timers issues, which brand do you use?

[GreenSanta]

I have been buying these timers from the local hardware store that are rated at 1800 watts, 3 prongs, heavy duty,, I generally run them at 1200. In the last 4-5 months I have had 4-5 incidents where one of the timers in the grow room stops working, most recently on a timer that only has 300 watts on it. What is going on!!!? its really fuking things up big time, the one time I have had a light on for a full 2 weeks or more totallly fuking up my crop....

I need to know what kind of timers you guys use, thanks

 

[THCBrain]

Cheapo powerplant timer has done 4 crops no problems

 

[loftygoals]

You need a contactor rather than a normal timer.

When HID lights start they need a lot of current to spark up (as much as 4-10x the current the bulb is rated at). The current then stabilises at what you know to be the bulb wattage rating (600w, 1000w etc) within a second.

Most mechanical timers can't handle this massive load on start up and the massive current and heat will weld the metal contacts together in an on or off position.

To counter this effect you can use a "contactor" or "grow light controller" or whatever they get labelled as... they basically allow HID lights to start up safely and can handle the massive current load without dying.

This only applies to HID lights. Not CFLs or LEDs.

TLDR: It's possible that a 250w HPS bulb could be drawing 2500w to spark up. You need a light controller to safely control timings.

 

[GreenSanta]

I use nothing but leds.... It's weird how unreliable those timers have been recently ...the problem is I can't be looking everyday to make sure the timers are doing their thing...

 

[Olive Drab Green]

Some kind of 2-socket grounded digital timer from Walmart. Never unreliable.

 

[rkymtnman]

Intermatic T101.

 

[justugh]

I have been buying these timers from the local hardware store that are rated at 1800 watts, 3 prongs, heavy duty,, I generally run them at 1200. In the last 4-5 months I have had 4-5 incidents where one of the timers in the grow room stops working, most recently on a timer that only has 300 watts on it. What is going on!!!? its really fuking things up big time, the one time I have had a light on for a full 2 weeks or more totallly fuking up my crop....

I need to know what kind of timers you guys use, thanks

hydro farm .......rated for 15 amps
http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-TM01715D-7-Day-Digital-Program/dp/B001BPOBTY
http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-TM01015-Grounded-Timer-1725/dp/B0055F53HK
http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-TM01015D-Outlet-Grounded-Timer/dp/B001Q1FZWA

watts matter for shit really it is the AMP drawl that kills u (really it is amps that kill u not watts) and the amp drawl in the system causes heat

it is pretty simple what is happening......the system u are using is blowing the timer the start up amp drawl is always higher then the actually running of the system
u are talking 1200w so if that is 2 600w hids u are looking at a 8.2 amp start up that is 16.4 on the timer when it starts up ........LED this would not have happened unless u were using something like 2 900w/1200w ........but the system is wired for 20 amps or higher so it is not tripping the breaker and the timer takes the thermal damage

the only way to counter this is to break up the amp drawl by putting them on 2 timers ........or u can get one of the newer digital ones they have staggered fire up system built into them with a timer built in (solis tek or galaxy)

 

[rkymtnman]

hydro farm .......rated for 15 amps

hydrofarm sucks balls. won't buy anything with that name on it.

 

[justugh]

hydrofarm sucks balls. won't buy anything with that name on it.

say what u want
i have used them for 4 years ......never failed me yet ......i even had a wire arc from the power drawl i was doing timer was fine the wire was shot

i made the mistake of getting one built into a power strip .......that is how i know what is going on it is the amp drawl breaking the timers

 

[intenseneal]

I use cheap hardware store timers. Sometimes they stop working but i just get another and an good to go again. Some i have had for a while with no issues.

 

[Sire Killem All]

Use sunsystem digital timers tho i do have a titan 7

 

[GreenSanta]

I dont want to use digital

Use sunsystem digital timers tho i do have a titan 7

cute timer but a little overprice ... I like to use many timers in the grow because I can have them on lights on different schedule I like to have them on 10 hours but with residual lighting plants are actually 13 hours in light...

Intermatic T101.