lighting question

[trble81]

I've got a question for the masses. I've seen people use electronic timers on their lights so that their lights will cycle during the day. I've looked in some catalogues that we get (Marine Depot, Drs. Foster and Smith, etc.) and all I see are your run-of-the-mill timers (whether it's the old fashion one you would put on a lamp or digital ones with up to 7 settings) that have the one outlet that they control. Is there a name for what I'm looking for? What I've seen were connected to DIY T5 lights, if that makes a difference as to what I was describing.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

[emissary]

I've used the "specialized" aquarium timers with dials and with LCD displays. They run about $25 to $50... more often than not at the high end of that scale. I've also used totally cheapo timers with dials at $7ish. More recently I've used more sophisticated timers ... an Intermatic DT27c (I think)...

[madmax7774]

I use $4 light timers from home depot. They are fine for my metal halides, and my actinics

[flowerseller]

I use $4 light timers from home depot. They are fine for my metal halides, and my actinics

 

Same old saying, "you get what you pay for". But in my case I got more than I had hoped for.

I started off on this route and ended up replacing timers and having to reset them frequently after power failures.

I got in on a GB from BRK and bought a Neptune Aqua controller.

I can't tell you how nice it is to have that controller, and local assistance.

Within minutes of power restore, my controller commands the DC8 and puts all my devices right back on my set schedule. Plus, if it gets too hot, it shuts the lights off. It controls/moniters temp and PH as well as many other functions.

Think of it as a cadilliac of timers.

[dandy7200]

check hellolights.com clearance page.

[trble81]

check hellolights.com clearance page.

 

 

I didn't see it on the clearance page but I think it looks like the SEIO electronic controller but what I saw before was smaller, and according to my searching online, doesn't control pumps (like SEIO one does) obviously ;-)

Edited March 10, 2007 by trble81

[jason the filter freak]

coralife makes controlled timer centers with ground plugs, they sell them almost everywhere including where I work. They can also be used as a wave maker. They sell in digital and analog, for i dunno like $30

[jamal]

i will second what flowerseller is saying about the aquacontroller. it is amazing. i could program this thing to fix me pancakes when i wake up if i wanted to. its better also because as u need timing and wave making and monitoring and control devices later you could save money and not buy thecheaper stuff that adds up when you look at those lfs receipts you'll see what i mean. also they have it for 224 with the dc 8 control device.

[tygger]

coralife makes controlled timer centers with ground plugs, they sell them almost everywhere including where I work. They can also be used as a wave maker. They sell in digital and analog, for i dunno like $30

 

I bought one of those and it worked fine for the first 6 months. Now the timer part doesn't work. Piece of junk...