[RE-wrenches] Direct solar options for stock tank de icing

[Benn Kilburn]

I built this one (first photo) for our horses....sitting in the corner on the styrofoam is the plug in heater that floats in the tank. The cover (same thickness styrofoam) has a hole about the size of a basketball for the horses to drink. 
And the second photo was a suggestion I came across on social media... cutting the bottom out of a bucket and attaching it to the cover to minimize air contact on the surface of the water....
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Benn Kilburn
SkyFire Energy
780-906-7807

> On Feb 11, 2020, at 7:54 AM, Hilton Dier <hiltondier at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Daryl Thayer has the key to this: surface insulation. About 90% of heat loss from an open body of water is from evaporation. There are black plastic balls (about 5” dia) you can get to float on top in a layer. Blue foam works but deteriorates in the sun. I know we are all about electrical and mechanical solutions on this list, but whatever you do, don’t waste your money trying to heat an open surface water tank.
> 
> Hilton Dier III
> Renewable Energy Design
> Missisquoi River Hydro LLC
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