Sun Tanks Use Solar Power To Keep From Freezing

Sun Tanks Use Solar Power To Keep From Freezing ENERGY Miscellaneous Instead of breaking ice on livestock water tanks this winter how about letting the sun take care of it instead? With a solar panel and unique float system BT Sun Tanks from Pine Ranch Products keep water thawed even when temperatures drop down to 50 degrees below zero     Mark Ames developed the product for his own horses One of his original prototypes from 18 years ago still works great     BT Sun Tanks come in two sizes – 25 gal or 42 gal – that are insulated for up to an R-50 rating The tank has a float valve on top that is about 2 in thick     When first installed leave the float off Ames says to teach horses or other livestock how to use it Once they are used to it replace the float and put a little grain on it if necessary Livestock are used to breaking ice and usually learn quickly to push the float down to get water     The shatterproof solar-powered collector on front is the key to keeping the water from freezing     It’s a passive solar system he adds and water is a great source to store energy so the tanks stay ice-free even when it’s cloudy for a few days     Ames offers two sizes and options starting with the 25-gal for $489 manual fill or $542 auto fill which are good to minus 20 degrees The 42-gal BT Sun Tank is $672 good to minus 50 degrees and works with manual or auto fill Shipping is additional Ames also sells BT Tank Trailers that hold 100 gal of water They can be pulled with an ATV to fill Sun Tanks in remote locations     Ames offers discounts for multiple orders and notes that a government program through USDA-NRCS covers up to 50 percent of the costs for Sun Tanks and installation of a waterline for eligible farmers     The BT Sun Tank also works well in the summer because the float keeps the water covered and algae can’t grow without sunlight You cover the solar panel to stop it from heating     Ames’s company has shipped tanks north into Alaska and south to the Grand Canyon     Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Pine Ranch Products LLC P O Box 281 Santa Clara Utah 84765

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