Lights on.....Lights off

aquaman05 · 10/19/2010, 02:48 PM

Ok i have a NEP 48" it has 6 bulbs and 2 switches for the lights.
I was wanting to set this up on a timer but would like alittle help.

This might be a stupid question but why 2 cords and 2 different switches?

Also how would i set this up on a timer and how long for each?

Thanks

jalloway502 · 10/19/2010, 02:50 PM

Without knowing that exact model - the cords are either 1-lights 2-fan, or 1-whites 2-actinics.

mike_cmu04 · 10/19/2010, 02:56 PM

To set up on a timer put each plug on a timer and leave the switches on. When the timer is on the the lights associated with that plug will come on. I would run the actinics for a hour before and after the daylight.

cdeboard · 10/19/2010, 02:59 PM

+1 to what mikecmu said... I run my actinics from 10am-10pm.. and I run my daylights from 11-9.... thats what the two switches should be for.

aquaman05 · 10/19/2010, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jalloway502

Without knowing that exact model - the cords are either 1-lights 2-fan, or 1-whites 2-actinics.

I switch runs 1 set of lights with the fan and the other swith runs the second switch and fan

Mylilreef · 10/19/2010, 03:07 PM

if the fans come on w/ the actinics your good to go. if not switch some bulbs around and make it that way. then +1 to cdeboard

aquaman05 · 10/19/2010, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdeboard

+1 to what mikecmu said... I run my actinics from 10am-10pm.. and I run my daylights from 11-9.... thats what the two switches should be for.

How do I know which is which? By looking at the bulbs and where they are located?
Thanks

lordofthereef · 10/19/2010, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aquaman05

How do I know which is which? By looking at the bulbs and where they are located?
Thanks

Trial an error, really. Let's call one "switch 1" and the other "switch 2". Turn on switch 1. See what lights come on. It is most likely going to be an "every other bulb" configuration. Make those lights your actinics and your blues. Have switch 1 become active and hour before and an hour after switch 2.

cjones1344 · 10/19/2010, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mylilreef

if the fans come on w/ the actinics your good to go. if not switch some bulbs around and make it that way. then +1 to cdeboard

There are two fans in a NEP, one comes on with the actinics and the other with the daylights, so there's always a fan on. To the original poster, there is an obvious difference between actinics and daylights; unless you have an odd bulb combo, your actinics will be dimmer and more blue than the daylights. Lol another way to tell when its the daylights coming on is it sounds like some crazy piece of machinery charging up or something, the sound always makes me laugh.

aquaman05 · 10/20/2010, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjones1344

There are two fans in a NEP, one comes on with the actinics and the other with the daylights, so there's always a fan on. To the original poster, there is an obvious difference between actinics and daylights; unless you have an odd bulb combo, your actinics will be dimmer and more blue than the daylights. Lol another way to tell when its the daylights coming on is it sounds like some crazy piece of machinery charging up or something, the sound always makes me laugh.

Yeah your right,one set is not as bright as the other and kinda pink looking.
I have never heard the people charging though....lol

10/19/2010, 02:48 PM	#1
aquaman05 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: indiana Posts: 722	Lights on.....Lights off Ok i have a NEP 48" it has 6 bulbs and 2 switches for the lights. I was wanting to set this up on a timer but would like alittle help. This might be a stupid question but why 2 cords and 2 different switches? Also how would i set this up on a timer and how long for each? Thanks

10/19/2010, 02:56 PM	#3
mike_cmu04 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Shepherd, Mi Posts: 2,348	To set up on a timer put each plug on a timer and leave the switches on. When the timer is on the the lights associated with that plug will come on. I would run the actinics for a hour before and after the daylight. __________________ 92 Gallon corner tank, 2-radion gen 2 led lights, 2 mp40's Current Tank Info: 92 Gallon Corner Tank

10/19/2010, 02:59 PM	#4
cdeboard Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Grayson, KY Posts: 520	+1 to what mikecmu said... I run my actinics from 10am-10pm.. and I run my daylights from 11-9.... thats what the two switches should be for. __________________ CVRC Current Tank Info: 90g

10/19/2010, 03:07 PM	#6
Mylilreef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 304	if the fans come on w/ the actinics your good to go. if not switch some bulbs around and make it that way. then +1 to cdeboard __________________ -Cory Current Tank Info: 55g mixed reef (upgrading to 150g Tall), 30g Long w/softies(soon to be a sump for the 150g), 20g Tall mixed, 5g w/softies, 10g quarantine that somehow turned into another softy tank

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10/19/2010, 02:50 PM	#2
jalloway502 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 51	Without knowing that exact model - the cords are either 1-lights 2-fan, or 1-whites 2-actinics.