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Electrolysis in pet watering system

I have a dog waterer with a brass support for the float which cuts the water off when the pan is full.The pan is stainless. This is my second one. The first lasted several years (5?) while the second has corroded through in about one. Is there any thing I can do to prevent the corrosion. My husband suggest a penny because they are zinc. Would this help and not be harmful to the animals. The waterer is used for chickens, is connected to a 55 gallon barrel which collect rainwater. There is a heater in the pan which keeps the water from freezing. The outside of the heat is stainless what the inside is I can't say. Any help or ideas would be appreciated.

Claffertene Cheeks
- Newton, New Jersey
2006

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Hi Claffertene,
Would it be possible to obtain a stainless steel float support? A penny since 1982 is composed of Zinc 97.5%, 2.5% copper. With the amount of water you will use over time, a penny should be fine considering a mass of 2.5 grams. Good luck!

Mark Baker
process engineer - Malone, New York
2006

Thanks, I will try the penny. I asked the company about the electrolysis problem and they do offer replacement stems, but seem to be unable to address the problem, or maybe it the heater or the rainwater that causes it to be more my problem than theirs. Any thanks

Claffertene Cheeks
- Newton, New Jersey
2006