna be the one who recommends she puts her hand in it but that is the quickest way to tell lol.

 

[X-Treme]

2 clicks left. 200V AC

 

[scotts]

It takes very little current for an animal like a horse or cow to shy away from a water source, they tend to be a lot better grounded than you or I!

 

[Bernoff]

2 clicks left. 200V AC

Sorry for poor pic but thanks.

 

[007sevens]

I'll almost guarantee its your heater. Just buy a new one.....

 

[Bernoff]

It takes very little current for an animal like a horse or cow to shy away from a water source, they tend to be a lot better grounded than you or I![/QU That's why i'm curios about a # cause they might all leak a bit and don't want to throw the next 5 new ones in the trees as well.

 

[TROLLCAT]

Don't think there should be any voltage present

Unless its failing

 

[RGM]

if you have a GIFI protected outlet shouldn't it pop.

 

[Bernoff]

Thanks guys will play with multimeter tomorrow. Grounding does make the difference. Was feeding cows once with fencer and they were getting passed the fence. On a large crust of snow, so I grabbed the line and dug down a bit with my foot in the snow. Nothin, so dug a bit more, then a bit more and then wham on my ass. Found a good ground that time. I'm a little shy now.

 

[Bernoff]

My old barn doesn't know about those GIFI things but I see it in the near future.

 

[007sevens]

My old barn doesn't know about those GIFI things but I see it in the near future.

I don't recommend, them things be tripped then you un thawing water lines.

 

[ippielb]

We run these water bowls, and always have for my entire life. Need to trench in a water line for it which may be too late for you to do but we never have any problem with cattle not drinking, until they start to make the iceberg around the bowl from their drippings. When it gets extremely cold out (-30 or colder) for added insurance to help try prevent the water line from freezing we add a light bulb inside the bowl itself(in the blue part). Everything is insulated, so the heat from the light bulb prevents the water line from freezing.

PS not sure if this is the brand we run, but this is the same design.

 

[52weekbreak]

I'll almost guarantee its your heater. Just buy a new one.....

No - I am hoping he will experiment a bit before using the multimeter and reports back. C'mom Bernoff. You know you really want to give it a try

 

[moyiesledhead]

I don't recommend, them things be tripped then you un thawing water lines.

It'll only trip if there's a problem, and then you should be fixing the problem. Better than a dead horse.

Canadian Electrical Code requires all stock tank heaters be GFCI protected for good reason.

 

[JMCX]

2 clicks left. 200V AC

2 clicks RIGHT. That's DC volts on the left.