problems with timers and lights

[morphine34]

Hi guys,

 

I have a problem that I’m hoping someone can help suggest a solutiont to.

I have a cabinet grow in which I am running a 400 watt Son T Agro lamp on a 400w Lumatek Digital ballast.

 

My problem is with timers. I started out using a digital timer that I bought online that is supposed to be heavy duty (a JBL 10amp/2400w digital timer with a 30amp relay built in to handle large bursts of power at startups). I’m currently on the 12/12 light cycle and was using this timer to turn the light off and on etc. Problem is that first day it turned the light on ok but the next day I came out and found it had not turned the light on (even though the display on the timer indicated that it was on). Even more curious, I found that if I pull the timer out of the wall (with the ballast power still connected to it) and plugged it back into the power socket, the light came on! I’ve found that the timer will turn the light off as per its settings but then won’t turn the light back on the next day.

 

I have tried a couple of different mechanical timers (thinking that the digital thing might be the problem) but have found exactly the same problem. One of these was a good timer that the hydro shop guy recommended when I described the problem to him. The hydro shop guy thought it was particularly strange as he was under the impression that the digital ballast only uses a very small wattage/amperage at startup.

 

Does anyone have any idea whats going on here or what I could do to address it? Its buggering my poor plant up so I would love to solve it somehow.

 

Cheers,

 

Morphine34

[morphine34]

Well guys,

 

As the man said: to all you virgins out there thanks for nothing! He He

 

But hey, I'm not one to winge - people have helped me heaps with other things in the past on this site.

 

I did manage to find a solution of sorts - being a relay contactor. I'm really amazed that the guys at my two local hydro shops didnt know about these or didnt recommend it to me when I explained my timer problem to them. Anyway, there is a link in the cannaversity on how to build one yourself but seeing as I'm not that well endowed with electrical know how I decided to buy one on ebay which cost me about 70 bucks.

 

The long and the short of the problem is that timers (yes even those that are labelled as heavy duty and having 16 and 30amp relays etc) are not able to cope with the large amount of "inductive" power (I say in inverted commas because I don't know what it means) required to ignite an HID lamp and simply fail to start the lights up (or worse).

 

For the uninitiated like me, a relay contactor is basically a thing with two power plugs - one which connects to your timer which you plug into a power socket, the other which you also plug into another power socket. It also has a powerpack attached to which you can connect multiple lights up to the amperage limit of the device (which on my one is 13 amps). The contactor is a solenoid switch that is able to cope with the amounts of inductive power required at startup of HID lights, responds to the timer as to when to turn on and off and basically does the job that you and I were told by the hydro people the timer could do by itself.

 

I hope this makes sense - and more to the point and I hope I got this right and it helps some other poor boob like me.

 

If I have got something wrong here or if you have a good photo of a relay contactor please display.

 

cheers,

 

Morphine34

[morphine34]

OH NOOOOOO!!!! I just went out to my cabinet this morning and the same problem happened again - please does anyone have any ideas or suggestions as to who I could contact to follow this up?

[brick]

Are you actually switching the ballast off or just the lights?

 

The best timers are bought from an electrical wholesaler or a refrigeration wholesaler. IMO digital timers are ok for switching on and off household lights and televisions. But shit for growing lamps.

 

I am sure there is a thread on wiring up timers, ballasts etc somewhere in here.

 

https://cannabis.community.forums.ozstoners...st&id=32127

 

I use these mechanical timers. Very reliable and east to wire up and set up.

[wietlover]

Are you actually switching the ballast off or just the lights?

 

.

I'm in the process of building my cab and thats a question that i have overlooked!! Cheers brick50!! does one have the timer to switch on/off the ballast, or on/off the light?iIf the ballast , does it being digital make any difference??

wiet

[resinate]

I have my timer coming straight from the power point to the ballast and I havent had an issue with timers. Im also using the JBL 30amp......... and its firing a 600w Lumatek digi ballast. To me it seems the issue is something else TBH morph, what it is Im not sure though

[Innocent criminal]

I'm running 1200w (600 digi + 600 magnetic) off a single 10amp digi timer from Go-Lo, been going 6months+ without a hiccup.

Yet I've had 2 heavy duty ones die running a single 400w light and had a 10w analogue one die running only 48w of cfl's! Also seen an analogue one submersed in a foot of water for hours yet still happily running a 400w ballast without a flicker .

Luck of the draw I suppose.

 

morph I would say you have an underlying issue with your power or ballast (I would guess the latter).

 

[brick]

I'm in the process of building my cab and thats a question that i have overlooked!! Cheers brick50!! does one have the timer to switch on/off the ballast, or on/off the light?iIf the ballast , does it being digital make any difference??

wiet

 

I switch the ballast off wiet. Should not worry a digital. Cos when you switch the power off to any fluros any where you are switching off the ballast.

 

Yeah definitely switch off the ballast.

[buzzo]

I would be looking at the other loads you have on the same supply.

For example my hydro comes of the same 16 amps circuit as the toaster, Kettle, wine fridges.

I can't confirm this but I would think the Digital Ballasts will have some pretty tricky electronics.

If the supply voltage is low it's quite possible that the fault detection will trip and latch. Not saying this

is your problem but it would explain why it works by unplugging and plugging it back in.

 

If you have an older Mag Ballast try that to Isolate the problem or plug another low power device on

a double adapter to the same timer. (IE Phone charger,) If the phone charger works when the timer

switches on then you will have a faulty Ballast or low supply line voltage.

 

The power point or extension lead or whatever else your are connecting to could also be an issue.

Try using a different power point or connecting via a different power point on a different circuit in your house.

 

I will get it sorted for you.

 

P.S. If you live in a new suburb or a suburb rezoned for high density then this might be your problem.

Power companies fucking hate putting up another transformer to cater for the extra load on a suburb.

Voltage spikes and fluctuations from this cause heaps of issues.

Edited August 21, 2010 by buzzo

[wietlover]

I switch the ballast off wiet. Should not worry a digital. Cos when you switch the power off to any fluros any where you are switching off the ballast.

 

Yeah definitely switch off the ballast.

Cheers brick50, it does make sense, there is no point powering your ballast when the light is not on!!

many thanks