So i have a basement setup that ive previous used only 2 sometimes 3 600s With. I have 3 16inch fans (getting 2 more) a hyper 8 inch cfm ac which i hvent ran and a dehumidifier. So basically a pretty decent amount of elec flowing not counting pumps etc. I plan on moving to 2 1ks (8x8 flower area) and was wondering if i should go with a light controller, an enviorment controller or something like dxhydro.com? Can you guys give me some pros and cons to help make my choice. O I'm not running co2 though i have the gear to just not doing a sealed room. Thanks for any help.
elec advice/ opinion
- Thread starter ag843
- Start date
jijiandfarmgang
Well-Known Member
Its always good to have a dedicated circuit for the lights, and to use a heavy duty mechanical contactors for switching on and off. Basically all a lighting controller is.
You might as well look at the 4-outlet lighting controllers. Hard wired or a dryer type outlet (forget the nema number), its more of a preference. Just have an electrician wire the circuit for you.
I think all the lighting controllers now are pretty much created equal, some of the old C.A.P. ones sucked, but everything they made sucked.
Oh and a personal preference of mine is to have the timer built into the lighting controller, one less wire in your grow room, makes it cleaner looking.
- Jiji
You might as well look at the 4-outlet lighting controllers. Hard wired or a dryer type outlet (forget the nema number), its more of a preference. Just have an electrician wire the circuit for you.
I think all the lighting controllers now are pretty much created equal, some of the old C.A.P. ones sucked, but everything they made sucked.
Oh and a personal preference of mine is to have the timer built into the lighting controller, one less wire in your grow room, makes it cleaner looking.
- Jiji
707humboldt
Well-Known Member
Imo I would use a light controller wired to a dedicated breaker. I use titan controls for mine, work great for years now no problems. The only issue I had was with the ones with the built in timers. If the timer goes, the whole unit is junk. I personally like the ones with a trigger cord that you can use your own timer. This is especially important if you are running 6+ lights because they make dual trigger cord units so you can off set when they come on by 5 minutes so you don't get a surge by having all the lights come on at the same time. This does not apply to your situation obviously, just a bit of info for the future.
Dehumidifiers generally all come with programable settings right on them so you can set the humidity to what ever you want it to be so its unnecessary to hook one up to an environmental controller.
I air cool my lights and I just buy a double outlet timer and plug my cooling fan into the same timer as the one for the trigger cord so that the fan comes on and off at the same time as the lights. Another advantage to using a light controller that has a trigger cord rather than a built in timer.
If you end up running co2, I use the titan controls atlas one co2 controller. Works great. I just feel environmental controls are unnecessary. All you need is one for your lights and one for your co2 if you decide to seal the room and run it.
Dehumidifiers generally all come with programable settings right on them so you can set the humidity to what ever you want it to be so its unnecessary to hook one up to an environmental controller.
I air cool my lights and I just buy a double outlet timer and plug my cooling fan into the same timer as the one for the trigger cord so that the fan comes on and off at the same time as the lights. Another advantage to using a light controller that has a trigger cord rather than a built in timer.
If you end up running co2, I use the titan controls atlas one co2 controller. Works great. I just feel environmental controls are unnecessary. All you need is one for your lights and one for your co2 if you decide to seal the room and run it.
Do you have that titan model name or type? I think im going with 4 600s instead of the 1ks
707humboldt
Well-Known Member
I use the titan controls helios 8. It does up to 8 1000w lights. For 4 600s you could use a titan controls helios 4 if your going 240v (which I recommend). The helios 4 needs a dedicated 30 amp breaker. If your going 120 use the titan controls helios 2. The helios 2 needs a dedicated 50 amp breaker. Both great products, the only difference is 240/120
the helios 4 was the one i was looking at so guess im headed in the right dir. Are these user friendly or is an electrician needed??
707humboldt
Well-Known Member
Definitely need to have a electrical knowledge to wire one of these up. If you know how to wire an outlet to a breaker you can do it your self. I recommend using an electrician if you don't have electrical knowledge though, a lot of things can go wrong if it is done wrong.
Gotcha appreciate the help
707humboldt
Well-Known Member
No problem dude. If you do decide to do it your self, let me know and I will help you through it. Ive wired quite a few of these in my days
I most likely will do it. I'll b sure to contact u. Thnx
redi jedi
Well-Known Member
jijiandfarmgang
Well-Known Member
Like I said having an internal timer vs. trigger cord and separate timer is personal preference.
But this is not like a tv-vcr combo, where one goes out your sol. Lighting controllers are super simple, and the timer could be replaced very easily. I've used many lighting controllers with honeywell timers built in no problems yet.
- Jiji
But this is not like a tv-vcr combo, where one goes out your sol. Lighting controllers are super simple, and the timer could be replaced very easily. I've used many lighting controllers with honeywell timers built in no problems yet.
- Jiji