Timers

When using HID lights and sodium lights is it neccessary to use a special timer or is a standard sequential or digital timer ok to use?

Go with something like this:
Plant Grow Light Timers at Home Harvest Garden Supply

They are grounded (absolutely necessary!) and will support a 15 amp load.
They only cost a bit more than the cheap-o's you'll find in Wal-Mart.

Good luck!

though it is nice to ground your ballast if its over 400 watts i worked with a 400 watter on no ground with a cheapo home depot timer that wasnt even digital so if u wanna go cheapo i found it didnt make any difference

its just that i heard using a 600wat light on a normal timer will fuse the circuit inside and it will lose the abilty to switch on and off

that is a distinct possibility. Also creates a fire hazard, and nobody wants that.

i have a 13amp grounded sequential timer. do you think this will handle a 600wat sodium light?
It was previously used on a 200w envirolite cfl, with no problems at all

Your 600w hps shouldn't be drawing that many amps so you should be fine. Keep an eye on it for a few days and check for heat coming from the timer.

good luck!

I am switching a much larger load safely with lighting contactors. I could use the cheapest(ungrounded) timer to actiavte my contactor and instantly switch any size load(seriously up to 60a) with only a .1 amp current draw. But for one light, any timer will do. If you go cheap, buy a spare. Always nice to have.