Coralife Timers, Watch Out!

Kakabub · 07/08/2009, 12:24 AM

So when I was (brand) new to the hobby I bought a Coralife timer/power strip, and now I can't wait to replace it with my ReefKeeper (in the mail as we speak). It worked ok for a couple of weeks but over the last week it has failed to turn off my lights with the timer and constantly trips my gfci with only 2xT5 100w lights on it. I'm so fed up with this and can't wait till my RK gets here, I've heard from so many other RC members that the Coralife timers are **** but wanted to see for myself, just wanted to pass this on, don't waste your money, save the 50/60bucks you're gonna spend on this for a decent controller or some good timers!

Whys · 07/08/2009, 12:27 AM

Consider yourself lucky. These are well known for burning down houses. No joke.

Rocco8 · 07/08/2009, 01:28 AM

I am on my third one in 5 months. I live close to their office so we keep dropping them off and picking up another. With as little as 150 watts the contacts eventually melt together and keep my halides on permanently

minispider · 07/08/2009, 05:38 AM

3 years with 3 of them and never had a problem, not once, Kakabub send me yours free?lol...a little LPS1 lubricant will do the trick!

Kakabub · 07/08/2009, 07:22 AM

all yours minispider, just woke up and didn't turn off my halides yet again...

~reefchik~ · 07/08/2009, 08:10 AM

Sorry to hear this. I was eyeballing one of these the other day for my new setup, but I recalled problems with the Coralife brand from my days at the LFS. So glad I didn't waste my money.

Too bad they're still putting out shoddy product :-(

Sugar Magnolia · 07/08/2009, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Whys
Consider yourself lucky. These are well known for burning down houses. No joke.

Worth repeating.

Superstretch18 · 07/08/2009, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sugar Magnolia
Worth repeating.

Seriously. I can't believe that these things are still on the market and there hasn't been a lawsuit or something. These have been a problem for YEARS!

minispider, consider yourself lucky. I hope you didn't just jinx yourself...

Whys · 07/08/2009, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rocco8
I live close to their office...

Please inform them that their product is not only faulty, but dangerous to both life and property.

I do not know what lawyer in CA keeps them in business, but if they refuse to address these issues, they'll eventually end up in jail on charges of gross negligence and indifference to human life.

JM.02

Wolverine · 07/08/2009, 12:39 PM

I had one of these several years ago. I had gotten it because we used to lose power all the time at our old house, and I liked the idea of that little battery keeping the time so I wouldn't have to reset everything whenever we lost power. That part of it never worked properly, so I had to reprogram it each time the power went out anyway. It was more work than just using the old timers.

n00by · 07/08/2009, 12:51 PM

Now i'm worried. I have the same thing but without the coralife name on it. $10 cheaper but wow, now i'm worried.

Sugar Magnolia · 07/08/2009, 01:03 PM

Personlly, I wouldn't risk using one of those. I've read too many threads over the years about people's house fires, caused by those things.

~reefchik~ · 07/08/2009, 08:23 PM

So....what are people recommending instead? I'm going to need one by the weekend.

I figured I'd go try and find the beefiest multi-plug GFCI I could find at Home Depot or Lowes.

E.intheC · 07/08/2009, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Whys
Consider yourself lucky. These are well known for burning down houses. No joke.

+1.
It's incredible to me these are still sold at a mass market level.

n00by · 07/08/2009, 09:27 PM

I guess it's time to pick up a reef keeper lite or elite.

DSMchad · 07/08/2009, 10:30 PM

my coralife timer worked just fine untill i spilled salt water all over it and then it made lots of sparks and smoke

only had it about 3 months maybe no tlong enough for it to malfunction.

dawaterboy · 07/09/2009, 06:23 AM

I've had mine for about a month and haven't had a problem.

I do not like the fact that you can not control each plug on it's own, and I really don't like all that I just read.

snorvich · 07/09/2009, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sugar Magnolia
Worth repeating.

Yes, there have been many horror stories with this item including actual fires that were started. Be safe, don't use them.

DSR · 07/09/2009, 07:49 AM

man, i am glad that I found this thread today. I had planned on getting one until I could afford the RKlite. No way am I gonna do that now.

Anyone know why the RKlite are not $99 any longer. I had read a post from teh company that indicated that they would be $99 permanently or for a long time (this was for the entry level model). But i am seeing that they are now $149.00. Anyone have any idea?

Kakabub · 07/09/2009, 10:11 PM

I just bought one from them for 99 bucks. did you go directly to their site? Here's the link http://www.digitalaquatics.com/saltwater/RKL

jyuen · 07/09/2009, 10:17 PM

here from marinedepot

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...~FITEMOMI.html

jyuen · 07/09/2009, 10:17 PM

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...ion1=Level%201

~reefchik~ · 07/10/2009, 08:09 AM

I picked up one of these at Lowes for about $16

Shock Buster 5 outlet GFCI

n00by · 07/10/2009, 09:33 AM

DA is all out of the Lite series and won't be getting any in for about 3 weeks. I asked if they were willing to toss in a little discount on the Elite2 system but that didn't go too well.

EnglishRebel · 07/10/2009, 11:30 AM

Which model is it? I have model E192912 it's the one that has four outlets on the top that are always on and the bottom four are controlled by the timer -- the two yellow ones and the two blue ones alternate -- one color is ON when the other color is OFF and vice versa.

