Timers, your preference?

[unregistered190]

For lighting I really like these mechanical timers.....no problems so far from the first one so just bought a second. Many brands out there so what is your experience good / bad?

[Guest 3rdCoaster]

I use a cheap digital timer as a 120v trigger to drive a relay which feeds my lights with 240v.   

The Intermatic T103s timers are bullet proof though.  In all my years in the field, never found one to have failed.  That being said I like the down to the minute accuracy digital timers provide over the approximation of the time wheel.

 

[TheMan13]

I've been using the Titan Apollo 17 large LCD display timer ($17.95) for 120v, because I am old (and blind)  ;-)~

[Smokin Joe]

I use the cheap digi timers in the veg room where a reliable timer isn't as important. In flower I won't trust anything but t the intrmatic analog. I tried a digi model and it failed so I replaced the guts with a mechanical set. 

For pumps I use these 

   https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B010AH61G4/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1503267080&sr=8-9&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=seconds+timer&dpPl=1&dpID=31bhHRSLbuL&ref=plSrch

[Captainmorgan]

I've probably bought 20 of these in the last 5 years and two have died or malfunctioned, the rest are still going.

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004TGO6RY/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_20?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

[Guest dansbuds]

behind the fans on each side of the room next to the ballasts

 

[Tonygreen]

That's the box. I'm gonna need one of those bad boys soon I hope!

[Usstoner]

I use mechanical timers...they last for ever...

[Guest dansbuds]

12 hours ago, Tonygreen said:

That's the box. I'm gonna need one of those bad boys soon I hope!

can build ya whatever ya need brutha ! that ones 30 amp , a 50 amp one would cost a little more only because theres more to it than that one .

i think the 30 amp was about 120$ , the time clock being the biggest expense at 70 $

[Aspen]

I wonder if i could make one of those? Without burning my shop down? Or getting fried....  Na nope.... not happening....Bad juju.... ouch... nope... what was i thinking... so how many lights can a 50 amp power? and 110 outlets two... Plugging stuff is no problem.... but that looks like a Mystery Box of Death If i built it.......

[Coastal]

Seen a few of those wall plug plastic 120v units melt n try to ignite... not ideal for more than 600w imo... 

 

i also have had great luck with intermatic t103 and t104 units. The motors do burn out sometimes but very safe and proper... still if I am using more lights than 6 I prefer and recommend using a on off contactor for the actual power to go through as the poles will melt it these t103/104 as well(ask me how I know)... 

 

but yeah, for serious avoid plastic with anything over 8-10 amps on 120! Heaters ,dehums,ballasts ac units etc should all preferably be run on 240v or have designated and properly rated circuits and components.

Cheers

[Slick rick]

I'm with Dan I build trigger box's that are 220 with a 120 trigger will take a picture of mine they are really easy to build I have a spare one if anyone needs one just pay shipping

[Guest dansbuds]

On 9/2/2017 at 6:43 AM, Aspen said:

I wonder if i could make one of those? Without burning my shop down? Or getting fried....  Na nope.... not happening....Bad juju.... ouch... nope... what was i thinking... so how many lights can a 50 amp power? and 110 outlets two... Plugging stuff is no problem.... but that looks like a Mystery Box of Death If i built it.......

if you want 110 volt plugs too , 20 of the 50 amps would be needed for them , that leaves 30 amps for lighting , most lights on 220 volts run around 4 to 5 amps each ..... so 6 lights max !

[Aspen]

7 hours ago, dansbuds said:

if you want 110 volt plugs too , 20 of the 50 amps would be needed for them , that leaves 30 amps for lighting , most lights on 220 volts run around 4 to 5 amps each ..... so 6 lights max !

That would be perfect for my perpetual setup that I'm working twords. Looks like I need to do some research... Electricity just scares the shit out of me... The hair is frizzy enough with the humidity... 

[Guest dansbuds]

Aspen , don't you have a sparky buddy that was going to do all the electrical for you ?

 

[Guest dansbuds]

5 hours ago, flint_town_brown said:

I used to think these are awesome but in fact these timers are horrible.  If the power goes out and you don't realize it, your timer will be off.  It can easily fuck shit up.  

I now use digital timers which run a trigger cord on a light controller.

even if the power goes out  it will still be on a 12hr cycle , it just won't come on or go off at the same time anymore until you adjust it . so the only thing its fuckin up is the time of day you can get in there . the light cycle stays the same ! the power outage isn't moving the tabs you put on the dial dude ! just the time of day lol  if anything , your plants will be in the dark the length of time your power was out ,  which is a helluva lot better than being in the light longer . an extra couple of hours of darkness isn't going to harm them at all .

[Aspen]

On 9/4/2017 at 10:31 AM, dansbuds said:

Aspen , don't you have a sparky buddy that was going to do all the electrical for you ?

 

yea.... if he would ever come back and finish the job.....

[Shooter]

I've got a pile of those Intermatic timers that have gone bad. I'm not sure if it's the timers fault since we used to have a lot of power outages and I feel like that may have been the issue with them going bad. I use this one now and haven't had an issue in about 10 years except I need to replace the back up battery for the timer.

[unregistered190]

1 hour ago, Shooter said:

I've got a pile of those Intermatic timers that have gone bad. I'm not sure if it's the timers fault since we used to have a lot of power outages and I feel like that may have been the issue with them going bad. I use this one now and haven't had an issue in about 10 years except I need to replace the back up battery for the timer.

Curious to see the relays they use. Got any pics to share of the inside of the box? Thanks!

[Guest dansbuds]

5 hours ago, Shooter said:

I've got a pile of those Intermatic timers that have gone bad. I'm not sure if it's the timers fault since we used to have a lot of power outages and I feel like that may have been the issue with them going bad. I use this one now and haven't had an issue in about 10 years except I need to replace the back up battery for the timer.

DXhydro was basically run out of business for using subpar parts in his units , there were a few that burned up for wrong sized wiring & cheap relays ....... just sayin .....

[Guest 3rdCoaster]

Square D relays...add your choice of trigger (timer, thermostat, whatever).,  This one was used to drive two 8600btu wall mount A/C units that would have fried the contacts in the shitty line voltage thermostat in no time.  This thing clunked along for years, and still would be if I had not got rid of the wall mounts.

I use pretty much the same thing to drive my lights, just in a pretty package.  Then any cheap digital timer will do the timing job safely, just a fraction of an amp to pull the coil on the relay.  Often with battery back up to keep the cycle if power goes out. 

[Guest 3rdCoaster]

20 hours ago, Aspen said:

yea.... if he would ever come back and finish the job.....

 Are you saying you can't get a good old boy to come out and check your shorts....I mean... wiring for short..circuits .  What is the world coming to?

[Shooter]

On 9/5/2017 at 7:59 PM, unregistered190 said:

Curious to see the relays they use. Got any pics to share of the inside of the box? Thanks!

I should be able to do that tomorrow when the lights are off. I'm curious to see whats in there after dansbuds comment.

[Shooter]

This is the best I could do without taking it off the wall and disassembling it.

[Guest dansbuds]

5 hours ago, Shooter said:

This is the best I could do without taking it off the wall and disassembling it.

it actually looks pretty good . i wish i knew the wire size going from the breakers to the relay & from the relay to the 220 v plugs , it should be 10 gauge wire . but then they ran a smaller what looks like 12 gauge from the relay to the 110 volt plugs , which is also fed by that 30 amp breaker ..... 12 gauge is good for 20 amps . as long as you don't exceed 20 amps on those 4 plugs , it will work .

i would have done the whole unit with 10 gauge except for the timer ..... its a small enough load what they're using is fine .