Help choosing a light controller

[OneHitDone]

You have no idea much better that makes me feel about my purchase. I feel like the Titan (and other name brand controllers) are inflating the cost of their product just because they can. As far as my understanding goes there are no costly components that comprise a light controller. I'd imagine the heavy duty relay is the most expensive part. They seem to retail for around $40. Wholesale is probably $20/each. How Titan can justify nearly $230 for a 6 or 8 light controller leaves me scratching my head a bit. There are so many predatory companies in this industry selling good products at grossly inflated prices I sometimes feel like I'm shopping at a shady car lot when I go hunting for grow room gear. It's a very similar theme. There's generally nothing wrong with the products. It's the vastly inflated prices and general sleaziness in the way they do business by sticking it to everyone just because they can. Fortunately there are companies like topolite that provide fair prices for a good product. We do have options. That's a good thing. And my diatribe is over

I would say increase in price is most likely attached to improved warranty, support, product availability, or something along those lines.
Also, make sure your NEVER paying MSRP on those name brand items
Here's just an example of the markup in the industry

 

[Renfro]

The reason the Titan seems so inflated in price is partly because they use Allen Bradley contactors in those, very high quality component. There are a LOT of cheaper lighting controllers out there, all they really are is a double pole contactor wired to some receptacles. It's easy enough to build a lighting controller for like $60 bucks ish. That route is really wise if you have shit laying around and don't have to buy much.

 

[jonnynobody]

The reason the Titan seems so inflated in price is partly because they use Allen Bradley contactors in those, very high quality component. There are a LOT of cheaper lighting controllers out there, all they really are is a double pole contactor wired to some receptacles. It's easy enough to build a lighting controller for like $60 bucks ish. That route is really wise if you have shit laying around and don't have to buy much.

That makes sense to me. In an earlier post I think I improperly used the term relay to describe what is actually the contactor. If the contactor goes bad in my topolite controller could I fairly easily swap it out for one of those Allen Bradley's? If that's the case I'll start shopping around for one to keep on hand. It seems like the contactor is the only part receiving abuse on a daily basis that would eventually result in failure.

 

[Renfro]

I think I improperly used the term relay to describe what is actually the contactor.

They are basically the same thing but a "relay" is usually smaller, board/soldered or socket mounted component and the "contactor" is a higher amperage device thats usually bolted in or DIN rail mounted and wired with lugs or terminals. Using the term interchangably is common so you are good there.

If the contactor goes bad in my topolite controller could I fairly easily swap it out for one of those Allen Bradley's

If you know what you are doing sure. Using a properly rated double pole contactor with 120 VAC coil, as long as you can make it fit and mount it and wire it up properly, if you have to use wire make sure it's the proper gauge or bigger.