Which timers do you use?

[Trickee]

I have gone through at least 6 different timers in about 3 months. I've bought a "heavy duty" timer box from eBay (which never worked even once), and I've tried many of the smaller and cheaper timers available at local hardware shops. None of them last more than 2 weeks.

 

I'm using 2x 130w CFLs. I've tried running them both off 1 timer, and I've tried running them each on a separate timer... no luck.

 

Please post the brand and whatever other information you can about your timers. I need something I can rely on.

[dani]

hey trickee,

 

i had nothing but trouble with timers.. i tried so many different one's and i could not get one of them to work .. i had to do my grow without them..

then a very good friend came and gave me a hand ..

most of the timers i had just didn't work.. even the digital one.. it's not really a good idea to use them anyway... the 1 that my friend did get to work, i actually bought in a pack of 2.. the other 1 it came with didn't work.. these are hpm.. nothing special or expensive from bunnings..

 

this is what he showed me... ok did for me

first of all you have to listen to the timer for a faint tick.. if you can hear that then it works ..

you must test it with a lamp..

so 1st just set it for 1 hour.. just push down the clips between 12 pm-1pm.. doesn't really matter what time as long as it's for an hour cos this is just to test it...

ok plug in the lamp to the timer and the timer in the power point, then turn the arrow on the dial to 11:00am.. ok now go and have some while you wait an hour..

if the lamp comes on, then the timer works .. you have to do this with all the one's you can hear ticking.. if no tick just bin them .. if you have to buy new ones listen for the ticking before you buy them ....

 

i haven't had a problem since and have had to reset it myself when i made some changes..

hope this helps cos tbh doesn't matter which brand...

 

[Trickee]

Thanks. I didn't try the HPM timers because I heard they're bad, but I've tried most of the other brands. The problem is not that it doesn't work when I buy it, all of them except one have worked at least once, so the problem is that they are burning out very quickly for some reason. I've done all that testing with other appliances. And like I said I am only trying to run CFL from these things... its not like I'm trying to put 1000W or more through them, so I just don't know what to do. Luckily the on/off time is at a time when I can be around to check it, but I bought these timers so I wouldn't have to check.

 

Anyway, you're saying you use a HPM timer now and it works?

[El Gato]

I shit you not. I have an el cheapo, 5 buck timer from kmart that is over 15 years old. Been used for many different things and never skipped a beat. Also got a second timer last summer its an arlec, from kmart too..... Identical too my older one. Both just simple cheap push down that tab types. I run my 400w light off the older one for over a year now too..... I musta got lucky.

[dani]

yep, no probs..

 

Thanks. I didn't try the HPM timers because I heard they're bad, but I've tried most of the other brands. The problem is not that it doesn't work when I buy it, all of them except one have worked at least once, so the problem is that they are burning out very quickly for some reason. I've done all that testing with other appliances. And like I said I am only trying to run CFL from these things... its not like I'm trying to put 1000W or more through them, so I just don't know what to do. Luckily the on/off time is at a time when I can be around to check it, but I bought these timers so I wouldn't have to check.

 

Anyway, you're saying you use a HPM timer now and it works?

[buzzo]

1. Fluro's are heavy on relay points contacts in the relay.

 

2. Magnetic ballasts are also hard on relay contacts.

 

The reason is , the very high initial start current of these devices cause burning of the contacts in the relay's of these timers when they are first switched on.

For reason's which I won't go into, the Digital Ballast's of are very much like the "Soft Start" Air Conditioning Compressors of today. They use Electronic Circuitry to enable a smooth transition during the start cycle..... Not a sudden start which causes massive initial burning of the relay contacts. Fluoro's use little current when running, they do however use a massive amount during the start process.

 

Even when you use both Floro's on different timer's as you do...... on the same power point you may have the same results. It may even be one of the fluoro starters in one one the 2 Fluoror's is causing the problem.

 

HPS is cheaper and better bang for the Hydro Buck when it comes to what you want. Give the Fluoro a miss.

 

Fluoro is great for Vegative state of growth. If you want to produce decent flowers then HPS is the only way to go.

If you want grow only Autoflowering Plants then it a total no brainer... Fluoro's are out!

 

If you still want to grow yourself then you willl know what I'm talking about.

250 watt Fluoro = 9,000 lumens

250 Watt HPS...= 13,000 Lumens

[Trickee]

I didn't ask for yet another lecture on CFL vs HPS, but thanks for the other info anyway.

[iatd]

Hey trickee. I use an ARLEC digital timer. Model PC697. I went through heaps of timers, but these ones have lasted the distance. Only cost $12 or something from wolworths. If you open up a mechanical timer, you'll see it has notches inside. These get flatened after a while which makes the timer stop at that flattened notch. When spinning the timer do it gently and they last a lot longer.

 

Hope this helps.

 

td

[Naycha]

I use the cheap HPM ones as well and have rarely had a problem. Once or twice a couple of years ago I had the timer get stuck on, just gave it a good whack and it worked fine.

 

Naycha

[Trickee]

iatd: I have tried just about every other kind of timer that Arlec makes, including their "digital clockface" and analog timers, but I guess I will try the one you're talking about. I think I've seen it before at Coles.

 

Naycha: I guess I'll be trying a HPM too. It can't do worse than what I've tried already.

 

Yesterday while I was getting some other stuff from ebay I ordered an EZI PLUG "heavy duty" digital timer, supposedly has a 16 amp switching relay, which should be better than the 10 amp on the majority of timers.