Poultry water heater element source?

[earl84]

Ok, not real mainstream heating and AC question. I have a poultry water heater base to keep it from freezing, the heating element burned out. I cannot find a source for a replacement. Unfortunately I don’t have a picture of it. I sort of fixed it yesterday, but have limited confidence in the longevity of the repair. They’re not horribly expensive, but $50 is not inexpensive for such a simple thing.
They are very simple. 120volt to a thermal switch to the 110 watt foil heating elemen, which is just wire sandwiched between two foil sheets and stuck to bottom of galvanized base. I know the thermal switch works, stuck it in freezer and then tested for continuity. Also, repaired heating element burned up spots, then held snow against the switch, and the heating element got hot.


This is the heater.

Amazon.com

 

[fitter30]

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[PoorUB]

Pretty sure a $50 heater is considered to be a throw away item. If the manufacturer won't help, toss it.

 

[jblnut]

I built a heated barn for the chickens to live in. No need for a water heater ....

Might be apples and helicopters though as I have in the neighborhood of 42,000 chickens in there at any given time .....

Toss a stick on block heater under there. Should work decent

 

[earl84]

Thanks for the replies. I'll give them a look. I did call the manufacturer and they're sending a replacement. I bought it last fall. I think it should last more than one season, and so do they apparently. $50 isn't a lot of money, but it's all relative.

 

[WisJim]

I've given up on that kind of heater and went a heated dog dish for under 20 chickens. Required filling and cleaning twice a day but I have to get eggs at least that often so they don't freeze.

 

[Yankeefarmer]

Years ago I built a heater using a cookie tin with a lampholder inside. Used that for about 10 years, during which I found a ceramic reptile heater lasted much longer than the 40 watt bulbs I had been using. Now, like WisJim, I use a heated dog bowl because it’s easier to carry a 1 gal jug of water frequently than a full 3 gal waterer.

 

[Phuckin' Jim]

The incandescent bulbs are still the cheapest and easiest to replace form of heater.

 

[earl84]

I think if this replacement goes bad, I'll do the heated dog bowl. We've done the light bulb thing, and we didn't really like it. I do really like that there is a thermal switch on this, so it isn't on all the time, only below 35 Degrees. Thanks everyone.

 

[Fav Onefour]

My wife bought one of these about eight years back.

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I set it on a stack of pavers to raise it off the patio. It is not mounted to anything, it just sits on the pavers. I half expected the extra height to be a detriment, but it keeps the water open in the worst weather. It would probably be fantastic inside a structure. I don't know if the height would be an issue for chickens.

To be honest, it has gone well beyond what I expected for lifespan.

 

[earl84]

Well, the company sent a replacement heater, arrived yesterday. We're almost through the cold weather that requires the heater, so for now the issue is solved. Thanks to all of you, I have some alternatives for next year when the issue may arise again. Thanks, GJ.

 

[rkevins]

I built a heated barn for the chickens to live in. No need for a water heater ....

Might be apples and helicopters though as I have in the neighborhood of 42,000 chickens in there at any given time .....

Toss a stick on block heater under there. Should work decent

What size house you have, back when we raised birds we had 2- 36' x 340' and 1- 40' x 400'
longest thin I ever worked in was a 40' x 850' breeder hen house 2-400' slat areas with a 50' egg room in the center.

 

[jblnut]

What size house you have, back when we raised birds we had 2- 36' x 340' and 1- 40' x 400'
longest thin I ever worked in was a 40' x 850' breeder hen house 2-400' slat areas with a 50' egg room in the center.

60x624. Usually get between 41,000 and 46,000 chicks at a time.

 

[Patreli]

Ok, not real mainstream heating and AC question. I have a poultry water heater base to keep it from freezing, the heating element burned out. I cannot find a source for a replacement. Unfortunately I don’t have a picture of it. I sort of fixed it yesterday, but have limited confidence in the longevity of the repair. They’re not horribly expensive, but $50 is not inexpensive for such a simple thing.
They are very simple. 120volt to a thermal switch to the 110 watt foil heating elemen, which is just wire sandwiched between two foil sheets and stuck to bottom of galvanized base. I know the thermal switch works, stuck it in freezer and then tested for continuity. Also, repaired heating element burned up spots, then held snow against the switch, and the heating element got hot.


This is the heater.

Amazon.com

I actually build these type of poultry heaters right here is SW MO, for my friends. They are 3 gallon galvanized pans with
heating elements similar to the ones you speak of and they work very well. They have AC power on and heating element on visuals
located on the side of the pan. Visuals are nice so you see/tell that the pan has power and is being "heated". Especially during and after the latest snowstorm we just had with temps below zero -

If the element burns up, which has never happened in 3 years, then the heating light will never turn on. If there is a safety concern with the element buring up and it touches the "pan" then the protective GFI that it is plugged into will trip for the pan itself is well grounded.
The elements you refer to can be replaced but the key is to know what the element resistance is so you don't make the poultry heater hotter/warmer than what it should be. It's difficult to know what the resistance of these wire elements are unless you buy a new one and take it apart and measure the end to end resistance but then the resistance will be based on whatever the power rating of the poultry water heater is. The elements are typically rated in ohms per meter and you can buy them accordingly on ebay at various lengths. I use the heavier jacket type of heating cable. The smaller diameter heating cabe will burn up as I have discovered.
If yours is burned up (Sounds like you have repaired it - good for you) and it's not too terrible, you could measure the resistance end to end from each point where it is burned up and add the two numbers together. That would give you an idea of what it is. The heaters that I build take 2 hours or so and I charge my friends 45.00 (pick up) with a full 1 year, no questions money back warranty, so long as the failed unit is returned to me without being modified or tampered with. Mine offer 3 different temperature options. Some folks would like their heater on longer, even though the temperature may be above freezing. They are rated between 90 and 125 watts.

The reason I decided to make my own is becuase I got tired of buying cheaply made heaters that didn't work long term and especially because then didn't offer visuals for AC power ON and HEATING on/off. I may post a couple pictures at some point if the request is made.

 

[nadogail]

A 220 Volt, surface heating element for an Electric Range connected to a 120 Volt source and controlled by a Thermal Switch should "Work Fine and Last A Long Time"