Timers for MH ballasts (1 Viewer)

[KarenB]

I need two timers for my 400 W ballasts. I'm not sure if the Home Depo variety would be good enough or not. Is there something special that I need, and if so, can someone recommend what and where I might find them?

TIA,
KarenB

 

[bigbird123]

timers

Karen,
Any three-prong timer will work but if cost is not an issue, then I use the digital timers. You have more accuracy in your settings. Just make sure you get the three-prong (grounded plug) type. They are around $25- $35 each.

Steve

 

[KarenB]

Thanks, buddy

 

[bigbird123]

anything

Karen,
Anytime you need help, let me know. I do alot of DIY myself. AggieBrandon and I were joking one time about a device to raise my hood up/down whenever needed. I'm now working on that, a remote to raise my hood. My hood is custom-made. It has 800w 10k, 500w 20k, 110 w actinic pc, 72w 6500k pc and 7 (3 white/ 4 blue) moonlights, so it's pretty heavy to move up when needed. It is an open all-the-way-around hood set right now at about 8" above the tank. I want to be able to raise it up/down when I want to change my lighting schemes. Pretty cool idea if it works.
Steve

 

[KarenB]

OMG........I forgot about this, but Sunday, as I was doing something or other with my tank, one of the chains holding up one of my MH pendants came OUT! I about died. The molly bolt did not hold. Luckily, since it only half landed on my VHOs, nothing was broken. I had to re-drill the hole to the side, so now my pendant hangs goofy.......sigh.

I appreciate the offer, Steve. I'm usually pretty handy. I built my canopy and reinforced my stand and refinished it, built my fuge, blah blah blah. Remember, you're talking to the Queen of the Economical DIY Set-up, as Mikester so eloquently puts it.....LOL.

 

[cparka23]

wow, bigbird123.. that's a pretty sounding setup. i've recently daydreamed about a canopy that could go up on actuators. that's as far as i got, though... daydreaming. how have you gone about your idea? i'd love to get a feel for how a working setup would perform. sorry, if i'm stealing the thread, karen.

 

[Guest]

Karen, I agree with Steve about the timer, any 3 prong timer should do, since you are going to be running the ballast to the timer, which runs the bulbs.

Nathan

 

[ScubaMedic]

Wal-Mart had 3 prong digital appliance timers for $19.99 the last time I looked.

 

[RR-MAN]

Karen,
I bought a timer made by marineland for $9.99 from Fish Ranch. I use them with MH and so far so good.

 

[RR-MAN]

meant to say VTF not fish ranch.

 

[DRH]

Hi, my experience with the heavy duty appliance timers is that they last about 6 months with the high wattage MH ballasts. I run one 400 and two 175s and those just eat timers. The lights would come on but the timer relays could not shut them off after a few months.

My solution was X10 and it works very well. The X10 appliance modules and the mini-timer. Inexpensive, reliable, and very versatile.

Good luck.
Darrell

 

[FireEater]

Could you elaborate more on the X10?

Where do you buy one at?

Mark

 

[bigbird123]

timers

Karen,
As anyone knows, the more you spend the better the construction of the product. I use the digital appliance timers from WalMart. They run about $20 apiece. They are good and reliable but even if they only last six months...imagine how times you didn't have to go over and turn on your lights...need I say more.

When I figure out completely how to develope the equipment needed to make my canopy do what I want it to do, I'm going to put this all on a timer so it will be more accurate at producing dusk to dawn. Kinda like how the sun goes overhead...

Steve

 

[KarenB]

That would be cool with all the lights you've got. You can even simulate a cloudy day and have half of them off for like two hours in the middle of the day or something.

The way I run mine now, sometimes I just turn them off and have just the VHOs on for a few hours and I tell the fish it's going to be cloudy today, or I'll delay turning them on or turn them off a tad early other days. I vary it. I just thought it would be nice not to have to worry about remembering every morning and night. Hmmmm.....

On your canopy, you could use a pulley system with a remote like a garage door opener to lift them up and down for servicing or whatever

 

[Guest]

X10

Mark,

For X10 info and supplies check here.

http://www.x10.com/automation/plugin_controllers.html

Tom

 

[ScubaMedic]

My Wal-Mart timer has lasted 2 years so far on my VHO setup. I use them to switch my pumps for the skimmer and main return pump off everyday for 2 years and no problems.

 

[KarenB]

Would someone please 'splain to me what the difference is of the remote controllers versus the timers? I'm confused. With the X10 remotes, does that mean I have to hit a button every time I want something off or on, or will it do this automatically, just like a timer?

 

[Guest]

Karen B,
It need the software install in the computer then it will do it automaticly. You have to leave your computer on in order to do so.

 

[KarenB]

Sounds more complicated than I want to deal with....LOL.

 

[Guest]

Karen,

The remote controllers are just what they say, they remotely control something at the push of a button on the controller. The mini-timer is actually just a clock and timer built in one. What it will do is allow you to control up to 8 X10 modules from the unit, however it will only control 4 by timer without moving a slide switch to another postion for the other 4. In other words the mini timer will automatically turn on and off 4 X10 modules at what ever times you set it for, as well as you can manually turn them on or off by pushing the coresponding button on the timer.

Tom

And yes there is also a program that can be run from a computer to control X10 module but that is not very feasible unless you have a computer running 24 hours a day.