Jestersix

Best Timer for lights?

Tamazula

Tamazula

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I'm looking for a new timer for my lights. Unfortunately I don't have a controller setup yet, but was hoping that there are some low profile ones out there somewhere. For the 2% of you who don't use a controller, what do you use as a timer? Standard brick-with-a-dial-on-it type of thing?
 
I hate those as they tend to change when you accidentally bump them. I use Aube in wall timers now after going through literally dozens of digital Intermatics. I have yet to have any issues with the Aube timers in the last 4/5 years I have been using them.

http://www.smarthome.com/4256W/Aube-TI032-3W-7-Day-40-500W-Timer-White/p.aspx

http://www.smarthome.com/4258W/Aube-TI033-7-Day-2400W-Timer-White/p.aspx (get this one)
 
I went to OSH and got an outdoor lighting timer. It's digital and it was only $20. All I needed was a splitter so I could run two tanks on the same timer. Maybe one day when I have a lot of time on my hands I'll ditch the RSM dial time and plug the lighting cord from my RSM into the digital timer so everything can be in sync. :)
 
You can get one at Home Depot or Lowes just make sure you check the wattage rating it can handle. You might get lucky and find some really good deals on Xmas leftovers.
 
I've used the square hockey puck for awhile on some of my tanks - they are reliable and less expensive than a controller. Good equipment to keep around even if you advance towards a controller
 
There are a couple types of digital timers. There's a kind that's always in timer mode with a button to turn it off and on. Those are great.

There's another type, though, where you push an on/off button that cycles through "off", "off auto", "on", and "on auto". I find those super annoying because when turning the lights on and off manually I have to be sure to push it twice to put it back in auto mode.
 
pixelpixi said:
There are a couple types of digital timers. There's a kind that's always in timer mode with a button to turn it off and on. Those are great.

There's another type, though, where you push an on/off button that cycles through "off", "off auto", "on", and "on auto". I find those super annoying because when turning the lights on and off manually I have to be sure to push it twice to put it back in auto mode.
Click to expand...

+1, I have an intermatic timer that is as you describe, I can't see the display without pulling off the outlet, what a PITA.
 
GreshamH said:
I hate those as they tend to change when you accidentally bump them. I use Aube in wall timers now after going through literally dozens of digital Intermatics. I have yet to have any issues with the Aube timers in the last 4/5 years I have been using them.

http://www.smarthome.com/4256W/Aube-TI032-3W-7-Day-40-500W-Timer-White/p.aspx

http://www.smarthome.com/4258W/Aube-TI033-7-Day-2400W-Timer-White/p.aspx (get this one)
Click to expand...

Those look pretty damn spiffy, granted you'd have to wire up a plug to work with, but at that "hot deal" price it would be very nice slick look that wouldn't take up valuable real-estate on my DC8 power bar. Think I'll get at least one of them for my fish room build for my halides (which I do worry about putting that much power on one plug), just put it on the dry side and it should work great for a long time. Now if that could manipulate different plugs independently I'd be in heaven :D

Thanks for the heads up.
 
It says out of stock, but looks pretty handy if you could find it.......Hmmmm, doesn’t say if the two outlets can be separately timed.

http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/params.item.V30033.desc.Brinks-6-Outlet-Power-Strip-w-Programmable-Digital-Timer?&cookie=set

-Gregory
 
sfsuphysics said:
GreshamH said:
I hate those as they tend to change when you accidentally bump them. I use Aube in wall timers now after going through literally dozens of digital Intermatics. I have yet to have any issues with the Aube timers in the last 4/5 years I have been using them.

http://www.smarthome.com/4256W/Aube-TI032-3W-7-Day-40-500W-Timer-White/p.aspx

http://www.smarthome.com/4258W/Aube-TI033-7-Day-2400W-Timer-White/p.aspx (get this one)
Click to expand...

Those look pretty damn spiffy, granted you'd have to wire up a plug to work with, but at that "hot deal" price it would be very nice slick look that wouldn't take up valuable real-estate on my DC8 power bar. Think I'll get at least one of them for my fish room build for my halides (which I do worry about putting that much power on one plug), just put it on the dry side and it should work great for a long time. Now if that could manipulate different plugs independently I'd be in heaven :D

Thanks for the heads up.
Click to expand...

Sanjay turned me onto them :) He and I both use them for our halides. No issues. he said the build inside is really beefy and well connected. I'll take his word on it, non of mine have broken yet.

I've never seen that site sell them for more the $32 FWIW.

I'm going to open a furniture store named:

MEGA SALE BIG BLOW OUT SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY GOING OUT OF BUSINESS OUR LOSS IS YOUR GAIN EVERYTHING MUST GO
 
GDawson said:
It says out of stock, but looks pretty handy if you could find it.......Hmmmm, doesn’t say if the two outlets can be separately timed.

http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/params.item.V30033.desc.Brinks-6-Outlet-Power-Strip-w-Programmable-Digital-Timer?&cookie=set

-Gregory
Click to expand...

I don't think QVC are going to sell it anymore:

We're sorry, the Brinks 6 Outlet Power Strip w/ Programmable Digital Timer is no longer available.
Click to expand...

Hows the guts look? Ever looked inside to see how they connect the outlets? Pressure fitted bus bars?
 
If you are interested, I have an ACll with a bunch of x10 modules I would trade for frag. X10 has some issues and the ACII is out of date, but the price is right :)
 
If you have any electronic ballasts don't take him up on the offer :lol:
 
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