What timers do you guys use for your lights?

[myst]

I bought an Aqualight Power Center by Coralife and I can't figure out how this thing works. Can you guys suggest a better timer or should this one be fine?

[oct2274]

if you are going cheap that is probably going to be an ok option. Next upgrade would be to get a controller like an Aquacontroller from neptune systems or something like the reefkeeper 2

[JoeTSI]

I bought two from Home Depot, cost me $14 for both.

[luke33]

I bought an outside waterproof timer from menards for under $10 works perfect.

[airq33]

I have a digital Coralife Power Center with 4 alternating timer-controlled outlets. You have to set the timer to control the daylight outlets (mine are yellow). When the daylight outlets are on, the nighttime outlets (mine are blue) are off. When the timer shuts off the daylight outlets, the nighttime outlets will automatically cut on. So, basically, the 4 timer-controlled outlets alternate on and off. The remaining 4 outlets provide constant power.

I have a Nova Extreme T-5 Fixture, so the Actinics, 10Ks, lunar lights, and fan all have independent power cords. I set my lights and timers up as follows:

Daylight Outlets (on from 12PM to 12AM):
- Actinics and fan

Nighttime Outlets (on from 12AM to 12PM):
- Lunar lights

I then had to buy a single digital timer-controlled outlet to run my 10Ks from 1PM to 11PM. That was the only way I could achieve the dawn/dusk effect I wanted using my current light fixture and the Coralife Power Center. I hope that helps.

[GSMguy]

aqua controller JR

[DarG]

Ebay ... as many digital lamp and appliance timers as you need. You can often find them for 7 bucks or less. Otherwise, Lowes, Home Depot or Walmart all sells the digital timers. In the 9 - 15 dollar range. Im using three right now. T5's, Halides and LED's. They can be programmed for many more options than the analog timers and they stay accurate even when power goes out because they have battery back-up.

[AquaKnight]

Can those cheapy electric and analog timers handle the power draw from a set of metal halides? I thought I've read stories where they overheat and fail, causing the MH's to stay on, overheating the tank and killing everything??

[djcerna]

Saving up for a controller but currently I use harbor freight digtal timers. They have 10 programmable on off cycles and you can plug two lights and have them work independently.
David

[pleaselaunchme]

Before I switched to an RK2 I used a variety of those analogue timers, and we put a digital on my girlfriends tank. The 2 prong analogue I used for a while, but decided I wanted grounded ones. The heavy duty analogue timers I bought are rated up to 15 amps.

HTH,

Ben

Originally posted by AquaKnight407
Can those cheapy electric and analog timers handle the power draw from a set of metal halides? I thought I've read stories where they overheat and fail, causing the MH's to stay on, overheating the tank and killing everything??

[sidjam]

I saw a thread on here where the coralife powercenters were causing fires. Its worth checking into.

[luke33]

Originally posted by AquaKnight407
Can those cheapy electric and analog timers handle the power draw from a set of metal halides? I thought I've read stories where they overheat and fail, causing the MH's to stay on, overheating the tank and killing everything??

The garden one i have will take up to 1800w, so no i only run 600w through it, no fires here.

[carlso63]

Originally posted by airq33
I have a digital Coralife Power Center with 4 alternating timer-controlled outlets. You have to set the timer to control the daylight outlets (mine are yellow). When the daylight outlets are on, the nighttime outlets (mine are blue) are off. When the timer shuts off the daylight outlets, the nighttime outlets will automatically cut on. So, basically, the 4 timer-controlled outlets alternate on and off. The remaining 4 outlets provide constant power.

I have a Nova Extreme T-5 Fixture, so the Actinics, 10Ks, lunar lights, and fan all have independent power cords. I set my lights and timers up as follows:

Daylight Outlets (on from 12PM to 12AM):
- Actinics and fan

Nighttime Outlets (on from 12AM to 12PM):
- Lunar lights

I then had to buy a single digital timer-controlled outlet to run my 10Ks from 1PM to 11PM. That was the only way I could achieve the dawn/dusk effect I wanted using my current light fixture and the Coralife Power Center. I hope that helps.

I went through 2 of the "DELUXE" $45 Coralife units before I switched to an electronic timer (for half the price) from Home Depot...

Problem with the Coralife's is the MH outlets got "stuck on" and the MH lights never go off. Happened twice. On the second one the other (alternating) timer got stuck in whichever position you leave it in - in other words, I have alternating PC / moonlights. The timer will either stay on PC or moonlight - but won't alternate anymore.

Maybe in your case the lower draw of the T5s is not triggering this kind of problem...

[AquaKnight]

/\/\/\/\/\ See, I know somethings

Yea Luke, I was alluding to the ones DarG mentioned. I'll probably get one too, but #$^&, my stand will be soooo crowded.....

[driftin]

Originally posted by AquaKnight407
/\/\/\/\/\ See, I know somethings

Yea Luke, I was alluding to the ones DarG mentioned. I'll probably get one too, but #$^&, my stand will be soooo crowded.....

If you want to crowd it even more -- I was concerned about the amperage through the timers as well (even though I was using the heavy duty 3-prong timers) so I wired my lights up through a relay. Now I'm running the control loop through the timer, and it's only milliamps. Overkill too, but I sleep well at night