Ritchie Thrifty King Question

Kerwin

Member
I'm installing an older model 1-hole Thrifty King cattle waterer. It's not like newer models in that once it's mounted, there is no access to underneath the waterer/heat riser pipe. The 3/8 inch rubber supply line comes up in the center of the waterer through a 2 inch PVC pipe with the valve mounted at the top of the PVC pipe. I would like to include some type of backup electric heat, either a submersible heater in the reservoir, heat line around supply hose, or both.

I have electric service coming up the heat riser pipe. Do I bring the supply wire up through the PVC pipe (alongside the water supply) and have an outlet or connection in the top of the waterer?
 
If it were me I would mount a shut off box on a pole nearby but outside of the pen. That way power wouldn't be on all that time it is there even if you don't have anything hooked to it. I'd be leary of an outlet but that's what you will need for submersible. I think I would cap the wires, tape the wire nuts onto them, and leave them in that pipe shut off (with junction box ready). If needed you can put a GCF outlet on it and turn on power. Those outlets are so touchy - I promise if you wire one in it won't be working when you need it.

I've had situations where a heater died and I put in a submersible. I pounded in a T post and wired a piece of two inch metal pipe to it. I ran the extension corn up the pipe and then out of the pen (like a telephone pole kind of). It worked until I could get things apart to fix the waterer. Those waterers are something you have to know isn't maintenance-free going in.
 
Thanks for the answers. The power supply to the waterer is on its own circuit breaker so I can shut it off whenever and not affect anything.
 

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