Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

I'm glad this subject came up...we recently bought our own horsey
property (hooray!) and will soon bring the horse home.  And
wouldn't you know it...it's almost winter of all things. 
Anyway...I need your help...
My husband believes that any electrical connection that is properly
grounded is "safe" enough and that GFCIs are problematic.  An
example:  We cannot plug our fridge into a GFCI plug as it will
trip it within 5 minutes.  Can I assume the GFCI was not installed
properly??  How can I get my hubby to understand that GFCI is
needed for horse water heaters?  
Thanks for any 'kind' advice...dealing with a hubby that thinks he
knows alot about electricity and being non-horsey doesn't help.
Val

On 11/27/06, Sisu West Ranch <ranch@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

It is not the heater that causes  or fixes the problems it is the installation.  Make sure the safety ground (green wire) is actually grounded (lots of old barns are improperly wired).  Make sure a GFCI is installed properly.

 

Between these two things they will trip before a shock gets the horse.  The molded in aluminum sinking kind are perhaps the longest lasting.  I beleive they now come with long enough legs to keep the plastic tank from melting.

 

Don't string extension cords all over the place, and especially on the ground, and expect things to be safe.  If you are unsure hire a licensed electrician.  His fee will be less than a new horse or barn or spouse or kid.

 

Ed

Ed & Wendy Hauser
2994 Mittower Road
Victor, MT 59875

 

(406) 642-9640

 

ranch(at)sisuwest(dot)us