07/08/2009, 12:24 AM	#1
Kakabub Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: SF/Sactown Posts: 220	Coralife Timers, Watch Out! So when I was (brand) new to the hobby I bought a Coralife timer/power strip, and now I can't wait to replace it with my ReefKeeper (in the mail as we speak). It worked ok for a couple of weeks but over the last week it has failed to turn off my lights with the timer and constantly trips my gfci with only 2xT5 100w lights on it. I'm so fed up with this and can't wait till my RK gets here, I've heard from so many other RC members that the Coralife timers are **** but wanted to see for myself, just wanted to pass this on, don't waste your money, save the 50/60bucks you're gonna spend on this for a decent controller or some good timers!

07/08/2009, 01:28 AM	#3
Rocco8 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 57	I am on my third one in 5 months. I live close to their office so we keep dropping them off and picking up another. With as little as 150 watts the contacts eventually melt together and keep my halides on permanently __________________ Rocco8 Current Tank Info: 140 Gallon Reef tank

07/08/2009, 08:10 AM	#6
~reefchik~ Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 155	Sorry to hear this. I was eyeballing one of these the other day for my new setup, but I recalled problems with the Coralife brand from my days at the LFS. So glad I didn't waste my money. Too bad they're still putting out shoddy product :-( __________________ ---------------------------------------- 90 gal. reef: soft corals, SPS frags, zoas & palys, chromis, cleaner wrasse, Kole tang, One Spot Foxface and Flame Angel. RM300 Sump/fuge, Vertex skimmer. 48" Current 2X150W Halide, 2X96W PC & 2 AquaRay LED strips.

07/08/2009, 12:39 PM	#10
Wolverine RC Mod Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: West Bloomfield, MI Posts: 17,732	I had one of these several years ago. I had gotten it because we used to lose power all the time at our old house, and I liked the idea of that little battery keeping the time so I wouldn't have to reset everything whenever we lost power. That part of it never worked properly, so I had to reprogram it each time the power went out anyway. It was more work than just using the old timers. __________________ Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. -Douglas Adams Current Tank Info: 14g, 29g nano reefs

07/08/2009, 01:03 PM	#12
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Personlly, I wouldn't risk using one of those. I've read too many threads over the years about people's house fires, caused by those things. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

07/08/2009, 12:27 AM	#2
Whys Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,263	Consider yourself lucky. These are well known for burning down houses. No joke.

07/08/2009, 05:38 AM	#4
minispider Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Pembroke Pines, Fl Posts: 177	3 years with 3 of them and never had a problem, not once, Kakabub send me yours free?lol...a little LPS1 lubricant will do the trick!

07/08/2009, 07:22 AM	#5
Kakabub Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: SF/Sactown Posts: 220	all yours minispider, just woke up and didn't turn off my halides yet again...

07/08/2009, 12:51 PM	#11
n00by Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Montreal Posts: 347	Now i'm worried. I have the same thing but without the coralife name on it. $10 cheaper but wow, now i'm worried.

07/08/2009, 08:23 PM	#13
~reefchik~ Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 155	So....what are people recommending instead? I'm going to need one by the weekend. I figured I'd go try and find the beefiest multi-plug GFCI I could find at Home Depot or Lowes.

07/08/2009, 09:27 PM	#15
n00by Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Montreal Posts: 347	I guess it's time to pick up a reef keeper lite or elite.

07/08/2009, 10:30 PM	#16
DSMchad Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 109	my coralife timer worked just fine untill i spilled salt water all over it and then it made lots of sparks and smoke only had it about 3 months maybe no tlong enough for it to malfunction.

07/09/2009, 06:23 AM	#17
dawaterboy Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: waterford, mi Posts: 214	I've had mine for about a month and haven't had a problem. I do not like the fact that you can not control each plug on it's own, and I really don't like all that I just read.

07/09/2009, 07:49 AM	#19
DSR Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tulsa Posts: 476	man, i am glad that I found this thread today. I had planned on getting one until I could afford the RKlite. No way am I gonna do that now. Anyone know why the RKlite are not $99 any longer. I had read a post from teh company that indicated that they would be $99 permanently or for a long time (this was for the entry level model). But i am seeing that they are now $149.00. Anyone have any idea? __________________ So, what woulda happened if I had answered "yes" to whether I was a bot? Current Tank Info: AP24, Sunpod 150, AquaEuro 1/13 chiller

07/09/2009, 10:11 PM	#20
Kakabub Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: SF/Sactown Posts: 220	I just bought one from them for 99 bucks. did you go directly to their site? Here's the link http://www.digitalaquatics.com/saltwater/RKL

07/09/2009, 10:17 PM	#21
jyuen Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Saratoga Posts: 79	here from marinedepot http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...~FITEMOMI.html

07/10/2009, 08:09 AM	#23
~reefchik~ Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 155	I picked up one of these at Lowes for about $16 Shock Buster 5 outlet GFCI

07/10/2009, 09:33 AM	#24
n00by Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Montreal Posts: 347	DA is all out of the Lite series and won't be getting any in for about 3 weeks. I asked if they were willing to toss in a little discount on the Elite2 system but that didn't go too well.

07/10/2009, 11:30 AM	#25
EnglishRebel Retired Rebel Reefer Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Triad NC Posts: 1,902	Which Model Number is it? Which model is it? I have model E192912 it's the one that has four outlets on the top that are always on and the bottom four are controlled by the timer -- the two yellow ones and the two blue ones alternate -- one color is ON when the other color is OFF and vice versa. __________________ Alan "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few. " Sir Winston Churchill praising those young RAF pilots. August 20th 1940 Click on my name for drop down list and select "Visit EnglishRebels Home Page" for my build thread. Current Tank Info: 60x30x24 200G AO custom glass tank, basement equipment room, 30G and 55G Fuges, LifeReef sump & 30" skimmer.