Nelson waterers
This message is from: "Claudia" "The lids require a human with opposable things to get off--no way a horse could do it.." We were en route back to Wisconsin from the National Drive a couple years ago, and stopped overnight at a boarding farm. They put Vergel in a paddock by himself with a Nelson waterer. They asked if he knew how to use it, or if I wanted him to have water buckets. I said, We have one at home, so he knows. He'll be fine." In the morning, the top was off. Sitting sideways in the waterer. This is the same Vergel that jumped over the hood of the car. If I get tired of him, I can sell him to the government as a weapon. I didn't know a short in the fence could make the Nelson waterer give shocks. Can that happen with other brands, too? I can hear little snaps on my fence line quite often...very faint. I don't usually pay much attention unless I can see something has fallen on the fence, like a branch or something. My electric fence is just on the small pasture and paddock, and I can see it all from one spot, so it's easy to check. The horses never seem reluctant to drink, and I see them using the waterer all the time. I do have one rubber mat in front of it, but their hind legs would still be on the ground. Our ground here is very rocky. Does that make a difference? Claudia in Wisconsin Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
More on Nelson Waterers
This message is from: Steve McIlree After I answered Valerie's message, I Googled Nelson Waterers because I was curious about how the price compared the non-electric freeze free waterer we use. I still haven't found the price, but I did stumble on this comment in a thread on horseforum.com. "There were a few small installation problems in the beginning, but they were worked out easily enough, and you absolutely can adjust the amount of water you want in the bowl. The lids require a human with opposable things to get off--no way a horse could do it. The heater seems to work pretty well, but when it's super cold and windy the outside waterer has had a thin layer of ice develop on it (nothing the horses couldn't easily break with their muzzles, but we only have mild to moderate winters here, too). The waterers have not broken down and require no maintenance, except for when *the builders who put them in wired them wrong and caused our horses to get a shock every time they got a drink*but you can't blame that on Nelson." -- Steve It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.-- Aristotle 384-322 BC Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
RE: National Western Stock Show and Nelson Waterers
This message is from: "fpack" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hi Beth, We have 10 Nelson Heated Waterers around the farm. Each is grounded to the copper pipe coming out of the ground. Copper is used for the vertical part from the PVC to the watering head. As several feet of the copper is buried, it makes an excellent ground. Each waterer has it's own shutoff valve just below the waterer in the concrete pipe. We used 4 foot concrete sewer pipe with the bell diameter fitting the circular waterer. During our single digit weather several weeks ago.two froze at the shutoff valve. They were easily thawed. The two that froze were low usage waterers.one for a single Llama and one for two miniature horses.I opened the waterer and put in 4" insulation. It DID NOT HELP. The visible earth at the bottom of the pipe was frozen. I then filled the concrete pipe with plastic packing pellets.foam. No more problems. We must take care of shorting of our electric fence. A shorted fence WILL be felt at the waterer even with a good ground on our property. We twice daily check the fence for a proper spark.done easily with a wood handled metal rake. Meters and light indicators ARE NOT failsafe. The low joule charger that I am using right now will blink happily even if the fence is shorted. I use the low joule charger in the winter and use a high joule charger during weed season. The high joule charger WILL NOT blink properly when the fence is shorted. Nelson Co. is extremely good at providing new parts. The valves need replacement annually.a simple rubber tab on the end of the valve.takes only a minute. In seven years, I have replaced three heaterscracked plastic where it threads through the bowlcausing a leak...and a dry bowl. Sure saves winding hoses our hauling buckets. Fred and Lois Pack Pack's Peak Stables
Re: and Nelson Waterers & frozen hoses
This message is from: Julia Will <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> At 09:18 PM 1/8/99 -0700, you wrote: >Would those of you on the list who use Nelson Waterers let me know if >you are pleased with them, what problems you have had, and under what >circumstances? Hi Beth ~ We are a new user of Nelson waterers, and this is our first winter with them. We have them in 4 box stalls and 6 run-in paddocks that have 3 or 4 horses in each one. We initially had a problem with the fence ground rods being too close to the water system, but having moved the rods, everything is working very well, dispite some 0 to -10 degree weather. We carefully followed the instructions for "freezeproof" installation that came with the waterers, including installing an insulated ground tube that goes down below the frostline. I am thrilled to NOT have to deal with frozen buckets for 27 Fjords! Something else we discovered works well to solve the frozen hose situation: When we ran a buried water line and put a hydrant on it to provide water for two of our pastures, we also ran a 2" flexable "innerduct" conduit, just in case we ever needed to run electric out there for a light. The conduit comes up right beside the hydrant and sticks out about a foot above ground. It was put in the same trench as the water line, (5' underground) but was left empty. I discovered that I can keep a hose stuck down the conduit and it stays completely thawed. I leave just the end showing, and pull the hose out when I need to run water from the hydrant to the water tubs for the horses that are on daily turnout in the pastures. When I bring the horses in after a few hours, I dump whatever water is left in the tub and turn it over. The next day I refill, just enough to water them while they are out. (I use the shallow rubbermaid troughs which are easy to handle.) An inverted tin can over the end of the hose and conduit keeps the snow out. Another solution we used prior to Nelson waterers was a plastic trash can, fiberglass insulation in the bottom and a light bulb mounted on the bottom side of the lid. We kept this by the hydrant with a hose coiled inside. It kept the hose nice and thawed in the coldest weather. I found it easier to knock the ice out of a bucket and hang it up empty in the run-ins, then fill with a hose. Eliminates the cold water splashing down your boots. Needless to say you take precautions with your electrical set-up and make certain those "nosey" Fjords can't reach it! Good luck!
Re: National Western Stock Show and Nelson Waterers
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 1/9/99 8:52:05 Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << Would those of you on the list who use Nelson Waterers let me know if you are pleased with them, what problems you have had, and under what circumstances? >> If I remember you said you live in Berthoud. I have a friend (she bought our palomino baby) who lives in Longmont. Says the best thing she ever did was buy Nelson Waterers. Pamela
National Western Stock Show and Nelson Waterers
This message is from: "Starfire Farm, L.L.C." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Susan kindly pointed out that I, once again, forgot to say that the National Western Stock Show is in Denver, Colorado. It started today or yesterday. Yikes! Only a couple more weeks before our performance! Would those of you on the list who use Nelson Waterers let me know if you are pleased with them, what problems you have had, and under what circumstances? We are planning to install automatic waterers in our shed row, paddocks and pasture, and would appreciate any comments you have about usage, etc. I remember the past conversation about proper grounding, and recall someone's waterers not operating in below zero weather. Anyone using a better product? TIA. Beth Starfire Farm
