A Timer for my Lights

[GobyGuy5]

I wanted to buy a timer for my lights in order to give my fish and plants consistent amounts of light, I have looked around, and so far I have only found an expensive timer for Icecap Ballasts, what are my options for an All-Glass Hood?

[gcvt]

Any decent hardware store will carry a variety of mechanical light timers that should range in price from about $8 - $15. Some will also carry digital light timers for about $20 - $25 or so.

I use both, but I prefer the digital timers because they are more accurate.

The mechanical timers will look something like this:
http://www.homedepot.com/cmc_upload/HDUS/EN_US/asset/images/pii/4/1/9/8/A38914_3.JPG

And the digital timers will look something like this:
http://www.homedepot.com/cmc_upload/HDUS/EN_US/asset/images/pii/2/5/7/3/A63752_3.JPG

[Dabbler II]

Inspect the lable on the light fixture and see how many amps the unit will draw when running. Then go to your LHS and look at the timmers they have. There are several to choose from and most of them are good for 15 amps.and if you are running your lights off one plug then 15 amps is plenty ( if you are drawing more you will blow your breaker in your panel). I got a nice digital one for $30.00 cdn (thats about $2.00 us :D )

[latazyo]

walmart, dude, 4.97

[GobyGuy5]

really, so I can go to walmart, buy one of these and hook it up to my ballast?

[Bruddah Chrispy]

If you've got an electronic ballast (you push the button <click> light comes on) then just plug the timer into your wall outlet, and plug the ballast into the timer. Leave the light turned on and the timer will send power to it, turning on the light, (and vice versa).

If you've got a non-electronic ballast (you hold down a contact until the flourescent flickers to life) then you won't be able to use this without some electrical modifications. I think that The Krib (http://www.thekrib.com) had some discussion about rewiring this kind of ballast for use with a timer.

HTH.

[Rocketman]

Personally, I'd recomend the X10 Home Automation System, (the company with all the kinky pop-up ads.) I've had the thing installed in my house since before most people had even heard of the internet, and it works great. Granted, I use it for more then lighting, but I think the value would still be good. You can use remote controls to control the different 'appliance modules.' I can't really discribe it, but check it out, www.x10.com

[Gumby7]

Buy one with far more capacity than you'll need - fluorescents have huge momentary inrush currents at start up. These can fry barely adaquate timers. (I wouldn't hook up several ballasts to one timer).

Personally digital is the only way to go.

Gumby

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by Gumby7
....Personally digital is the only way to go.

Gumby I don't have digital timers. I got the mech type. I like most things digital; why do you prefer a digital timer?

[PeteSC]

I found a power strip, with a mechanical timer built in, at Home Depot....I think!
It has 4 outlets switched by the timer, and 4 unswitched.
I plug the light and uv filter into the switched side, and also one air pump and one heater.

[NJ Devils Fan]

I have the exact same one that gcvt has on top. It works fine. I wish that I remembered where I put the other little tim thingies. I only have 1 shut off one, don't know where the others are.

[Rocketman]

Ah, X10. I got this spare mechanical one from my pop, and I find it confusing. I mean, the arrow is all out of wack and I can't tell my PM from my AM, funny little timer...

[Brucifer]

I started out with a mechanical timer for about $5 from Wal-mart. One problem with these cheap timers is that you can't plug in something with 3 prongs (e.g., the power cord you get in an AHSupply light kit). Another problem is that the on/off times seem to slowly shift. You might set it to turn on at 7am and off at 7pm, but a few months later it's turning on at 7:15am and off at 7:20pm.

Those are the problems I had with my mechanical timers. Now I use $25 digital timers from Lowes. You can't beat the accuracy of the digital timers.

[karfixer]

I use the mechanical type of timers, but they are grounded (3-prong) units, got them from Home Depot, setting them takes a little work. I haven't had any problems with the lighting start up

[Unome]

Only complaint I've had with timers is you can only plug 1 thing into each one. Well, one's I've found. So hooking a light and small air pump on same timer isn't possible. WOuld be nice to allow at least 2 items on same timer.

I've got mechanical one like first picture(and also have lost the extra tabs :p ). But I do have 2 others that all you have to do is push in some tabs all the way around the thing and you can have power on/off multiple times a day.

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by Unome
WOuld be nice to allow at least 2 items on same timer. ... I AGREE.........

[Dabbler II]

hey plug an extension cord into the timer that has a multi plug on it then you can run more than one item with the same time settings:D